Today begins a new feature of Personal Finance Economics, one where a new paid subscriber can begin their deeper dive toward making financial decisions that increase their standard of living.
It is a new addition to supplement the normal, periodic posts.
Why a Baseline to the Personal Finance Journey?
A few months ago, as more new subscribers and followers began knocking on my digital door, I realized each has their starting point. You are they, and I bet as a group subscribers’ personal finance interests are more varied than those of my more homogenous 19 to 22-year-old cohort at the University. Some of you want to teach yourself, and I will be your guide beginning with this note.
Whether you just received this post via an email announcement or you are reading this post in March 2026, you are at a starting point to choose to learn economics-based personal finance. I want you to know the terminology, be able to catch up with the financial columnists, know when they are right and wrong, and make your best financial decisions. If this short course and book help you accomplish those three objectives, I’ve hit my mark.
Day 1 learning is below in a single file: the Start Here slide deck. Associated with the course slide decks is the book Economics-Based Personal Finance, which I will email to paid and VIP subscribers by today’s close of business in the U.S.
I will recommend specific sections of the book to help with posted slide decks. If you have questions, clarifications, ideas, about the slide decks and readings, post comments to the post. I will participate in responding. We will learn together.