Center for Economic Education director, 308.865.8707
Those who would appreciate help learning to manage money, preparing for retirement or getting their credit card debt under control may find solutions from $martMoney Week presentations Nov. 6-10 in Kearney, Gibbon, Lexington and Cozad helpful.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney Center for Economic Education and the Kearney Area $martMoney Advisory Council are sponsoring the second annual Kearney Area $martMoney Week in communities along the I-80 corridor.
Mary Rittenhouse, director of the UNK Center for Economic Education, said that $martMoney Week is designed to educate consumers about personal financial management and entrepreneurship, and to create awareness of a wide range of topics such as home ownership, investing, budgeting, identity theft, retirement financing, the value of saving and how to start a private business. Altogether, more than 100 events are scheduled for $martMoney Week .
$martMoney Week features free classes, seminars and activities, some in both English and Spanish. Members of the UNK Hispanic Students Association are volunteering to serve as interpreters for Spanish-speaking attendees. This marks the first time that any $martMoney Week classes will be offered in Spanish.
The educational activities of $martMoney Week are provided by local community groups, businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations. UNK student organizations that are involved in activities include Phi Beta Lambda Professional Business Leaders, Students in Free Enterprise, the International Student Association and the Hispanic Students Association.
According to Dr. Robert Duvall, president and chief executive officer for the National Council on Economic Education headquartered in New York, the mission of $martMoney Week is to combat financial illiteracy and provide greater education to consumers.
“An educated populace, armed with the knowledge to make sound savings and retirement decisions, can pave the way to a stronger economy in the future… citizens educated in economics will be better equipped to make informed decisions in evaluating debates over Social Security and retirement policy,” he said.
According to Rittenhouse, the members of the $martMoney Advisory Council who help coordinate $martMoney Week provide a variety of seminars and events to help educate consumers in personal finance matters, with specific attention paid to young people and those without bank accounts.
“Although financial illiteracy isn’t limited to these demographics, they are the most likely to over-extend their credit, make poor financial choices, become victims of identity theft and potentially seek bankruptcy as a cure for financial woes,” she said. “We want people to learn to stretch their money, because money does not come with instructions,” Rittenhouse said.
For a complete schedule of $martMoney Week events, visit www.unk.edu/smartmoney , or call Mary Rittenhouse at 308-865-8707.
