Tips of the Trade

Ways to Keep Your 2010 Financial Resolutions

Every year millions of people set New Year’s resolutions, and many don’t keep them. Let this year be a year of change! Here are some tips to help you keep your financial resolutions.

Get specific. Write down how much you want to save or pay-off and set a timeline.

Break it down. Figure out how much you need to set aside monthly to get there.

Automate it. Have the money taken out of your checking account and put directly toward savings or debt so you’ll never be tempted to spend it.

Talk about it. Tell others, and you’ll hold yourself more accountable.

Create an incentive. Decide how you’ll reward yourself when you make your goal (and what you’ll give up if you don’t!).

AmeriCorps Members

Were you an OKMM-EAP member? Click here to view important information about your Education Award and life after AmeriCorps.

News & Events

OKMM's Jan/Feb 2010 Newsletter

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hand full of credit cards

New Credit Card Changes

New credit card changes from the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 take effect Feb. 22. What does this mean for you? Visit the Federal Reserve Bank's Web site to learn more about the ways these changes may affect your accounts.

Be a Part of the Count

Around mid-March, census forms will be delivered to every resident in the United States. It’s important for you to complete the short 10-question survey and return it as soon as possible. Why? The data collected by the census determines how much federal funding each state receives to go toward things like hospitals, schools, senior centers, bridges, emergency services and job training centers. To learn more about the census and how your personal information is protected, visit www.census.gov.

Show Them the Way

If you're a college, university or career technology campus, partner with OKMM to help your students find the right money management path through our spring semester workshop series. Just like our individual workshops, a series can be developed to capture the most essential topics for your audience. Here's a sample series schedule.

Week 1: Budgeting and Banking
Week 2: Savings
Week 3: Credit and Debt
Week 4: Student Loan Management
Week 5: Identity Theft

National Financial Capability Challenge

The U.S. Treasury Department and the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy announced the upcoming National Financial Capability Challenge, a non-monetary awards program that aims to increase the financial knowledge of our country's high school students. Teachers can now sign-up for the challenge and receive a free teacher toolkit at http://www.challenge.treas.gov/.

Be Money Wi$e Poster Contest

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is once again holding their poster competition to get young students (3rd through 12th grade) thinking about how to manage money effectively. Winners receive U.S. savings bonds and other prizes. The deadline for Oklahoma students is Feb. 19. For contest rules and an entry form, visit www.moneywisepostercontest.org.

Ask OKMM

Have a burning question about money management, consumer issues or retirement? We have answers! Click the button at left to submit your question and visit our archives of Ask OKMM responses.

Money Talks Podcasts

Check out OKMM's podcasts for college students called Money Talks. Topics covered include budgeting, saving, consumer credit, FICO scores, living on a college budget, financial aid, identity theft and student loan management.