Hailey Welch, known as the "Hawk Tuah Girl," is facing backlash after her $HAWK meme coin dropped 95% shortly after its launch. Amid accusations of a "pump-and-dump" scheme and potential SEC investigations, Welch has gone silent on social media, leaving fans wondering what her next move will be. Also, in today's Money Making Moves, we explore what could happen to TikTok as it faces a Jan. 19 deadline to divest ownership in the US:

> Hailey Welch, once the viral "Hawk Tuah Girl," has become embroiled in controversy following the collapse of her $HAWK meme coin, which lost 95% of its value shortly after launch. Investors accused Welch and her team of orchestrating a "pump-and-dump" scheme, with blockchain analysts revealing insiders allegedly controlled and sold off most tokens, causing the crash. As speculation mounts about her potential legal troubles and SEC investigations, Welch has gone silent on social media, fueling rumors about her whereabouts and next steps. While her reputation has taken a massive hit, some fans believe she was exploited by crypto insiders, leaving her next move crucial for her career.

> TikTok faces a looming January 19 deadline to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face removal from US app stores under a law passed by Congress. While President Biden could extend the deadline, no such announcement has been made, and TikTok's legal challenges to the divest-or-ban law have so far been unsuccessful. Despite the threat, TikTok creators, employees, and business partners continue operating as usual, reflecting past failures to enforce similar bans. A potential sale of TikTok's US assets to an American company, though complicated by Chinese government restrictions, remains the most viable path for the app’s survival in the US.

> Shares of major health insurers with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including CVS, Cigna, and UnitedHealth, fell after President-elect Donald Trump criticized PBMs as middlemen who drive up drug costs and vowed to eliminate their role. Trump, speaking at Mar-a-Lago, accused PBMs of profiting excessively without adding value and promised to lower drug prices to unprecedented levels. PBMs, which negotiate drug prices and manage pharmacy reimbursements, are under increased scrutiny, with investigations by the House Oversight Committee and the FTC accusing them of unfair practices, such as restricting access to cheaper drugs. CVS defended its role in reducing drug costs, warning that limiting PBM tools would leave Americans vulnerable to drugmakers' pricing.

Launch an online dating consultancy to help singles find love by creating standout dating profiles, sourcing compatible matches, and providing first-date coaching. Start by testing your skills with friends, using their success stories to build credibility and attract clients. Expand your business by offering digital products, such as an online dating course or workbook, which can generate passive income through platforms like Shopify’s Digital Downloads app. This unique blend of personalized consulting and scalable resources positions you as a modern matchmaker in the digital age.

Start a baby gear rental side hustle by offering strollers, car seats, and other essentials to traveling families who can’t bring everything with them. Platforms like Babierge connect families in need with independent providers, allowing you to earn money by renting out baby equipment. You can invest in high-demand items, set your rental rates, and coordinate deliveries for added convenience. This flexible and profitable side hustle taps into the growing need for travel-friendly family solutions.

> Investing in farming can be strategic as food remains a necessity, making agriculture relatively recession-proof and increasingly important as the population grows. For those unable to buy farms, alternatives like farmland REITs (e.g., Farmland Partners Inc.) provide exposure to agriculture with lower capital requirements and liquidity. Other options include investing in agriculture stocks, such as crop producers (Fresh Del Monte), equipment manufacturers (Deere & Co.), and commodity ETFs like Teucrium Corn Fund (CORN) or Invesco DB Agriculture ETF (DBA). While farming investments offer promising opportunities, they carry risks tied to volatile food prices and external factors like weather, global conflicts, and economic events. For farmland investing options, click here. 

> Starbucks is expanding its parental leave benefits, offering up to 18 weeks of paid leave for birth parents and 12 weeks for non-birth parents, up from 6 weeks previously. The policy applies to U.S. store employees working at least 20 hours per week and includes parents welcoming children by birth, adoption, or foster placement. CEO Brian Niccol, addressing employee concerns, called the change part of efforts to improve operations amid declining sales and labor unionization efforts seeking better parental leave. Despite the expansion, Starbucks faces challenges like smaller raises, reduced bonuses, and operational issues that Niccol aims to address to restore the brand's reputation.

> Dawn and Richard, a couple in their 40s living paycheck to paycheck, have postponed their wedding due to financial stress and unresolved money traumas. Despite a combined income of $83,616 annually, 74% of their earnings go to fixed expenses, leaving no room for savings, investments, or an emergency fund. Their mismatched financial goals, shaped by past bankruptcies, debts, and childhood experiences, have strained their relationship, creating tension and indecision about merging finances. Financial advisor Ramit Sethi urged the couple to address their spending habits, set boundaries, and create a structured financial plan to rebuild both their finances and their relationship.