December 13 - Online Discussion Question 3

Jim just graduated from high school and has decided to work for a year before going to college. He will need a car to get to and from his job at the mall. He has $2,000 saved that he could spend on a car, or he can drive his parent’s extra car—an old clunker that has seen better days. What advice would you give Jim?

December 13 - Online Discussion Question 2

String Melton surfed an online auction site on his lunch break, a harmless pastime until he found a ’65 Fender Stratocaster guitar up for auction with only 12 hours left. Suddenly, he was back in his parents’ garage with his high-school rock band. He bid $1,800, then called his sister to get her opinion. When she got his message she told him she’d let him know that night. His sister is a huge Dave Ramsey fan. How does she advise String?

December 13 - Online Discussion Question 1

Brad, a rising college senior, has a great summer job. He expects to clear $3,500 over the three-month break. His college expenses are covered, and he has no debt. His economics professor has offered to sell Brad, at a huge discount, a DVD entitled Seven Steps to Stock Market Success. The professor thinks the program is a slam dunk; he’s only selling it because he needs the money. Brad wants to put the money in a savings account. How do you advise Brad?

December 6 - Online Discussion Question 4

Give an example of something you have purchased on impulse, when later you wished you had not made the purchase.

December 6 - Online Discussion Question 3

How do companies make money on “90 days same as cash” contracts?

December 6 - Online Discussion Question 2

How often does advertising on the internet catch your attention?

December 6 - Online Discussion Question 1

What are some of the best advertisements you have seen, and what makes them stand out?

November 22 - Online Discusion Questions

There will be no online discussion this week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving break! :)

I would also like to clarify the expectations for the paper. Here is what the structure should look like:

Paragraph 1: Intro
Paragraph 2: Present a myth (why most people think it's true)
Paragraph 3: Bust the myth presented in paragraph 2 (back it up with what we have studied and a Bible verse)
Paragraph 4: Present another myth
Paragraph 5: Bust myth from paragraph 4 (use same guidelines as above)
Paragraph 6: Conclusion

November 15 - Online Discussion Question 4

Why would money affect your value system?

November 15 - Online Discussion Question 3

Why is it important to learn about these differences when it comes to money? (men/women, nerds/free spirits)

November 15 - Online Discussion Question 2

What are some the qualities of nerds and free spirits? What affect do these traits have on money?

November 15 - Online Discussion Question 1

How do men and women relate differently to money, and have you noticed any of these differences in your relationships?

November 8 - Online Discussion Question 3

What new insight have you gained regarding the myths of purchasing new cars?

November 8 - Online Discussion Question 2

Explain any similarities and differences that exist between the credit card and debit card.

November 8 - Online Discussion Question 1

Did any of the new debt myth/truths covered in class surprise you and/or change the way you thought about it? If so, which one(s) and why?

November 1 - Online Discussion Question 4

How does debt limit your investment options?

November 1 - Online Discussion Question 3

Did any of the debt myth/truths covered in class surprise you and/or change the way you thought about it? If so, which one(s) and why?

November 1 - Online Discussion Question 2

Based on the brief history lesson of credit we went over, what have you learned from how our grandparents used to view credit to how credit is used and viewed today?

November 1 - Online Discussion Question 1

What is the difference between being "broke" and "poor"?

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Brea

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Travis

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Haley

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Autumn

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Adam

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Molly

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Jacob

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Gracie

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Jonathan

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Kelsey

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Kaitlyn

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Isaac

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 25 - Online Discussion Question: Sammy

Post a thought provoking question for your classmates to discuss about any material covered in Unit 1.

October 18 - Online Discussion Question 4

What are some things that you can do now, while in high school, to help prepare for college expenses?

EDIT: This applies to you personally while you are IN high school (as in you will be in college in 4 or less years).

October 18 - Online Discussion Question 3

Jorge is debt free except for his mortgage and has an 8-year-old son named Carlos. He could save money if he wanted to, but so far he hasn’t saved a dime for his son’s college education, and he isn’t going to do so. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps, and he thinks Carlos should too. He wants Carlos to go to law school, which he would’ve done if he’d had a choice. How can you change Jorge’s mind?

October 18 - Online Discussion Question 2

Blair loves people. Throughout high school, she volunteered at the Red Cross. During the summers, she worked at social service organizations and saved for college. She has two years to go, and she’s out of money. She’s going to a state school. Even so, the two-year tab for tuition, room, board and books is nearly $20,000. She can borrow that sum through low-interest student loan programs. She knows about Dave, and has asked you what he might advise her to do.

EDIT: Remember that savings for short-term (less than 5 years) and investing is long-term (more than 5 years)

October 18 - Online Discussion Question 1

Ryan is big on higher education. He wants to begin a college savings plan for his two-year-old triplets. Lauren believes the early years are more important. She wants to use that money for a private pre-school and kindergarten. They don’t have enough left over to do both. Ryan thinks Lauren should get a job when the triplets hit pre-school, and pay for it that way. Lauren thinks motherhood is a full-time job and thinks Ryan should work overtime. They both confide in you. Is there a way out of this dilemma?

EDIT: Remember that savings for short-term (less than 5 years) and investing is long-term (more than 5 years)

October 11 - Online Discussion Question 5

Should you take your company match while you’re in debt?

October 11 - Online Discussion Question 4

How can a budget help you retire wealthy?

