esm7i Financial Literacy Month: April
As we navigate through the global financial landscape, many challenges can be overcome. In the United States, inflation levels have reached levels that were not seen for 40 years. Recent geopolitical events have further exacerbated the situation. The rising cost of fuel and energy has caused concerns for many households. Individuals must learn how to combat inflation and mitigate some of its adverse effects.
There is a silver lining to these challenges: we can improve our knowledge of our finances and learn to make it work more intelligently and more complex. You can always take control of your finances.
Financial literacy month is when financial institutions, nonprofits, and human services agencies focus on financial literacy. They do this through programs, events, and counseling. It is about educating consumers on finances and empowering them to achieve financial success and stability for themselves and their families.
Financial literacy is the ability to manage personal and household finances effectively. It also involves the knowledge to achieve meaningful financial goals. Take advantage of this Financial Literacy Month to secure your future and your family.
Participants in Financial Literacy Month
The involvement of communities and states in Financial Literacy Month can differ significantly. Some communities engage in extensive activities that reach out to citizens, from elementary schools up to senior centers. Some districts post on social networks, while others may not know that National Financial Literacy Month is occurring.
The state affiliate of the national Jump $ tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy will likely be involved in Financial Literacy Month’s planning and implementation. Click here to find your local Jump$tart Affiliate.
You can also contact your state’s Department of Finance, consumer affairs, or banking. This is usually the state government agency responsible for overseeing banking institutions. You can view a list by clicking on this. These government agencies list many activities on their website, while others participate in workshops and events.
If they do not participate, encourage them to become involved. Encourage them to get involved if they don’t. As part of their responsibilities under the Community Reinvestment Act, passed in 1977, banks are encouraged to participate in these events and activities.
During financial literacy month, nonprofit credit counseling agencies are the most active. Their education charters require them to educate their clients and communities about budgeting, credit building, and eliminating debt. These topics are perfect for the month. Find a nonprofit agency that offers credit counseling near you using an industry trade association such as fcaa.org.
Teachers, professors, and instructors at many schools and colleges take on the cause of Financial Literacy Month every year. These are usually high school and college’s family and consumer sciences, economics, and business teachers. Your child’s teacher may have plans to include financial literacy into their curriculum in the coming month.
Over the last few years, libraries have been tasked with promoting healthy financial habits. Find out what your local library has planned for this month. Many nonprofits and professionals will schedule workshops to promote using budgets and credit and debt elimination techniques.
You may be aware that Military Saves Week ended at the end of February. Financial Literacy Month is so close that it can be overwhelming for many family services coordinators on base. You will need to ask if personal finance activities are scheduled for April.
Money Fit Supports Financial Literacy Month
Money Fit has been supporting Financial Literacy Month since 2004, when we hired our first director of financial education. We have organized or implemented a PiggyBank Beauty Contest, presented in elementary and high school classrooms, and helped implement other activities.
Our Academy continues to grow in terms of online financial education. We have added the award-winning My Life, My Choices budgeting activity. This 30-45-minute scenario-based activity is perfect for high- and middle school students. They will also receive a certificate of completion in PDF format.
Money Fit also offers weekly Money Fit LIVE Webinars that address practical money topics and provide live chat options for questions and concerns.
Get involved
Contact the Jump$tart Coalition in your state to ask how you can get involved or volunteer. You might be invited to their meetings or asked to volunteer at an event.
We encourage you to share Financial Literacy Month on social media.
We hope that you will increase your financial literacy. Consider these ideas:
Read a book on personal finance from the library
Take a webinar a week, and share the information you learn on your social media sites
You can read a personal finance book for children to your grandchildren, nieces, or nephews. We love Berenstain Bears Trouble with Money, so we created a Free Program for kids nationwide to receive their copy.
Subscribe to a blog or podcast on a topic in personal finance that you love or would like help with.
How to Make the Most of Financial Literacy Month
Showers in April can help grow flowers for May, depending on where you are.
Financial Literacy Month is celebrated in the US every April, even though April may not always be rainy. Financial Literacy Month is now a national event involving financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, and individuals.
Money Fit by DRS supports Financial Literacy Month and encourages our clients, partners, and citizens to promote financial health year-round.
Three steps to take full advantage of Financial Literacy Month
Integrate financial education into your child’s discipline and teaching.
Book clubs can discuss financial literacy.
Every day, ask and research a financial question.
You can use the opportunity of a child’s grounding to help them improve their financial knowledge. Require him or her to show you a certificate of completion from a free, online financial education program such as those available at www.MoneyFit.org/academy or before lifting the grounding. This could be the most valuable 30 minutes in their disciplined lives. It is important to use the many resources available from financial literacy providers who support Financial Literacy Month as teaching materials for children or students.
Consider adding a personal finance book to your book club’s reading list. We love our Everyday Money for Everyday People (Christensen) book. Still, there are many other great books to read, including The Next Millionaire Next Door by Stanley & Fallow (2018), The Difference by Chatzky (2009), and A Framework for Understanding Poverty (2018), if that’s what you want.
Ask and research one personal finance question every day. You can find many choices by searching “Personal Finance Question of the Day.” Many of them have corresponding research or answers. Let’s start with this one:
