4-H Financial Fitness and Fun online lessons

Ten online lessons to educate youth ages 12-19 about financial topics.

Piggy bank working out and sweating on a treadmill.

According to the Financial Health Network’s 2020 U.S. Financial Health Pulse, a majority of Americans (67% or 167 million) are not financially healthy. And, although this number is an improvement over the 71% who reported struggling in 2019 with some or all aspects of their financial lives, it is expected that the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly impact the financial well-being for many. The goal of 4-H financial education is to improve these outcomes by helping youth understand and develop the skills they will need to be financially smart adults.

Join Michigan State University Extension for 4-H Financial Fitness and Fun, a financial education program for youth ages 12-19. There are 10, one-hour sessions that can be completed online or there will be a live version online beginning the end of February and running for 10 weeks - watch the MSU Extension calendar for more details. Participants will learn about setting financial goals, saving, budgeting, banking basics, credit, and much more through fun, interactive learning activities and games. This program is sponsored through a grant by the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

Nearly half of Americans (49%) who have received more than 10 hours of financial education report spending less than they earn, compared with 36% of those people who received less than 10 hours of financial education. The goal of 4-H Financial Fitness and Fun is to use the Michigan 4-H experiential approach to make financial learning engaging and fun. We want youth to gain financial knowledge and develop the skills they will need to be financially smart adults.

The first 100 youth to attend all 10 sessions either live via Zoom or through the self-guided Nearpod lessons on the website will be rewarded with $50 as a savings incentive.

MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H youth development help prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce, and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives. For more information or resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, financial education, or entrepreneurship, contact 4-HCareerPrep@msu.edu.

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