Moneymattersguide
Moneymattersguide
Table of Contents
Pre-Test ...................................................................................................................................................................................4
How to Create a Spending Plan ............................................................................................................................................6
Activity 1: Daily Spending Diary ..........................................................................................................................................7
Activity 2: Monthly Income and Expense Worksheet ........................................................................................................9
Activity 3: Monthly Payment Schedule ..............................................................................................................................14
Activity 4: Monthly Payment Calendar .............................................................................................................................15
Other Spending Plan Tools .................................................................................................................................................16
Spending Considerations .....................................................................................................................................................17
Activity 5: Spending Plan Considerations .........................................................................................................................18
Post-Test ................................................................................................................................................................................19
Glossary .................................................................................................................................................................................21
For Further Information .....................................................................................................................................................22
What Do You Know? – Money Matters .............................................................................................................................23
Evaluation Form ...................................................................................................................................................................24
Checking In
Welcome
Welcome to the Money Matters module! One of the first steps to financial security is planning and following through on a
personal spending plan or budget. Budgeting is about choices—choosing how to make money and choosing how to spend
money.
Objectives
After completing this module, you will be able to:
• List the steps for setting financial goals
• Track daily spending habits
• Prepare a spending plan to estimate monthly income and expenses
• Identify ways to decrease spending
• Identify ways to increase income
• Identify spending plan tools that will help you manage your bills
Participant Materials
This Money Matters Participant Guide contains:
• Information and activities to help you learn the material
• Tools and instructions to complete the activities
• Checklists and tip sheets
• A glossary of the terms used in this module
Pre-Test
Test your knowledge about managing money before you go through the course.
3. Which of the following are examples of a flexible expense? Select all that apply.
a. Car payment
b. Health insurance premium
c. Electric/water
d. Personal expenses
4. Which of the following would either increase your income or help you decrease spending? Select all that
apply.
a. Get a part-time job
b. Carpool or take public transportation
c. Conserve energy
d. Eat out regularly
5. Which of the following would help you manage your bills? Select all that apply.
a. Monthly payment calendar
b. Computer software or spreadsheets
c. Not paying them one month per year
d. An expense envelope
6. Which of the following are ways you can save more? Select all that apply.
a. Pay yourself first
b. Use coupons
c. Develop a spending plan
d. Use your credit card rather than paying with cash/debit card
7. After you identify and write down your financial goals, the second step to setting financial goals would be
to:
a. Evaluate and change them as necessary
b. Select two to three main goals
c. Organize them
d. Learn more about implementing these goals
A spending plan is all about choices—choosing how to use your money. Knowing what your income and expenses are
every month will help you take control of your financial situation.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
There are two categories of income: gross income and net income. Gross income is your total income without deductions.
Net income is gross income minus deductions, such as Social Security and other taxes.
Social Security is a potentially valuable insurance plan. On some pay stubs, it is called FICA, which stands for Federal
Insurance Contribution Act. Social Security income includes:
• Retirement benefits paid every month to eligible retired workers, as early as age 62
• Disability benefits paid every month to eligible workers of all ages who have a severe disability
• Family benefits paid every month to spouses and children of eligible retired and disabled workers
• Survivor benefits paid every month to the eligible widow or widower and children of a deceased worker
• Medicare benefits paid as needed to help with hospital bills and offer limited coverage of stays in skilled nursing
facilities, hospice care, and other medical services to people 65 or older and to younger people who are disabled
Fixed expenses do not change from month to month. Typically, you do not have any control over how much you pay.
Your rent or mortgage payment is an example of a fixed expense.
Flexible expenses often change from month to month. You may have some degree of control over how much you pay. For
example, if you decide to lower your thermostat during the winter to save on heating costs, you will pay less than you did
the month before.
My Income My Expenses
Wages $ Fixed Expenses
Self-Employment Income $ Rent/Mortgage $
Public Assistance $ Property Taxes/Insurance $
Child Support/Alimony $ Trash Collection $
Interest/Dividends $ Cable/Satellite $
Social Security $ Telephone/Internet $
Advance Earned Income Credit $ Car Payment $
Other $ Car Insurance $
Health Insurance $
Other Loan Payments $
Day Care/Elder Care $
Scenario:
Flexible Expenses
Income
Savings $
A couple receives monthly net wages, or take-home
pay, in the amount of $3,500. Water $
Expenses Electric $
• Rent $1,000 Gas/Oil $
• Credit card and loan payments total $140 Cell Phone $
Food $
• Child care expenses total $400
Transportation/Gas $
• Savings total $75
Car Maintenance $
• Telephone bill totals $40
Education $
• Food expenses total $400
Personal Expenses $
• Transportation and gasoline costs total
Donations $
$200
• Personal expenses total $150
MYTH: Receiving paychecks or benefit payments in the form of a paper check gives you more control over your money
because you can deposit it at your bank or credit union when it is convenient for you.
FACT: With direct deposit, your money is immediately accessible, it eliminates the risk of stolen checks and forgeries,
and helps protect you from identity theft.
