“ No matter who you are, making informed
decisions about what to do with your money
will help build a more stable financial future
for you and your family.” —Alan Greenspan
There’s a Lot to Learnabout Money
YOU CAN TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
Federal Reserve System
THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT MONEY.
Take Charge
It’s possible to meet your financial goals—
whether your income is small, medium or large.
By looking for good information on managing your
finances, along with choosing to budget, save and use
credit wisely, you can:
■ Buy a home.
■ Send your child to college.
■ Start a business.
■ Pay off debts.
■ Put money away for a rainy day.
■ Save for retirement.
No matter who you are, you can take charge of your
financial future. Start today!
To get you started, here are some simple tips.
Set Goals
Most people who have money didn’t get it overnight.
They set goals and worked hard to reach them.
TRY THIS: Write down your short-term and
long-term goals. An example of a short-term goal is
saving up for holiday gifts; a long-term goal is
saving for a home.
■ Set due dates for reaching your goals.
■ Be realistic.
■ Be flexible. (It’s OK to adjust your goals
and strategies.)
■ Go back and look at your goals after six months
to check your progress.
THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT MONEY.
Develop a Budget
Find out where your money is going. Unless you’re
tracking your money, it’s probably not going where you
really want it to.
TRY THIS: Write down your total monthly take-home
pay. Then list your monthly expenses. At the end of the
month, subtract those expenses from your total pay.
■ Look for places to save.
■ Use this information to set a monthly budget that
includes saving.
■ Review how things are going each month.
TIP: Carry a small notebook. Write down everything
you spend. Include small things like candy bars.
THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT MONEY.
TIP: COMPOUND INTEREST ADVANTAGE
Value of Savings
Note: Examples assume $50 monthly deposits;
compound interest examples assume interest is
paid monthly o