Take and Teach Lesson Series for Times in Economic Crisis
Families everywhere are experiencing varying levels of “economic crisis”. Whether it be a reduction in wages or hours, unemployment, foreclosure, or increasing expenses, families need reliable information and support to help themselves feel empowered to make the necessary changes in their lives.
The Extension Center for Family Development is extending its education and resources to those who directly impact families during this economic crisis. These short, easy-to use lessons are designed for professionals who teach families either in large group sessions or one-on-one. They help families work on strategies that will make a difference in these tough economic times.
Each lesson contains a lesson plan, required handouts and/or worksheets.
Lessons
Making Ends Meet: Strategies for Young Families
All young families need to figure out a plan for managing their money. This lesson introduces strategies to help make ends meet, including budgeting basics, cutting spending, saving, maintaining a good credit, and staying out of debt.
Print off these handouts for the lesson:
Money Management Strategies
People use different ways to manage their money and there is no right or wrong way. This lesson looks at approaches for creating a spending plan to help people take control of their money by "tracking" their current spending and working with variable income.
Save Money - Stretch Your Budget
Income changes can affect family members in different ways. This lesson looks at creative ways to save money to help stretch budgets, strengthen family communication and involvement, as well as lessen feelings of financial loss.
Additional Resources
- Dollar Works 2 teaches basic economic concepts to strengthen people’s skills in managing their personal finances and making sound decisions with money.
- Energy Actions to Save $ and Increase Comfort of Renters gives easy suggestions lowering energy usage (which also means lowering costs spent on energy).
- Getting Through Tough Times is a fact sheet series that addresses five content areas for families experiencing trauma: getting help, making financial decisions with less, dealing with stress, figuring out how to do more with less, and children and tough times.
- Click here to see the other resources available from Resource Management from Daily Life.
For more Families in Tough Times resources, click here.
