Success StoryDollars and Sense Week



Dollars and Sense Week

Author: Brian Good

Planning Unit: Bell County CES

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Plan of Work: Financial Education

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

According to an article published on April 4, 2024 through WalletHub, Kentucky currently ranks 47th in the nation in financial literacy. This is down two spots from 2019. Global News Wire also echoed this sentiment in 2023 when they also ranked Kentucky at 47. The criteria included evaluations of personal consumption, household earnings, financial knowledge, personal retirement savings and state policy that supports financial literacy. Financial education usually begins at an early age and at home. By understanding this, the Bell County 4-H agent and program assistant provided Dollars and Sense programs at all of the schools in the county. The Bell County Extension Office recently offered Dollars and Sense Week in the county and provided the programming to four different schools. Prior to the program, county extension personnel spoke to the students about being responsible consumers. The agent and program assistant talked about the differences between needs and wants and the goal of this program was to purchase from each station and have money remaining at the end. There was a total of 267 participants and each student was given a budget of $120. They had to visit twelve stations and purchase something at each one. The stations provided options from low tiers to higher priced options. Taxes ($20) were taken out of their money and a crystal ball table was set up to show students that unexpected occurrences can happen. The students also had the option to take a second job to assist in paying their bills. A post-program survey was conducted weeks after Dollars and Sense Week. Over 80% of students stated that they rarely/never looked at prices of items prior to the program compared to 77% stating that they have been price checking since Dollars and Sense. Over half (53%) of all students stated that they would consider not making a purchase if it was not in their budget. Proceeding forward, due to success, this program will continue to be offered at all schools in Bell County.






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