Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday break. Enjoy a much deserved rest. We will keep this week’s list short and sweet.

Holiday Food For Thought

• I like this idea: stop giving holiday gifts to adults. That would save time, money, and help the environment, and maybe reduce your stress level around the holidays. (Slate)

Economics

• We probably don’t need this report from the Commerce Department to tell us about inflation, but the PCE increased 5.7% in November. Read about this and other consumer and growth measures here. (AP)
• Consumer confidence jumped in December as well. (AP)
• According to Ben Carlson in his Wealth of Common Sense, the pandemic made everyone richer. (Note that the data are in nominal terms….think about how inflation may alter this.)
• Amazon reaches a deal with the National Labor Relations Board, paving the way for Amazon employers to organize. (NY Times – subscription may be required.)

Investing

• The market rebounded this week after an Omicron drop, leaving the S&P 500 at a new record high. (CNBC)
• Should Bitcoin be in your portfolio? (The Institutional Investor)

Student Loans

• Big news here: Student loan borrowers have been given another reprieve, as payment freeze has been extended until May 1. (NPR)
• Student Loan borrowers describe what they would change about student loans. (WAPO-subscription may be required)

Budgeting

• The NYT (subscription may be required) highlights how a few families used the child tax credits.

About the Author

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.