Are You Financially Illiterate?
Let’s begin with two questions:
1. Do you consider yourself financially literate?
2. If so, how did you get that way?
And now, a third question:
3. How important is widespread financial literacy to the health of a modern society?
These questions open a great article by Stephen J. Dubner (See: “Are We a Nation of Financial Illiterates?” Freakonomics blog, NYT).
I challenge you to read his essay and see if you can correctly answer the first three questions he poses. Or, listen to his brief discussion of the topic at “The Takeaway” podcast.
Here’s an excerpt from his article:
I am all in favor of a well-rounded education, but seriously: what good is it if high-school students learn about Flaubert, biology, and trigonometry if they don’t learn how to take care of their money? One bright side to the increasingly dark economic news these days is that more and more people will learn (albeit the hard way) Rule No. 1: Do not buy what you cannot afford.
How or why do know (or don’t know) about personal finance issues? It’s a question worth asking yourself as you work to change your behavior with money. If you need a refresher, check out our recent “back to the basics series”. It covers topics we all should know—or think we know—that directly impact our personal finances.
What about in your life? Who helped you learn about personal finance? Or, what situations forced you to educate yourself? What would you advise someone just beginning to take control of their financial lives? Share your experiences with us here at the blog or in a related Geezeo group.
Geezeo blog submission guidelines
Thanks for your interest in writing for Geezeo! We love to hear different points of view from members of our community. Before submitting an article to Geezeo, please take a moment to peruse some of the entries posted here (http://blog.geezeo.com) to get a feel for the writing style. At the moment we are not paying for articles; this is just a way for our members to discuss various financial topics outside their smaller, individual Geezeo Groups.
Please use the following as a checklist before submitting your piece:
1. Blog articles should be a maximum of 700 words. If you can tell your story in fewer words, please do! (Please do a word count before submitting if you are unsure.)
2. Blog articles are to be written in first person, leaning heavily toward op-ed style with a thesis and supporting arguments. Any relevant or referenced links should be embedded. The article can be short, long, funny, topical … anything goes, but be sure to clearly communicate the purpose of your submission. Be BOLD in your writing style and share your point of view. We love humor!
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cash, cupcakes, and creativity… oh my!
“Being creative is not an excuse to be dumb about money.”
Do you have a lot of divergent interests? Good if you do… it probably means you’re an interesting person! But what happens when these interests take you in multiple directions? What does it mean for your money?
I spoke with the lovely and funny Nichelle Stephens. Nichelle is a great example of someone with a lot of interesting and divergent interests ranging from comedy to accounting to cupcakes. She gives us some thoughts on managing your money so you don’t spread yourself too thin. And she reminds us that personal finance doesn’t have to be your life in order to be a useful tool in your life.
Is there a common thread in your multiple professional lives?
The common thread is that I am doing what I love and I help people do what they love. I produce a weekly stand-up comedy night, Chicks and Giggles which supports women doing comedy and making people laugh. As one of the bloggers on Cupcakes Take The Cake, I have created a community where cupcake lovers and bakers can share pictures, recipes, and their news. Doing freelance publicity is where I can promote cool people doing cool things, and the small business accounting facilitates entrepreneurs financial success.
I assume that your background in accounting is really helpful when it comes to managing your other professional goals. How does managing your money allow you to pursue so many diverse interests?
Since I have so many things going on, I have to budget wisely. My background in accounting helps me to focus on the tasks that are worth my time and/or money. Sometimes I do a quick cost benefit analysis in my head to determine priority. Other times I just go with my gut!
You also keep a blog, Keeping Nickels. How did this evolve?
Well, I have been doing bookkeeping for almost two years, but I didn’t have a blog dedicated to bookkeeping and small business tips. One afternoon, I set up a wordpress blog, Keeping Nickels , in about 15 minutes and the rest is history. On the blog, I talk about how manage business expenses, get ready for tax preparation, and write about new web applications for accounting. I also relate some of the experiences of setting up Quickbooks for my clients.
What tools do you use to keep your money life organized? Do you mind sharing what has been your biggest challenge?
I used Geezeo to keep an eye on my banking account. I tried to keep a spending diary, but that takes up too much time. The best way for me to budget is to give myself a spending allowance and try my darndest to stick to it. 
What recommendations would you make to other people who have to balance cash flow and creativity?
