The introductory classes use algebra and a little bit of statistics. Some of the more advanced classes — like Futures & Options — will use a little bit of calculus, but not much. To do portfolio theory right, you would need some matrix algebra (linear algebra), statistics and would need to know some optimization theory.

For an MS in finance, you would need calculus, linear algebra and statistics. For a PhD in Finance, you need almost as much math as someone getting a PhD in Math.

Do you have health insurance? Most plans charge a flat rate for all prenatal visits and delivery. Otherwise this will be out-of-pocket. Depending on where you have the baby and the interventions you choose, you can look at several thousands in the delivery alone. Midwives and/or birth centers charge anywhere from $4,000+ and physicians may charge more for non-medicated, non-intervention births. This doesn’t cover baby care if something is wrong with him/her, either, or any of the testing, vaccinations, and other new baby fun.

Are you going to be nursing or formula-feeding your baby? Nursing is free, although you may need lanolin, nursing pads, and some accessories (bottles if you eventually plan to pump, for example). It does not cost anywhere near the cost of formula-feeding, but you should factor in a couple hundred.

Are you using cloth or disposable diapers? Cloth diapers can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Think $500.00 initial investment instead of $3,000.00 for the duration of potty-training.

Clothing and furniture are not as big a deal. You can buy secondhand clothes at any number of baby stores (plus people give you a ton – check on Craigslist) and you really don’t need the furniture you are encouraged to buy. You don’t need a crib (just a secluded area or bedshare with mom and dad), a changing table (use the floor, the couch, the bed), and all that nonsense.

The same goes for toys. Bouncy things, swings, sit-n-spins, none of those are necessary.

If you’re nursing, you need about 300 more calories a day (the equivalent of a candy bar, though you’ll probably want to eat something healthier), so your grocery bill won’t increase much till baby starts eating solids. Then it’s really only mushed bananas and things like that, which can be done yourself and without the need for baby food.

You absolutely have to have a car seat if you own a car or plan to transport your baby in one.

This all assumes you have a place to live, utilities, groceries, transportation, and entertainment covered.

$50,000.00 is plenty to last you a year, but please plan to have something going on after that year is up! You never know what emergencies will come up or what your baby may need on its way here.

Good luck!

Other than that I believe that there are some online finance magazines that you can sign up for an RSS feed with. I know that isn’t the same as your mailbox but it still keeps you up to date.

Otherwise there are a number of financial magazines that you can look at online, usually the ones like Fotrune, and Money which is hosted by CNN, and I believe that they will give you an email update but you’d have to check their website.

One last thing, there is a pretty good ehow article that describes your options, some of which I already said, but it might be worth a look.

Here is the link:

Its no suprise that people are school sophisticated, but financially ignorant…would that explain the large government deficit America has? Politicians seem to be smart, but when it comes to financials they aren’t so sharp. In the end…financial education should be mandatory in this global information age economy.

In balloon financing, your payments will be lower, except at the end; this will be several times higher. In such an arrangement, your payment may be $350, but your final balloon payment might be $7000.

The latter type of financing is what trips up people, as they’re able to make the smaller monthly payments at least until something happens – they lose their job, the economy turns sour, they have huge medical expenses, etc. Then they find themselves unable to make that balloon payment.

When exploring your options, have you crunched your numbers to be able to afford that car? (This is an important step in preparing for a big-ticked purchase.) Next, do you have enough money saved to be able to cover that balloon payment?