E-MONA Learning

Investing

Investing ABC
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Financial Literacy, Personal Finance

Investment Alphabet

The Alphabet of Healing Foods inspired me to create an Investment Alphabet. You see, I’m a big believer in cooking from scratch and consuming lots of different and wholesome foods so nature can do the hard work. It struck me that this is really quite similar to my personal finance approach.

1. Develop an overall strategy from the ground up. Using advisers is like using recipes. They can provide ideas and help you implement them, but only you know if you want beef or fish for dinner!

2. Use lots of different products, but choose “wholesome” ones and time will do the hard work. Foods have nutritional value and health benefits; financial products have performance metrics and risk characteristics. Good stuff in = good stuff out!  Continue reading →

Crowdfunding: Should you go with the crowd?
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Business Finances, Personal Finance

Go with the Crowd or Go Your Own Way?

Research says crowds are wise: watch this BBC video or read this book for more on this assertion. But, as another BBC article explains, the crowd is not always right. Witness the 2008 financial meltdown for proof that herd mentality can be dangerous. In fact, most people prefer to fail with the crowd rather than stand out with a different view. Being contrarian is hard work mentally but it can pay off if you take less risk or go for a smart bet.

New research is emerging into how social influence can alter the wisdom of the crowd by steering opinions in a particular direction. That’s where crowdfunding is at. Is it good or bad for you that crowd views and sentiment trend? Well, it depends. Are you an investor, a business looking for funds or a good Samaritan?

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Financial Literacy
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Financial Literacy, Personal Finance

It’s Child’s Play: 8 Ways to Teach Kids Financial Basics

24 May is Alphabet Day in Bulgaria. It’s a celebration of learning, literacy and culture. Knowing how to read and write, getting to grips with Maths are all undoubtedly great achievements. They open up the world to a child.

But you know what? There was a much overlooked lesson I picked up in first grade. I got my first taste of financial independence: it was up to me to decide what to buy with my pocket money and I couldn’t complain to anyone if I chose poorly! With limited funds, I had limited choices. It wasn’t until I started earning my own money 10 years later, that I got more choices, but even then, part time jobs couldn’t foot much spending. The upside of making the most of a small budget is that it made it easier to start saving when I got a full time job. I’ve kept it up.

So how do you help kids learn that? You know, give them a head start in life. Bestow the gift of financial literacy.

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Financial Literacy, Personal Finance

Financial Puzzle “It’s All Greek to Me”

There’s lots of jargon and terminology in the world of finance. You have – no doubt – mastered a fair few terms and concepts. Buying on credit, insurance premium, ISA, PAYE, PPI insurance, to name but a few. In fact, you probably know more terms than you think.

Our courses use games to extract that latent knowledge and introduce bigger concepts. They teach while you play. Give it a go with our Investment Word Search! Solve the financial puzzle and get your reward.

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