Financial Education Summary

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Summary of Glow Financial Education Workshop Topics

1. Orientation (~1 hour)
   1. Covers overview of the program, quick facts on college financing and why financial literacy is important, and student registration (students need to voluntarily register to participate)
2. Financial Literacy Workshop I (2~2.5 hours)
   1. Covers topics including How Money works, Being a Money manager, Interest, Savings and Checking Accounts (including introduction to IDA program). Activities include:
      1. Long term and short term financial goal setting
      2. Interest rate calculations
      3. ABCs of Checking Account and Savings Account
      4. How to write a check and keep a check register
3. Financial Literacy Workshop II (2~2.5 hours)
   1. Covers topics including Credit, Credit Cards, and Loans. Activities include:
      1. When to use credit: Good vs. bad time to use credit
      2. Evaluation of good vs. bad credit behaviors - Review of Credit Scenarios
      3. Comparison of credit card and debit cards
      4. Costs of credit and things to ask when shopping for a credit card
      5. Reading credit card statements
      6. Evaluating loans: comparing interest rates and repayment terms
4. College Financial Planning Workshop I (2~2.5 hours)
   1. Covers topics including Benefits of attending college, sticker price vs. real cost of college, overview of financial aid, FAFSA overview, and student loans. Activities include:
      1. Group discussions on pros and cons of college
      2. “Spectrum” of financial aids (comparing and evaluating different types of financial aids)
      3. Comparing and evaluating student loans
5. College Financial Planning Workshop II (2~2.5 hours)
   1. Covers topics including FAFSA details, scholarships, financial aid award letters, personal college financial budget, and student loans. Activities include:
      1. Analyzing financial aid package (with actual financial aid award letter samples from different schools)
      2. Developing college financial budget and analyzing gap (using scenarios)
6. Budget Support Session (2~2.5 hours)
   1. During Budget Support, students receive one-on-one support from volunteers on completing their individual college financial budget which include detailed analysis of all funding sources, personal expenses, and gap in their college financing.
7. Budget Review Session (2~2.5 hours)
   1. During Budget Review Session, Glow staff, board members, and volunteers will review/evaluate individual student’s budget and certify students’ completion of the Glow Financial Education Program. There is also a small certification/award ceremony and celebration at each site.