Sixteen monthly newsletters have been created and reviewed by UW-Madison Division of Extension educators based on evaluations and feedback from previous Head Start financial literacy project participants. Newsletter issues 1-8 are sequential, so that each topic builds on the information in the previous topic. Because many families are enrolled in Head Start for more than […]
The goal of this financial research project is to find out if setting goals and having access to financial literacy information can help improve financial outcomes. As part of this project, UW-Madison Division of Extension gathers survey information from Head Start families who agree to participate. A baseline survey is given out in fall, and […]
Initial Research Project with Head Start Families The Money $mart in Head Start (M$iHS) program consists of a series of partnerships between local Head Start programs and UW-Madison Division of Extension educators. The MSiHS program offers a mixture of three financial literacy interventions—monthly newsletters, financial education workshops, and financial coaching—to families with children enrolled in […]
In addition to the resources included throughout this website, the following links are to trusted resources about planning and paying for college. UW-Madison Division of Extension Resources Resources for Teaching Kids and Teens about Money The CFPB’s guide to financial literacy activities The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has put together a collection of activities that […]
Although the costs of higher education continue to increase, college graduates enjoy lower unemployment rates and higher earnings. The following chart shows median monthly earnings for U.S. workers in 2021 based on their educational attainment (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). People with a bachelor’s degree earned a median of $1,334 per week or about […]
Given how much the cost of college increases over time, saving for your child’s future education may seem like a drop in the bucket. It is true that U.S. households use a variety of sources of money beyond savings to fund their children’s education, but saving for college plays a special role in helping pay […]
Families interested in saving for college have a variety of options over where to save their money, maybe too many options. This page describes some of common options and provides links for more information. The information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and does not imply an endorsement of any specific financial […]
Managing Your Personal Finances in Tough Times is designed to share trusted resources used or developed by UW-Madison Division of Extension Financial Education professionals. It is designed to help people make sound financial choices in tough times. All materials are free for personal use. Extension financial educators who can help you find resources and come […]
When your income drops, the paychecks may stop coming, but the bills don’t. You’re legally obligated to pay all debt, but when you don’t have enough money to cover your monthly expenses and pay your creditors the minimum amount due, you face some tough decisions. If you owe a large amount of money and your […]
You hate to let a temporary financial setback impact your good standing with your creditors and lower your credit score for years to come. If you find that money is tight and you won’t be able to keep up with bills, take action right away. Not all creditors will accept payment plans, but they’ll be […]
Sometimes people lose income due to having an illness or accident that has lasting effects. This section provides information and resources to explore for Social Security disability benefits or supplemental income. Social Security Disability Benefits To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, a person must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. See […]
There are steps you can take to get a handle on your finances – and your financial stress. The very first step is to figure out if your income covers all of your current expenses. An increase in expenses or a drop in income usually means a change in lifestyle. The sooner you look at […]
