This Week’s Money Map:

• 💊 TrumpRx drug price deals: What you need to know

• 🏠 How to save money on home insurance in 2026

• 🛍️ After-Christmas clearance: The dates stores drop to 90% off

• 💰 Bank bonus season is here: How to get $3,000+ before year-end

💊 TrumpRx drug price deals: What you need to know

On December 19, 2025, President Trump announced agreements with nine more pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices. If you take maintenance medications for diabetes, high cholesterol, weight management, or other chronic conditions, these deals are worth your attention. Here's what's actually changing and how it might affect your monthly costs.

What's happening
A new government website called TrumpRx.gov launches in early 2026. It will let consumers buy certain drugs directly from manufacturers at steep discounts. The pricing follows a "most-favored-nation" model — meaning Americans will pay closer to what patients in Canada or Germany pay for the same medications.

Medicare will also cover GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound for obesity and related conditions at negotiated prices around $245 per month — down from $1,000 or more at retail.

Fine print
TrumpRx is designed primarily for people paying cash — that is, those without insurance or with plans that don't cover their specific medications. If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Advantage with drug coverage, your health insurance plan’s negotiated prices may already be lower than TrumpRx for many drugs.

What you should do
Make a list of your current medications and what you pay monthly. When TrumpRx launches, compare those prices against your current costs. You might find savings on specific drugs, or confirm your insurance is already the better deal.

Ask your doctor about generic alternatives. They're often cheaper than both TrumpRx and your insurance copay. Mark Cuban's CostPlus Drugs is another option worth checking for generics — it's already live and frequently beats other prices.

The bigger picture
Drug costs are unpredictable. A new diagnosis or a change in your condition can suddenly add hundreds to your monthly expenses. That's one reason health insurance matters even if you're young and healthy, and why life insurance deserves a look if others depend on your income. A serious illness doesn't just affect your health — it affects your family's financial stability too.

These new pricing deals are real progress, but they're not a silver bullet. TrumpRx will help most if you're uninsured, underinsured, or taking expensive brand-name drugs your plan doesn't cover well. For everyone else, your insurance plan is still your first stop.

When TrumpRx launches early 2026, it's still worth a quick comparison, especially for high-cost medications. Every dollar saved is a dollar that stays in your pocket.

🏠 How to save money on home insurance in 2026

Home insurance premiums rose 8.5% in 2025 — slower than 2024's 18% jump, but still painful. Average deductibles rose 22%. That means you're paying more in premiums AND more out of pocket when you file a claim. Here's a peek behind the curtain at what’s going on and what to do about it.

Why home insurance keeps getting more expensive
Three big factors are driving costs up:

👉Climate change is making claims more frequent and more severe. Wildfires, hurricanes, hailstorms, and flooding are happening more often and causing more damage. Insurers are paying out more, so they're charging more.

👉Repair costs have skyrocketed. Labor and materials are still expensive after years of inflation. A roof that cost $8,000 to replace five years ago might cost $15,000 today.

👉Homes are more expensive to fix. Smart thermostats, security systems, and other tech features cost more to repair or replace than the simple systems they replaced.

What you can do about it
You're not powerless here. A few smart moves can help you manage costs without sacrificing coverage.

✅ Shop around every year. Don't just auto-renew. Rates vary widely, and loyalty rarely pays. Get online quotes from at least three insurers.

✅ Bundle your policies. Combining home and auto insurance with the same company can save you 5% to 25%. It also simplifies your life.

✅ Raise your deductible carefully. A higher deductible means a lower premium. But only do this if you have an emergency fund to cover the out-of-pocket cost if something happens.

✅ Ask about discounts. A new roof, updated electrical system, or security features can qualify you for lower rates. Many homeowners don't ask, so they don't get the cheapest quotes.

If you're buying a home
Factor insurance into your budget from the start. Rising premiums are affecting mortgage qualification. Lenders look at your total monthly costs, and higher insurance means less house you can afford. Get insurance quotes before you make an offer, not after.

And if you're renting, don't assume this doesn't apply to you. Renters insurance covers your belongings and liability. It's affordable, and landlords' policies won't protect your stuff.

Home insurance isn't getting cheaper anytime soon. But with a little effort, you can make sure you're not overpaying or under-protected.

🛍️ After-Christmas clearance: The dates stores drop to 90% off

Forget Black Friday — the REAL discounts happen after Christmas, when stores are desperate to clear their post-holiday inventory. We tracked the markdown schedules of some major retailers so you know exactly when to shop.

