Table of Contents
PERSONAL
Have we ever had a February this warm?! I truly can’t remember a time where my birthday season and Black History Month were this warm.
It’s been 60+ and it changed the whole vibe. This time of year is usually a lull…can’t get outside much, spring break feels far away, and you’re just grinding through the cold.
But this weather let us get OUT. We hit the Omaha Zoo this past weekend and it was glorious…in FEBRUARY.
Also yes…I’m fully aware I just jinxed the shit out of this weather. If we get hit with a blizzard next week, blame me!
WHAT I’M SEEING
1) CPI is NOT your grocery bill
Every time CPI drops, the headlines act like we should throw a party.
Here’s the problem…CPI is a scoreboard. It tells you how fast prices are changing, not whether prices are back to normal.
So yes, CPI can slow down…and you can still be paying way more than you were a few years ago. Both can be true at the same time.
Receipts:
BLS CPI News Release (Jan 2026): https://www.bls.gov/cpi/news.htm
Full CPI PDF (Jan 2026): https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf
2) The 5-year view is the real punch in the mouth
Quarter-over-quarter is cute.
But if you want the truth…compare what you’re paying now vs five years ago.
From January 2021 to January 2026 (index data):
Overall prices (CPI-U): up ~24.3%
Groceries at home: up ~25.8%
Electricity: up ~39.0%
Utility (piped) gas service: up ~48.9%
That’s why people feel like they’re drowning even when the “inflation rate” looks calmer.
And this is where I’ll say it plain…CPI isn’t “bullshit” because it’s fake. It’s “bullshit” because the way it gets talked about makes regular people feel crazy.
You’re not crazy. Prices really did run up on you.
If your utilities or groceries have jumped harder than these numbers, reply FIVE-YEAR. I want to see something.
Receipts:
CPI-U (All items) data (FRED): https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/CPIAUCSL
Food at home data (FRED): https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUSR0000SAF11
Electricity data (FRED): https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/CUSR0000SEHF01
Utility (piped) gas service data (FRED): https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/CUSR0000SEHF02
3) “My raise was good” doesn’t matter if your life got expensive
A lot of folks got raises the last few years… and still feel behind.
Because your “raise” has to beat:
Groceries
Utilities
Insurance
Housing
Childcare
Interest Rates
BLS real earnings data basically says: purchasing power is improving, but slowly. Real average hourly earnings were up 1.2% over the year (Jan 2025 → Jan 2026). That’s not nothing…but it also doesn’t erase five years of higher bills.
Receipts:
Real Earnings (Jan 2026 PDF): https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/economicdata/realer_02132026.pdf
THIS WEEK’S DROPS (NoBS Wealth + LGR)
NoBS Wealth
No drop this week. We’ll be back on it next week.
LGR
Thanks to this BLACK MAN we do not have to live without refrigeration.
This is one of those episodes that hits different during Black History Month…because it’s a reminder that innovation and impact didn’t start with Silicon Valley and it sure as hell isn’t owned by it.
Listen/watch here:
MONEY MOVES TO MAKE
Tax season is stressful for a reason…it forces you to look your money dead in the face.
Here’s the quick, easy move this week: make a plan for your refund (or your “I owe” number) before you file.
Step-by-step (15 minutes)
Find your number.
Ask your tax person or check your draft return: refund, break-even, or owe.Pick ONE job for that money. (don’t scatter it)
If you’re getting a refund: decide what future problem it solves.
If you owe: decide how you’re paying it and how you’ll avoid the same surprise next year.
Use the “3-bucket rule” for refunds.
Bucket 1: Stability (catch up bills, rebuild buffer, utilities cushion)
Bucket 2: High-interest debt (credit cards, personal loans)
Bucket 3: Future-you (IRA / HSA / 529)
Yes, you can still fund an IRA for last year.
A lot of people don’t know this…you typically have until you file (usually mid-April) to make prior-year IRA contributions. That’s a real chance to turn “tax season stress” into “future wealth.”Write the next move down.
Literally one sentence: “My refund is for ___.” or “My tax bill is paid by ___.”
Near the end of this… if you’re realizing you need a system (not motivation), that’s exactly what we build inside the Modern Family Office.
Quick note: I’m not an accountant and this isn’t tax advice. If you need tax strategy, go hire a real tax pro and do it right.
MONEY MINDSET
Your money is your vibe… not other people’s to determine your vibe.
Do not let family, media, or politics ruin your vibe.
Protect your peace… and protect your plan.
