This Week’s Money Map:

• ⛈️ 9 surprising things your home insurance won’t cover (and how to protect yourself)

• 🧐 Proven tricks to save on food and gas this September

• 🏠 Creative financing hacks for buying a home in a high-rate market

• 💳 Credit score shake-up: What’s really changing and what it means for you

⛈️ 9 surprising things your home insurance won’t cover (and how to protect yourself)

Wake up call: your home insurance probably doesn’t cover the things you assume it does. The worst part is that those gaps can cost you thousands. Let’s lay out the fine print so you’re not blindsided.

Floods aren’t your friend
If water gushes in because a pipe bursts, you’re usually covered. But if the water comes from outside — say, a heavy storm or river overflow — that’s flood damage and your standard policy won’t touch it.

With extreme weather events hitting the U.S. harder each year, flood insurance (through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program or private carriers) is no longer optional if you live anywhere near water.

Earthquakes shake more than your walls
Quakes, landslides, and sinkholes aren’t usually covered. Even small tremors can crack foundations or damage walls, and you’ll be paying out of pocket unless you add specific earthquake or earth-movement coverage. It’s worth asking your insurer for a rider.

Mold is a literal gray area
Mold from a sudden accident (like a pipe burst) might be covered. But mold from long-term leaks, humidity, or poor ventilation? Forget it. Insurers call that “maintenance neglect.” With 2025’s hotter, wetter summers, mold claims are spiking and denials are right there with them. A dehumidifier and regular inspections can save you big headaches later.

Sewer backups stink, literally
If your toilet overflows because of a clog, that’s usually on you. Same goes if your city’s sewer line backs up into your basement. These are not covered unless you’ve added a sewer backup endorsement. The add-ons are cheap (often $50 a year) compared to the thousands a cleanup would cost.

Your side hustles aren’t safe
Home insurance doesn’t cover business equipment or liability. If your garage-turned-workshop burns down, those tools may not be insured. Ask your insurer about small business coverage to be safe, especially if you’re storing inventory or using expensive gear at home.

Pests don’t count
Termites, mice, and bedbugs fall into the “maintenance” bucket, meaning you’re responsible. Pest infestations are considered preventable. With warmer winters across much of the U.S., infestations are spreading faster than before. Budget for pest control now rather than a denial later.

Luxury items aren’t fully covered
Yes, your policy covers personal property, but there are limits. Jewelry, art, collectibles, and firearms usually cap out at a couple thousand dollars. If you’ve got grandma’s diamond ring or a growing sports memorabilia collection, you’ll need a rider or a separate valuables policy.

New building codes cost extra
Here’s one most people don’t know: if your home is damaged and needs rebuilding, your insurer only pays to restore it to its previous condition. If local codes now require upgrades (like solar-ready wiring or stricter safety standards), you’re on the hook unless you have ordinance or law coverage. With new energy-efficiency rules rolling out across states in 2025, this gap is becoming more common.

War, terrorism, and civil unrest
It sounds extreme, but yes, most standard policies exclude these outright. Hopefully you’ll never face it, but it’s a reminder to read those exclusions carefully.

Bottom line
So what do you do? First, don’t guess — check your policy and see how it stacks up with this best homeowners insurance guide. Run your numbers with this home insurance calculator and compare it with some up-to-date quotes. Finally, talk to your agent about add-ons like flood insurance, sewer backup coverage, and riders for valuables.

You work hard for your home, your stuff, and your peace of mind. Spending a little time now to fill in the gaps means you won’t be left holding the bag when life throws the next curveball.

🧐 Proven tricks to save on food and gas this September

Every time I check out at the store or fill up at the pump lately, it feels like I’ve been robbed in broad daylight. Luckily there are insider strategies that most people don’t use, and once you put them into play, you’ll keep more cash in your wallet.

Grocery stores don’t want you to know these tips
The real savings aren’t in chasing weekly flyers or clipping coupons. The real win is in stacking. Start by picking a credit card that actually pays you back for your spending. Cards like Amex Blue Cash Preferred or Citi Custom Cash still top the charts in August 2025, returning 5–6% back on groceries. If you’re not sure which cash back credit card matches your lifestyle, plug your numbers into this cash back calculator and you’ll see instantly how much you could be saving.

And don’t overlook the “imperfect” aisle. Stores like Kroger, Walmart, and Sprouts are expanding their ugly produce bins, and apps like Flashfood are letting shoppers score meat, dairy, and bakery items at 30–50% off. Amazon even rolled out its Grocery Outlet nationwide this summer, offering discounted staples without a Prime subscription.

