$martMoney is a financial literacy/money management blog that has grown out of the discussions and resources we use for savingsPLAN, a matched savings program (or, individual development account) that provides an asset-based approach to poverty reduction in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

This blog provides article-length tips, hacks, and information about personal finance (mostly), some of which are also published in our neighbourhood newspaper, the North End Breezes. We are grateful to them for their assistance in getting information about how to continue to develop and improve personal financial savvy into the hands of our immediate neighbours. This blog is our way of sharing this information and building community with people who are farther afield.

Over the next several weeks, look for posts on a range of money management topics; as well as some in-depth information about what asset development is, in the context of poverty reduction; and information about Welcome Inn Community Centre (where the savingsPLAN program is one of several highly effective, asset-based initiatives addressing poverty in one of Ontario’s most populous urban areas).

Disclaimer: The aim of both this blog, and of the savingsPLAN program is to share money management information, techniques, strategies, resources, etc. in order to assist people in improving the resilience of their households in economic ways.  Using the information provided here is done so at your own risk — we are not responsible for financial successes or failures other than our own. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of credit counsellors, bankruptcy trustees, financial planners, etc., as appropriate to your situation.