Welcome to MoneyNerd — your weekly shortcut to how the latest news and trends shape your financial life. We’re here to keep you informed, confident and ready for whatever the economy throws your way.
In this week’s edition:
People are betting on the Gatorade color at the Super Bowl.
Smart Money: The explosion of sports betting.
ICE tactics at issue as another partial shutdown looms.
Do you really need 20% down to buy a home?
Parents can now open Trump Accounts.
Video: How the Fed impacts your wallet.
Elsewhere in money news:
You might notice new economy-focused phrases like “split rent” on Sweethearts conversation hearts candy this year. (Axios)
Meal delivery apps are altering how we eat — and it’s not cheap. (The New York Times) 🔒
Apartment rents have reached the lowest level in four years. (CNBC)
An analysis of MLS data found home buyers are getting the biggest discounts in 13 years. (Redfin)
Temp at kickoff? Gatorade color? First Bad Bunny song? All bets are on.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Football is far from the only thing you can bet on come Sunday. The biggest game day of the year is a free-for-all for bettors of all stripes — and it’s easier than ever to make a wager.
Sports betting itself has seen a meteoric rise in the past few years. The American Gaming Association expects that roughly $1.76 billion will be legally bet on Super Bowl 60 in the U.S. — a 27% year-over-year increase and a record number.
You can still place the usual bets on who wins Super Bowl 60 when the Seattle Seahawks (the clear favorites) face the New England Patriots (the de facto underdogs). But you can also wager on a whole host of things that have nothing to do with coin toss wins, touchdowns or the MVP.
Here are some of the more notable novelty bets we’ve seen so far from popular sports betting apps like DraftKings and BetMGM, as well as prediction market newcomers Kalshi and Polymarket:
The first song in Bad Bunny’s halftime set and what he’ll wear during it.
If a player or coach will cry during the National Anthem, and the total length of the last “brave” note held during the song.
Temperature at the time of kickoff.
Color of first gatorade pouring on the winning head coach, and the positions of the players who pour it.
The number of times Cardi B will appear on the broadcast, and if Stefon Diggs will propose to her after the game.
Who will attend the big game — Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet or Drake?
Who the MVP winner will thank at the podium.
What’s changing isn’t that people like to gamble — it’s that betting apps and websites are frictionless. Betting is legal, instant and it’s on your phone — you can place a wager in seconds and adjust it mid-game as the app’s algorithm updates the odds in real time. Instead of doom scrolling, you could be gambling! Sports betting is so baked in at this point, it doesn’t feel like a side activity — it’s just part of how people watch.
Knowing when to tap out
Apps, gambling and watching sports are all fun, but they can also be habit-forming. You’ll get no finger-wagging from me: If you want to gamble, go for it. But it’s key to treat betting like entertainment, not income. It helps to set your own limits, stick to them and back out if you’re not having a good time.
If betting of any kind starts to feel out of your control, there are resources to get support. A good first place to start is the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-MY-RESET.
Your latest listen
The explosion of sports betting
How can sports betting apps affect your finances? Senior news writer Anna Helhoski joins hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola to discuss the rise of sports betting and prediction markets. They break down how legal sports betting expanded after a 2018 Supreme Court decision, how app-based betting and prop bets make it easy to wager in real time, and the growing concerns around addiction risk, regulation, and the nonstop flood of betting ads.
ICE tactics at issue as another partial shutdown looms
There was another government shutdown this week, but it ended Tuesday when the House passed (and the president signed) a packet of measures that provide funding through Sept. 30 for an array of federal programs and departments.
One department, meanwhile, was funded only through Feb. 13: the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS was carved out as part of a deal between the White House and Senate Democrats, who wanted time to negotiate for new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the wake of aggressive tactics in Minneapolis that have sparked widespread protests and two shooting deaths.
So far, there appears to be little common ground between the two parties in the standoff over ICE tactics, with both sides signalling that another partial shutdown may be around the corner. That follows the four-day partial shutdown that ended this week and the record-breaking 45-day full shutdown last fall.
What does DHS do? Some of the functions and agencies within DHS, in addition to ICE, include the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which could have a major impact on air travel if another shutdown happens. Though TSA agents and flight controllers worked without pay during last fall’s shutdown, flight delays and cancellations surged as the shutdown wore on.
Other border protection and immigration services are part of DHS, as are FEMA, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service.
As for ICE, it was given $75 billion in supplemental funding as part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act passed last year, $45 billion of that earmarked for new detention centers and roughly $30 billion in various operational areas, to be spent over four years.
