Subject Guides
Weapons of Math Destruction, Common Read 2022
This guide is intended to help faculty and students engage with the 2022 Common Read book, Weapons of Math Destruction.
Special thanks to Vicky Ludas Orlofsky and Courtney Walsh of Stevens Institute of Technology for the foundation for this guide.
Banking Basics
Banking Info and Guidance
- Student Banking: Managing Your College Money (CFPB)"Unlike that first school ID photo, your first banking relationship could last long after you graduate. Making a smart decision now will mean fewer surprise fees that can add up later." (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
- My Money Smart (FDIC)The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's financial education series, helping you to "Earn, Spend, Save and Invest, Borrow, and Protect" your money.
- Minority Depository Institutions (FDIC)The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's list of Minority Depository Institutions. A great resource to find a bank!
- Community Banks and Credit Unions (CFPB)"Community banks and credit unions play critical roles in ensuring a fair, transparent, and competitive marketplace for consumer financial products and services. They generally base their businesses on building personal, long-term customer relationships. They can be a lifeline to hard-working families paying for education, unexpected medical bills, and homes. ... Different consumers require different financial products and services to meet their needs. The CFPB is committed to working with community banks and credit unions to ensure that American families have access to & understand a variety of products, services, and financial relationships, both now and in the future."
Podcasts and Videos
- Money Smart Podcast Network (FDIC)This series of podcasts covers banking in general, checking accounts, savings and spending plans, and borrowing money. Listen online or download audio files.
- No Frills Money Skills Video Series (St Louis Fed)"This video series covers a variety of personal finance topics. The brief videos use clear, simple language, and graphic elements so that viewers can better visualize the personal finance content being presented. In the end, they will see how important these concepts are to their everyday lives."
Budgeting (Federal Student Aid)
Budgeting as a Student
- Budgeting 101 Course for Consumers/Non-Educators (St Louis Fed)"Budgeting is the most basic and most important tool in anyone's financial toolbox. With this resource, you are given the hands-on opportunity to create budgets for fictional "Regan" during her sophomore year in nursing school, and, later, as a recent graduate with an apartment and a new car. Using either Microsoft Excel or Google Docs, download our budgeting tool with space for your own budget, as well as the examples created by establishing Regan's budget."
- It's Your Paycheck! Online Course for Consumers/Non-educators (St Louis Fed)"It's Your Paycheck! is designed to introduce personal finance content. Course participants learn about a variety of personal finance topics including the link between education and income, budgeting, the benefits of saving, and credit reports. These learning modules will help participants make sense of W-2s, W-4s, pay -day Loans and APRs in an interactive online format. It's Your Paycheck! consists of nine individual programs that can be used together or individually to enhance personal finance learning."
- Federal Student Aid Loan Stimulator"Loan Simulator helps you calculate student loan payments and choose a loan repayment option that best meets your needs and goals. You can also use it to decide whether to consolidate your student loans."
Personal Finance Ebooks from the Catalog
Books about Personal Finance
If off-campus, users will be prompted to log in using your Binghamton username and password to read these books.
Personal Finance for Dummies by Call Number: EbookISBN: 9781119517887Publication Date: 2018-11-06"[T]echniques for tracking expenditures, reducing spending, and getting out from under the burden of high-interest debt."
Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s for Dummies by ISBN: 9781119805441Publication Date: 2021-04-30The money lessons you wish you'd learned in school Personal Finance in Your 20s & 30s For Dummies helps Millennials and Zoomers like you make smart financial moves. It's not as tough as it looks to reduce and file your taxes, pay off your student debt, buy a home, keep a budget to save and invest wisely, or start that side hustle, just to name a few. With a little bit of focus, you can start a clear path to financial freedom and avoid mistakes today. Your future self will thank you. This edition is full of updates for the 2020s; wrap your mind around your investment opportunities, the realities of making a second income, higher ed options for career advancement, and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. If you're in need of financial guidance--and who isn't?--this is the book you need. Pay off loans, manage your credit, begin the home-buying journey, and more Set realistic money goals so you can create a solid path for financial success Make smart decisions to beef up your bank account and investment portfolio Protect the money you have today and learn how to put your money to work for the future Get ready to turn up the volume on your financial know-how and stop worrying about money!
Student Loans
Student Loans
- Paying for School (CFPB)"It’s more important than ever for students and former students to make smart decisions about financing their college education. Whether you’re attending college soon, are a current student, or already have student loans, we’ve put together some tools and resources to help you make the best decisions for you." (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
- Student Loans - are yours afloat? (5E Navigator, Fed of Richmond)"Student Loans - Are yours afloat? This issue examines student loans and directs readers to information and tools for managing student loan repayment. How are student loans different from other types of loans? Where can I find information to help manage repayment? This seafaring edition of 5E Navigator takes readers on a voyage exploring student loan repayment. Whether you’re a recent college graduate out at sea or still on shore in school, you’ll find information and tools to help you manage your student loans." (PDF)
- Invest in What's Next: Life After High School (Feds of Richmond and San Francisco)"There are many possibilities for your life after high school and lots of questions to consider along the way. What path is right for me? What do I stand to gain? What are my funding options for school? This interactive mini-course provides information and tools to help you answer these questions and more! Through three lessons you’ll explore your options, budget for your future, and build a plan that’s right for you. Get started on your way to investing in what’s next!"
- How to Repay Your Loans (Federal Student Aid)"Understanding the repayment process for your federal student loans can go a long way toward building a solid financial foundation."
Includes the repayment process, a glossary of terms, and a repayment estimator. - Student Loan Repayment Checklist (Federal Student Aid)Help in managing your student loans as you approach graduation.
