This is the second post in my ‘Teaching Financial Literacy‘ series and today I’d like to address my former personal finance students! You can also listen to a podcast interview where I address my experiences teaching personal finance HERE!
Hey Kids,
Do remember when you were in SPFC (Senior Personal Finance & Citizenship) and didn’t know if you’d ever use the information we were learning? Well, many of you have reached out to me since you’ve graduated and are now in the ‘real world’, navigating this ‘adulting’ thing! You’ve shared your successes with me (renting your first place, voting, opening up a checking account) and have also asked me to provide a list of resources we used in class! This post is for YOU! And just like I wrote on the last page of your final exam, “I’M ROOTING FOR YOU”! Keep in touch!
Sincerely,
Miss Rush
FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCES
Practical Money Skills (Helpful Financial Calculators)
If you are thinking about buying a car, taking out a loan, saving for a big-ticket item, or want to compare interest rates, this is my FAVORITE source to play around with various calculators.
Better Money Habits Videos (Great Refresher Videos)
These videos from Bank of America in partnership with Khan Academy provide a great overview of a variety of financial topics. Watch them to refresh your memory on the various topics we covered in class!
Dave Ramsey’s Budget Calculator
I’m sure you remember using Dave’s spending categories and percentages when creating budgets in class! Here’s a link to his budget calculator (you will have to create an account but it’s free). You can also download the ‘EveryDollar’ app to create a budget on your phone!
Federal Trade Commission (Consumer Protection)
As you may remember, you are entitled to a FREE credit report check from each of the three main credit reporting agencies once per year. On this site you can find the link to access your credit report and well as information about reporting identify theft and protecting yourself from fraud!
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Along the same lines as the resource above, this website from the federal government has resources to help protect you as a consumer (as the title indicates)!
FAME (Finance Authority of Maine)
A great resource about paying for college, filling out the FAFSA, and general money management from a Maine organization.
College Scorecard (Comparing College Data)
This is the resource we used when comparing net price, average loan payment, graduation rates, etc. of various colleges. If you are trying to find the best ‘bang for your buck’ and want to see how your school compares to others, use this interactive website!
Maine Snap-Ed (Healthy Eating on a Budget)
If you’re looking for recipe ideas and shopping lists to stretch your grocery budget, this resource will provide just that! It IS possible to eat healthy while pinching your pennies- a great resource at any stage of life!
(name brand vs store brand taste test activity)
(listening to & reading student ‘consumer savings tips’ projects)
CIVIC RESOURCES
Do Something.Org (Volunteer Opportunities)
Although not personal finance related, I feel compelled to link up this really great resources to help further your civic mindedness and encourage you to get out there and make a difference in your community (wherever that may be at this point)! Simply input how much time you have and some of your interests and a list of volunteer opportunities in your area will be created!
Voting Information for Maine Residents
I’m not sure where you may be living at this point, but this is the resource we used in class for determining who is eligible to vote and where to vote if you are living in Maine. If you are out of state, go to your state’s website and to find similar information.
Political Typology Quiz (Pew Research Center)
This is the quiz you took on your own to help you determine where your views fall on various social and economic issues. The Pew Research Center is a non-partisan website…do you remember what ‘non-partisan’ means? 🙂
(field trip to listen to the Maine gubernatorial debate in Portland)
The information above are some of the ‘most requested’ resources and should provide a great overview of the major topics covered in our personal finance & civics course. There are endless amounts of information on the web to help navigate the world of personal finance but hopefully this list will provide a great place to start!
