Posts Tagged ‘personal finance’

The President’s Own Budget

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

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(Official White House photo)

President Obama was recently caught off guard when a personal finance reporter asked him a question about his budget. No, not that budget. His family budget. A U.S. president earns about $400,000 a year, not counting outside income. And while he probably pays someone smart to help him make major financial decisions, he’s still got to have some basic money management lessons to teach his kids.

So what kind of advice does our nation’s leader have for financially illiterate citizens?

Save part of your paycheck and believe in the power of compound interest.

His answer was so simple… it was kind of disappointing, really. Isn’t there some secret to achieving financial control? A magic formula? Hot stock tips? No. Well, at least, not according to the president.

Interesting. How far could compound interest take you? Find out using the Compound Interest Calculator!

Today’s Episode of “Personal Finance for Preschoolers”

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

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(photo credit: popofatticus)

Seems like the rash of recent economic disasters have woken America up to the fact that education in personal finance is practically non-existent in this country.

So financial educators are starting to pay more attention to the kids. (See, for example, SPEND.GROW.GIVE.) But there’s one little problem… For most kids, personal finance is, well, boring and irrelevant.

Sure, you can talk about it in an Elmo voice, but is that really going to make money matter to young children? And should personal finance education really start in preschool? Starting young probably can’t hurt, but you’ve also got to be smart about how you approach the topic.

What would be the best way for you to learn about personal finance?

What do you think you should know by now? Do you at least know where the money goes?

What Does Money Mean to You? Meet the Author of “Moolala”

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Bruce Sellery is cleaning up Canada, one bumbling financial amateur after another. He’s a journalist, an author, a public speaker, and a consultant. His “thing” is figuring out what you really need and want in order to set up your financial life in the best way possible. (Sound familiar?)

Please enjoy this Skypetastic interview, beamed to us LIVE from Bruce’s HQ in Canadia:

>> TILE brings you exclusive opinions, explanations, and interviews from experts in every industry. Have a burning question or an expert you’d like to see interviewed? Just Ask TILE!

Sesame Street Bigwig Elmo Explains Personal Finance

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

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[annoying voice] Hi, I’m Elmo! I know more about personal finance than most Americans, and I’m a 3-year-old puppet!

At least, that’s the premise. The hope is that this cuddly little red carpet sample will start American kids early on the path to having the first clue about managing their money.

If you consider your financial life to be on par with a 3-year-old’s, or you’re having a really hard time saving up for that stupendous ball, you should definitely watch Elmo’s new spending, saving and sharing video series. But let’s get real: you should also be spending more time on SPEND.GROW.GIVE.

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ELMO’S CELEBRITY SCRAPBOOK

With friends like these, you must have your life in order…

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Whoa… we always knew TILE could make you prosper, but it might actually make you live longer, too!

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011


(photo credit: Andy Welsher)

A new study on longevity reveals that (shocker) slacking off and not caring about anything will probably make you die faster.

“What characterized the people who thrived is a combination of their own persistence and dependability and the help of other people,” Friedman says. The young adults who were thrifty, persistent, detail-oriented and responsible lived the longest.

Time to work on that financial plan you’ve been putting off, no?

Government Accountability Office Finds 56 Different Federal Programs for Helping People Understand Finance

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

“The GAO examined numerous federal agencies, including the departments of defense, agriculture and housing and urban development, and pointed to instances where different arms of the government should be coordinating or consolidating efforts to save taxpayers’ money.

The agency found 82 federal programs to improve teacher quality; 80 to help disadvantaged people with transportation; 47 for job training and employment; and 56 to help people understand finances, according to a draft of the report reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.”

What do you think?

Have any of these fifty-six programs helped YOU? How about SPEND.GROW.GIVE?

Let us know at ask@tilefinancial.com!

“Women want to tame him, but he has loved once, and now is lost…” Romance Publisher Harlequin Offering Personal Finance Books

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Our Canadian friends at The Globe and Mail reveal the latest trend in financial education:

Making personal finance books pink. You know, so girls will read them.

Harlequin, publisher of such romance classics as Alaskan Heat and Surrender to an Irish Warrior*, has already put out one book (The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life) and plans to publish more in the future.

Okay, we know men and women spend differently and even think about money differently. But will coloring personal finance books pink and talking about shoes really make finance matter for the ladies?

What do you think?

*Trahern MacEgan—his body is honed for fighting, his soul is black and tortured. Women want to tame him, but he has loved once, and now is lost. – eharlequin.com