Financial Pitfalls Activities

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Play the role of a loan shark 
• Understand what tactics lenders use to maximize their profits
• Determine which loan terms increase profits for lenders
• Learn about different types of loans and fees lenders offer and charge

In this activity students will be able to: 

• "Play" the Powerball using an online lottery simulation and explore the likelihood of winning the huge jackpot
• See how they fare standing up against the powerful positive imagery and allure of the Powerball advertisements
• Complete an optional math bonus section to dive a little deeper into the probability of any individual number being selected a winner

In this activity, students will:

• Navigate how states across the country regulate payday lending by comparing key details such as usage rate, maximum amounts, and term conditions.
• Explore how payday loans can cause consumers to fall into vicious cycles of debt.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Examine a bad financial habit of theirs that they would like to change 
• Understand the Habit Cycle as described by Charles Duhigg in his book, The Power of Habit
• Create and execute a plan to help them change their bad financial habit
• Reflect on how the Habit Cycle empowers them to change their habits 

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Understand the various strategies advertisers use to influence consumers
• Analyze 6 different commercials and identify which strategies advertisers are using most effectively

In this activity, students will be able to: 

• Examine a number of cartoons about predatory lending and choose one to analyze in more depth
• Explain the cartoon's key message about predatory lending and how it depicts that message

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Simulate playing the TX Powerball and collect class-wise data on their outcomes to determine whether the lottery is a good “investment” of their money.
• Available in English & Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Complete a quiz to see how many times their personal information has been hacked
• Propose solutions to avoid these hacks 

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Use an online calculator to calculate the value an average Texan who normally plays the lottery would extract by investing the money in a retirement account instead.
• Available in English & Spanish

• Explore the various types of identity theft and risk factors for each.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Role-play declining to give personal loans to family and friends in a variety of real-world scenarios.
• Available in English & Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Read and respond to a blog post from a woman who had to file for bankruptcy at age 23 because of out-of-control credit card spending and debt.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Use a credit card calculator and some data from Consumer Reports to compare the cost of “purchasing” a washer dryer from Rent-to-Own versus purchasing the same washer dryer on a credit card.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Use this reading guide to learn about all personal loans and strategies to use if a family member or friend asks for money.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Use the internet to research definitions for key bankruptcy terms.
• Define the vocabulary in their own words and provide examples.
• Available in English & Spanish