Summer 2025 is going to be hotter than hell for the middle class

Good morning, Smart Movers. I remember one other hot-ass summer in my lifetime — 2009. The year after the collapse. September 29, 2008, the day the markets crashed and the middle class got steamrolled. That next summer? All I saw were foreclosure signs, broken families, and a country that stopped spending… because it couldn’t.

We always identified as working middle class. I went to private school from the age of 10. Life wasn’t glamorous, but I never felt poor — at least not until I stepped into the homes of the rich kids from my school. Studying at their houses was a trauma trigger. Marble countertops, three-car garages, and bedrooms I’d mistake for ballrooms. Meanwhile, my brothers and I shared a bedroom in a rental apartment. That’s when I realized… we didn’t have it like that.

My parents did their best. They wanted the dream. And in 2000, they finally bought their first home. For a moment, everything felt right — I had my own room, they had equity and rental income. But no one warned them. No one told them what kind of loan they signed. No one taught them about balloon payments, subprime traps, or the ticking time bomb in their interest rate. They bought cars instead of assets. Furniture instead of stocks. And by the summer of 2009? It was all hell.

Maybe that’s why I never bought a home as an adult. Maybe I’ve been scared to relive that cycle, scared to lose it all and have to start again. Maybe I feared what people would think if I had to crawl out of the ashes. But joke’s on me, I’ve started over three… no, five times already. And I’m about to start over again.

But here’s what I know now: it’s not failure - it’s cycles. The economy cycles. The market cycles. The earth cycles every 365 days. Day resets in 24 hours. And your life? It cycles too.

This next one, Summer 2025, is going to be hotter than hell for the middle class. But at the end of this brutal stretch, there’s a pot of gold. You just won’t see it unless you move right now — with discipline, clarity, and guts.

That’s what this newsletter is for. We don’t write for the trust fund baby sipping oat milk lattes in Malibu, living stress-free in their $2 million compound. We write for you — the one who’s tired of stress, tired of fear, tired of financial fragility. We speak to the one building power in the shadows, not clout on Instagram.

We’re not playing anymore. We’re preparing. The War Chest is real. And we don’t gamble with our future — we stack, we strategize, and we survive so we can win.

We’re only smarter now because we tried the other way.

Let’s get started.

🏠 Real Estate: Renters Might Actually Win

Let’s keep it real — buying right now? Still a bad play for most.

Builders are backing off in states like Texas, Arizona, and Idaho. They’re scared of overbuilding in a high-interest environment. New permits are down. Supply’s freezing. Prices won’t crash like 2008 — but they’ll bend.

Meanwhile, national rent is up just 0.4% since last year. That’s a break for renters. But it won’t last.

📉 Top 3 cities with recent rent declines:

• Sacramento, CA

• Tulsa, OK

• Pittsburgh, PA

If you’re in a metro where rent is still soft? Lock that sucker in now. By August, landlords will have the leverage again.

City of the Week: Clarksville, Tennessee

If you want a place that’s quietly winning while the rest of the country scrambles, look at Clarksville.

Tucked just northwest of Nashville, Clarksville has been quietly climbing the ranks of the best places to live — not for flash, but for fundamentals.

✅ Median Home Price: ~$288,000 (nearly $100K less than national average)
✅ No State Income Tax: Keep more of every paycheck
✅ Military-Proof Economy: Fort Campbell anchors local stability
✅ Commuter Freedom: Easy access to I-24 without the hellscape of Nashville traffic
✅ Remote Worker Ready: Growing high-speed internet coverage + low overhead lifestyle
✅ Population Growth: 6.8% growth in the past 3 years — and still manageable

You won’t find Silicon Valley money here. What you will find is a community of grinders, veterans, families, and small business owners who want space, peace, and a shot at wealth without the chaos.

Rents are still under $1,300 for a 2-bedroom in many parts of the city.
Groceries? Cheaper than Memphis.
Gas? Almost always under the national average.
And the kicker? Montgomery County’s local leadership is actually courting business without overregulating every step.

It’s not sexy — and that’s the point. Smart Movers don’t chase flash. We build where the fundamentals are solid and the freedom is real.

Clarksville’s calling. Just don’t wait until Nashville’s overflow turns it into the next “can’t afford to live here” zone.

💸 Money & Markets: The Burn Has Begun

Consumer credit card debt just hit $1.3 TRILLION. That’s a new record — and delinquencies are surging right behind it.

Mortgage applications? Down 10%.
Gas? Creeping past $4.10 in many regions.
Meanwhile, eggs, beef, and milk are up 6–8% year over year.

The Fed’s talking about a “pause,” but insiders aren’t buying it. A summer rate hike is still on the table, and the market knows it.

💰 Translation: if you’re not cutting expenses and stacking cash, you’re playing with fire.