Don’t fear money. Check your balances regularly. I have a friend who got $5000 from her mom at Christmas that was supposed to be for her business, and she’s afraid to check her balance to see what is left since she’s afraid to know how much she already spent (not on her business).
When it comes to money, it seems you’ve got a healthy attitude: “wealthy [by] having the most wonder-filled friends”. Any ideas why it can be difficult to talk about money, even amongst friends?
It is really difficult in New York. Classism exists brilliantly here. You can’t always judge by what people wear, where people live, or what they do for a living to know how much money they have in the bank. I have friends that make nearly 10 times more a year than I do, and yet we are friends. Sometimes I get jealous of the stuff they have, but I know I am wealthy in my own way. I just try to not keep up with the Jones’ because that is impossible.
Final thoughts on creativity and cash?
Being creative is not an excuse to be dumb about money. Keep it simple and you can do it. Find a way to make it fun, or contact someone like me to help.
Excellent thoughts, Nichelle. If you can’t afford bookkeeping help, you can certainly afford Geezeo because our tools are free. And, you can meet interesting people in any of our Groups — discuss your money or your life. Live it to the fullest!
Couples and finances: We interview Him and Her
“Argue early and argue often!”
Are you lucky enough to be part of a pair? Are you equally fortunate to have good communication with your partner about money? Not everyone can say yes! Discussing money can be the source of tension for many couples.
How do you resolve money issues with your partner? How do you approach your finances and your life as team? I spoke with Him and Her of the personal finance blog Make Love, Not Debt. Here’s what they had to say about managing money together.
Make Love Not Debt is a “couple” driven personal finance blog. Was there a defining moment where you said to yourselves, “we ought to keep a blog” or “dang… we need to really get hold of our finances”?
Her: The defining moment was the night my first student loan bill arrived. The monthly payment was staggering, over $1,000. On top of that I had maxed out several credit cards and carried balances on many store cards. My monthly minimum payment finally exceeded my income – by a LOT. There was no way I was going to be able to continue the financial charade anymore. Around midnight, I finally broke down sobbing and confessed the amount of my debt to Him. That night he gave me an ultimatum: take responsibility and clean this mess up, or our relationship was over. Obviously, I knew what I had to do.
Him: The blog part came about a year later. I had somewhat of a handle on finances, but nowhere near the level in which I wanted to be at. I found myself reading personal finance blogs, of which there were not that many at the time. I noticed a lack of blogs that (1) reported a negative net worth, (2) had a couple-based team, and (3) wrote about finances from our angle.
Does the blog open up the conversation about money or your values? Was it easy to discuss money before starting the blog?
Her: The blog definitely opens up the conversation because we both often write stream-of-consciousness posts, often before we’ve discussed the issue together. So I frequently find out what Him is thinking by reading the blog. Then it’s easy to say, “Oh, I liked that post you wrote today, I think that’s a great idea” and take it from there. Before the blog, it was harder to discuss money. When you’re writing something, you can start to predict whether readers will agree with you or not, and then you can think about money from a less biased perspective. So we argue less and talk more now.
Him: Blogging has forced us to really take in what the rest of the personal finance community is saying. In doing that, we learn a great deal from others’ perspectives. We often discuss applying others’ ways of doing things into our own personal finance management.
As a couple you guys seem to have a his/hers/ours approach. By that I mean you keep money in three categories… as individuals and a joint account. What made you choose this approach?
Her: I wanted to take this approach because I needed a small amount of freedom to make my own purchases without being judged. It helps us avoid fights over $3.00 purchases. It also makes it possible for us to surprise each other with gifts.
Him: Agreed. If I want to blow money on crappy kung-fu movies, then that’s my choice. But we also realize the value of building a future together, therefore we keep a joint account.
Would you, (or did you?) ever try combining your money into one joint account? Why?
Her: We have never had a combined account, and I doubt we ever will. We tend to disagree on which small purchases are important. I like to buy a coffee every morning, while Him has a turkey sandwich addiction. I find it charming now, but if the turkey sandwiches were coming out of “our” account then I might not think it was so cute.
Him: Nah. The personal accounts gives us a lot of freedom. That’s what helps make our relationship with each other work so well.
What’s the thing about money that your partner does that drives you crazy?
Her: Him has repeatedly tried to convince me to sell my few individual shares of corporate stock. These were my first investments ever and I have an emotional attachment to them. I never want to part with them!
