Centsability:

What is “Smart”?

In a world that emphasizes grades and scores, there is a type of intelligence that is actually more important to long-term success: real smarts. Handling money responsibly and making the most of this resource is a survival skill that is usually not taught in school, and yet everyone must master this in order to be truly successful. Unfortunately growing older doesn’t necessarily make for wiser decision-making when it comes to money. People either know what to do, or they don’t; they either know how to look out for their best interests, or they don’t. Age alone doesn’t change that.

Teaching Kids Centsability

Encouraging children to be hard workers and diligent students is important to their successes, but no more important than knowing how to turn these successes into financial freedom. Real$martica, Inc. works with school districts and organizations to present the Centsability Program, an interactive and hands-on approach to learning about money:

Get Ready to Handle Everyday Money covers day-to-day personal finances such as banking basics, saving, credit, and budgeting.

Get Ready to Handle “Some day” Money shows children that time is their friend when it comes to growing investments. Investment basics, and the challenges of investing, are discussed. The ingredients for success: goals, a plan, time and discipline are emphasized.

Forging Your Own Path as an Entrepreneur allows children to learn the traits, resourcefulness, and dedication needed to embark on this difficult, but rewarding journey. Topics include: Qualities of a successful business, considerations when planning a business, benefits being an entrepreneur, sources of inspiration and resources available to get started.

 

Teaching Parents Centsability

Preparing for college costs is like studying for a final exam: Working hard and preparing over the entire course is the best strategy for success; cramming at the last minute can end up being too little, too late.

What if parents knew ahead of time exactly what it would take to turn their child’s college dream into a reality? What if they had the power to plan ahead to be prepared for the challenge? Thanks to Real$martica, Inc., they do; and the earlier they take charge, the better the results will likely be.

Real$martica works with school districts and organizations to present the Green for Gray Matters program to help parents navigate the college selection and financial aid process. The program provides information critical to understanding the process by which aid is determined, and enables participants to:

• assess their situation and learn about the way different institutions will consider income, retirement and non-retirement assets, tax bracket, and children’s assets when awarding aid or loans;
• strategically position these components to decrease what the colleges will expect parents to pay out of pocket, and to increase the chances of qualifying for financial aid; and
• avoid the mistakes that may extinguish all hopes of getting the money needed to make a child’s college dreams a reality.

Find out how we can work with your school district or organization to deliver this valuable information to parents and children.

Call us at 631-675-1420.