UMaine School of Economics to Bring Money Management Seminars to Local Schools
Contact: Sarah Morehead at sarah.morehead@maine.edu
ORONO — The University of Maine School of Economics’ Household Financial Education Program (HFEP) is preparing to take its money management workshop to local schools, beginning later this spring.
The school started HFEP in 2008 as a way to extend economics expertise to those managing household budgets during difficult financial times. The school program, which can be customized to meet educational needs, is a logical extension according to program director Sarah Morehead.
“We hope to help Maine’s K-12 students feel more comfortable with issues related to money management,” says Morehead, a UMaine economics graduate student.
The program focuses on two major areas of financial management: 1) “The Emotions of Money,” how cultural and emotional meanings of money affect our money management decisions, and 2) “The Mechanics of Money,” covering budgeting, credit, investment and how to navigate the financial marketplace.
“Money management is about more than numbers. It’s about how we manage our lives, our gifts and our needs,” Morehead says. “We want to help kids connect their non-material dreams to the financial reality that will make them happen.”
She is currently putting the seminar material into book format for high school and college students. The book, “I Hate Money!” is in the editing stages, and will likely be available in the fall.
The program will be offered at Orono High School on April 30, with sessions scheduled for Winslow and Old Town in the fall. Another version of the program — for interested members of the public — will be scheduled for the UMaine campus sometime in late spring.