Virtual Classroom - On-Demand Financial and Economic Literacy Education

Virtual Classroom - On-Demand Financial and Economic Literacy Education

The Virtual Classroom is a collection of free, on-demand, interactive self-paced financial literacy education courses designed to teach fundamental financial management skills, terminology and concepts. It aims to integrate technology and consumer education to help individuals and families develop new habits and attitudes about money that will influence them for the rest of their life. With this program, each module can be delivered in a highly salable cost effective way. Users can complete the modules in any order and repeat them as many times as they like. This program does not require registration and its participants will remain anonymous.

Self-quizzes at the end of each module require an internet connection to www.faircredit.org. If you get an error saying the module is trying to connect, please follow the instructions at that point to allow the flash player to connect to www.faircredit.org

On-Demand Webcasts:

• Setting Financial Goals
  Setting financial goals is an essential part of having control over your financial situation. This workshop teaches you the process of setting goals and you will be able to print out a goal worksheet for your personal use. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Spending Plans
  Creating and using a spending plan or budget is the primary tool of financial well being. This workshop discusses examining your current spending, and creating a livable plan going forward as well as ideas for making this task easier. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Bankruptcy
  Bankruptcy is a serious financial matter that carries with it serious consequences. While its purpose is to provide financial relief, it should not be viewed as an easy way out of a bad financial situation. If you are considering bankruptcy, always be sure to consult a financial professional and a qualified attorney before making your decision. This session discusses further details about bankruptcy. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Credit Reports
  Understanding credit reports is an important aspect of assuring financial well being. In this session we discuss what a credit report is, how to get a copy, what information the report contains and how to understand it, and ways you can deal with what is on the report. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Organizing Personal & Financial Records
  Are your personal and financial records in order? Are your records easy to find? What if you had a serious accident tomorrow? Could someone you trust step in and temporarily handle your financial affairs, even if it's just to pay your bills? This session will include topics such as why its important, how to organize records, and which records you should focus on. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Debt-to-Income Ratio
  The debt-to-income ratio is an important aspect of your financial picture. This session will discuss how to calculate your ratio, as well as what the number means, what it's used for and how to keep a healthy ratio. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Buy or Lease a Car
  For many, a car will be the largest amount of money they will spend on an item with the exception of a home. This fact shows how important this choice is. In this session we will discuss what a lease is, the pros and cons of leasing and buying, how to decide which is best for you, as well as a few other tips about the process of leasing and buying. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Checking Accounts
  Checking accounts are an integral part of a secure financial situation. We will look at opening an account, ATM cards, how to write a check, how to record your transactions in a check book register and how to reconcile with your monthly statements.(Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Holiday Spending
  Holiday expenditures should be treated like any other item in your budget. Failure to plan for such a large expense could leave you rolling in debt long after the holiday cheer is gone. In this session we will discuss making a holiday spending plan, how to stick to it, and dealing with hitches in your plans. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Identity Theft
  A person's life and finances can be ruined by identity theft. Therefore it is important to be cautious and prepared. In this session we will look at what identity theft is, how your identity can be stolen, how to know if it has happened, and what to do if you are a victim of identity theft. (Estimated Completion Time: 15 minutes)


• Saving My Home
  Facing foreclosure can be a stresful and complicated time with many unanswered questions. The key to preventing foreclosure is getting help as soon as you realize you have a problem paying your mortgage. In this session we will discuss the terms, timelines and various options.