Rowdy Cents says, “Humor, fun, and facts go a long way in learning about money!"
VIDEOS
me, SAVE? is a fun vignette about different types of spenders, featured on feedthepig.org
Your Life, Your Money is produced by Jump$tart national partner, WNED Buffalo/Toronto, and hosted by Donald Faison, star of "Scrubs", through PBS.org.
$avingsman versus Credit Card man is a video produced by choosetosave.org.
Track-o-Matic (tracking expenses) and Get it on Credit are videos from the Funny Money Cartoon Series (Canadian Investor Education Fund).p
ONLINE GAMES
Access these games through the Practical Money Skills for Life® web site:
- Financial Soccer - NEW!
- Financial Football
- Players tackle financial questions like professionals in a fast-paced, quiz-style game. Compete by answering finance-themed questions to earn yardage and score touchdowns. You can print a certificate of completion!
- Smart Money Quiz
- Test your money smarts with the Get-Out-of-Debt Quiz Show. Tackle topics as diverse as Internet banking and consumer scams to work your way out of $10,000 in debt. Created for ages 18 and up.
- Road Trip to Savings
- Meet the challenges of four weeks on the road as you steer your way to financial stability. This game requires Mplayers to make decisions about income, expenses and savings. Coming up short on cash means losing your wheels. Created for adolescents.
- Ed's Bank
- Help Ed collect enough money to shop for his favorite things. Then watch his quirky reactions as he interacts with his purchases. This entertaining game provides a lighthearted way of teaching younger audiences about saving and differing money values.Created for children in grades 3 to 6.
- Cash Puzzler
- Youngsters will learn to recognize dollar bills with this simple puzzle game you can play online. Complete each puzzle to learn quick facts about the people featured on each bill.
Created for children in preschool and early elementary school.
"Shop" with a virtual credit card before you get a real one:
NOTE: A few years back a law was enacted that required financial instituitions to provide consumer education. Many have created very fun games and videos to teach consumers about the basics of personal finance. The web links referenced above, with their financial institution affiliations, are presented here for student/user entertainment and learning and do not constitute an approval of nor an endorsement by UTSA and its representatives.
BOARD GAMES
Plan a fun evening with family and/or friends playing a money-related board game, such as
- Monopoly (the older game and a newer version with electronic banking)
- Game of Life
- Payday
- Moneywise Kids
- Money Bags
EXPLORATION
Would you like to see how careers and level of education affects one's buying power?
Jump on the Debt Ski and ride the waves of financial life!
VACATIONS and "STAYCATIONS"
If you Google “money saving vacation tips” you’ll get about 269,000 references! Some of Rowdy Cents' thoughts are the following:
- This might be an entry on your short or long-term goals worksheet. Figure out in advance where, when, how, how many, and how much.
- Compare online services to book flights, cars, hotel rooms at discount prices
- Visit places where your friends live and plan to stay a night or two with them (ask first, of course)
- Substitute a “staycation” – stay at home and play; camp in the backyard; visit local tourist sites; barbeque in backyard and invite the neighbors; host a street or patio dance (check homeowner and city restrictions first)
- Take a day trip to a nearby quaint or historic town; visit a vineyard; poke around in antique shops (decide how much you are going to spend before you go!)
- Go to the movies during the “matinee” times – it’s cheaper; be sure to use your student ID if theaters give a discount; rent movies and invite friends over
- Invite friends over for a movie swap – bring DVDs to share or swap for a period of time
The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others. -William Lyon Phelps
Rowdy Cents asks, "How do YOU save money and have fun? Email me."
PAGE UPDATED 11/16/09
