Good morning Reader!

It can be confusing to see the stock market at all time highs but not feel like you're doing well. That's because the "stock market" isn't the economy.

It's just a collection of publicly traded companies, organized in a way that makes it easy for pundits to talk about. The S&P 500 is up close to 10% and it's mostly because of AI related stocks - tech companies, chips, etc.

How much AI related spending have YOU been doing?

So the market looks great but the economy might not be because, let's be honest, consumer spending is about 70% of GDP (and it's down) and consumers are buying gas, eggs, and milk... not NVIDIA chips.

And with the latest inflation number coming in at 4.2%, those are getting more expensive too.

💲 Best Bank Rates (as of 7/1):

💰 High Yield Savings - 3.80% APY + $400 from SoFi​

🏛️ Short Term Treasury - VBIL 3.57%, SGOV 3.55%

📀 Certificates of Deposit (see all 40k+ rates)

🔍 We list nationwide rates, CD Valet has local rates which can be higher so click through to double check for your state.

• Best: 9% from American Airlines FCU (9mo Anniversary Special - click All CDs, there are others with high rates)
• 6 months: 4.25% from OMB Bank (5mo), 4.25% from Rising Bank​
• 12 months: 4.15% from Credit One Bank​
• 36 months: 4.15% from Crescent Bank​
• 60 Months: 4.15% from Sallie Mae​

💵 Bank Bonuses - $450 US Bank, $400 SoFi, $500 Bank of America, $400 BMO & more​

​(View this email as a webpage)​

📗 Take advantage of your library!

I recently discovered our library will lend you framed art prints for six weeks at a time.

They also have a makerspace where you can use their 3D printer for free (pay a slight premium for the filament).

And many have reciprocal relationships with other libraries so you can join multiple libraries with just one card.

Take advantage of it:

​👉 Everything You Can Borrow from the Library (And It's Not Just Books)​

😵 Understanding decision fatigue

Ever feel tired but not felt like you've done anything?

Do you have kids? 🤣

It's decision fatigue. It's why you hear stories of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg wearing the same thing every day.

Here's what it is and what to do about it:

​👉 Decision Fatigue: Why You Feel Exhausted Without Having “Done” Anything Physically​

🗞️ Money Stuff I Found Interesting

Here are some interesting articles you may have missed:

• ⭐⭐⭐ Pretty Good by Charles Osgood - Don't miss this
• ​Kirkland Signature: Jim Sinegal and the Making of Costco's $90B Private-Label Empire [SatPost] - as an admitted Costco stan, this was fun to read.
• ​America's Oldest Taverns That Are Still Open [Inside Hook]
• ​See What Your Lifestyle Says About Your Economic Class [Wall Street Journal]
• ​Americans Don't Remember What a Recession Feels Like [A Program That Lasts]
• ​How a Master of Deception Conned Investors Out of $50 Million—in His Own Words [The Wall Street Journal]
• ​The Actual Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Olive Oil [The Hustle]
• ​Is There a Best Day to Buy Airline Tickets? No Hacks, Only Facts [Conde Nast Traveler]

💵 Good Deals If You Need Them

• ⏲️ Did the IRS penalize you from 2020 - 2023? If so, you can get it refunded. You can do it yourself (IRS instructions) or work with PenaltyBack (no up-front fee, they only charge a 25% success fee). Deadline is July 10th, so act fast.
• You can get Monarch Money for $50% off​
• Try Origin, a personal AI financial advisor, only $1​
• ​TradeUP will give you up to 50 shares of NVDA ($200/share) based on your deposit amount.
• Reminder: Teens can work out for free at Planet Fitness this summer.​
• ​Check if you're overpaying for car insurance (it's free, takes a few minutes, could save you hundreds)
• Need a Costco membership? Want $50 or $100 credit on top of it? Get one today!​

What did you think of today's email?​
✅ I Loved It! 🟨 It Was Okay ❌ Not My Favorite​

Talk to you soon!

Jim

PS. Enjoy the holiday weekend! May it it be filled with friends, family, fireworks, and plenty of hot dogs! (and if you have actual dogs, may it not have TOO many fireworks)

​(see archive of previous emails)​