Welcome to Friday Financial Focus!
Each week, we bring you a round-up of the headlines that impact your bottom line. Some you may have heard about, and others may have gotten buried in the chaos of the week. Either way, they all matter when it comes to managing your money!
Distilling all of the current events into a single newsletter is impossible, so be sure to follow us on Bluesky. Join our Patreon community for financial history and resistory stories that inform and inspire, along with astrological and tarot support for the month. There are 3 paid tiers and a free level with limited posts - something is accessible for everyone!
Have a news story or financial topic you want us to explore further? Let us know about it!
What's Happening
WTD When Your Ancestors Are Assholes
Halloween. Samhain. Día de los Muertos.
However you practice, this is the time of year when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is said to be at its thinnest, allowing those on the other side to visit us more easily. As such, it's a time for ancestor veneration, but what if there's bad blood in that lineage? What do you do if your ancestors were assholes?
Find out of this week's blog post The Rebellion of... Firing Your Ancestors.
And in case you need some help dealing with the relatives that are still above-ground...
Not These Cluckers Again...
The holidays are right around the corner and with that comes social gatherings. You might be dreading them more than the overcooked turkey on the dinner plate, especially when Aunt Edna starts asking the way-too-personal questions, or Uncle Milton launches into his latest conspiracy theory. Who invited these cluckers anyway???
Take a deep breath, grab a slice of pumpkin pie, and join us for Managing Your Emotional Bank Account: Turkey Day Edition! During this free event, we'll discuss ways to set clear boundaries with the cluckers who waddle into your space and ruffle everyone’s feathers. We've also updated this workshop with guidance on navigating social gatherings in the current, ahem... "political climate".
Get the Deets
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm EST
Where: Online (Zoom link will be sent prior to event)
We realize that this economy is hitting people hard, so this is a free/pay-what-you-can event, but we'd love your support in sharing the word. Do you know someone who might need a healthier Emotional Bank Account? Tell them to turkey trot on over and join us!!
This Week's Financial Focus
Blessed Samhain! Happy Halloween! Feliz Día de los Muertos!
Money can be scary, and we took a closer look at how frightening it is to lose our protections for financial access over on Patreon. Read the full post for free... if you dare! 🧟♂️🧟♂️🧟♂️
Hunger is the Real Horror
We originally had a sheet-ton of greedy ghost stories to share this week, but we're bumping those in order to discuss the real-life horror story playing out across 42 million kitchen tables. As we spoke about a few weeks ago, folks receiving Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were told they would not receive this support in November due to the government shutdown.
SNAP has a very strict limit on who qualifies. Gross income can be no more than 130% of the federal poverty line, and net monthly income must be at or below the poverty line. Household assets, including cash, cannot exceed $3,000, with a few exceptions raising that to $4,500.
SNAP recipients are already the most financially vulnerable members of our community, and they only receive an average of $6 per day to supplement their food spending. The types of items they can purchase are limited.
Many recipients work full-time or are active-duty military but are still struggling. In fact, based on a 2020 study completed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 70% of SNAP recipients work full-time in restaurants, grocery stores, and even for state governments and universities.
To further dispel the false "Welfare Queen" rumors perpetuated by the Ghoulish Oppression Party, a whopping 87.8% of SNAP recipients are native-born Americans, and 62.7% are White. So much for stereotypes!
Others, like the elderly, disabled, and children, are at the greatest risk for hunger and illness if benefits are halted. An additional 14.5 million more folks face food insecurity because their income is too low to get by, yet they make too much to qualify for SNAP benefits.
Keep in mind that Evil Keebler Elf Mike Johnson spearheaded the "One Big Bunch of Bullshit Bill" this summer that will cut $186 billion from SNAP over the next 10 years.
And Greed is the Real Monster
Here's the trick, not treat: There is a nearly $6 billion emergency contingency fund that exists for exactly these circumstances, so the USDA could use those funds to pay at least a portion of November benefits to the states, which then distribute them to their recipients. This regime has chosen not to do that, instead allowing people to go hungry.
Two federal judges have ruled that like it or not, the USDA has to disperse these contingency funds to the states to distribute at least some of the November SNAP benefits. In Rhode Island, U.S. District Court Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. granted a temporary restraining order on behalf of local nonprofits and city governments, ordering the USDA to fund SNAP.
