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4 Things American Consumers Should Know About the Brexit

Are you befuddled by the Brexit?
A Union Jack flag flutters next to European Union flags ahead of a visit from Britain's PM Cameron at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels
REUTERS/Yves Herman

Are you American? Is the most British thing about you that you can recite entire scenes from "Downton Abbey"? Are you befuddled by the Brexit?

Here are four things Yanks should know about the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union:

Your Favorite British Tea May Get Cheaper (and So May Other Imports)

Do you like to drink popular British teas PG Tips or Twinings? You could be about to save.

Read More: David Cameron, Britain's Prime Minister, to Step Down After 'Brexit' Vote

“The falling pound will drive down the cost of goods Americans import from the U.K.," said Greg McBride, Bankrate.com's chief financial analyst.

What About Interest Rates?

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen cited Brexit last week as a reason for not increasing U.S. interest rates.

So because of Brexit, you won't soon be earning any higher rates of return on your savings accounts, but you also won't be paying higher rates on credit card debt, or home or car loans.

"This is also considered by the Fed to be a wrench in the efforts of the U.S. economy to get back on course. It may slow growth. It will most certainly result in interest rates staying lower longer," said NBC News financial contributor Jean Chatzky.

Don't Panic With Your Portfolio

Global markets plunged on the news, with the Dow down 2.5 percent in early trading, in part because investors expected a "stay" vote, said McBride. Small investors with the stomach, however, can suddenly take advantage of a "Brexit discount" in stocks.

"Since nothing will change right away, a market overreaction presents an attractive buying opportunity," said McBride.

"The markets hate uncertainty and much about this is uncertain — exactly how this will play out, David Cameron's exit. The markets will be down big. Don't panic. Anything that did not belong in stocks to begin with should be sold. But otherwise stay the course," said Chatzky.

Is This Britain's Donald Trump Moment?

Swap out the country names and the specific politics, and the rhetoric around the Brexit can begin to sound a lot like a Trump stump speech.

Read More: Brexit Vote Sends Pound to 31-Year-Low, Pummeling Markets

The Republican made the connection himself speaking from one of his business ventures in Scotland on Friday, saying that "there are great similarities between what happened here and my campaign," Trump said, according to the Associated Press. "People want to see borders. They don't necessarily want people pouring into their country that they don't know who they are and where they come from."

And even if Trump doesn't become president, the Brexit could give a boost to supporters and other politicians who might want to grab onto the tailcoats of his policies.

A recent analysis by Moody's rating agency forecasted that Trump's policies could result in up to 7 million U.S. jobs lost.