Shop smarter this holiday weekend
Here’s where seasonal timing comes in. End of August is back-to-school season, which means sales on cereal, peanut butter, snack packs, juice boxes, and sandwich fixings. Then we roll straight into Labor Day, when grocers slash prices on barbecue items like ground beef, ribs, hot dogs, buns, and frozen treats to clear summer stock. If you’ve got freezer space, this is the time to load up.

And don’t forget post-holiday clearances. After Labor Day weekend, stores often discount condiments, chips, and grilling supplies. Buy once and stretch those savings into the fall.

Gas hacks that actually work
Gas prices in 2025 have been all over the place — $3.45 one week, $4.25 the next. Filling up at the closest pump is the lazy tax you don’t need to pay. Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club undercut local stations by $0.30–0.40 a gallon. If you drive 12,000 miles a year, that’s about $250 back just by changing where you swipe.

The savviest drivers go a step further: pre-paying for fuel with discounted gas gift cards from warehouse clubs. That locks in today’s price before the next hike. Combine it with a gas rewards card, and you’re shaving off savings in two directions at once.

Saving money in 2025 isn’t about skipping coffee or clipping endless coupons. It’s about stacking the right moves together: rewards cards, warehouse gas, memberships that buy back your time, and meal planning that keeps you sane. Each strategy works on its own, but when you combine them, you start to feel the difference not just in your bank account, but in your daily life.

🏠 Creative financing hacks for buying a home in a high-rate market

With mortgage rates still hovering near multi-year highs, buying a home can feel like an uphill climb. But for savvy buyers, creative financing strategies can help lower monthly payments and keep the dream of homeownership alive.

1. Negotiate a seller buydown
Ask the seller to contribute toward a temporary rate buydown, lowering your interest rate for the first one to three years. This can ease the initial payment shock while you wait for rates to drop.

2. Explore adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs)
ARMs start with lower rates than fixed loans, making them appealing if you plan to sell or refinance before the rate adjusts. Just be sure you can handle the potential increase later.

3. Consider assumable mortgages
Some government-backed loans (like FHA and VA) can be transferred to a new buyer at the original low rate. If you find a seller with one, it’s like winning the mortgage lottery.

4. Look into shared equity programs
Partnering with a family member, friend, or even a housing nonprofit can reduce the amount you need to borrow, lowering your payments without stretching your budget.

5. Combine financing sources
A mix of a smaller first mortgage and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) can sometimes reduce your blended interest rate and upfront costs.

High rates don’t have to sideline your home search — you just need the right playbook. To find out how much home you can afford, check out MoneyGeek’s free mortgage calculator.

💳 Credit score shake-up: What’s really changing and what it means for you

Want to peek behind the curtain of how lenders size you up? Starting now, your credit score game is shifting, and not in your favor. Let me walk you through what's actually happening:

What’s really changing — and what’s already changed
First off, scores like FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 are being rolled out more now, especially VantageScore 4.0, which the FHFA mandated for nearly all mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac back in Q3 2024. That means most new home loans are judged using that model, which digs into 24 months of your credit trends, not just a snapshot.

FICO 10T is also on the way. It’s being validated right now, with broader use expected by Q4 2025. These scoring models weigh behavior over time. Carrying a balance every month or swinging debts around? That can hit your score harder than before. Personal loans and BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) now have more sway in the score too, for better or worse.

Who stands to gain — and who might fall behind
You're in a sweet spot if you:

• Pay large debts down steadily

• Keep balances low and consistent

• Skip revolving debt swings and BNPL overuse

But if you frequently revolve balances, rely heavily on BNPL, or just picked up a big personal loan—your score could take a hit under these newer models.

How to navigate this smarter, faster
First, check the new predictive models — you deserve a score based on your real behavior patterns. Then, stay vigilant: monitor your credit regularly through free tools like Credit Karma, and review reports at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to catch errors early.

If you're grappling with medical debt, get aggressive: dispute errors, negotiate pay-downs or forgiveness, and talk to your provider. These debts still matter for now, even if small ones are fading. And for renters, trended-data models like VantageScore 4.0 now reward timely rent, utility, and telecom payments. Make them count.

Why this matters for you
The credit scoring game is getting more nuanced. It’s no longer enough to have a long-standing score, you’ve got to show consistent, healthy behavior. This matters because even a tiny dip can cost you hundreds extra a month, whether it's a higher mortgage interest rate, insurance premium, or credit card APR.

These models reward discipline but they’ll penalize anything that looks like unstable financial behavior. You’ve got a chance to adjust today and keep your score and your wallet strong.

Smart Cents gives you actionable tips and mindset shifts to help you reach your financial happy place. Thanks for being a part of our community.

The MoneyGeek Team

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