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Community Center
Money Center
Saving

I. Why Save???
 
Let's take a minute
   to think about
      your money
...
   
Where do you get your money?
 
Click on the faces below to see others' answers.
What about YOU?
   
Where do you get your money?
Write your answers in your Money Notebook.
 

OK, now that you have a little
money in your pocket,
what
do you do with it
??
Most people spend and buy,
spend and buy,spend and buy.

You've definitely got to pay the bills, and you're certainly entitled to treat yourself every now and then, but let's think about why it might make sense to save.

 
To save means to put aside money
for use at a later date.
If you put aside a little bit
at a time, your money will begin
to grow and grow.
   

Your savings can also grow by
earning interest. This happens when you put it in a savings account.

Why do people save?
Click on the faces below to see others' answers.
What about YOU?
   
Why do you want to save?
 
Write your answers in your Money Notebook.
 
These are all good reasons to save! People usually save to buy things they can't yet afford.
- OR -
T
hey save to make sure they have a good future.
   
Congratulations!!
You've done a great job learning about why to save. Before you move on to the next Big Idea, feel free to Play a Savings Game... In this game, you'll be spending some time in the Allowance Room
Play A Game


UP TO LIST OF BIG IDEAS

II. Savings Goals
 

The things that we save for are called
our Savings Goals. People can have both
short-term and long-term savings goals.

Short-term savings goals usually take less than one year
to achieve. Long-term savings goals usually take more than one year to achieve.

   
Long-term or Short-term SAVINGS GOAL?? You decide.
College Tuition Tickets to WWE Match
short-term long-term short-term long-term

Birthday Gift for Mom New Car
short-term long-term short-term long-term
 
What about YOU?
   
What are your savings goals?
 
Write your answers in your Money Notebook.
 

People save for different
types of things:

You can save for something you NEED for survival (like food or a warm winter coat)
.
  You can also save for something you WANT
(like a new video game
or a trip to Disney World).
Wants are things you would like to have
but can live
 without.

Which of the things below is a need and which is a want?
   

 

 
Need or Want??
Medicine
CD-player
Need
Want
Need
Want
 
Rolex Watch
Tooth-brush
Need
Want
Need
Want

Good job!
Move on to the Next Big Idea!

 

UP TO LIST OF BIG IDEAS

III. Why Savings Pays: All About Interest
 
Interest is a kind of payment that banks and credit unions give you for keeping your money in a savings account
at their company.

Interest is usually talked about as a percentage,
like 2% or 5%.
The higher the interest rate,
the more money you'll earn.
   
 
Interest is figured out as a percentage.
Click here to Learn More about Percents
When you are saving, your bank or financial company adds interest to your savings at regular intervals (for example, every week or every month).
If you don't use any of the money in your account, the bank will pay you interest on your interest as well as on the original amount you put in your savings account. This is called compound interest.
   
Compound interest is the real power of a savings account! Click to see a step-by-step example of how compound interest works...
 
To learn more,
visit these links:
 
GOOD JOB getting through interest!
   
Let's apply it to your own life now. Click on the calculator to figure out how you can use the power of compound interest. When you're finished, continue on to the next Big Idea!
 


UP TO LIST OF BIG IDEAS

IV. Where to Save
 

There are many different
places to
save money.

How many places to save
can you name?What are the
pros and cons of each option?
   
 
Looking at the "pros and cons" means comparing the reasons for doing something (the pros) and  the reasons against doing something (cons).
 
See WHERE they save.
 
Place to Save
Reasons FOR (Pros)
Reasons Against (Cons)

Under the
mattress

— Easy access: Money
   is always available

— Unsafe: Money could be stolen or
   burned in a fire.
— Doesn't earn interest (make money) for    you.
— Doesn't help you build a good credit    history


I
n the money jar or piggy bank
— Easy access: Money    is always available — Unsafe: Money could be stolen or    burned in a fire.
— Doesn't earn interest (make money) for    you.
— Doesn't help you build a good credit    history

I
n a bank or credit union

— Safe: Money is
   protected by the
   federal government.

— Earns interest.
— Helps you build a
   good credit history

— Money is not always easily available;you    have to go to the bank to take it out.
— You might have to pay fees if you don't    keep enough money in your account.


Lay-away plan at a store
— Safe: You're on    record as putting
   aside a certain
   amount of money    for your purchase.

— Doesn't earn interest (make money) for    you.
— You're stuck buying the certain item on