FINANCIAL FREEDOM
A PUBLICATION PRESENTED BY THE:
A comprehensive package of interactive
instructions on how to navigate personal finance
FINANCIAL ISSUES ADDRESSED
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Managing Cash
Banking Basics
Finding a Job
Consumer Credit
Buying or Leasing a Car
Managing Risk With Insurance
Find a Place to Live
Financing Your Education
Identity Theft
THE CONTENT IS APPROPRIATE FOR BOTH
HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
AUDIENCES
This workbook can be used as a
text or supplement in a Financial
Education class or as a self-study
guide in the financial literacy
component of an Economics or
Financial Algebra class.
EACH CHAPTER IS CONSISTENTLY
FORMATTED AND THE CONTENT IS
LINKED TO THE NEW GENERATION
SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS
EACH CHAPTER OFFERS:
 A QUALITATIVE REVIEW OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE SUBJECT
 A GLOSSARY OF THE KEY TERMS NECESSARY FOR COMPREHENSION
 A VARIETY OF IN CONTEXT ACTIVITIES AS THE CHAPTER PROGRESSES
 A WIDE ARRAY OF LINKS TO ONLINE REINFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES,
VIDEO CLIPS, ILLUSTRATIVE EXERCISES AND EXTENSION READINGS FOR
GREATER DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE
 POWER POINTS THAT SUMMARIZE THE FOUNDATION OF EACH
CHAPTER
 MOST CHAPTERS HAVE PRE AND POST-TEST ASSESSMENTS
 A TEACHER ANSWER KEY FOR EACH ACTIVITY AND ASSIGNMENT
Chapter One is all about maximizing your
purchasing power through a realistic budgeting
process. The key is to be conscious of where every
dollar is spent and weigh each potential purchase
against your long-term goals.
Chapter Two introduces the reader to the basics of
banking, both traditional and contemporary. This
section is conscious of the fact that banking services
are in the middle of a gradual transition away from the
manual processes of the past to the online and
paperless methods gaining popularity. The reader will
survey banking products and fees as well as the steps
involved in managing various accounts.
Chapter Three addresses the world of job searching.
How to hunt and capture the right job, and the
professional development necessary in order to keep
the job. Inside are instructions on how to construct the
perfect resume and prepare for the interview process.
There is also a section on the benefits of
entrepreneurship as an alternative to working for
someone else.
Chapter Four tackles the extremely important subject of
consumer credit. This section reveals the secrets to
establishing a good credit rating and the means to keep
track of it. The different types of credit and credit
services are discussed and what to do if you are denied
credit. An emphasis is placed on the importance of a
good credit score when accessing all kinds of financial
services and modern conveniences.
Chapter Five discusses the often intimidating process of
acquiring transportation. The often asked questions of
“new or used” and “buy or lease” are explored here. In
addition, the process of shopping for a car and the
confusing dealership language are simplified to prepare
the person anxious for some new wheels.
Chapter Six covers the vast world of risk management by addressing
three types of insurance most people carry: life, auto, and health.
The different types of insurance are clarified as well as a discussion
on how to shop for the insurance you need. A lot of attention is paid
to the limbo health insurance is currently in as our nation struggles
with how to define it. Careful consideration is given to the laws that
dictate Florida insurance consumers and the riddles are solved
surrounding all of the technical jargon.
Chapter Seven talks about the evolving topics around finding a
place to live. The recent housing crisis has caused our nation to reevaluate home owning. This chapter takes on the questions
surrounding “buying or renting” and simplifies the leasing and
mortgage processes. There is significant attention paid to the
rights and responsibilities of home owning as well as home leasing.
The focus is to help the reader make the right decision in this
turbulent market.
Chapter Eight unravels the confusion around financing
an education. This section focuses on getting the most
out of one’s education dollars by unmasking the college
loan process, pointing out where to look for financial aid
and scholarships, showing how to budget for postsecondary education and ultimately make the right
choice to fit one’s needs.
Chapter Nine addresses the increasing prevalence of
identity theft in our transactional interactions. Though all
kinds of threats are discussed, extra emphasis is placed on
the cyber form as so much of our lives dwell online. The
reader is provided with an explanation of identity theft,
how to protect personal information, and what to do if
your defenses are breeched.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIND OF LIFE YOU WANT TO LEAD
A COMPLETE DEVOTION TO MONEY
WILL LEAD ONE TO IGNORE THE
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CHOICES
MADE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE
CONSEQUENCES?
TOO MANY PEOPLE FALL PREY TO THE
CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT OF
TEMPTATION SURROUNDING US EVERYDAY.
CONSEQUENTLY, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT
TO BALANCE THEIR INCOME AND
EXPENDITURES. GROWING DEBT TODAY
MORTGAGES THE FUTURE.
ONLY THROUGH CAREFUL PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, DISCIPLINE AND SACRIFICE CAN
FINANCIAL FREEDOM ULTIMATELY BE ATTAINED