MoneySense is a free program designed to teach students crucial concepts in personal finance. As you take the big step towards living on your own and becoming self-sufficient, this program will teach you invaluable lessons that will help you make smart decisions, giving you the tools you need to build wealth in the future. Please use the links to the right to find out more about the program and learn how you can participate.



PARTICIPANT SIGN-UP!! Click Here to sign up for seminars now and to reserve your copies of seminar materials!
Quick Facts
  • Teenagers spend over $172 billion annually.
    
    
  • 33% of high school seniors already use credit cards and ATM cards.
    
    
  • More young people filed for bankruptcy than graduated from college in 2001.
    
    
  • Half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
    
    
  • 95% of college graduate students have cards; each has an average of four cards with an average total balance of $4,776.
    
    
  • 60% of American households carry over some portion of their credit card debt every month. The average balance is more than $4,000.
    
    
  • Only 21% of students between the ages of 16 and 22 say they have taken a personal finance course at school.
    



        (Statistics provided by the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Federal Reserve, and the National Endowment for Financial Education.) 

      

    

      

    

    		







Program Schedule






October 1: Introductions to Personal Finance;
            Presented by a guest speaker from Western's financial aid office
  	-Media messages about money and consumerism
  	-Financial resources on campus and around town
   	-Banking and checking accounts 

October 8: Budgeting and Savings
	    Presented by WWU Beta Alpha Psi students
 	-Living within your means
 	-Importance of saving money
 	-Saving for the future: major life expenses and retirement

October 15: Credit Cards, Credit Scores, and ID Theft;
            Presented by a local banker
  	-Shopping for credit cards
 	-Consumer protection and how to use credit wisely
  	-Learn how to protect yourself from identity theft!

October 22: Living on your own and Your Rights as a Renter;
            Presented by a local attorney
 	-Budgeting for your lifestyle
 	-Financial questions to ask when looking for housing
 	-Financial lessons about roommates

October 29: Investing
            Presented by investment professionals
  	-Types of investments
 	-Setting investment goals

November 5: Taxes
            Presented by tax professionals
  	-Filing status
  	-Tax strategies 







Free Dinner!  Pizza will be served at 5:30pm, and seminars will start at 6:00pm in Parks Hall 104.