In Massachusetts, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled in favor of plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by 25 states including Michigan, New York, Colorado, Washington, and Maryland. She has given the USDA until Monday, November 3, to decide if they are funding November SNAP in whole or in part.
While these rulings are great news, there is still the question of whether the regime will actually follow the judges' orders or not. Either way, 42 million people are starting off November without the already extremely meager funding they need to survive.
If 70% of SNAP recipients are working full-time and still need that extra $6 per day to survive, who is receiving the biggest benefit from this program?
GREEDY CORPORATIONS!
That same GAO study found that a few major corporations have an outsized number of employees who rely on SNAP to make ends meet:
- Walmart: FY 2025 sales - $681 B; FY 2025 profit - $19.4 B; ratio of CEO compensation to median worker pay - 930:1
- Amazon: FY 2025 sales - $26 B; FY 2025 profit - $8.2 B; ratio of CEO compensation to median worker pay - 1,925:1
- McDonald's: FY 2025 sales - $638 B; FY 2025 profit - $59 B; ratio of CEO compensation to median worker pay - 1,014:1
These companies consistently rank at or near the top of employers with the most workers receiving SNAP benefits. They are certainly making a profit, yet choose not to pay employees a living wage, instead relying on taxpayers to subsidize their compensation. That is absolute bullshit.
We live in the richest country in the world. The fact that 42 million people - or 13% of the population - is so underpaid that they have to rely on $6 worth of food per day to survive is unconscionable. The fact that another 14.5 million are still too poor to have secure access to food, yet not poor enough to receive assistance, is absurd.
That is over 16% of the population who doesn't know when and where their next meal will be and the problem will get worse with the new funding cuts to SNAP that the Christofascist Cabbage Patch speaker is so proud of. WWJD? Not starve people, that's for damn sure.
How in the actual ever-loving fuck did we as a society allow so many of our community members to become so food insecure?
But Monsters Can be Vanquished
WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you are in a position to make a difference, check in with local food banks to see how well-stocked they are and what needs may exist. This time of year is especially draining on their resources, so they could use extra support, especially with baby formula and non-food essentials.
Food banks may have specific items they cannot store, or have a dearth of high-demand items, so it's important to check with them first. Feeding America has some helpful guidance on what donations are useful and which ones are prohibited. Some may prefer to receive monetary donations so they can shop in bulk or for the specific items that recipients need.
Also, there are many folks who have food allergies or sensitivities that can make it harder to access assistance. Food banks may not always stock items that are safe for them, and foods specifically designed for medical issues such as Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity tend to cost more than non-specialized foods.
If you are in need of assistance, research food bank programs in your area and see what their process is for receiving assistance.
Communities are being called to come together more now, so you may find there are neighbors willing and able to help. A number of local businesses and libraries are creating pop-up food pantries that may be easier for some folks to access.
Remember that items like toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues are often needed, too. Some places may try to stock toiletries like soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and menstrual products. Yes, period poverty is often overlooked, but it is a very real thing!
Let's not forget the furbabies - they need food, too! Here are a few places that may be able to help with pet needs:
No matter what side of the situation you are on, let's all try to proceed with more empathy and humanity. We, the People are the ones who have the power in this nation despite what some greedy technocrat brooligarchs think. We have the power to build the type of society and community that keeps all folks safe. Let's show them how it's done.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know!
Rebellious Services & Communities
|
|
This community focuses on financial history and literacy to help you better understand current events, while also working on healing Money Wounds. Tarot and astrology support your learning process.
|
|
|
This informative community will offer insights into world events through the lens of political, corporate, and historical astrology (AKA: mundane astrology). This unique approach highlights patterns on a larger scale.
|
|
|
Sometimes you need 1:1 help as a business owner and need insight from someone with years of experience. Power Hour is a single 60-minute 1:1 session designed to give you clarity and action items to move you forward.
|
|
|
Arcana Resource Coaching is a 13-session program designed to explore your relationship to your resources. We uncover the hidden opportunities and challenges you have to embracing your full potential.
|
As members of our mailing list, you'll be the first to get updates on these communities and services!
Thank you for your support!
You can also follow Rebellious Resources on LinkedIn and Bluesky or learn more about us on the Rebellious Resources website!
As always, your support is appreciated. Stay well!
Sincerely,
Rayna, Money Culture Disruptor & Financial Inclusion Advocate
Rebellious Resources
