Personal Finance

saving

trading current spending for the ability to spend in the future. a "trade-off

Reasons the save

unexpected expenses, oppurtunities, major purposes, flexibility, achieve goals

how can savings give you flexibility?

you choose to spend it on what you need instead of what you have to

What are savings strategies?

pay yourself first, save by the numbers, reward yourself, saving and values

Not through tax refunds? Why?

payroll deduction, checking account transfers, not a piggy bank

commericial bank

serves individuals and businesses, offers a variety of services: checking, savings, investments, loans, etc

savings banks

financial institutions owned by their depositers. don't make interest, they make dividends

dividend

a share of the company's profits

savings and loan associations

S and L's became popular during the great depression. specialize in lending money to buy homes

credit unions

offer membership to people that share a common bond. a member is an owner. offer checking, saving, and loans. higher interest rates on savings, lower on loans

savings accounts

accounts offered in which you deposit money and earn interest on your deposits. you may withdraw at any time

Interest rates

the more money you keep in a savings account, the higher interest rate you can receive

What is FDIC

insures money in commercial and savings bank

What is SAIF

money in S&L (save and loan) are insured through this

NCUSIF

ensures credit unions

what factors should you consider in selecting a savings account

interest rates, fees, restrictions, atm availability

certificate of deposit (CD)

deposit in a savings institution that earns a fixed rate for a specific period of time

face value

amount printed on the bond

savings bonds

US gov't bonds issued for amounts of $50,000-$10,000

bond

a written promise to pay a debt by a specified date. you "cash" them when they mature

annual percentage yield (APY)

actual interest rate an account pays per year

Why do banks pay higher intererest on your CD's?

because they know they can hold the money for a specific amount of time

WHat is a money market?

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How do money market accounts differ from regular savings accounts?

MM accounts offer higher interest rates that change with economy. they require a substantial minimum deposit. some banks let you write checks from it.
savings accounts offer a fixed rate and have a lower required minimum balance.

What are the three types of savings bonds?

EE: interest rates change over time (government controlled)
HH: you get these when you "cash" in EE bonds and they pay interest each year
I: pay a fixed rate of interest in addition to the rate of inflation

What are the factors you need to consider when selecting a term for your CD?

Your need for money, interest rate trend

WHy do you think a tax advantage exists on government bonds?

interest not faxed. to encourage people bc government needs money.

principal

money that you have on deposit in savings account, CD, or other savings options

simple interest

interest paid on the average balance of an account once a year at the end of the year

compound interest

the interest paid on the principal and also on the previously earned interest, assuming that the interest is left in the account

inveting

savings in a way that earns income

risk

chance that an investment will decrease in value

return

income that you earn on an investment

diversification

investing in various businesses with different levels of risk

what is the trade-off to make more income on your ivnestments?

to risk more money

How is the rate of return measured?

amount of your return/ amount you invested

How do age and financial situation affect how you make investment decisions?

when you're young you can afford to risk more because you still have time to make it up

How does your tolerence for risk affect your choice of investments?

you would invest in a company you believe will succeed

Share of stock-- wb (p. 77)

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