Personal Finance Essentials

Gr 9 Up—The intent of this series is to prepare students to manage their personal finances. The five programs feature silent vignettes illustrating the points presented by the narrator. Examples of pertinent documents are shown as well, such as bank statements, tax forms, and pay stubs. Unfamiliar terms are defined. Personal finance classes can access individual chapters on each DVD. Budgeting and Financial Decision-Making covers impulse buying, the process of setting goals, how to create a successful budget, the importance of having insurance, buying vs. leasing a car, consumer scams, and more. Checking Accounts and Everyday Banking explains electronic banking and how to write a check and make deposits, among other topics. Credit, Borrowing, and Debt describes what credit is and how to use it properly. In Saving and Investing, the narrator covers interest/compound interest, different ways to save money (savings account, certificate of deposit, money market account, etc.), investing, types of bonds, the stock market, and more. Among the topics covered in Taxes and Tax Benefits are earned and investment income taxes, how to read a paycheck, and how to file taxes. The online teacher's guide for each title provides a program description, fast facts, vocabulary, pre- and post-viewing discussion questions, group activities, individual projects, and multiple-choice questions. While each program offers a wealth of information, the dry narration and uninteresting format will make it difficult to maintain student interest.—Lindsay Mandell, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School, NY