Debt

Buying on credit is as American as apple pie.  Credit is having now and paying later.  It is havinvesting a washing machine, television and automobile now and paying for them in regular installments.  It is having cash now to meet unexpected expenses such as medical bills, auto repairs, and coping with natural disasters; and paying the money back over a period of time.  In fact, most Americans use credit. 

Become The Captain of Your Financial Ship

PowerPoints

How Much Credit Can You Afford?

Advantages and disadvantages to consumer credit and discussion on determining whether you should apply for credit and how much credit you can afford. Available in PDF and PowerPoint formats

Publications

Josephine Turner, Nayda I. Torres and Vervil Mitchell, "Cutting Costs to Live Within Your Income" EDIS,  Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HE153 Revised: September 2005.

Nayda I. Torres and Vervil Mitchell, "Money Problems", EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Reviewed: October 2002.

Mary N. Harrison and Vervil Mitchell, "Dealing with Creditors", EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY224  Revised: December 2005

Mary N. Harrison and Vervil Mitchell, "Home Management When Your Income Drops", EDIS, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY223  Reviewed: January 2006.

Videos

You Can Do It: Managing Debt, Building Wealth

Real life stories of consumers to illustrate how they have faced their credit problems. American Express, 2000, 11 minutes.

Meg Green's Financial Workout

An excellent video that can be used in segments for basic financial management topics, including budgeting, goal setting, credit, investments, and retirement planning. 59 minutes.

Counseling Skills for Financial Managers

Techniques for working with families who have money problems. Useful for train the trainer workshops. New York Cooperative Extension Service, 58 minutes.

Consumer to Consumer: Good Ideas for Tough Times

Discusses topics of bill paying, budgeting, expense reduction, shopping, bartering, saving, and management of credit during a time when income is reduced due to unemployment, divorce, or retirement. 23 minutes.

Credit Crossroads: Divorce and Credit

How to properly handle credit bills, including joint accounts and joint bills, when going through a divorce. Also discusses facts and myths regarding divorce and credit. Experian, 12 minutes.

Dealing with Debt: Bankruptcy and Other Options

Defines bankruptcy, discusses alternatives to bankruptcy, helps consumers determine if bankruptcy or another option is right for their situations, and discusses the consequences of bankruptcy.

Speaking of Credit

Available in English and Spanish. Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of credit and controlling and planning credit. 23 minutes.

 

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General Resources

IFAS Bookstore

Money Management Record Book