Financial Literacy

Authors: Troy Anthony Anderson - Jesse Ketterman

Credit plays a pivotal role in modern financial planning, enabling individuals to manage cash flow, make major purchases, and secure future financial stability through strategic borrowing. While installment, revolving, and open credit accounts offer flexibility, responsible repayment is critical to avoid financial pitfalls. Budgeting is also essential to manage expenditures and prevent debt cycles. Securing credit depends on factors like payment history, credit score, and debt-to-income ratio, impacting loan terms and interest rates. Mismanagement can lead to financial distress, while effective credit use can enhance economic well-being. Authors: Troy Anthony Anderson, Ed.D., and Jesse Ketterman, Ph.D.; Title: Consumer Credit: Balancing Access and Risks to Achieve Financial Stability (FS-2025-0755).

Authors: Troy Anthony Anderson

This paper delves into the multifaceted dynamics of consumer education and decision-making within diverse cultural contexts. It underscores the pivotal role consumer knowledge plays in navigating today's complex marketplace, addressing both individual and collective needs in a globalized world. By understanding essential consumer rights; such as safety, access to accurate information, and the art of choosing, individuals can enhance satisfaction and mitigate potential negative impacts. The discussion extends to exploring how consumer education enriches financial literacy and refines resource management, equipping individuals with the tools needed to understand guarantees and warranties comprehensively. The paper also highlights the consumer's crucial role in fostering ethical behavior, emphasizing the significance of laws designed to protect consumers. By merging these elements, the article presents a thorough view of how informed consumers contribute to a more equitable and efficient marketplace. Author: Troy Anthony Anderson, Ed.D.; Title: Understanding Choices: Navigating Consumer Education for a Better Tomorrow (FS-2024-0742).

Authors: Troy Anthony Anderson

This paper examines how financial education significantly influences individuals' ability to make informed decisions, enhancing their economic stability and social mobility in today's economy. By reviewing literature, such as Anderson (2023) and Walstad et al. (2017), the paper highlights the benefits of early financial education for young people in managing adult financial responsibilities. Despite progress, the study notes persistent limitations in financial education accessibility across states, leaving many households vulnerable due to inadequate financial literacy. Key goals of financial education include understanding personal finance, recognizing good and bad debt, and acquiring practical budgeting skills. The paper emphasizes the need for educational leaders to implement robust financial programs and mandate financial literacy classes in high schools. By developing benchmarks for measuring financial education effectiveness, the study underscores the necessity of widespread financial education to foster a financially savvy population capable of tackling economic challenges. Author: Troy Anthony Anderson; Title: The Concept of Financial Education (FS-2024-0704).

Authors: Carrie Sorenson - Lynn Matava

Medication Management: Ways to save money on prescription drugs to help you manage your health. Authors: Carrie Sorenson and Lynn Matava; Saving Money on Prescription Drugs" (FS-2024-0712).

Authors: Jesse Ketterman - Meghaan Lurtz

A flexible spending account is a great, tax-advantaged tool that can help you save for health and dependent care expenses. This fact sheet provides a template to estimate the amount of money to set aside when establishing a flexible spending account. Information about establishing and using a flexible spending account is also contained. Authors: Jesse Ketterman and Meghaan Lurtz; Title:Paying for Healthcare or Daycare? Flexible Spending Accounts Can Help! (FS-1083).

Authors: Catherine Sorenson

This factsheet will help extension educators understand pet insurance and how pet insurance policies can be set up. It also provides suggestions for how extension educators can teach consumers to review and better understand policies before enrolling in a pet insurance plan. Author: Catherine Sorenson; Pet Insurance: The Basics for Extension Educators (FS-2023-0679).

Authors: Catherine Sorenson

Pets are an important part of our lives but can also be expensive. Pet insurance is one tool for managing the costs of pet ownership. But, pet insurance can be confusing, and pet insurance policies can differ from company to company. This fact sheet will help you understand important pet insurance concepts like: • The different types of policies • What pet insurance does and does not cover, and • The ways in which specific factors about your pet will affect the cost of insurance The fact sheet also includes a chart that can help you compare insurance policies to find which policies, if any, are a good fit for your needs. The chart includes a variety of key questions you should ask when considering signing up for pet insurance. So, if you are curious about pet insurance and looking for more information, this fact sheet is a great place to start. Author: Catherine Sorenson; Title: Is Pet Insurance Right For Me? (FS-2023-0678).

Authors: Alvin Douglas - Catherine Sorenson - Shauna Henley

Working with a nutrition professional can be a great way to maintain or improve your health. However, it can be confusing to decide who you want to see and determine how to pay for these visits. This factsheet will help you: (1) identify reasons you might want to work with a nutrition professional., (2) understand the different types of nutrition professionals about their credentials, educational backgrounds, and areas of expertise. (3) learn how to determine whether your health insurance covers visits with a nutrition professional and the potential costs of accessing these services. This information can help you access the professionals you need to support your health and wellness while keeping your out-of-pocket costs as low as possible. Authors: Alvin Douglas, Catherine Sorenson, and Dr. Shauna Henley; Title: Does Your Health Insurance Plan Cover Nutrition Counseling? (FS-2023-0677)

Authors: Nicholas Warnick - Alexander Chan - Shannon Dill

This publication details the link between financial stress and mental health outcomes in the agricultural population. Implications for agricultural service providers are discussed. Title: Clients’ Financial Issues Are Intertwined with Mental Health (EBR-2022-0647); Authors: Nicholas Warnick, Dr. Alexander Chan, and Shannon Dill

Authors: Dorothy Nuckols

The federal government offers the option of Public Service Loan Forgiveness to ease the burden of student loan payments. This is a program designed to provide an incentive to attract job seekers to employment in the much needed non-profit and government sectors. Those who qualify for PSLF can have their student debt balance paid in full by the federal government. However, there are many rules to follow. Author: Dorothy Nuckols; Title: Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Know the Qualification Rules (EBR-50)