MYTH: People who do not have a bank account should not consider direct deposit.
FACT: If you have not yet signed up for an account, call the United States (U.S.) Treasury’s Go Direct toll-free helpline
at 1-800-333-1795 for help finding a financial institution that offers low- or no-cost accounts.
MYTH: If you use direct deposit, you will not know when your money is in your account.
FACT: You can be sure your money is in your account by the time your bank opens on payment day. Paper checks can be
lost or stolen.
MYTH: Direct deposit does not really save time because the check still must be mailed to the bank.
FACT: With direct deposit, your payment is electronically transferred to your bank account. The payment process is
completely paperless.
Money Smart for Adults Curriculum Page 10 of 25
Module 4: Money Matters Participant Guide
MYTH: Direct deposit is not a trustworthy way to receive federal benefit payments.
FACT: Direct deposit is completely reliable. You are 30 times more likely to have a problem with your federal benefit
check than with your direct deposit payment.
MYTH: Direct deposit is not as safe as receiving a check because it is sent over the Internet.
FACT: Direct deposit works by transferring funds directly into your account through a highly secure electronic banking
system–not the Internet. It is the same system used by the world’s leading financial institutions.
The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for people who work, but do not earn high incomes. If you qualify, the
EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe, and you may receive a refund. You may even be eligible for an advance EITC,
which allows you to receive part of the credit in each paycheck during the year.
If you qualify, you must file the Form W-5 with your employer to get the advance EITC. All of the rules and examples
can be found in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 596. Benefits can range from $2 to over $4,500, depending on
earned income, number of qualifying children, and other factors. Any refund that you receive as a result of taking the
EITC will not be used to determine your eligibility or how much you can receive from the following programs:
• TANF
• Medicaid, Food Stamps, and housing assistance
Eligibility requirements are fully explained in IRS Publication 972, or in the Form 1040 or 1040A Instructions, and
include the following:
• The child must be 17 years of age or younger by the end of the tax year.
• The child must be a U.S. citizen, resident, or national.
Education Credits
If you are saving for or paying education costs for yourself or another student to attend a college, university, vocational
school, or other postsecondary education institution, then you may be eligible for a tax credit. The amount of credit you
can take depends on your filing status, your adjusted gross income, and your eligible expenses. Information is available in
IRS Publication 970. The tax credit application form and the IRS Publication are available at www.irs.gov or by calling
the IRS at 1-800-829-3676 or 1-800-829-1040.
To take advantage of these volunteer assistance programs, bring the following information when you visit a VITA or TCE
site:
• Photo identification
• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification cards for you, your spouse, and your dependents (if
applicable)
• Birth dates for you, your spouse, and your dependents (if applicable)
• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from each employer
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• Other relevant information about income and expenses
• If claiming day care expenses, total amount paid and day care provider’s tax identification number
• A copy of last year’s tax return (if available)
• Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit
• All other information relating to this year’s return
To obtain the location, dates, and hours of the volunteer site closest to you, call the IRS toll-free Tax Help Line for
Individuals at 1-800-829-1040. The Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP) provides free tax
assistance to elderly taxpayers. For AARP sites, call
1-888-AARPNOW (227-7669).
Remember, you must provide accurate information when applying for these benefits. Tax fraud is a serious offense.
Month: April
* Note: Wages from previous month are included to reflect income used for expenses due at the first of the month.
April
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
$25 savings
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
Computer System
• If you have access to a personal computer, you can create your own spreadsheet. Put your income in the first
column, the income date in the second, expenses in a third column, and a space under the expense column for
your total expenses. Include a space to show income—expenses. Use the help function of your spreadsheet
software for instructions if you do not know how to use a spreadsheet.
• You may also want to purchase a personal finance program. They are available for less than $75.
• Using a computer to manage your finances is relatively simple. Once you set up the system, updating information
is quick and easy. It is important to enter transactions frequently to truly understand your financial position.
Spending Considerations
Paying Your Loans
If you can pay your monthly household expenses but are having trouble paying all of your loans, consider:
• Paying off the loan with the highest interest rate first to save on interest payments.
• Talking to your creditors. Your creditor may be willing to reduce your payments or change the terms to
accommodate your situation. Some creditors might offer extensions, accept smaller payments over a longer period
of time, or accept partial payments.
• Getting credit counseling. If you are not disciplined enough to create a workable spending plan and stick to it,
cannot work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or cannot keep track of mounting bills, you might contact a
reputable credit counseling organization. Many credit counseling organizations are nonprofit and work with you
to solve your financial problems.
o Reputable credit counseling organizations can advise you on managing your money and debts, help you
develop a spending plan, and offer free educational materials and workshops. Their counselors are
certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting.
o Counselors discuss your entire financial situation with you and help you develop a personalized plan to
solve your money problems. An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-
up sessions.
