The Wizard of Oz is a story about the dangers of the gold standard
The Wizard of Oz is a beloved, award-winning film that spun into a cultural phenomenon, but did you know that there’s a secret meaning behind Dorothy’s adventure? Some historians and economists believe that the tale represents how America navigated the gold...
The surprising psychological effect of tracking your expenses
Have you ever felt stressed out over finances? You’re not alone. Nearly two-thirds of Americans report that money is a major source of stress. Studies show that insurmountable debt may be even more stressful than divorce or the death of a close friend. Financial...
How the Dutch East India Company inadvertently created the world’s first stock market
To tell the story of the world’s first stock exchange is to tell the story of the Dutch East India Company, as the creation of the latter led directly to the formation of the former. The Dutch East India Company was formed to solve numerous problems plaguing the...
How Genghis Khan’s grandson introduced paper money in Mongolian China
When the Venetian merchant Marco Polo traveled to Asia in the late thirteenth century, he was shocked to learn that the inhabitants of Mongolian China went about their daily business using paper money. This currency, commonly known as the chao, had been introduced to...
How the invention of coins changed daily life in ancient Greece
It’s hard to imagine life without the concept of money. But for most of human history, there was no money, in the modern sense of the word. For a better look into the role money plays in our world today, let’s turn back the clock to the dawn of money. The oldest...
How to Navigate a Bank or Credit Union
Banks and credit unions can seem a little unfriendly to anyone who isn’t familiar with how they work. There are no helpful signs telling you where to stand, what forms you need, how much anything costs, or even which tellers have the good lollipops. Compare that to a...
Can money help you quit bad habits?
Everyone has done it at one time or another: feeding into our impulses to buy the latest objet du jour on social media or reaching for the items displayed in the checkout line, which leads to overspending. While a once-in-a-while purchase can be chalked up to a moment...
What’s the Best Savings Vehicle for My Emergency Fund?
Anyone who has ever had to hide the “good” snacks from a voracious roommate knows that a proper stash must maintain the perfect balance of three factors: Separation: Storing your chocolate-covered almonds somewhere other than the shared pantry not only decreases the...
How to manage volatile income
Anyone who has ever been a freelancer, worked on commission, or relied on tips knows the boom-and-bust cycle of having an irregular income. How are you supposed to budget when you don’t know which months feature steak dinners and which ones require ramen noodles? ...
How much savings is too much?
Setting up good saving habits is one of the best things you can do for yourself. But whether you're just getting started on your savings journey or you've already got a pile of cash, you might be wondering: just how much, exactly, should I save? What if I save too...
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Recent Posts
The Wizard of Oz is a story about the dangers of the gold standard
The surprising psychological effect of tracking your expenses
How the Dutch East India Company inadvertently created the world’s first stock market
How Genghis Khan’s grandson introduced paper money in Mongolian China
How the invention of coins changed daily life in ancient Greece
How to Navigate a Bank or Credit Union
