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304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, brings big changes to how Americans handle their taxes. This new law keeps in place many of the tax cuts first set up by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which were about to expire. That means most people won’t have to worry about their income tax rates going up soon. One major change is the increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap—from $10,000 up to $40,000. That means people can now deduct more of their property and local taxes from their federal taxes, although higher earners may not get the full benefit. Overall, this law helps many taxpayers keep more of their money and adds some predictability for the coming years.

Online shopping is changing in 2025 as more retailers stop offering free returns. This shift is happening because of higher operating costs, supply chain issues, and ongoing economic uncertainty after the pandemic. Businesses are now focused on making a profit and can't afford to cover the cost of easy returns. According to the National Retail Federation, about 15.8% of all sales will be returned this year—adding up to around $850 billion. Online returns are even higher, making up 19.3% of sales, with Gen Z leading the trend by returning items more frequently. As a result, stores are tightening their return policies and cutting back on customer-friendly options like home try-on programs.

In September 2025, inflation in the U.S. rose slightly to 3% from 2.9% in August, surprising experts who thought prices would keep going down. This increase was mostly caused by a jump in energy costs, especially gas, which went up over 4% in just one month. While food prices didn’t rise as much, the overall cost of living is still growing faster than the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2%. This makes it harder for the Fed to decide whether to keep interest rates high to fight inflation or lower them to avoid slowing the economy too much. For everyday Americans, this means higher prices are still putting pressure on household budgets.

Real estate fraud, especially seller impersonation scams, is becoming a growing threat in the U.S. These crimes involve cybercriminals using stolen personal information and advanced tools like artificial intelligence to pretend to be the true owner of a property. They create fake listings and trick buyers, real estate agents, and title companies into completing fraudulent sales. Victims may not realize what happened until it's too late—after they've lost money or property. Fixing these scams can cost over $140,000 per case, and they also damage trust in the real estate system. As technology improves, it's more important than ever to stay alert and protect your personal information when buying or selling a home.

With the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates throughout 2024 and 2025, savings account and CD (certificate of deposit) rates have started to fall from the high levels seen last year. While CD rates once offered some of the best returns in over a decade, they are now sliding lower as more rate cuts are expected. However, some banks are still offering CDs with annual percentage yields (APYs) around 4.35%. For savers, this may be one of the last chances to lock in a strong return on their cash before those rates drop even further. If you’re holding onto extra money and want a safe, steady return, now might be a smart time to consider a high-yield CD.

As the economy faces challenges like high inflation, rising interest rates, and job uncertainty, more Americans are turning to side hustles to make ends meet. A side hustle is a way to earn extra money outside of your regular job. Many people are using this extra income to pay off debt, manage higher living expenses, or save for emergencies. Seasonal side gigs—such as hanging holiday lights, helping with Halloween decorations, or working special events—are especially popular this time of year. These jobs usually don’t require long-term commitment and offer quick cash, making them a smart option for those needing financial flexibility.