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In 2025, more young Americans—especially Gen Z and younger Millennials—are turning to side hustles to make extra money as they face rising prices and uncertain job markets. With inflation still high and interest rates jumping around, about 40% of Americans now earn income outside of their main job. Many are picking up flexible work like being a virtual assistant, running online stores, managing social media, or doing local gigs like food delivery or DJing. These side hustles let people earn extra cash without having to quit their main job, helping them keep up with the cost of living and save for the future.

The "One Big Beautiful Bill," passed in 2025, brings major changes to U.S. federal tax laws that affect families, wealthy individuals, and everyday taxpayers. One of the biggest updates is the permanent increase of the federal estate tax exemption. This means that people can pass down more of their wealth to family members without paying estate taxes, giving families and advisors more stability when planning for the future. Another important change is the higher cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, which is especially helpful for people living in high-tax states like New York and California. These updates aim to simplify long-term planning and reduce tax burdens for many Americans.

In today’s uncertain economy, many people are rethinking where they keep their savings. With inflation rising to 2.9% in August—higher than what the Federal Reserve wants—interest rates could change, which affects how much money savings accounts can earn. A traditional savings account is considered a safe place to keep your emergency fund because your money is protected, usually by the FDIC. However, the interest you earn is low—often below 1%—which means a $10,000 deposit might only earn around $50 to $100 a year. Some people are now looking into higher-interest options, like high-yield savings accounts or certificates of deposit (CDs), to get better returns while still being cautious with their cash.

In August 2025, inflation in the United States continued to rise, making things more expensive for everyday people. Prices went up 2.9% compared to the same time last year, which is higher than the Federal Reserve’s goal of keeping inflation at 2%. Core inflation, which leaves out the often-changing prices of food and gas, stayed high at 3.1%. Items many people rely on—like gas, groceries, hotels, and plane tickets—got even more expensive. At the same time, the job market has slowed down, meaning fewer new jobs are being created. This puts the Federal Reserve in a tough spot: they must decide whether to lower interest rates to support the job market, even though doing so could make inflation worse.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo have become very popular because they let people send money instantly using just a phone number or email. But as more people use these apps, scammers have found ways to trick users into sending money, often through fake payment requests or phony settlement offers. Since 2017, Americans have lost nearly $1 billion to P2P scams. The problem has gotten worse with growing financial stress, making people more likely to fall for too-good-to-be-true offers. Even though there have been legal efforts to protect users—like a lawsuit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed against Zelle—getting money back after being scammed is still very difficult. This has raised new concerns about whether enough is being done to keep people safe online.

Mortgage rates have recently dropped because the U.S. job market is showing signs of slowing down. In August, fewer jobs were added than expected, leading many experts to believe the Federal Reserve may soon lower interest rates to help boost the economy. As a result, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fallen to 6.39%, making it slightly cheaper to borrow money for a home. While this dip in rates can be a good opportunity for people looking to buy a house or refinance their mortgage, it also signals that the economy might be weakening—which could bring risks along with the potential benefits.