A terrific primer for young people who will soon be dealing with the real world of income, bank accounts, credit, etc., Money Smart looks at the basics of financial survival. The opening segment teaches viewers how to interpret a paycheck, explaining gross pay versus net pay, federal and state taxes, voluntary deductions (401k, etc.), and the mysterious FICA. Later segments outline good money habits, starting with savings. Pay yourself first, financial advisers say, and put more emphasis on savings than credit, as financial institutions will pay out interest on the former (viewers are also advised on the conventional wisdom of saving three to six months' worth of income for emergencies). Also covering the subjects of credit, investments, and banking security (i.e., how to avoid identity theft) in accessible language, this is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (T. Keogh)
Money Smart
(2014) 26 min. DVD: $79.95 (downloadable teacher’s guide available). Learning ZoneXpress. PPR. Closed captioned. Volume 29, Issue 6
Money Smart
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