Hey Rebels! Let's dive into this week's issue to help you change how you think about money, investing and business in less than 10 minutes a week.
Weekly Intel
Stay current with top news from the business, money, and investing world.
Top Stories
👷🏽♀️ LinkedIn and Indeed are too hot right now: In November, there are about 0.9 vacant jobs for every unemployed person, meaning there are more job seekers than available jobs. I’m pleased to announce my new position as Chief Newsletter Writer 😍 and THIS 👊🏽 is what has taught ME 🔥 about increasing shareholder value 💪🏽 yadda yadda yadda #CareerGrowth #Resilience #JobMarket #KeepGoing. (more)
🆒 Is it…working? The U.S. trade deficit just hit its lowest point since 2009—shrinking 39% in one month to $29.4 billion as Americans bought less foreign stuff and sold more of ours, shocking economists who thought tariffs would tank the economy. (more)
🍿 Go big or go home: Despite most theater companies tanking this year, IMAX stock rose 44% in 2025, showing how much we crave the really big screen. (more)
By the numbers
🐷 100%: How much of the McDonald’s McRib is pork, at least according to Ronald. A recent lawsuit says otherwise (gross)
🧑🏽⚕️ 40 million: The number of people globally who ask ChatGPT health-related questions every single day, about 5% of the AI chatbot’s messages
👏🏽 4.4%: The unemployment rate in December, less than expected! (by .1%, but still)
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The Financial Rebellion Way
Rich People Don’t Make Excuses—They Make Money
Grew up broke? Economy’s trash? Politics are chaos? Wealthy people don’t care. They know your bank account balance has nothing to do with your backstory and everything to do with your next move.
What the wealthy actually focus on:
Keeping what they earn: They obsess over tax strategies, not tax complaints. Every dollar saved is a dollar that compounds.
Automation over willpower: Rich people don’t “try” to save—they set it and forget it. Money moves automatically before they can touch it.
Growth over grievances: While others are blaming inflation, they’re investing. While others are watching politics, they’re watching portfolios multiply.
Big picture: Your past is not your future, and the economy is not your excuse. Wealthy people automate their success and ignore the noise.
Markets - stocks and crypto
In under 3 minutes, start investing spare change, saving for retirement, earning more, spending smarter, and more.
Click the image above or this link to earn a special $40 bonus.
Prices for the week ending January 2, 2026:
▲ S&P 500 | 6,966 | +0.99% |
▲ NASDAQ | 23,671 | +1.25% |
▲ GOLD | 4,613 | +3.11% |
▲ SILVER | 72.38 | +4.66% |
▲ VISTRA (VST) | 166 | +6.06% |
▼ BITCOIN (BTC) | 90,558 | -0.88% |
▼ ETHEREUM (ETH) | 3,106 | -1.93% |
Stock and Crypto Moves
Stock market is killing their resolutions so far: The S&P finished Friday at a record high after job reports showed lower unemployment despite lower-than-expected new jobs in December.
A (lucrative) deal with the devil: AI utility company Vistra and nuclear company Oklo are seeing straight green on Friday after announcing deals with Meta.
That’s a YIKES from Visa: Major credit card and bank stocks dropped sharply after President Trump proposed capping credit card interest rates and fees at 10% for one year, a move that rattled investors because it could significantly cut profits for issuers and would require Congressional approval to be implemented.
Is Costco still selling gold bars? Gold and silver prices surged to record highs as investors sought safe-haven assets after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the U.S. Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas and threatened a criminal indictment. Bitcoin rallied alongside the metals before deflating.
Starting the year with confidence: Bitcoin and other crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recently attracted about $4.5 billion in net inflows, marking a strong return of institutional capital into cryptocurrency investment products and signaling renewed confidence among investors.
Real Money Moves
Keisha, 25 - Atlanta, Georgia
Each week, we feature a reader’s smartest and dumbest money moves. We’re all in this together; let’s learn from each other.
Best Money Move - Networking like my rent depended on it
“Went to every industry event, even the super awkward ones
“One random Tuesday networking event led to a coffee chat, which led to a job offer with a 40% pay bump.”
“That uncomfortable small talk turned into $25K more per year.”
Worst Money Move - Becoming DoorDash’s favorite customer
“Started innocently—just lunch during busy workdays. Then dinner. Then even breakfast and snacks.”
“Checked my bank statement: $1,400 in one month on food delivery. For one person. Living alone.”
“The worst part? I had groceries rotting in my fridge while paying $28 for a $12 sandwich. A little self discipline would have saved me thousands.”
The bottom line: Every money move teaches you something — whether it builds your net worth or humbles your ego.
Got a story? Send it in. You might help someone dodge a mistake or make a smarter call.
Side Hustle Differently
Each week, we focus on money-making opportunities for a side hustle that could potentially become a full-time venture. No MLM schemes, no “passive income” lies, just real strategies for stacking cash outside your 9-5
Website Builder for Hire
Every business needs a website. Most owners would rather eat glass than figure out WordPress.
Your web-to-wealth blueprint:
The local monopoly play: Target dentists, plumbers, and restaurants in your city. They need sites, hate tech, and pay in cash.
Template and flip: Buy one premium template, customize it 20 ways. Same backbone, different faces, faster money.
The maintenance ATM: $99/month to “maintain” sites you built. That’s updating plugins and changing photos. Five clients = car payment.
Portfolio hack: Build three sites for free—for your dentist, barber, and favorite restaurant. Use those to land paying clients.
Big picture: While everyone’s learning to code, you’re selling solutions. Small businesses don’t want a developer—they want customers. Build once, maintain forever, stack recurring revenue.
Check out the Financial Rebellion podcast to learn about how to turn your passion into profit.
Trusted Partners
Where you bank is a big deal. We are big fans of credit unions to help you become financially rebellious. Here are some of our current partners that we work with around the country, so you can get to know them and the value of becoming a member to help you achieve your financial goals and dreams.
Did you know the myths about credit unions versus banks? Debunked here.
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Interested in becoming a Financial Rebellion Partner? Reach out to [email protected].
We’ll catch you next week. Rebels OUT.
Todd Romer: Founder and Writer
Corinne Clarkson: Writer and Editor
Dallin Merrill: Chief Newsletter Overlord
Disclaimer: The advice provided in Financial Rebellion is not considered to be financial or legal advice of any kind. It is your responsibility to dig deeper on any opinions or recommendations given.