• Declaring bankruptcy. This is a last resort. Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that adjusts the debts of individuals
who cannot meet their credit obligations. Bankruptcy:
o Eliminates most debts; however, certain back taxes, child support, alimony, and student loans must still
be paid
o May force you to pay higher credit rates and receive less favorable terms on loans in the future
o May make it difficult to get a mortgage, open a bank account, buy life insurance, and get a job because
creditors and employers can run a credit check to determine your history of past financial commitments
o Is very serious and stays on your credit report for 10 years; use it as a last resort
A new law requires you to get credit counseling before you can file for bankruptcy. Credit reports, bankruptcies, and
credit counseling are covered in the To Your Credit module.
Scenario
The Clarks hold off on paying their credit card bills until the end of the month because they know they do not have
enough money to cover what they owe. They have five credit cards. Three of them have an interest rate of 24 percent. The
other two cards have an interest rate of 13 percent. Two of the high interest rate cards and one of the lower interest rate
cards are 15 days past the due date.
Looking over the credit card bills, Mr. Clark is amazed to see that his wife spent $200 last month on shoes. She is amazed
to see that he bought yet another power tool and spent $385 for it. “No wonder we have no money!” each says to the
other.
When reviewing the bills, Mr. Clark confesses that he stops for coffee on his way to work every morning and eats out for
lunch. Mrs. Clark admits that she gets a pedicure and manicure twice a month.
By the time the Clarks pay their rent, utilities, car payment, and grocery bill, they do not have enough money to make the
minimum payment on three of their five credit cards.
Post-Test
Now that you have gone through the course, see what you have learned.
1. A spending plan helps you control spending because you are able to:
a. Keep track of your daily spending and bills due
b. Determine your monthly income and expenses
c. Find ways to decrease spending
d. Find ways to increase income
e. All of the above
3. Which of the following are generally considered examples of fixed expenses? Select all that apply.
a. Car payment
b. Personal expenses
c. Electric or gas bill
d. Rent or mortgage
4. Which of the following are generally considered examples of flexible expenses? Select all that apply.
a. Food
b. Child care
c. Entertainment
d. Rent or mortgage
5. Which of the following are examples of how you might control or reduce your expenses? Select all that
apply.
a. Eat out at restaurants
b. Carry a small amount of cash for purchases
c. Conserve or use less electricity, gas, or oil
d. Use your credit card to make most purchases
6. Which of the following are examples of how you might save money and increase your income?
a. Follow a spending plan
b. Determine if you qualify for a tax credit
c. Direct deposit a portion of your paycheck or federal benefits into a savings account
d. All of the above
7. Which spending plan tool(s) are you most comfortable with and likely to use following this training?
a. Daily Spending Plan
b. Monthly Income and Expense Worksheet
c. Monthly Payment Schedule or Calendar
d. Expense Envelopes or Budget Box
e. Computer systems or electronic spreadsheets
8. In which of the following goal setting steps would you identify timeframes (e.g., short-, medium-, or long-
term) for your financial goals?
a. Write down your goals
b. Organize your goals
c. Educate yourself
d. Evaluate your goals
Glossary
Fixed Expenses: Expenses with amounts that do not change from month to month.
Flexible Expenses: Expenses with amounts that often change from month to month.
Gross Income: Total income without deductions.
Net Income: Gross income minus deductions such as Social Security and other taxes.
Spending Plan: A step-by-step plan for meeting expenses in a given period of time.
1. Keep track of your daily spending
2. Determine what your monthly income and expenses are the month before they are due
3. Find ways to decrease spending
4. Find ways to increase income
Visit the FDIC’s website for additional information and resources on consumer issues. For example, every issue of
the quarterly FDIC Consumer News provides practical hints and guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user
of financial services. Also, the FDIC’s Consumer Response Center is responsible for:
• Investigating all types of consumer complaints about FDIC-supervised institutions
• Responding to consumer inquiries about consumer laws and regulations and banking practices
This form will allow you and the instructors to see what you know about managing money both before and after the
training. Read each statement below. Please circle the number that shows how much you agree with each statement.
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Strongly Agree
Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Agree
I could/can:
Evaluation Form
This evaluation will enable you to assess your observations of the Money Matters module. Please indicate the degree to
which you agree with each statement by circling the appropriate number.
1. Overall, I felt the module was:
Strongly Disagree
[ ] Excellent
Strongly Agree
[ ] Very Good
[ ] Good
Disagree
Neutral
[ ] Fair
Agree
[ ] Poor
2. I achieved the training objectives. 1 2 3 4 5
3. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. 1 2 3 4 5
4. The overheads were clear. 1 2 3 4 5
5. The overheads enhanced my learning. 1 2 3 4 5
6. The time allocation was correct for this module. 1 2 3 4 5
7. The module included sufficient examples and exercises so that I will be 1 2 3 4 5
able to apply these new skills.
8. The instructor was knowledgeable and well-prepared. 1 2 3 4 5
9. The worksheets are valuable. 1 2 3 4 5
10. I will use the worksheets again. 1 2 3 4 5
11. The participants had ample opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas. 1 2 3 4 5
None Advanced
12. My knowledge/skill level of the subject matter before taking the module. 1 2 3 4 5
What was the least useful part of the training and how could it be improved?
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