An Introduction to Personal Finance and Credit

This introductory course in personal finance and credit walks you through the rules used in the game of credit, the power of compound interest in wealth creation and the differences between what people typically think is an asset but is an actual liability. Would you like to know the secrets of how the rich get richer? This free online personal finance class will give you the toolkit to get started on this marvellous journey. You will learn the main functions of money in today’s world economy and the differences between good and bad debt in a personal and business setting. In addition, the course will disclose what financial background information affects your FICO (Fair, Isaac and Company) score, the weights of each characteristic and how to maintain an elite credit status. These suggestions are essential to any individual as it helps lenders such as banks, evaluate the risk of lending money to clients. If you happen to have a high score, it can assist you in removing credit interest charges for more than a year. This course will also help you set achievable financial goals that include starting a business or planning for your retirement.

Personal finance is the theory of organizing your own financial activities such as generating income, investing, spending and planning your retirement. The process of managing one’s finances can be summarized in a budget that shows your income and expenses for a certain period. Personal finance is typically about realizing your individual financial goals for short-term financial needs or long-term, e.g. saving for your child's university education. An important objective to becoming financially literate is to make the most of your income and savings. Financial literacy will assist you to distinguish between good and bad financial advice and make better decisions. You can gain such critical knowledge through free online articles, videos, or at the library to develop fiscal strategies used in emergency cases. The ability for people to navigate the complexities of today’s financial realities is a crucial factor to better financial behaviours and personal empowerment.

In the early years, financial literacy was entirely informal, where tips about money management might have come from friends, parents or personal mentors. Early public records of financial information may have come from newspaper articles, such as James Gilbart, a London & County Bank Manager, around 1849. He explained the skills required to keep a good relationship with a banker. It included the advantages of opening a bank account and explained the process for those afraid to use it. He believed that everyone and not just the rich, should have access to a bank account, and he endeavoured to teach the public about banking and its benefits. The FICO score was first introduced in 1989 by Fair, Isaac, and Company (FICO) to reduce financial risk to businesses by clients. Today, the FICO model is used by many credit companies and banks to create consumer credit files based on the three national credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Studies indicate that the majority of those who have higher scores pay less in insurance and interest. Enrolling in this personal finance education course will teach you all you need to know about the advanced techniques of building an excellent credit profile and a strategic financial plan to reach your financial goals and live with more freedom.