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The economy is a mess already, but it will likely get worse before things get better. Acquiring basic financial survival skills for money management. It is important and interesting to learn something new every day. Keeping a record may save having to relearn them in the future.

for consideration

• bonds, risk / reward - investopedia
• blogs, information sources
• plan / strategy
• technical indicators

commentary / guidance

• Marc Farber - commodity stocks no longer attractive, buy currencies of Canada, Australia and Singapore, avoid bonds, buy gold $750-$800 ..7apr09
• John Taylor of Stanford
• Don Coxe - commodity fund

Financial literacy

financial literacy - general information, personal wealth management, retirement, taxes, other people

• risk and return - risk assessment, conservative income, asset safety, bonds, income trusts
• depression, saving, investment
• boomer retirement - cashflow, walk-to, working
• what would happen if the governments, G20 summits, etc. stopped throwing trillions of dollars at these problems?
• prepare for recession - cash, income protection, multiple sources, more...
• BOTW (best of the web) personal finance blogs - good list, test drive several

2009.04.03 - looking for other blogs with sound advice, good point of view followup

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer protection agency FTC Money Matters - scams, debit
• National Consumer Law Center
• Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE)
• BOTW (best of the web) personal finance blogs

Absolutely essential

• accepting personal responsibility
• money to cover at least 8 months living expenses - mortgage or rent, health insurance, transportation, food, any other essential expenses
• work toward eliminating credit card debit, not increasing debit
• contributions to retirement saving - free money if there is employer matching
• money for retirement or other spending within 5 years should be in safe cash or equivalents - not in the stock market

People

• Joseph Stiglitz (who characterized the Treasury policy last week as “robbery of the American people”) --jh

• Paul Krugman (who called it "a plan to rearrange the deck chairs and hope that that keeps us from hitting the iceberg") --jh

Need to know

• money management basics
• time management to ensure that there is time for money management
• where you stand with your money - exercise with sample form from Suze Orman - Retirement Planning
• cashflow - money in, money out
• financial planning
• sources of information - finding, analyzing, following

Understand

• stagflation
• the difference between the economy and the stock market
• stocks, bonds, other financial instruments
• commodities, metals, energy
• interest rate fluctuations
• saving and investing vs spending and consuming
• how to save and what to expect
• likely global economic trends
• how to survive and thrive in the next 10 years

Take action

• protect current assets
• plan for the future
• manage risk

Special situations

• not the primary money handler in the family - spouse takes care of money
• responsible for finances of others - elderly parents, non-relatives
• financial advisers - fee for service, commissions

Research and Analysis

• saving - who does, why
• advice and advisers - good ones and how to know
• bonds - conservative and safe?
• risk assessment
• cashflow
• economic indicators - leading, trailing
• debt society, moral bankruptcy
• boomer lifestyle - retirement, working, walk-to living, end of money

Learn more...

• government agencies
• financial companies
• non-profit, public interest groups
• education
• consumer groups
• books, magazines
• online communities
• social learning
• non formal learning

News and information

• The Economist
• monthly reports - US economic indicators - inflation, consumer confidence, purchasing managers, ADP jobs private sector jobs, conference board
• indicies - volatility, money supply
• indicators - foreign exchange rates, gold, silver, oil, natural gas, shipping rates

Government agencies

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, created this website to help you tackle some money issues head-on - FTC Money Matters scams,credit cards, managing your money, dealing with debit, your home, jobs

Consumer groups

• National Consumer Law Center
• Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE)

DISCLAIMER: Observations, article selections, comments and opinions are general in nature, are not meant as specific investment advice, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of anyone but the authors. Individuals should consult with their own advisers for specific investment advice. In the interests of full disclosure, the blog Financial Reality is written by a significant other.