When you talk about innovation and technology when it comes to online / internet based payments these days, the conversation often turns to Bitcoin, the innovative new monetary system that’s being used more and more around the globe. However, despite the increasing number of retailers that are beginning to use them and it’s run-up in value, there are quite a few other financial innovations that are playing more of a role in the daily lives of people around the world than Bitcoin, at least for now.

These innovations are changing things at a quicker scale, from how the average small business owner goes about business on a daily basis to how farmers in Uganda are handling their finances.… Read the rest

While you may think that college is all fun and games, keeping track of your credit score and doing your best to keep it as high as possible is no laughing matter. The fact is, having a “frat party” with your buddies can wait but a good credit score shouldn’t.

For most people, college is the first time in their life that they actually begin taking responsibility for their financial affairs. Most get their first credit card, their first car  insurance bill and, for some, their very first part-time job while they’re in college. While the responsibilities of college life, especially if you have a part-time job, can be daunting, now is actually the perfect time to obtain your very first credit report and learn about what you can do to keep your credit score sterling.… Read the rest

Welcome back for Part 2 of our 2 Part series on how your Money Habits can be affected by your Upbringing. In Part 1 we talked about how the fact that your parents spoiled you rotten  (or never spoiled you at all) could affect the decisions you’re making now when it comes to money and your finances. Today were going to be doing and talking about more of the same so, if you’re ready for little financial therapy, let’s get started. Enjoy.

• Mom and dad never gave you any Lessons about Money.  This is probably the most common problem and usually it’s due to the simple perpetuation of your parent’s own lack of a financial education.

… Read the rest

Something that most people don’t realize is that how they were raised as children can actually have a big impact on how they make decisions as adults, especially with money. Sometimes the decisions, due to the way mom and dad taught us, are excellent and, sometimes, they are not. That’s not to say that a person can just blame their parents for their problems and their mismanagement of money but, at the root of most adult financial problems, are the lessons that they learned as children from their mother and father.

With that in mind we put together a list of relatively common parenting behaviors that, in most cases, can have a negative influence and how a person handles money and their finances as adults.… Read the rest