Financial education programs often highlight financial literacy skills such as budgeting and managing credit card debt; however, these skills do not tap into the emotional and practical issues that cause people to react irrationally with money.  Financial decisions are most often motivated by emotional need as opposed to logical knowledge. To address this concern, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has utilized the Money Habitudes program to emphasize the importance of developing a healthy relationship with money.  Assisting an individual in discovering his or her habits and attitudes toward money, can provide insights that can change the way an individual manages his or her money, approach career, and relationships, and reach life goals. Using the curriculum Recovering Your Finances- Lesson 1, emphasis is placed on building money management skills by making informed choices, balancing impulsive behavior, seeking acceptance, avoiding rejection, and feeling empowered to plan for the future. 

During the 2021 Christmas Assistance program coordinated by KAPS Family Resource Youth Service Center and the Mission House, the extension agent for family and consumer sciences reached 72 adults with in-person programming. Participants were surveyed following the class and 100 percent indicated they plan to consider whether my purchase is “wants” or “needs” before spending and 96 percent indicated that they plan to track my spending for at least a week. Two different participants stated that the most significant thing they would apply to their lives would be, “how to manage money and help kids learn to manage money too” and “to watch and keep up with my money and how much I spend a week”.