Success StoryBudgeting Program



Budgeting Program

Author: Brian Good

Planning Unit: Bell County CES

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Plan of Work: Financial Education

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

According to a 2022 report by Wallet Literacy, Kentucky ranks 35th overall in the nation in financial literacy, while being ranked 50th in financial knowledge and education. Much of what youth learn about consumerism begins at an early age. Bell County 4-H offers financial literacy and budgeting programs to local schools. One such program was recently conducted with senior classmen at Middlesboro High School. Prior to the program, the Bell County 4-H assessed the students on their spending habits, budgeting knowledge and if they followed a budget. That particular poll indicated that less than 10% of the students were mindful of their spending or kept a budget on their personal finances. The program involved speaking to students about spending habits, how to establish credit, how to not overspend on their budget, investments and unexpected expenses. The students were very involved and asked several questions, mainly involving how to establish credit without getting into financial ruin. A post-survey was conducted two months after the program. In this assessment, over 70% of the students stated that they were more aware of their spending, conscious of needs vs wants and were looking into creative ways to establish a line of credit that was feasible for them to pay back in the short-term. One student stated, “I just realized that I will be on my own in a few months, and I never gave budgeting much thought. I will be away from home and I won’t have those meals already cooked, clothes cleaned and bills paid. I will have to do those on my own. After the program, I am more self aware of those things.”






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