Gas prices jumped 27% in three weeks. Oil is hovering near $100 a barrel. Markets are swinging. And somehow, right in the middle of all of this, it's also tax season. There's a lot hitting your wallet at once.
This week, I want to help you make sense of it.
Here’s what’s inside:
Did you know…?
Why is the US dollar green?
(Actual answer at the end of the newsletter 👇)
War, oil prices, and your wallet
Gas was $3.79 when I filled up this week. A month ago it was $2.98. I didn't do the math at the pump. I did it later, and honestly wished I hadn't. That's a 27% jump in under three weeks, the largest monthly increase since Hurricane Katrina, according to AAA. Oil itself went from around $67 a barrel before the war to nearly $100 now, with a spike close to $120 in the first week of fighting.
Prices are likely to stay elevated as long as the Strait of Hormuz (which carries about 20% of the world's oil) remains effectively closed. And right now, there's no clear end in sight.
When scary headlines hit, the first instinct is to do something with your money. But being “trigger happy” right now might cause regrets later. Here's what actually helps:
1️⃣ Focus on your emergency fund first. 3 to 6 months of expenses in a savings account, not tied up anywhere. If gas and groceries cost more, your buffer needs to be bigger too.
2️⃣ Audit your variable spending. With gas and grocery prices creeping up, now's a good time to find one or two categories to trim so the increases don't quietly blow your budget.
3️⃣ Don't make big financial moves out of fear. Geopolitical stress is real, but markets have recovered from every major conflict in history. The people who stayed invested in diversified portfolios always did better than those who pulled out. A panicked decision made in March can follow you for years.
If this is making you anxious about your money, that's a completely valid reaction. Let's turn that anxiety into a plan.
Tax season incoming
@startdoingwell you’re not alone. #personalfinanceforwomen #personalfinancetok #moneytipsformillennials #financialliteracyforbeginners
By the numbers
~6%
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rate right now
And forecasts say it's staying there through at least 2027. The dream of 3% rates isn't coming back anytime soon. So the real question isn't "should I wait?" It's "what can I do now to actually prepare to buy?" Start with your credit score, your debt-to-income ratio, and your down payment fund. Those are the three things that actually move the needle on your rate, regardless of where the market is.
$2,512
Projected average tariff cost per US household in 2026
That's up 44% from $1,745 last year. The White House disputes the number, but even conservative estimates put it in the hundreds. Either way, prices are going up, and it's not because you're spending more. It's because everything costs more. This is exactly why budgeting by percentages instead of fixed dollar amounts matters. When the cost of groceries and gas shifts, a percentage-based budget flexes with it. A fixed one breaks.
167%
Increase in low- and middle-income Americans who now invest
Investing used to feel like something only rich people did. That's changing, and it's not because everyone suddenly got rich. It's because access got easier, information became more available, and a stimulus check gave people a first step. The wealth gap is real, but it's not fixed.
Need to talk numbers? We can help you sort out your money.
Poll answer
It was chosen to prevent counterfeiting under early photography
In the 1860s, the US Treasury printed paper currency using green ink because early black-and-white photography couldn't capture green tones. This makes the bills harder to counterfeit photographically. The color stuck, and "greenback" became slang for US dollars ever since.