Become a Patron! Long-time readers know that one of my earliest recurring themes here on the blog was techniques to bring down the cost of higher education. Not by "applying for scholarships" or "getting good grades," but by manipulating the machinery of the financial aid system. With colleges and universities around the country announcing their decisions about whether … [Read more...] about Some time-sensitive thoughts on fall higher education enrollment
Five profitable things to do with low-interest loans
Become a Patron! I've written many times about my fondness for low-interest, and especially low-fee, balance transfer and cash advance credit cards, which allow consumers to borrow large — sometimes very large — sums of money for a fixed period of time and pay nothing to the bank if the loan is paid off by the end of the promotional period. This is a form of what I think … [Read more...] about Five profitable things to do with low-interest loans
Mass death is a supply shock, too
Become a Patron! It became fashionable in the 20th century to distinguish between two kinds of sudden changes, or "shocks" that could impact an economy, for better or worse: demand-side shocks and supply-side shocks. This conceit has played such an important role in economic policy-making, it's worth looking at iconic examples of each kind. After World War II the US … [Read more...] about Mass death is a supply shock, too
Thoughts on receiving both EIDL and PPP loans
Become a Patron! Last week I wrote about my successful Economic Injury Disaster Loan experience, and mentioned in passing "the programs [EIDL and PPP] are very different, and while not technically mutually exclusive (you can take out loans from both programs, under certain conditions), most businesses will only take advantage of only one or the other." Overall I thought … [Read more...] about Thoughts on receiving both EIDL and PPP loans
My Unemployment Insurance Saga, or, Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Become a Patron! This is a post I've been looking forward to writing for 7 weeks, and had started to give up hope I'd ever be able to publish: today I found out my unemployment insurance claim has finally been approved and paid. How unemployment insurance "works" Until the present crisis, most white collar professionals have only had the vaguest idea of how the … [Read more...] about My Unemployment Insurance Saga, or, Not All Heroes Wear Capes