Tag: Budgeting and Planning

If you made it through high school, you probably learned how to factor a polynomial, label a mitochondrion, or regurgitate the causes of the War of 1812. But you probably weren’t taught: How compound interest actually works What a credit score really is How banks make money from your debt Why inflation punishes savers Or how to build wealth from zero That’s not an accident. That’s design. The Education System Was Built for a Different…

Let’s play a quick game. Which of the following people is wealthier? A. Drives a 10-year-old Honda, lives in a modest house, and has no debt… B. Has a six-figure salary, two leased cars, a luxury apartment, and a credit score held together by duct tape and hope. If you picked A, congratulations. You understand what the financial media can’t seem to grasp. Real wealth isn’t flashy. It’s quiet. It’s not about having stuff. It’s…

Debt gets a bad rap—and let’s be honest, it deserves it. Credit cards, payday loans, 72-month car notes… They lure you in, then gut you like a fish. But here’s the twist nobody tells you when you’re scraping by on overdraft protection: Debt is just a tool. And like any tool, it can either build something—or wreck everything. A hammer can smash a window. Or it can build a house. Same hammer. Different hands. So…

Credit as bait. Interest as the hook. Learn to cut the line. Imagine you walk into a casino. The chips are free. The drinks are flowing. Every table has flashing lights and someone shouting, “You’re already approved!” You sit down. You play. You lose. And then the pit boss strolls over and says, “Don’t worry. We’ll just add it to your tab.” Welcome to the modern credit economy. In this game, you’re not the player—you’re…

Expose the rigged game. Remove shame. Start fresh. Let’s clear something up right out of the gate: you are not the problem. Yes, your bills might be stacked like pancakes at a Sunday diner. Yes, you might dread checking your bank account. But before the shame spiral kicks in again, take a look around. This isn’t just about you. It’s about a debt-based economy designed to keep people spending money they don’t have to buy…