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Mythbusters: Is a 20% down payment really necessary?
High housing and insurance costs can make buying a home feel inaccessible. But it might be easier to get into a home than some think — just 37% of Americans know that a 20% down payment isn’t required, according to NerdWallet’s home buyer report.
The required down payment for a conventional mortgage can be as low as 3%, and VA and USDA loans generally don’t require a down payment at all. Down payment assistance may also be available for those who qualify.
A larger down payment could result in lower interest rates and more equity in your home. And those who can swing 20% down won’t have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), which typically costs between 0.46% - 1.5% of the loan amount annually. But the median down payment for a first-time buyer is just 10%, according to the National Association of Realtors. That’s exactly how much I put down on my home.
The home buyer report found that prospective home buyers — or those who plan on buying a home in the next 12 months — plan to build up a down payment in various ways, including saving up for it (46%), choosing a mortgage lender that offers down payment assistance (27%) and working a second job or side hustle to make extra income (27%).
If you’re a homebuying hopeful, here’s some Nerdy advice:
Do the math. The study found that more than 3 in 5 homeowners (62%) say owning a home has been much more expensive than they thought it would be. Learn from them and run the numbers to make sure that a dream of homeownership doesn’t become a financial nightmare.
Don’t put all your money down. In that vein, make sure you don’t throw all your savings at the down payment. Closing costs generally cost 2% to 6% of your loan amount, plus you’ll want to hold onto cash for home improvements, repairs and furnishing your new space.
Save smart. A down payment will grow faster in a high-yield savings account than a run-of-the-mill savings account with a piddly interest rate.
Join the NerdWallet Book Club: Join us as we read "My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving," by the financial journalist and certified financial planner Beth Pinsker. We will publish an interview with the author Feb. 20 and give away a copy of her book. To enter for a chance to win our book giveaway, send an email to [email protected] with the subject: “Book Giveaway” during the giveaway period. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 28. No purchase necessary. Learn more details here.
Parents can now open Trump Accounts for kids
It’s officially tax season — and the first chance for parents to sign up for a Trump Account, a new kind of child investing account. You might be prompted by your tax software or tax professional to open an account, but if not, you can file IRS Form 4547 to establish the account. There’s a box to check if your child is eligible for the $1,000 starter contribution from the federal government.
If you wait, you can establish an account this summer through TrumpAccounts.gov. Although you can create an account now, contributions can’t be made until July.
Parents can open an account for any child who will still be under age 18 at the end of 2026 (and is a U.S. citizen with a Social Security Number). But the $1,000 seed money is only up for grabs for babies born in the years 2025 through 2028. Some employers are reporting that they’ll match certain contributions to Trump Accounts, and there’s money available from some philanthropic sources.
Nerdy money tips
Learn how much house you can afford. Try our home affordability calculator to nail down your home shopping budget. Just input your income, monthly debt payments and available cash for a down payment.
Use online marketplaces to turn unwanted items into cash. Selling things you no longer need — like clothes, electronics or furniture — can be a quick way to bring in extra money.
Review your bank account fees. Find out if your bank charges overdraft fees — plus, how to avoid them or get them waived.
Here’s how the Fed directly impacts your wallet
The Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions affect far more than just banks, they impact your debt, savings, investments and overall financial future. In this video, we share how the Fed and its rate decisions quietly impact your life and your wallet.
In case you missed it
Here’s what else you may have missed this week from NerdWallet:
You’ve probably heard of the FIRE movement — Financial Independence, Retire Early. But is it still realistic to pursue? Personal finance writer Kate Ashford has the answer.
Has streamflation hit your budget? Kate jumped from covering FIRE to streaming, and broke down the reasons behind streaming subscription price hikes.
Financial experts have found that many people neglect to finalize their estate plans. Personal finance expert Kimberly Palmer explored why — and how to overcome estate planning paralysis.
Mortgage interest rates are unlikely to move much this month. Mortgages writer Kate Wood explained why in the February mortgage outlook.
A new Disney credit card launched. Credit cards writer Jae Bratton reported on what you need to know.
Green card holders are no longer eligible for Small Business Administration loans. Small business loans writer Randa Kriss covered the rule change.
Student loans writer Shannon Bradley outlined four possible actions to take if you’re enrolled in the SAVE student loan repayment plan.
Your MoneyNerd team: Courtney Neidel, Anna Helhoski, Rick VanderKnyff.
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Until next week,
