Hey Rebels! Let's dive into this week's issue to help you become smarter 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
That’s just showbiz, baby: OpenAI just announced they’re adding ads to ChatGPT because apparently AI needs to pay rent too. Free users are about to get their existential questions interrupted by offers for meal kits and mattresses. (more)
Would you rather make $120K working from home or $240K going into the office every day? Here’s what people are saying.
Is now a good time to buy a house? I guess that depends on how massive your Christmas haul was…(more)
By the numbers
6,000: how many seats at the second immersive Sphere venue that is planned to be built in Washington, D.C.
10%: the tariff President Trump threatened to slap on imports from eight European countries because they oppose having America take control of Greenland.
15-years: The length of contract Big Tech will have to make for new electricity generation, in an effort for these massive data centers to pay their own way.
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The Financial Rebellion Way
You Wanna Be A Millionaire? You Need A Why
Maybe I’ll start investing. Maybe I’ll ask for that raise. Maybe I’ll launch that business. Winners don’t do maybe—they know exactly why they’re chasing wealth. Without a real why, you’ll keep floating through life on “maybe.”
Your why changes everything:
Vague dreams get vague results: “I want money” means nothing. “I want to buy my mom a house” makes you unstoppable.
Specific beats someday: “Financial freedom” is a buzzword. “Quit my soul-sucking job by 35” is a battle cry.
Write it down, or it doesn’t exist: Your why should be so clear you can see it, so specific you can price it, so personal it makes you emotional.
Big picture: Rich people don’t wonder if they’ll be successful—they know exactly why they must be. Find your why, and suddenly every sacrifice makes sense, every no becomes easier, every setback becomes fuel.
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 16, 2026:
▼ S&P 500 | 6,940 | -0.05% |
▼ NASDAQ | 23,515 | -0.53% |
▲ GOLD | 4,595 | +0.35% |
▲ SANDISK (SNDK) | 413 | +1.07% |
▲ RUSSELL 2000 | 2,677 | +0.12% |
▼ BITCOIN (BTC) | 90,558 | -0.88% |
▲ ETHEREUM (ETH) | 3,302 | +6.70% |
Stock and Crypto Moves
Markets finished the week slightly lower, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 closing modestly lower after choppy trading, while small caps in the Russell 2000 continued to outperform, chip stocks rallied, and rising Treasury yields and geopolitical factors influenced investor sentiment. (more)
SanDisk’s stock dramatically outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025 with a roughly 559% return and, just weeks into 2026, is again outpacing nearly all major U.S. stocks with strong double-digit gains. (more)
U.S. stock futures slid while European and Asian markets weakened and precious metals rose after President Trump threatened to impose tariffs up to 25% on European goods unless a Greenland deal is reached. (more)
Bitcoin’s price fell for a fifth consecutive day, dipping below key levels (around the low $90,000s), reflecting profit-taking and reduced investor appetite for risk assets amid geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds. (more)
Crypto investment funds just saw $2.2 billion rush in last week—the biggest cash flood since right before October’s epic market face-plant. (more)
Real Money Moves
Lauren, 28 - Portland, OR
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 - Negotiated everything
“I was scared to negotiate anything—salary, rent, bills. It felt confrontational and uncomfortable.”
“Then I realized companies expect negotiation. I asked for 15% more at my job offer, got 10%. Asked my landlord for lower rent during renewal, and saved $100/month. Called my internet provider, cut my bill by $30.”
“That fear of asking was costing me. Now I negotiate everything. The worst they can say is no, but they usually say yes.”
Worst Money Move - Lifestyle creep with first “real” job
“Got my first adult job making $65K and immediately upgraded everything—new apartment, new car, new wardrobe.”
“Went from saving $500/month as a broke grad student to saving nothing while making triple the money.”
“Took six months of stress to realize I was spending money to look successful instead of becoming successful. Now I live like I make $40K and invest the difference.”
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.
Online Tutor
Turn your knowledge into cash by teaching kids (or adults) from your couch.
Your teach-from-home blueprint:
Test prep = premium pricing: General tutoring gets $30/hour. SAT prep gets $100. AP Chemistry? $125. Parents panic-pay for scores.
Group sessions multiply money: One-on-one pays once. Four students at $40 each = $160 for the same hour.
Record once, sell forever: Create a course from your sessions. Live tutoring becomes passive income while you sleep.
Big picture: Teachers make $50K/year. Tutors make $50/hour. While schools pay pennies, parents pay premiums for results. Five students a week at $75/hour beats grading papers for a salary. Your expertise, your hours, your rates.
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.