Him: She doesn’t sell her shares of individual stock.
Have you noticed any “money quirks” about your partner that you didn’t notice earlier in your relationship?
Her: I am still amazed at what Him and his family consider a reasonable amount to spend on dinner at a restaurant. I didn’t notice this until we started treating his family to dinner, and one meal could cost our entire month’s grocery budget.
Him: Her tends to spend first, ask questions later. Sometimes the answer to that question is, “No, we don’t need that. Have fun returning it.”
When you disagree about how to spend money, what happens?
Her: Generally when we disagree on spending it means we need to save up a bit more until we are both comfortable with the expense. For example, I want to purchase a dining room set, but Him isn’t comfortable spending the money right now. I have agreed to wait until the wedding is over and we can save up some more money.
Him: Yeah, we generally find ways to work it out. That, or we wrestle in jello, and whoever gets pinned has to buy what the other person wants.
What advice would you give couples who argue about money?
Her: Try to set aside an evening each month to have a “State of the Union” talk. Use friendly body language and surround yourselves with things that comfort you, like pets and a nice snack. Work together to keep the conversation focused on finances, and keep the kitchen sink out of it!
Him: Argue early and argue often! When arguing about money, be sure to listen! If Her and I never argued about money, I don’t really think we’d really know what we’d want to spend our money on.
Thanks Him and Her! Got a significant other and money topics to discuss? You can start by reading Make Love Not Debt and see how Her and Him navigate the very real road of “our” finances. You can also find a group here that matches your individual (or couple-driven) Goals.
Sweepstakes…scam or the opportunity to win money?
I was searching the web looking for some interesting stories and this blog caught my eye from YoungMoney.com. I always wondering what the Publishers Clearing House commercials are all about and how you really win money from them. But this is “A Financial Horror Story” as the author put it about a Publishers Clearing House saga and something that could easily happen to you! So just be aware that “free money” usually has some catch with it that we all need to keep an eye out for. Because getting ripped off is a lot easier than we all think (or at least what I used to believe…)
Just watch out! Make sure that you always know the rules and regulations of any contest or sweepstakes that you enter yourself into, because you don’t want to get caught up in a huge mess and end up in a lot of unecessary debt that we don’t need!
So check out this persons story here…I thought it was really interesting!
Madame X Rules! (part 3)
“Again, the key thing isn’t to become an expert about financial arcana, it’s just to have a sense of your own habits, needs, goals and plans.”
Blog Name: My Open Wallet: A personal finance blog about money and life in New York.
URL: http://www.myopenwallet.net
Start date: July 6, 2005
Blog tagline: An anonymous New Yorker tells the world how much money she earns, spends, and saves.
Hello, you! You’ve come back, despite our bitchy advice — haha! And good that you have because today we ask one of our favorite financial bloggers, Madame X, what kinds of mistakes she made over the years. Are you ready to prevent some of your own? If you’ve missed our earlier installments, click here and here.
You’re a model as someone who has done all the smart moves. But you’re only human. What would you say your “wrong” moves have been? Any mistakes you wish you could change when it comes to managing money?
My worst move was probably procrastinating and being cowardly about the real estate market. I made a good move in my early 20s in buying my first home with a partner. When I moved out of that place, I had a lot of cash that I should have used to buy another place. Instead, I rented for 6 years. Those years were from 2000 to 2006, the biggest boom years ever for real estate! If I had bought something right away, and then refinanced when rates were at their lowest, I’d have much lower housing costs now. Of course I didn’t have a crystal ball to know all that, but I think the lesson was that if you can afford to buy a home without over-extending yourself, (and have a relatively stable life in terms of job, family, potential relocation, etc.) it’s probably always a better bet to buy than to rent. That doesn’t mean buying is always the right choice for everyone, but at that time, for someone like me, it was pretty stupid to rent for that long.
I’ve also made mistakes like having bought stocks that I should have known better than to buy. There wasn’t much to do other than to cut my losses by selling and moving on.
I am sure I’ve made lots of other mistakes too, in terms of not paying enough attention to investing, not being a smart shopper, overspending, etc. Some of that was due to laziness, some due to ignorance, and some due to just willfully prioritizing other things over financial goals at the time. Hell yeah, I’m only human!
What would you say to yourself if you could go back in time to college days with respect to money?