✔️ Target follows a clear schedule. Expect 50% off starting December 26, then 70% off around January 2, and finally 90% off by January 6. Target's holiday section is usually picked over by mid-January, so don't wait too long if you want the good stuff.

✔️ Walmart moves a bit slower. They start at 50% off on December 26, hit 75% off around New Year's Day, and reach 90% off sometime in mid-January. Their selection tends to last longer than Target's, but the best items still go fast.

✔️ Walgreens starts at 50% off immediately after Christmas and goes deeper by New Year. Similar to CVS, they're great for stocking up on seasonal candy and basic holiday supplies.

✔️ Amazon runs end-of-year clearance deals throughout January. Their discounts aren't as predictable as brick-and-mortar stores, but you can find solid deals on holiday decor, gift sets, and electronics that didn't sell during the holiday rush.

What to actually buy
Not everything is worth grabbing just because it's cheap. Focus on these categories where the savings make the most sense:

• Toys for upcoming birthdays or next Christmas

• Consumer electronics that work as future presents year-round

• Candles (they don't expire)

• Winter apparel like coats, gloves, and scarves you'll actually wear

Skip anything that feels like clutter. A deal isn't a deal if the item sits in your closet for three years.

Make it work for you
Check stores early in the morning when employees restock shelves. Items that sold out yesterday might reappear overnight. Download store apps before you go — Target, Walmart, and others show real-time inventory so you're not wasting trips on items that are already gone.

One more thing worth mentioning: if you're buying big-ticket items like TVs or appliances during these sales, check whether your credit card offers purchase protection or extended warranty coverage. Some cards add an extra year of warranty at no cost.

The bottom line? After-Christmas clearance rewards patience. While everyone else fought crowds on Black Friday, the smart shoppers wait until the week after Christmas, when stores are practically paying you to take things off their hands. Happy hunting.

💰 Bank bonus season is here: How to get $3,000+ before year-end

Every year, banks give away billions in signup bonuses hoping you'll become a long-term customer. It's not a scam. It's not too good to be true. It's just how banks compete for customers. The catch? You need cash to move around, and you need to follow the rules exactly.

Here's how my wife and I earned $5,000 last year by strategically opening accounts — and how you can do it too.

The best bank bonuses right now

• Wells Fargo: Two solid offers on the table. Their big one pays $2,500 if you open a Premier Checking account and deposit $250,000 within 30 days. Keep that balance for 90 days, and the bonus is yours. That's a lot of cash to tie up, but here's the workaround: you can link a higher-interest savings account and keep most of the money there while still qualifying. The checking account just needs to stay open.

  Their smaller offer pays $525 for opening a savings account with a $25,000 deposit within 30 days. Maintain that balance for 90 days to get the bonus. This one ends February 25, 2026, so don't sit on it too long.

• Citi checking account: Offers up to $1,500 for new checking accounts, but the bonus amount depends on how much you deposit. The maximum requires $200,000, while smaller deposits earn smaller bonuses. You have until July 2026 to open the account, which gives you flexibility if your cash is tied up elsewhere right now.

• Chase: Runs various bonuses between $150 and $900 depending on the account type and current promotions. Their offers change frequently, so check their website or visit a branch to see what's available this month.

• Regional and local banks: These often fly under the radar, which means less competition and sometimes easier qualification requirements. Credit unions in your area might have similar deals.

The rules you can't ignore
Timing matters. Most banks require you to be a "new" customer, which usually means you haven't had an account with them in the past 12 to 24 months. If you closed a Chase account last year, you probably can't get their bonus again yet. Check the fine print before you apply.

Also — and this surprises people — bank bonuses count as taxable income. The bank will send you a 1099-INT form in January, and you'll owe taxes on whatever bonus you earned. A $500 bonus might only net you $350 to $400 after taxes depending on your bracket. Still worth it, but factor that into your expectations.

One thing to watch:
Before you start moving large sums between accounts, make sure you understand how your current bank handles things like direct deposits, automatic bill payments, and overdraft protection. Switching banks mid-stream can cause headaches if a payment bounces because your money was in transit. Some people keep a small buffer in their original account until everything settles.

It's also smart to review whether your new account comes with any monthly fees. Many bonus-eligible accounts waive fees if you maintain a minimum balance, but if your balance dips below that threshold, you could lose more in fees than you gained in bonuses.

The bottom line? Bank bonuses reward people who pay attention to details.

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The MoneyGeek Team

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