About

Hi, I'm Santiago Gonzalez, an electrical engineer. I started Smart Money Basics because so much money advice is either too vague to act on or buried in jargon. Engineers like to see the formula, so that is the approach here: every guide explains the idea, shows the math, walks through a worked example and links to the official source.

What this site covers

• Budgeting, saving and emergency funds.
• How interest, APR, APY and inflation work.
• Paying off debt and understanding credit scores.

What it does not do

• It does not give personalized advice. I'm not a licensed financial advisor, accountant or attorney. See the disclaimer.
• It does not recommend individual stocks, cryptocurrencies or financial products, and it does not promise returns.

Who this is for

Anyone in the United States who wants to understand the basics before making a decision. Many examples use US institutions and rules, such as FDIC insurance and FICO credit scores, and cite public US sources.

How the content is made

You can read the details in the editorial policy. If you spot a mistake, please tell me through the contact page.