Probably something like “you doofus, wake up and go to class for a change!” I always have feelings of regret about college just because my parents and I spent a boatload of money on it but I didn’t take advantage of everything I could have. Hindsight is the only way of knowing that you might have picked the wrong major, but whatever I studied, I probably could have put more effort into it. I also wish I’d networked more in order to get a job after college, instead of just pounding the pavement until I found a retail store that would hire me! But I can’t really complain about how it’s all turned out.
With regard specifically to money, I just wish I’d paid more attention to my spending and learned about ways to invest– my college years were back in the dark ages before anyone knew what a website was, so it was harder to do back then, but I should have started trying to inform myself. Again, the key thing isn’t to become an expert about financial arcana, it’s just to have a sense of your own habits, needs, goals and plans. The worst thing you can do is stick your head in the sand and think your money will take care of itself.
Okay… If you designed an online financial tool for young people, what would be the three best things to include?
I think net worth tracking is key, because it keeps your eye on the prize. I personally also find retirement calculators really valuable, because they help you figure out what kind of prize you should be aiming for in the first place. And the social networking aspect is good when it allows you to see how you compare to others and share suggestions, motivations, etc. And maybe it should have all that stuff they have on Facebook, where you can throw a sheep at someone or chestbump them. I think that really adds a lot of value.
Your voice has been heard, Madame X! As it turns out we’re in the middle of developing a chestbump/headbutt/sheep-throwing app. Look for it in the new release.
Madame X, thank you for taking the time to talk with us and give us a peek at your finances. We appreciate your insight. You, and your rules, rule!
Make sure to get more great thoughts on money and life by subscribing to “My Open Wallet”.
Madame X Rules! (part 2)
“I only have bitchy advice for people like that”
Blog Name: My Open Wallet: A personal finance blog about money and life in New York.
URL: http://www.myopenwallet.net
Start date: July 6, 2005
Blog tagline: An anonymous New Yorker tells the world how much money she earns, spends, and saves.
Yesterday we sat down with Madame X to discover how, exactly, she built up a nice nest egg on limited income starting out. She was gracious enough to rule out our faulty assumptions. No, she did not do this by selling babies on the underground market, or anything else illegal and immoral. Nor did she do it leading a dull life (see her quote yesterday about parties with dominatrixes, yowza! CLICK HERE).
So, what else can we learn, if we too are interested in making the most of what we’ve got?
You were smart enough to save your money from Day 1 — even though your industry [publishing] didn’t pay much at the beginning. Can you tell us about that decision? A lot of people think they can’t save because they don’t “make enough”. What do you say to them?
It is really hard to commit yourself to saving when you don’t have much money, and to be honest, I’m not sure I really did. My first years out of college were actually kind of atypical– I didn’t do the usual publishing thing of getting an entry level job in NYC right out of college. I worked in a bookstore, where I made even less money than entry level publishing, but then I was promoted to being a manager, and after a few years of that I came to NYC with enough experience to land a job that had an entry level salary but way better than entry level bonus. So I was forced to live on a fairly tight budget but it was still easy for me to save a good chunk of money.
Still, in those early years I wasn’t really focused on my finances the way I am now. I was aware of wanting to be financially secure but I didn’t track my expenses and I wasn’t especially frugal. Luckily, I also just knew I couldn’t go too crazy with spending and it all worked out!
As for thinking you don’t make enough to save, if you commit yourself to saving money when you first start out, especially in something like a 401k which has tax advantages and happens automatically at a set percentage, I think it is almost easier to do at that point because you’re feeling poor anyway! Is there that big a difference between feeling poor and feeling 10% more poor? I wanted to just put that money out of reach before I started to even think about ways to spend it.
What was it like to make that choice right out of college when you could have spent your money other ways? What were some of the temptations, and what kept you motivated to follow through with this approach?
It’s funny, I wasn’t too tempted to spend money in other ways. The main thing I could have spent money on was travel: at that time, I had friends living in Japan, Australia, France and a few other places and it occurred to me that it would be great to go around the world visiting them all! And who knows, maybe that was the kind of thing my parents would have considered educational enough to lend me money for it. But I didn’t have money myself, and I’d never traveled internationally at that point, so I just didn’t even tackle investigating it. It was pretty lame of me, really. I suppose I’ve saved a lot of money over the years purely by being a lame, boring loser! How’s that for a motivational factor!?!?
What friendly advice would you offer young people who enter low-paying occupations but struggle with debt?
