Money Habitudes II for Young Adults (Financial Literacy)

Money Habitudes cards are a novel, non-threatening, hands-on activity to get people talking about money.

Used with individuals, groups and classes, they help young people understand their own unique habits and attitudes that affect decisions and actions related to money. This version, Money Habitudes II, is designed for young adults (18-25). The methodology is the same as the original, adult and teen versions of Money Habitudes, but features evaluation statements that are better suited to this age group.

Money Habitudes II is often used in university and military programs as well as workforce development, peer mentoring programs, premarital seminars and re-entry.

Effective money management is really about making choices, balancing impulsive behaviour, seeking acceptance, avoiding rejection and feeling empowered to plan for the future. The positive way the cards present these issues help young adults develop a healthier relationship with money. They are then able to use their financial skills more successfully to manage money now and in the future. They can be used in conjunction with courses in financial education, couples/family counselling, career development, life skills, psychology and business.

To use the Money Habitudes II deck of cards, you or your client will simply complete an easy sorting process that takes less than 15 minutes. Interpreting and discussing the results can take just a few minutes or may be structured from 30 minutes to two hours if additional activities are included. Basic instructions are included on the green card in each deck.

At a glance, you will get an easy-to-understand but powerful understanding of the user's Money Habitudes. By using the interpretation cards, you and your clients will gain valuable clues about their thoughts, feelings and patterns of behavior.

Generally, what people like about Money Habitudes cards is they:

• Are easy to learn and easy to teach.

• Are interactive and make for a welcome alternative to lectures, workbooks and PowerPoint.

• Get beyond budgets to begin important conversations about the interaction between lifestyle, values and finances.

• Complement other programs (e.g., budgeting, communication skills, debt reduction, etc.) and can be used as an icebreaker, integrated module or standalone activity.

Often described as an instructional game, flash cards or a training tool, each deck of cards is a complete, self-contained toolkit and includes: 3 blue cards: Are the sorting cards for playing Money Habitudes solitaire.

On the reverse side of one is thinking and discussion points.1 green card: Directions to play and interpret Money Habitudes solitaire. 8 yellow interpretation cards for understanding the six Habitudes and what they may mean.

Each Habitude has its own interpretation card which includes a motto, a description of how others may see a person with that Habitude and typical advantages and challenges associated with that Habitude.

On the back of each card are suggestions for next steps.54 white statement cards - Each of the six Habitudes has nine corresponding cards. Each is coded on the back with a colorful picture to identify the Habitude with which it is associated.

Best results come from using one deck of cards per person so everyone participates and has his or her own personal sorting/assessment results. Therefore, use two decks for a couple or 10 decks for a group of 10 people.

Designed to be used over and over, individuals and couples may revisit the activity a few times a year as a conversation starter while those facilitating classes or counselling sessions frequently reuse the cards on a weekly basis.

When possible, allow clients to keep the cards so they can share them and initiate conversations with friends and family.

Used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world, Money Habitudes is endorsed by the Institute of Consumer Financial Education, included in the national Jump$tart Clearinghouse and have been featured by the Washington Post. The Dibble Institute collaborated to develop lesson plans using these cards for working with at-risk youth.