October 11 - Online Discussion Question 3

Should you ever cash in pre-taxed retirement savings early to get out of debt? Is this a good or bad idea? Explain.

October 11 - Online Discussion Question 2

Why should you not depend on Social Security when you retire?

October 11 - Online Discussion Question 1

Dave said one of the definitions of maturity is "delayed gratification." Explain how this applies in the context of financial principles.

October 4 - Online Discussion Question 5

Dave talked about 2 financial principles at the end of the chapter:

1) Keep a giving spirit
2) Remember the Tortoise and the Hare story

Explain these principles and what can we learn from them?

October 4 - Online Discussion Question 4

Rob, a college senior, was given $10,000 by an aunt. Before she died, she told Rob to put the money to work and leave it alone, so that someday he could leave money to his heirs. Rob is pumped. He has two great ideas, both of which he learned about on late-night TV. One is to buy foreclosed properties. The other is to speculate in gold. The people on TV made a killing doing very little work. Their DVDs will tell him all he needs to know. He asks you which sounds better to you.

October 4 - Online Discussion Question 3

Carol’s aunt took a friend’s advice and invested her savings in Associated Elevators common stock. It went down. After a year, she sold that and bought Consolidated Cranberry. A year later, when the berry boom burst, she bailed again and poured her savings back into Associated Elevators, which was on the rise. Now she’s back to square one, and to Carol’s delight, she has asked Carol what “that Dave Ramsey fellow” would tell her to do next. What would that be?

October 4 - Online Discussion Question 2

John is a senior in high school. His father, Alfred, is a successful businessman. The two are very close and talk openly about things, including money and investments. Alfred decides to change his investments and he puts one-fourth of his money in a steadily growing company, one-fourth in a rapidly growing company, one-fourth in a single company that has paid good dividends, and one-fourth in one based overseas. When he tells John, he is shocked that John is worried. Is John right to be worried? Why or why not?

October 4 - Online Discussion Question 1

Donald is aggressive and smart, but he’s bored at his job. He wants to pursue his dream of starting a burger joint called “Donald Mac’s.” His business plan is to open six stores in 12 months. All he needs is money—other people’s money (OPM). Everyone says that OPM is the only way to go, the shortcut to success, wealth with no risk. So he buys a coat and tie, shines his shoes, and hits the streets, looking for investors. He comes to you. You like his idea, but are his plans sound? What do you think?

September 27 - Online Discussion Question 5

Why do you not borrow money for an investment?

September 27 - Online Discussion Question 4

Why is it important to understand something before investing?

September 27 - Online Discussion Question 3

Explain the relationship between risk and investing.

September 27 - Online Discussion Question 2

What is the importance of diversification when investing?

September 27 - Online Discussion Question 1

What is the importance of working with a financial adviser that has the heart of a teacher rather than the heart of a salesman?

September 20 - Online Discussion Question 4

What impact did Ben and Arthur have on you and/or lesson did you learn from the example of Ben and Arthur?

September 20 - Online Discussion Question 3

Huck was on a budget and debt free when Tom, his best friend, was partially paralyzed in a wreck. Tom’s school took up a collection for a special wheelchair. But Huck had no savings, and he couldn’t fit giving into his budget. Huck felt horrible about not being able to help out. How can he do things differently in the future so he can help people in need like Tom?

September 20 - Online Discussion Question 2

Shannon is a senior in high school and works part time at a local restaurant. She makes good tips and always has spending money. Her parents will be paying for her college and her car is already paid for. She knows you are taking a personal finance class and asks you what she could be doing better with her money. What do you tell her?

September 20 - Online Discussion Question 1

Louis, a high-school senior nicknamed “Lucky,” is a walking rabbit’s foot. Everything falls his way, including a lottery-funded scholarship and a great part-time job delivering pizzas. He’s saving for a car to drive at college. Some guys at school heard about a group out west pooling their money for raffle tickets and winning big. They’ve now started doing that for weeks, with no results. They ask Lucky to join them. Five bucks a week for a huge payday. He’s tempted. You are his friend; talk him out of it.

September 13 - Online Discussion Question 4

Define an emergency that justifies tapping into your emergency fund and define an emergency that does not justify tapping into your emergency fund (this doesn't have to apply to teenagers).

September 13 - Online Discussion Question 3

"90 days same as cash" Explain the truth and reality behind this statement.

September 13 - Online Discussion Question 2

Why does a student need an emergency fund? What does 3-6 months of expenses look like for a student?

September 13 - Online Discussion Question 1

Dave says "Live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else." Explain what he means and what it means to you.

September 6 - Online Discussion Question 4

Post one of the verses you chose for your homework assignment and your summary for it here

September 6 - Online Discussion Question 3

Skim through your textbook and take a look at the various chapter. Which topics interest you the most and/or do you look forward to learning? and Why?

September 6 - Online Discussion Question 2

Post your Icebreaker question ideas here:

examples include - favorite color, coolest place you've ever been, favorite day of the week, etc.

September 6 - Online Discussion Question 1

Welcome to the Foundations in Personal Finance class web site!! I hope you all had a good first day of class :)

First item: send me an e-mail at sarahash2003@live.com so that way I have your e-mail address on file. Also include a hello and any questions from the material presented in class

You do not need to leave a comment on this post, just send me the e-mail :)