I only have bitchy advice for people like that. Just kidding!
Really, I think the best advice is to keep an eye on the future and remember that life will get better. I think many young people may think they have to have fun before it’s too late, and in doing so they end up prolonging the years in which they’ll struggle with their finances. If you stay focused, live within your means and pay off debt at an early age, you’ll find yourself feeling relatively secure at a point when you are still young and can still have fun. You won’t be over the hill at 30 or even 40, and if you play your cards right, you can get to that age and find that even in a low-paying occupation, a few raises and promotions will get you to a point where you can live comfortably.
I couldn’t agree more! As a student or recent graduate it is easy to feel “what’s the point — I’m already in debt!” Yet, if you’re brave enough to look at the situation honestly you can really make great strides. Just looking at it head on is really a great first step to take. Then you can map out a “plan of attack”! Finding others in similar situations is also key. Here at Geezeo you can find other people from your school or region who are also working on improving their finances.
Tomorrow we ask Madame X about being human. No one is perfect, not even someone who has achieved such savings at such a young age as our dear financial blogger. What mistakes did she make? Find out tomorrow!
And yes, please vote for Geezeo, “Best Online Financial Tool”. We keep asking because we like giving bitchy advice.
Going Green!
So, all you hear about lately is “Going Green”…and I was thinking the other day…I am really bad about recycling when I’m at school. Since I go through so many Poland Spring water bottles a day…I was like ya know, one of my new years resolutions is to start recycling more, I mean it REALLY isn’t that hard, I’m just being lazy! So, I was looking for other ways that people and I guess the world is going green and I came upon this really interesting blog…I though these things that the author talked about were funny/interesting/and show a whole new outlook on things! So take a look, you may learn a thing or two and decide to go green like myself :o)
Madame X Rules! (part 1)
Quick Stats:
Blog Name: My Open Wallet: A personal finance blog about money and life in New York.
URL: http://www.myopenwallet.net
Start date: July 6, 2005
Blog tagline: An anonymous New Yorker tells the world how much money she earns, spends, and saves.
“..about a time I met a dominatrix at a party…”
Imagine this. You start your career working in one of the most expensive cities (New York), working in one of the lowest-paid occupations for entry-level people (publishing). And you have student debt (yuck!) But wait. Now imagine that some (but not too much) time has passed. Now, not including the value of your home, you are worth six figures! And, you’re on track to retire early.
How did you get there? Did you start playing in the pros or become an assassin? How do sex workers factor factor into this future?
That’s what I wondered when I sat down with one of my favorite personal finance bloggers, Madame X. Here, in a three-part interview I’ll discover what she did to get her finances on track so that her money works just as hard as she does. Turns out the lady has some rules. Why don’t you find out what they are?
First, an introduction. What made you start a personal finance blog, and what’s been the greatest surprising result from that endeavor?
Before I started My Open Wallet, I wasn’t really tuned into the whole blogging world. I actually thought the idea of people putting their personal musings online for the world to read was sort of pointless! But I’ve always been aware of money and the fact that people have such trouble talking about it openly sometimes… although they love to know about other people’s money! Also, as I’ve gotten older, I have realized how many of my decisions were driven by money. One day I just decided that it might be an interesting thing to write about– to totally expose all the little financial aspects behind the scenes in one person’s life. I started out with the premise that writing about money would allow me to write about pretty much everything I hear, see, or do, and so far, that seems to be true!
As for my greatest surprise, I guess it’s just the amount of attention it’s ended up getting. I’ve had hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, and been mentioned in some national media. If you’d told me 3 years ago that I’d be written about in Business Week, I would have just laughed. If you told me I’d be written about in Business Week AND Marie Claire, I REALLY would have laughed! I’m not sure which one seems more absurd!
I think one of the best benefits of keeping a semi-public financial conversation is that it keeps you “accountable” (yes, pun intended!) as you develop in knowledge and approach. For you it seems to be a learning process, too. One of the first things I found as a reader were your “Rules”. Explain how your rules developed.
Although I have never intended my blog to come across as a financial advice column, one of the messages I wanted to convey was basically “If someone like me can do it, you can too!” I feel good about what I’ve achieved financially, but I don’t really know all that much about finance and investing. I don’t even find a lot of that knowledge very interesting! But I think the most important thing about managing one’s money is to have a set of guiding principles for yourself. I have written that I see my Rules as “philosophical cattleprods” more than actual instructions, as many of them are just guidelines for things to think about. Also I don’t think any of them are necessarily the right rules for everyone– the point is that they are MY Rules, for ME. They might work for other people too and that is why I’m putting them out there.
