late-stage capitalism, but make it festive

Quick check: does this holiday season feel a little different for you?

You’re not imagining it. A lot of people are quietly changing how they spend, save, and plan right now (and there are some real reasons behind it).

Here’s what’s inside:

• A more practical holiday spending season

• The reality of single-income households today

• What’s going on with student loans

• Why base pay isn’t the whole picture

P.S. If you want to talk through your own finances, you can book a free 1-hour coaching call here ☎️

The era of practical Christmas

This holiday season looks noticeably more practical than festive, and inflation is the reason.

Across the country, shoppers are scaling back and getting specific about usefulness. Instead of big-ticket or luxury gifts, people are buying things like socks, coffee, diapers, cookware, small appliances, and household basics. Some parents are even wrapping everyday items like baby shampoo, dish soap, toilet paper just to fill space under the tree.

The data backs this up. On Cyber Monday alone:

👉 Refrigerator and freezer sales jumped 1,700%

👉 Vacuum cleaners rose 1,300%

👉 Small kitchen appliances were up 1,250%

👉 Cookware increased 950%

👉 Power tools rose 900%

👉 Jackets climbed 850%

In other words: people aren’t splurging. They’re optimizing.

Lower- and middle-income households are pulling back the most, while higher earners are “trading down,” shopping at discount retailers, warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club, and off-price stores instead of luxury brands. Even shoppers who say they’re doing fine financially are spending less and buying fewer gifts overall.

What’s driving the shift isn’t just inflation this year. It’s years of higher prices stacking up. Rent, utilities, food, childcare, and insurance have quietly eaten away at flexibility, leaving less room for discretionary spending.

What this means for your money: This is a season where fewer gifts, lower price points, or practical purchases are actually aligned with how most people are spending. Planning ahead, setting a clear dollar limit, and choosing useful or shared gifts isn’t “boring”. It’s being financially intentional.

After the holidays, if you want help resetting your spending, you can book a free 1-hour call here.

Why one paycheck no longer adds up

The idea of comfortably supporting a household on one income used to feel normal. Today, it’s increasingly out of reach.

According to recent data, about half of married-couple households now have both spouses working, and in families with children, that number jumps to nearly two-thirds. Even among six-figure earners, many say living on a single paycheck feels “nearly impossible.”

Over the past few years, the costs that make up a “middle-class life” have climbed faster than paychecks:

📌 Family health insurance premiums are up 25%+ since 2020

📌 Child care and college costs continue rising more than 5% year over year

📌 Housing costs have stretched far beyond what one income can easily support

At the same time, work itself has become less predictable. More people are in gig or contract roles, fewer jobs come with pensions, and even full-time employment doesn’t always mean stable hours or benefits. Add in the ongoing threat of layoffs, and relying on a single income feels riskier than it used to.

What this means for your money:

✅ Stress-test your income. Map out what breaks if one paycheck pauses for 1-3 months even if you’re currently dual-income.

✅ Build a bigger buffer than you think you need. Single-income households (even temporarily) need more margin, not tighter budgeting.

✅ Keep fixed costs flexible. Housing, childcare, and subscriptions matter more than variable spending when income is concentrated.

✅ Plan for uneven cash flow. If any income is freelance, commission-based, or gig work, assume variability and save during higher months.

✅ Revisit long-term goals regularly. Retirement, debt payoff, and saving plans may need adjusting during single-income seasons.

This is a good moment to review your setup. You can book a free 1-hour call here.

A student loan system under strain

You may have seen headlines about the government no longer classifying certain graduate degrees as “professional.” Degrees like nursing, accounting, architecture, physical therapy, and social work were recently excluded from the Department of Education’s updated list.

What this change actually reflects is a deeper tension in the student loan system.

For decades, federal lending made it possible for students to borrow large amounts to cover graduate programs as tuition climbed faster than inflation. That helped expand access, but it also left many professionals carrying heavy debt well into their careers. Now, borrowing limits are tightening. Not because certain jobs matter less, but because the system has become financially unsustainable.

Whether this shift helps or hurts remains unclear.

On one hand, many students in the excluded fields already borrow below the new caps, which suggests the immediate impact may be limited. On the other, critics worry the changes could quietly push students toward higher-cost private loans, restrict access for lower-income students, or worsen shortages in essential fields if schools don’t actually lower prices.

What this means for your money:

👉 Be cautious with private loans. If federal limits fall short, understand rates, protections, and repayment terms before filling the gap.

👉 Plan for slower flexibility early in your career. Higher debt can delay home buying, career pivots, or aggressive investing. Build that into your expectations.

👉 Revisit repayment strategy regularly. Income changes, policy shifts, and life stages can all change what the “right” plan looks like.

If student loans are still keeping you stressed, you can book a free 1-hour coaching call here.

Why you need to look beyond your base pay

Career growth often gets reduced to one number: salary. But as roles evolve, compensation does too… and base pay is only part of the picture.

Many higher-paying roles come with benefits that don’t feel exciting at first glance: retirement matches, equity, learning budgets, healthcare subsidies, wellness stipends.

 Worth the Click This Week

📍 Planning a move in 2026? See where your salary goes furthest. Here’s a useful breakdown of which big cities are actually affordable once income and everyday costs are factored in. Check it out »

🧮 A new Roth 401(k) catch-up rule is coming in January. If you’re a higher earner approaching retirement age, this explains what’s changing, who the rule applies to, and why Roth contributions may play a bigger role in future planning. Learn more »

🎓 Student loan repayment rules are shifting again. A clear breakdown of the latest changes, what borrowers need to watch for, and which repayment plans may require action in the coming months. See how it’s shifting »

✈️ What new airline delay and cancellation rules mean for travelers. Good to know before your next trip. This outlines what airlines are now required to provide when flights are delayed or canceled (and what travelers can reasonably expect going forward). Take note before your flight »