The Perspective · Money 101
Money 101: simple, long-term investing for students
The plan in one sentence: spend less than you earn, keep a safety net, put money into broad, low-cost ETFs on a schedule, and give it decades. Seven short, plain-English guides built for college students take you there, and two bonus guides cover credit and student loans.
Educational content only. Money 101 is general education, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Examples use made-up numbers. Rules, limits and rates change, so confirm current details with official sources and consider talking to a qualified professional about your own situation.
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The core path: from budget to long-term investor
- BudgetingFind the gap between what you earn and spend. That gap is your future.
6 min read - Emergency fundA cash cushion so surprises never force you to sell investments.
5 min read - What is an ETF?A plain-English look at ETFs, index funds, and why boring wins.
7 min read - Time in the marketCompounding, inflation, and why starting early beats starting perfectly.
7 min read - Investing on a student budgetHow to start with tiny amounts from part-time jobs, internships and gifts.
6 min read - Roth IRA and auto-investingOpen an account, pick a broad ETF, automate, and walk away.
8 min read - Staying the courseHow to stay calm, keep investing, and ignore the noise.
6 min read
Money basics (bonus guides)
- Credit cards and credit scoresHow a score is built and how to use a card without getting burned.
7 min read - Student loansFederal vs. private, how interest works, and how to stay on top of it.
7 min read
How to use this: One guide a day or one a week. Each takes under ten minutes and ends with a checklist you can finish the same day.
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