🟩 Smart Movers’ Summer Stack Strategy:

Reevaluate every subscription
Cancel deadweight expenses
Move money into safer, more resilient vehicles (metals, land, and your own damn skills)

🧾 Legislation: Death by a Thousand Tax Cuts

🔴 Illinois – Floating a tiered property tax hike to cover school budget shortfalls

🟡 Florida – DeSantis is fighting to keep sales tax cuts alive but property tax relief is hitting resistance

🟢 Oregon & New York – Capital gains surcharges targeting “high earners,” but guess what? Business owners and middle-class savers are in the line of fire

Stories and Opinions: Don’t get mad

👷🏾‍♀️ Job Market: Slowing, Squeezing, Shifting

• March saw just 103,000 new jobs added. Sectors like hospitality and retail are slipping.

• Wage growth is flat while inflation continues its slow grind up.

• Gig work is spiking again — because people are desperate for extra cash.

In March 2025, the U.S. economy added 228,000 jobs, with healthcare (+54,000) and social assistance (+24,000) sectors leading the gains. Ambulatory services, hospitals, and family support roles are expanding steadily. ​(Actalent)

The transportation and warehousing sector added 23,000 jobs in March, doubling its 12-month average. Growth in courier services and trucking reflects sustained e-commerce demand. (Bureau of Labor and Statistics)

Despite political efforts to revive manufacturing jobs, structural shifts like automation and changing consumer demand have led to a global decline in manufacturing employment. Even in countries with strong manufacturing policies, such as Germany, employment in this sector has decreased due to efficiency gains. ​(Vox)

AI-related job postings have surged by 59% in 2024, with roles like AI engineer topping demand lists. Cities like Nashville are investing in AI education and infrastructure to capitalize on this growth (​Axios)

States like Rhode Island (+8.3%), Montana (+7.4%), and Delaware (+6.6%) are experiencing significant job growth, while others like Texas (-2.6%) and Florida (-5.3%) face declines. This highlights the importance of regional considerations in job searches. (Workforce Analytic Insights)

🔐 War Chest: Your Summer Stack Mission

Let’s be clear: we’re not sounding alarms for drama — we’re laying out strategy for survival. The next 3 to 6 months will test everything. Prices are rising, uncertainty is spreading, and the pressure is mounting. This isn’t the time to wing it. This is the time to build your personal war chest — a plan that protects your wealth, your well-being, and your options.

Start with the basics. Precious metals like silver and gold are not just shiny collectibles; they’re historical stores of value. In a world where the dollar is quietly losing weight, metals provide a layer of protection. We’re not suggesting you dump your entire savings into bullion, but having a portion of your assets in something tangible — and independent of the stock market — can be a smart hedge.

Next, cash reserves. Not in risky ETFs, not in speculative investments, and not sitting idle in big banks where accessibility could be limited. Instead, consider keeping some liquidity in local or regional banks or credit unions. This is about flexibility and control. When things shift — and they will — those with fast access to cash will have the advantage.

Also think about your tools, gear, and the resources that have practical utility. Backup power, clean water systems, solar chargers, communication equipment, food preservation tools — these aren’t prepping fantasies. They’re practical moves in an increasingly fragile economy and overstretched supply chain.

Now let’s talk land and property. Skip the overpriced city condos and vanity Airbnbs. What you want are resilient properties — affordable, multi-use, outside of major tax traps. Think land that can grow, store, or house something. It doesn’t have to be a mansion — it just has to make sense long-term.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the value of skills. If you lost internet access for a week, could you still earn? Could you barter or build? Learn one new income-producing or problem-solving skill this quarter. Whether it's digital (like editing, consulting, or online training) or hands-on (like repair work, gardening, or off-grid tech), skill-building increases your leverage and lowers your dependency.

This is not financial advice. You should always consult with a qualified financial advisor, CPA, or legal professional before making major money moves. Everyone’s situation is different. What we offer here are principles — not prescriptions.

But principles matter. And the biggest one right now? Do not sit still. The middle class is shrinking, the rich are repositioning, and the system is moving. If you build your war chest now, you won’t just survive this cycle — you’ll walk out of it stronger, smarter, and ready to buy when everyone else is selling.

Stack wisely. Move smart. And don’t wait for the next headline to make it urgent.

🧠 Freedom Riddle of the Week

Guess the Smart Mover State

🎁 Email your answer to [email protected] with subject “Freedom Riddle”
We’ll reveal the answer and shout out correct responders in next week’s issue.

Perennial visionary,

Stacy
Strizzy Report & The Comfort Killers

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If you want to beta test before it drops, stay subscribed. Pro members will get first dibs.

▶️ New Video: This State Is Taxing Remote Workers Who Don’t Even Live There
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Also have no fear, I’ll be dropping opportunities when I see them.