MSU Extension MI Money Health

This curriculum integrates into a variety of other existing programs. It starts with identifying where the individual is and works on their most pressing need or needs.

The curriculum has six main components: Money Decisions, Organization, Savings, Spending Plan, Protecting My Money, and Paying My Bills. Each section focuses on the thinking processes to help people to decide about their own money management skills.

The curriculum begins with the Money Decisions section. This section has two lessons: “What’s My Future?” and “Making Good Money Decisions.” These lessons help the participant become aware of their own current financial management practices. Participants begin to identify their own personal general strengths and weaknesses, as well as where they feel their skills are in certain areas of financial management. Plus, they identify their personal goals.

The next section in the curriculum is the Organization section. This section focuses on the general organization of financial and life matters. The lesson in this section “Organizing and Keeping Records” includes finding important papers, knowing what to keep or toss, cutting the clutter, and having a recordkeeping system.

The next section, Savings, includes the lessons “Planning to Save” and “Saving for My Future.” This section helps participants identify the importance of having emergency saving funds as well as saving for future needs and wants. Participants will be able to set goals on how to accumulate savings for these purposes.

Next, the Spending Plan section includes the lessons “Making a Spending Plan” and “Managing a Spending Plan.” These lessons help the participants identify and document the kinds of income sources they have. In addition, the participants begin to track their expenses and identify changes they may make in managing their personal finances. Also, participants will start determining the difference between needs and wants in their own lives. These lessons were placed intentionally at least one month after the series starts, so that participants can collect their receipts from purchases for realistic calculations of their monthly expenses.

Protecting My Money focuses on protecting against identity theft and scams and identifying financial abuse and exploitation. It explains what victims should do to protect themselves.