Category Archives: Ch. 2, Measuring Financial Health and Making a Plan

Personal Finance Tips for College Students

Classes have started.  You are technically “on your own” –- or at least on your way.  Ready for a little more advice?  This time it’s not from mom, dad, grandma or grandpa or whoever it is that certainly “knows better … Continue reading

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Living Beyond Your Means?

There’s no question about it, it’s easier to spend than it is to save.  Saving isn’t a natural event – it must be planned.  Let’s face it, many people don’t save, and on top of that they spend more than … Continue reading

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Paying Off Your Debt

Teaching Tip:  “Bridge to Financial Freedom, 7 Steps to Paying Off Your Debt” is a great Infographic and makes a for an excellent class discussion or short lecture.  It can be projected on a screen in class and talked through … Continue reading

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Class Discussion and Assignment: What We Spend Our Money On

Teaching Tip:  The Planet Money article, “What America Buys” is fascinating, and the side-by-side graph showing the spending differences between 1949 and 2012 are extremely interesting.  If you can project these onto the board in class, it’s a great place … Continue reading

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Class Assignment and Discussion: Money Lessons from the “New Girl,” Zooey Deschanel

On the television series “New Girl,” Zooey Deschanel plays “Jess” Day, a cute, perky teacher who moves with three guys into an apartment she found on Craigslist after breaking up with her boyfriend.  In real life, she’s just broken up … Continue reading

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Class Discussion and Written Assignment: Help for a Recent Graduate

Teaching Tip:  Chris Farrell is the economics editor for Marketplace Money, the personal finance show by American Public Media.  He also writes a column for American Public Media titled Marketplace Getting Personal.  In that column he fields questions from readers … Continue reading

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Class Discussion or Assignment: Santana Moss reportedly owes over $250,000 in back taxes

Just because you make a lot of money, doesn’t mean you don’t spend even more.  In Chapter 2 of Turning Money Into Wealth we look at the importance of budgeting and how to actually set up an effective budget – … Continue reading

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Finance in the News: A Look at the Principal Financial Well-Being Index

Every quarter the Principal Financial Group has Harris Interactive conduct a survey of the financial well-being of adults working at small and mid-sized U.S. businesses.  So, how do Americans feel about their financial well-being?  The answer can be found in … Continue reading

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Class Assignment: The Rising Age Gap in Financial Well-Being, Part 2

In Chapter 11 we discuss investment basics and look at accumulating wealth through investing.  Obviously that involves an understanding of Principle 8: Risk and Return Go Hand in Hand, and how to budget and start the saving process as described … Continue reading

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