03/31/09 – In the Midst of Economic Crisis, New Survey Finds Majority of Americans Confused About Personal Finance Survey Demonstrates Need for More Adult Economic and Financial Education WASHINGTON DC — With tomorrow marking the start of “Economic Literacy Month,” the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy (CEEL), Econ4U.org, today released a new survey that [...]
Do you know what the Dow Jones Industrial Average is? Congratulations! Because among your fellow Americans, this knowledge puts you in an elite minority. This week Econ4U released the results of our semi-annual Economic Literacy Survey. And once again our findings demonstrate that Americans still lack a basic understanding of economics and personal finance. When [...]
As you already probably know, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has been asked to step down by the White House after 32 years with the company. As the AP notes: Wagoner isn’t the first CEO to lose his job as part of a government bailout. The CEOs of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac [...]
It’s tax time, and those of you braving the process alone may not know of all the deductions available that will save you money. Among the lesser-known writeoffs: Satellite radio. If you have a home office or small business and like to work in a creative ambience, you are allowed to deduct the cost of [...]
Our friends over at WalletPop are featuring a post on simple ways to cut down on household expenses. From simple reminders like unplugging idle electronic devices to buying in bulk at the grocery store, these tips are a good way to start thinking economically. BillShrink.com also has a good article titled “Stop Wasting your Money [...]
Following up on our post about Jim Cramer’s stock tips, a new study suggests that the financial advice on shows like “Mad Money” may actually reduce activity in your brain: Study participants were asked to make a series of financial choices between a guaranteed payment and a lottery while undergoing fMRI scanning. During portions of [...]
Much of the media attention on Capitol Hill over the past two weeks has focused on the $165 million in bonuses paid to AIG employees, but many have begun to point the finger at what they say is the “real outrage,” so-called “counterparty payments” from AIG to other financial institutions. The counterparty question has gained [...]
The U.S. Treasury yesterday announced plans to expand its Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) by as much as $1 trillion: The plan calls for the federal government to work with private investors to try to restart the market for the troubled mortgage loans and securities, which in turn officials hope improves the financial condition of [...]
“FreeCreditReport.com’s” annoying jinglers are hoping you forget to cancel your “free” account so they can hit you with the associated fees. Those commercials don’t come free you know. As the FTC says, “Despite the musical claims of some TV commercials, the only authorized source to get your free annual credit report under federal law is AnnualCreditReport.com.”
Kiplinger‘s Personal Finance Editor Janet Bodnar wrote a feature on credit cards, debit cards, and teens. Her article recieved a large number of responses from parents who wanted to weigh in on the issue–one that I find very interesting and relevant to what’s happening in today’s economy. Bodnar questioned whether parents should allow teens to [...]
