BP4_2009121_Web 2.0 Tools

The Web 2.0 tool I researched is http://www.walletproof.com/. This is a free tool that my students can use to practice balancing their own checkbooks. I was shocked when I recently learned that most of my students have no idea how to balance a checkbook. Many of my students either have a job or are getting jobs and therefore, have money to manage. Not only will this tool teach my students how to balance a checkbook and correctly keep track of their money, but it also teaches them how to budget their money.

One of the activities I am going to complete with my students throughout the semester is letting them choose a career, a house and a car, along with other expenses that they think they will be faced with. For the four months that I have them, we are going to spend a few minutes each class period paying the rent/mortgage, car payment, car insurance, school loans, groceries, utilities, gasoline, just every day expenses in general. I want them to know what it means to live on a budget and how to balance a checkbook so that they can start off their lives with at least that knowledge. We will also talk about those students that don't have enough money in their bank accounts, yet spent it carelessly and now have to pay bounce check fees. I am going to try to make this as realistic as possible for them so they have an idea of what they are getting into when they start making money and take on the responsibility of having to manage their money. I actually really look forward to this and think it is going to be a lot of fun and educational at the same time.