DCSIMG

Financial Education

Adult Curriculum

Lesson: What is credit, and how can you be smart about it?


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will identify different types of credit.
  • Participants will list the benefits of credit.
  • Participants will list the potential pitfalls of credit.
  • Participants will recognize the danger signs of risky credit behavior.
  • Participants will describe different debt management techniques.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “Types of Credit ” group activity
  • “Let’s imagine life without credit” scenarios
  • “Credit Warning Signs” game
  • “Getting a handle on debt” group activity


Lesson: Credit Cards: Friends or Foes?


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will describe the true cost of credit cards.
  • Participants will describe the different features of credit cards.
  • Participants will list the pros of credit cards.
  • Participants will list the cons of credit cards.
  • Participants will list tips for making an informed decision when choosing a credit card.
  • Participants will recall tips for dealing with credit card debt.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “True cost of credit cards” worksheet
  • “Credit card statements information” activity
  • “Credit pros vs. cons” challenge
  • “Choosing a credit card” activity
  • “Convenience Check Deal or No Deal” Game
  • “No quick cure… dealing with credit card debt” scenario activity


Lesson: The report is in: The ins and outs of credit reports.


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will define what a credit report is.
  • Participants will list the benefits of checking credit reports regularly.
  • Participants will list different ways to obtain a free credit report.
  • Participants will describe the information on a credit report.
  • Participants will list the factors that influence a credit score.
  • Participants will recall the steps to correct an error on a credit report.

ACTIVITIES:

  • Credit report quiz
  • “Credit report close up” activity
  • “Credit score calculation” activity
  • “When good credit reports go bad” action steps

Lesson: Budgeting Basics


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will identify monthly income.
  • Participants will identify ways to increase income.
  • Participants will identify monthly expenses.
  • Participants will identify ways to cut expenses.
  • Participants will prepare a balanced budget.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “It’s never just about money” activity
  • Financial goals activity
  • Income group activity and brainstorm session
  • “You become the money savings expert!” activity
  • “Adjusting expenses to reach financial goals” activity

Lesson: Saving for a rainy day, and your day in the sun!


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will list techniques to save in all economic environments.
  • Participants will recall savings strategies to build an emergency fund.
  • Participants will consider their ideal retirement.
  • Participants will list savings tools to reach retirement goals.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “How do you save for a rainy day when it’s already raining?” scenario activity
  • “Beach houses, and vineyards and mountain cabins, oh my!” game

Lesson: Saving for the American Dream


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will recall steps to save for a down payment to purchase a home.
  • Participants will identify resources to secure a car loan.
  • Participants will list resources to save for a college education.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “Your home is your castle” activity
  • “Let’s go car shopping!” game
  • “Payment for college” activity

Lesson: Saving for women


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will list unique savings opportunities for women.
  • Participants will list unique savings challenges for women.
  • Participants will recall ways to overcome savings challenges.
  • Participants will list resources to help women save.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “For everything there is a season” activity
  • “Ways to help you get there” activity
  • “3 W’s and 2 H’s of retirement” game

Lesson: Deter, Detect, Defend! Protecting yourself from Identity Theft


LESSON OBJECTIVES:

  • Participants will deter potential identity thieves from accessing personal information.
  • Participants will detect warning signs of identity theft.
  • Participants will minimize damage if identity theft does occur.

ACTIVITIES:

  • “Keeping Information Safe” activity
  • “Finding Financial Statements Useful” activity
  • “Your Credit Report is your Friend” activity

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