This is peak narcissism while the country deals with inflation wars and real problems. People are sick of everything revolving around one man ego instead of fixing economy. Defacing bills or switching to digital becomes tempting when government turns currency into propaganda. Silver stackers laugh it off as more proof fiat is clown world and real money wins long term. The backlash shows how out of touch this feels to regular Americans tired of the show.
Fox News and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent celebrate putting Trump's face on coins and his signature across all U.S. banknotes
byu/Snapdragon_4U ininflation
Americans Are Using Credit-Card Rewards to Pay for Groceries, Gas
A pile of credit-card reward points can take you business class to Bali or cover a few days’ stay in a London boutique hotel. These days, as inflation strains American budgets, more people say they’re using points for daily essentials, from gasoline to cat litter.
In a survey of more than 1,000 people, over 35% said they redeem reward points for “everyday expenses,” according to USAA Federal Savings Bank. Statement credits also are popular, with 79% of respondents saying they’ve used points that way at least once in the past six months.
The results show how persistent inflation is squeezing household budgets. Grocery costs are up more than 6% since mid-2023 and gas is up about 30 cents a gallon. Inflation-adjusted wages, meanwhile, have risen at an annualized average pace of about 1.4% over the same period.
“As living costs increase, practicality is the priority,” said Michael Moran, president of USAA Federal Savings Bank. “More households are reassessing their finances and prioritizing what’s in front of them.”
Consumers are shifting spending away from “less time-sensitive purchases” like appliances and furniture toward necessities such as food and gas, Moran said. They’re taking the same approach with credit-card rewards, using points to stretch their budgets and help offset higher prices, he said.