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Financial Education

Financial decisions people make can improve the quality of their lives or make life more challenging. Either way, the impacts of individual financial choices affect the overall economic health of families and communities.        

 Financial Literacy-basic knowledge of financial concepts and the ability to make competent decisions is increasingly recognized as an essential life skill.         

Family Living Educators deliver financial education in our community where people work and live.  Some examples of recent financial education include:      

Making Your Money Work for You:  

 A workshop designed to assist participants in setting financial priorities, tracking their spending and developing a spending plan.   Download the 2011 Workshop Schedule  for a listing of upcoming workshops.
 

Get Checking:

 A workshop designed to assist participants in understanding banking terms and account options, managing a checking account (including writing checks, using a check register and reconciling a checking account).
Learn more about Get Checking.
2012 Oshkosh Workshop Brochure  NEW
2011 Fox Cities Workshop Brochure    

 Dealing with a Drop in Income:

A workshop designed to assist participants in developing a plan for managing their financial resources after a drop in income using the newly developed “UWEX Dealing with a Drop in Income Guide.”  You may also find the Cutting Back and Keeping Up When Money is Tight publication of interest.
NEW: Drop in Income PODCAST   
  

Credit & Debt-Make it Work for You  

 A workshop designed to assist participants in the benefits and drawbacks of different types of debt; what’s in a credit report; how to raise their credit score; and ideas for paying off debt. If you are interested in accessing a copy of your free credit report, access an informational fact sheet here. An additional fact sheet on understanding your credit score has recently became available from the Consumer Federation of America, access it here. -NEW

Managing Between Jobs

 UW Extension developed a series of 16 publications that present valuable strategies for dealing with job loss or a drastic reduction in income. Get help setting spending priorities, keeping a roof overhead, finding another job, and more.    
 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA):

 

 A collaborative project designed to expand the free tax assistance programs in Winnebago County by partnering with local agencies including the Oshkosh Area United Way, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Business, the Oshkosh Area Community pantry and other community stake holders.
UW Extension provides leadership for this initiative and also offers financial education services at the tax site including workshops, fact sheets, newsletters etc. Read our VITA impact report to learn more!         

Interested volunteers can access training resources as follows:
2011 VITA Publication 4012    
2011 VITA Pub 4491-W
2011 VITA Test Study Guide
VITA Test 2011       
Wisconsin Income Tax Instructions 1A & WIEZ 
Wisconsin Homestead Credit Instructions H & H-EZ     
2011 Powerpoint Presentation from William Padley J.D., CPA of MATC    
Wisconsin 2011 VITA Manual from WI Dept. of Revenue    NEW!

Money Smart Week Wisconsin:

A week long financial education initiative delivered in Winnebago County in parntership with local agencies including the Oshkosh Public Library, the Oshkosh Area United Way, FISC, ADVOCAP, Wisconsin’s Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Visit Money Smart Week Wisconsin’s Winnebago County page to see a listing of events that occurred October 2-9, 2010.          

UW Extension Self-Help Resources:   

UW Extension has a number of financial education resources that may be used for self study including the following:
Organizing Your Financial Records
Taking Control of Your Spending
Tracking Your Spending
Using Power Payments to Pay off Debt
Tax Credits for Limited Income Families Blog
Managing Finances in Tough Times Blog
Wallet Tracker 
NEW-Cutting Back & Keeping Up Fact Sheet     
NEW- “Retirement Rules of Thumb”
UPDATED – Family Estate Planning In Wisconsin