And I do see all of this as a learning experience– sharing stories, questioning assumptions and picking up new information from commenters and other bloggers. I love all the discussion certain posts can generate. Often I feel like my commenters are almost scolding me, mainly when I talk about how much I spend on eating out. Sometimes I shrug it off, thinking, “hey, you don’t live in New York, and if I’m having fun and want to eat out sometimes, I will, dammit!” But it can also be a motivating factor– I find myself wanting to control my spending so I won’t be embarrassed when I tell the world about it! As if just not posting it wasn’t an option…
What’s your favorite rule, and why?
I think my favorite rule is #11, “See No Evil”. It’s actually one of the favorite posts I’ve written overall, because it represents the overall flavor I’d like my blog to have. It takes a true and kind of funny story about a time I met a dominatrix at a party, and segues into practical (and somewhat tongue in cheek) suggestions about ways to avoid the temptation to spend money. I just keep hoping I’ll meet more sex workers so I can continue with this theme!
Are any rules changing as you grow/or your situation changes?
My “Now or Later” rule is probably the only one that might seem a little hypocritical now– I had basically said I would wait until I was older to spend money on a home and furniture, while doing things like travelling while I was young. But the reality is that I’ve spent the last couple of years spending a ton of money on a new home and furnishing it, while cutting back a bit on travel! But I think the general idea of the rule still holds– you have to save for a rainy day, but there are some things that it’s worth spending money on sooner rather than later.
To be continued tomorrow, when Madame X admits: “I didn’t track my expenses and I wasn’t especially frugal”
How could this be, you wonder? Find out tomorrow. I think it’s interesting to note that two things Madame X mentioned. One, that in order to achieve your financial goals it is helpful to develop you own set of “rules”. Where and how will you spend your money? To start you need to set goals. You probably already know that goals are a critical cornerstone at Geezeo and you can find others who share your goals.
The other bit of practical wisdom Madame X shares is that you don’t have to know a lot about saving or investing. You just have to get started. Aim your goals just slightly out of reach to begin. Then, keep challenging yourself and you’re bound to grow.
And oh yeah: take a moment to vote for Geezeo in the category “Best Online Financial Tool” at the Motley Fool. Who else mentions finances and dominatrixes in the same breath (aside from maybe dominatrixes)?
investments are an artist’s best friend (and yours, too!)
Hooray, Geezeo now tracks your investments!
In the last year or so I’ve become a big fan of investing. Yes, you read that right. Self-employed me. (Or you?!)
So here’s a run-down of investing tips I’ve learned:
+ Make it a priority to save and invest even small amounts. Work to make it a habit.
If you are self-employed you can use a SEP-IRA and fill it with any mutual fund you want. Many no-load (ie, “no fee”) funds will let you invest as little as $50/month. You can save up to $45,000/year that way! If your saving pockets aren’t that deep you should at least save into a Traditional or Roth IRA (max this year: $4,000 if you earn less than $99K/year)
+ Pay this to yourself before you pay anyone else. Preferably, put it where you can’t cash it out.
You can cash out IRAs but the tax consequences are steep. Set it and forget it, I say.
+ If you can make it automatic, do so for reasons of being human (and frequently tempted to spend).
Routing a portion of proceeds to your investments automatically helps. It’s really helped me.
+ Some discount brokerage firms to consider as you build your I-won’t-eat-cat-food-again fund:
TRowePrice.com; Vanguard.com; Fidelity.com; USAA.com; Zecco.com (for individual trades)
+ Resist doing individual trades until you’ve maxed out your IRA. Every year IRA contributions are use-it-or-lose-it.
‘Nuff said. But if you’re keen to get started and put all your money into one particular stock, consider a broker-free DRIP.
+ Read, read, read - the more you learn the easier it becomes
The library is a great (free!) place to start.
Financial blogs are great, too, because they give real-people accounts (forgive the pun). I like: My Open Wallet, Tired But Happy, MapGirl’s Fiscal Challenge, Frugal Zeitgeist, Moomin Valley, and of course, I have my own, Millionaire Artist.
To your investing success!
