National Literacy Month

Every April, we celebrate National Financial Literacy Month by promoting and raising awareness about the significance of financial literacy and the necessity for financial education, particularly among young people. This month serves as a reminder for individuals to take control of their financial well-being by learning about topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt.

April’s newsletters will feature various educational resources and empowering tips to not only enhance your financial journey but provide essential consumer protection information to protect individuals from falling prey to scams.

Here are 5 basic principles of financial literacy:

Earn

Develop skills, pursue education, and secure employment that enables you to generate a steady income.

Diversify your skills
Negotiate your salary
Get a side hustle to accelerate your financial progress.

Save & Invest

Set aside a portion of your income regularly while working towards both short-term and long-term objectives.

Build an emergency fund
Create a budget with the 50/30/20 Rule (50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings)
Educate yourself on different investment options and invest wisely

Protect your Financial Well-being

Health, Life, Disability Insurance
Estate Planning
Identity Theft Protection

Mindful Spending Habits

Assess needs vs wants
Invest in quality items with long-term value
Track your spending with a budgeting tool

Borrow Responsibly

Manage credit cards wisely- pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges
Always borrow within your means and have a clear plan for repayment.