What Are Cookies and Tracking Technologies?

Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device when you visit them. They help us remember your preferences and improve your experience on shocktopflux.com. We also use similar technologies like web beacons, pixels, and local storage to enhance our annual budgeting educational platform.

Think of cookies as digital sticky notes – they help our website remember things like your language preferences, which sections you've visited, and whether you've accepted our terms. This makes your return visits smoother and more personalized to your learning journey.

Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies We Use

These cookies cannot be turned off as they're required for basic website functionality:

How We Use Tracking for Education

Our tracking helps create a better learning experience in several ways:

Course Improvement

We analyze which annual budgeting topics students find challenging, allowing us to refine our educational materials. For example, if many students spend extra time on cash flow forecasting, we might add supplementary examples or break down complex concepts.

Personalized Learning Paths

By understanding your progress and interests, we can suggest relevant additional resources. Students focusing on business budgeting might see recommendations for our advanced financial planning modules.

Technical Performance

We monitor how quickly our budget calculation tools load and identify any technical issues that might disrupt your learning experience. This data helps us maintain a smooth educational platform.

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

Using Our Simple System

The easiest way to manage cookies is using the button at the top of this page. Clicking "Decline All Non-Essential Cookies" will:

• Remove all existing tracking, analytics, and marketing cookies
• Prevent new non-essential cookies from being set
• Keep only the essential cookies needed for website functionality
• Remember your choice for future visits

Browser-Level Cookie Management

You can also control cookies through your web browser settings. Here's how:

Data Retention and Your Control

Different types of cookies have different lifespans:

Session Cookies

These expire when you close your browser. They're used for temporary functions like maintaining your login during a single visit to our budgeting course platform.

Persistent Cookies

These remain on your device for a set period (typically 30 days to 2 years) to remember your preferences across visits. Course progress cookies, for instance, help you pick up where you left off in our annual budgeting curriculum.

Your Rights

You have complete control over your cookie preferences. You can change your settings at any time, delete existing cookies, or browse our educational content without accepting non-essential tracking.

Third-Party Cookies and Services

Some cookies come from third-party services we use to enhance your educational experience:

Educational Tools

We integrate with budget calculation platforms and financial planning tools that may set their own cookies to remember your preferences and improve functionality.

Analytics Providers

Services like Google Analytics help us understand how students navigate our annual budgeting courses, but we configure these tools to respect your privacy preferences.

Payment Processors

When enrolling in our programs, secure payment systems may use cookies to process transactions safely. These are essential for completing course purchases.

Mobile and App Considerations

If you access shocktopflux.com through mobile browsers or our educational apps, similar tracking technologies apply. Mobile devices offer additional privacy controls:

• iOS: Use "Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security" to manage website data
• Android: Browser settings vary, but typically found under "Privacy" or "Site settings"
• App permissions: Our educational apps request only necessary permissions for course delivery

Updates to This Policy

We review and update this cookie policy regularly to reflect changes in our educational platform, new technologies, or regulatory requirements. When we make significant changes, we'll notify active students through email or prominent website notices.

The "Last updated" date at the top of this page shows when we most recently revised the policy. We encourage you to review this information periodically, especially if you're enrolled in our ongoing annual budgeting programs.