April is Financial Literacy Month!

National Financial Literacy Month is recognized in the United States in April in an effort to highlight the importance of financial literacy and teach Americans how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits.

In 2000, The Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy began promoting April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month and in 2003 the United States Congress showed its support. Senate Resolution 48 and House Resolution 127 asked President George W. Bush to declare April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month. In 2004, April was named National Financial Literacy Month by the passing of Senate Resolution 316 with unanimous consent, championed by Daniel Akaka D-HI.

Many of the country’s financial institutions and nonprofit financial educational organizations and promote the month by holding promotional events and creating educational materials that center around effectively handling money and dealing with debt.

The New Hampshire Jump$tart Coalition’s 10-year effort to build the personal financial management skills of Granite State teenagers have been recognized by Governor John Lynch in a recent proclamation designating April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month.

Governor Lynch acknowledged that “personal financial education is essential for ensuring that the youth of New Hampshire are prepared to manage money and credit wisely and responsibly.” He recognized the “concerned professionals of NH Jump$tart who volunteer their time and energy to promote financial education for New Hampshire’s youth to meet these educational goals.” In proclaiming Financial Literacy for Youth Month, Governor Lynch “call(ed) upon the citizens of this state to encourage and support” the efforts of NH Jump$tart.

During the week of April 5-9, NH Jump$tart volunteers will be meeting with second-graders at select elementary schools throughout the state as part of our “I Can Save!” Tour. During the visits, we will conduct a brief presentation on the differences between needs and wants and will provide each student with a Moonjar moneybox which promotes the concept of save – spend – share.

Our Get 10 Virtual Scavenger Hunt for teenagers concludes this month. Teens who answer all 10 questions in this online quest for knowledge will be eligible to win one of 10 MacBooks that we are giving away! The Quest ends April 10th.

Our LifeSmarts State Champion – Inter-lakes High School from Meredith – travels to Miami Beach representing the Granite State at the LifeSmarts National Championship at the end of April.

Financial education is finally getting some attention. Our children’s future is dependent on their ability to understand the complexity of the modern day financial landscape.