Happy Valentine's Day!

BitCoin

• Bitcoin may be winning the headline contest over GameStop this week. Let’s start with “What can you buy with bitcoin?” (NYT)
• The nation’s oldest bank, BNY Mellon, and Mastercard announce they are getting on the cyrptocurrency bandwagon. (Markets Insider)
• Tesla may have triggered the latest run-up in bitcoin pricing after their announcement of a $1.5 billion investment, and that they would accept bitcoin as payment for their cars. (CNBC) (CNN)

GameStop

• Yet another call for increased financial literacy after GameStop. (MarketWatch)
• The House Financial Services Committee will be hearing from Reddit and Citagdel execs next week on GameStop. (NYT)

Investing

• Bumble CEO, the youngest female (31) to take a company public, now a billionaire. (New York Post)

Economics

• This week’s unemployment claims figures: (Reuters)
• January CPI report: (CNBC)
• This opinion piece contains some great (interactive) data on how stimulus checks were spent (or not) by income level. Conclude what you will about policy decisions surrounding the next checks to be issued. (NYT)

Taxes/Stimulus Checks

• Is that stimulus check taxable income? (New York Times)
• If you did not get your stimulus check, you may be able to claim a credit on your 2020 tax return. Look for line 30 “Recovery Rebate Credit.” (WAPO)
• You need earned income to claim the earned income tax credit/child tax credit. This explains what you can do to get the credit if you were unemployed in 2020. (Yahoo Finance)
• This is scary: Unemployment fraud (fraudulent claims made using taxpayer info) may create a nightmare for taxpayer. (This is a huge problem in Ohio and hit very close to home.) (CNBC)

Budgeting

• Buy Now Pay Later? This can’t be a good thing. (Reuters)

Paying for College

• Here are the data on FAFSA completions, new and continuing. The drop in new applications, particularly among low-income student, is worrisome. (Inside Higher Ed)

Careers/Labor Force

• Here is some data on which fields are hiring. (NYT)
• The pandemic is hitting women much harder than men. Women’s labor force participation hit a 33-year low last month. (CNBC)
• And the gender gap in hours worked has also grown. (MarketPlace)

About the Author

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.