With the change in seasons, people often focus on “spring cleaning” around the house.
The state Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) urges consumers to consider “spring cleaning” their household finances as well.
Gov. Matt Bevin has signed a proclamation declaring April to be Financial Literacy Month. In it, the Kentucky Jump$tart Coalition, in which DFI is a partner, has pledged to “join together to conduct educational events and activities in schools and communities to illustrate the importance of personal fiscal responsibility.”
“This month serves as a reminder that our financial situations are constantly changing. Budgets should be revised and updated periodically, and April is a great time to do that,” said DFI Commissioner Charles Vice. “To help in that endeavor, DFI and other Jump$tart partners are offering a wealth of opportunities to brush up on your financial knowledge.”
DFI staff will be visiting various locations in Northern Kentucky, Elizabethtown, Louisville and Frankfort to share good financial smarts with audiences of all ages. Some of the presentations support specific programming. Others are financial presentations “on request,” which DFI fulfills throughout the year as part of its educational outreach program.
DASH for the STASH
The free DASH for the STASH contest is open to all Kentuckians. The contest takes place March 15-May 15 and is being launched in Kentucky by DFI and the nonprofit Investor Protection Institute. One statewide winner will receive a $1,000 retirement investment.
For a chance to win, consumers can visit a participating library, read the four educational posters and answer online quiz questions (one per poster) correctly. The posters cover four topics: finding financial advisers, avoiding fraud, understanding investment fees and building a nest egg. For contest information, including rules and a list of participating library locations, visit http://www.iinvest.org/programs/dash-for-the-stash.
Teach Children to Save Day
DFI is participating in Teach Children to Save Day with Kentucky Jump$tart on April 29. The day is a national event developed by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation to teach children to identify goals and to save to reach those goals. The Kentucky Jump$tart Coalition is sending volunteers to second-grade classrooms to share a lesson about saving. Each teacher will receive a copy of the story book “Less Than Zero,” and each child will receive a savings-related gift for participating.
Other Opportunities
The following is a schedule of DFI presentations for Financial Literacy Month:
4/4 Thomas More College, Crestview Hills (budgeting and saving for students)
4/12 Hardin County Public Library, Elizabethtown (investing for adults) – DASH
4/18 Bridgeport Elementary, Frankfort (budgeting for adults/families)
4/19 Fern Creek Branch of Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville (budgeting/credit game for teens) – DASH
4/19 Southwest Branch of Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville (general personal finance for adults) – DASH
4/29 Bridgeport Elementary, Frankfort (saving/borrowing for second graders) – Teach Children to Save Day
5/12 Paul Sawyier Public Library, Frankfort (credit for adults) – DASH
In addition to the above events, Kentucky Jump$tart and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis- Louisville Branch are offering an event for teachers on April 28 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Fed office in Louisville. The event includes professional development credits, dinner and a video conference with Fed economist Dr. Bill Emmons who will speak about the “demographics of wealth.” To register for this free event, visit https://www.stlouisfed.org/events/2016/01/ee-conversations.
National Financial Literacy Month, sometimes referred to as National Financial Capability Month, is a month-long campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of financial literacy and the need for financial education, as well as encouraging collaboration and acknowledging the many and diverse contributions that organizations like DFI have made in support of this effort.
From DFI Communications