Special savings plan

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/consumer_info_pension.html

Go to: What you should know about your retirement plan

Come up with a list including descriptions of what you should know about your retirement plan.

List anything that you found to be interesting, or something that you did not know about before.

Stock Market: Investing

Read through this article:

http://www.stockmarketinvestinginfo.com/

What is a drawback to the stock market currently?


Describe the stock market in general.  What is it all about?


How can stocks be used as a long term investment?

What are the risks and benefits involved with investing?

National Savings

Go to this website:

http://www.economywatch.com/economic-statistics/economic-indicators/Gross_National_Savings_Percentage_of_GDP/

I want you each to look at one countries % of Gross national savings.  Break this down by year, 1980 - 2015: obviously 2015 will be a prediction.  Create a graph that shows this in intervals of 5 years.  Along with the chart you will write a paragraph reflection on this including your thoughts on the topic and why you think the country you are looking at received the trend that they had on your chart.  Also include: currency, location in the world, how their location relates to their savings,  Research is encouraged to back up your theory.

Why Save??

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/30/news/economy/personal_savings_decline.fortune/index.htm

Read through this article and write a paragraph reflection on it.

Wednesday, 4/20/11 Planner

Directions:

Copy and paste these notes to a word document and complete them

- You will be expected to be ready for these two quizzes on Thursday

- There will also be a student news quiz on Thursday

- Also, complete Section 3 questions 1, 2

- Section 4 Questions 1,2,3

Section 3 Guided notes                                          4/20/11

-          When you apply for credit – explain the process you go through

o   Credit Bureau

-          Credit rating:

-          Three Credit Check Factors: Name and describe

o    

o     

o     

-          Secured loans:

o   Collateral –

-          Unsecured loan:

-          Cosigning a loan:

-          Responsibilities as a borrower:

-          Paying on time:

-          Keeping Records:

Section 4: Government Regulation of Credit

-          Who regulated the credit industry?  How?

-          Equal Credit Opportunity Act:

o   What is it?

o   Who is it for?

-          State Usury laws:

o   Usury Law:

-          Interest Ceilings:

-          Bankruptcy

Major Federal Laws Regulating Consumer Credit

Fill out:

Name of law, Main Purpose, Major provisions for each

Credit Cards versus Debit Cards

Read through this article:

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/debit-or-credit-differences-1271.php

Answer these questions:
- What is the major difference between credit and debit?

- What are some advantages of Credit cards?

- What are some advantages of Debit Cards?

- Which do you think is better for your own personal use?  Why?

Commercial banks

Read through this article and write a brief response covering these questions: 

- What is a commercial bank and what does it offer to people?

- How does a commercial bank differ from an investment bank?

- How do commercial banks act as moneylenders?
http://www.economywatch.com/banks/commercial-banks/

Find the Best Credit Card

Activity for the day:

-Groups of 2
-Use the handout that I give you to compare credit cards
-Choose 3 major credit card's: ex. Visa, Mastercard, etc....
- Fill out the handout for each of the credit cards that you choose
- You will need to search around for this on the internet, some sights might be blocked
- Here are a few sights that might be helpful

—http://www.lowcards.com//

 

—http://www.creditcards.com/Visa.php

Don't jump at that credit card offer

Read through this article:
 http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/20/pf/saving/credit_cards_willis/?postversion=2009052012

Answer these questions on a sheet of paper while you read it:

1. What will the bill that President Obama is trying to pass do in terms of credit cards?


2. What does your APR all include??

3. How must you be aware of hidden rates?? What hidden rates could there be?

4. Your thoughts on the article??

Chapter 4 Section 1

Observing national credit card debt: nationwide

Go to: http://www.hoffmanbrinker.com/credit-card-debt-statistics.html#interestingcreditcarddebtstats


Read through this article and respond with a post.  I am looking for your thoughts on this, provide backing information for your observation on this.  Give specific examples and a thorough reflection.

Who do ya got??

Which advertisements do you think are better/more appealing to you as a consumer??  Which is more convincing to you and why?  Only choose between products that you are not involved in.  Make a legitimate argument to get full credit.

Nike basketball shoes or Adidas Basketball shoes

Dell computers or HP computers or Mac computers

AT&T  or Verizon Wireless

Under Armour or Nike clothing

Chapter 3 Section 3

What are some of the things that you have learned about advertising?  How can advertising be used effectively? EX. to target the right people.  How can advertising be used poorly?  Give examples of each.

Creating an Advertisement Activity

Same partners as you were in for the budget project.
I will assign you to a product.
You will research the product and also its competitors.
On Microsoft Publisher you will create a flyer (1 per group)
The flyer will contain:
- 1 picture of the product/company
- Benefits of the product compared to others (facts): informative advertising.
- Cost:  Compare it to competitors, if it is higher tell why it is better quality (facts)
- Where this is advertised: Ex. Magazine, newspaper, television
---- Along with this comes who is targeted.  Teens, adults, children, parents, families, etc.
Remember: Why would someone want to buy your product versus another product???

Put some thought into this, make it catchy/appealing to your targeted audience.

Group 1: Nike Basketball shoes (Michele, Tina)
Group 2: Adidas Basketball shoes (Casey, Briana)
Group 3: Dell Computers (Brady, Travis)
Group 4: HP Computers (Ficsh, Miranda)
Group 5: Mac Computers (Punt, Bertsch)
Group 6: AT&T Wireless (Dillon, Codey)
Group 7: Verizon Wireless (jon, Taylor)
Group 8: Under Armour clothing (Chad, Carson)
Group 9: Nike Clothing (Paul, Chris, Mitchell)

Chapter 3 Section 2

How have advertisements affected you in something that you have bought?  Give examples.

Friday, April 1

http://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm
This is the website that will help you figure out how much will be spent in a year on income tax.

What I would like you to do is to make sure that you list all of the items you feel will be necessary to your family from the list of Family Expenses that I have given you.  Come up with a way to balance this budget in a proper way.  Remember that decisions are inevitable in every situation: where to cut and where to spend more. 

Note: Every group will be doing this as if they have 1 child.  10 - 15 years of age.

In order for full credit on this, make sure that you do some research on how much you will spend a year on these items based on what the nation spends on them.  Where will you cut back and where will you spend more. 

This wil be due to me at the beginning of class on Monday. 

Unit 2 Introduction: Chapter 3 Section 1

List some goods and services that your parents buy.  Be sure to think about taxes, transportation, recreation, clothing etc.... List which are necessities.  Purpose: to show decision making within a family setting.

Unit 1 Test review

Write two possible test questions that you might see on the test tomorrow.  Provide an answer with each question.

Chapter 3 Section 1

What goal of a free market economy do you feel is best shown in America's economy? Explain.

Chapter 2 Section 2

Using the six major characteristics of a pure makrket economy, which of these characteristics do we as American's see in our society today? Explain.

Chapter 2

Describe one economic system in 3 sentences that is found in section 1, giving at least 2 examples.