Wellness Guide

Some people have a hard time qualifying for a loan, while others can walk into a bank empty-handed and leave with thousands of dollars in credit. The same goes for credit cards-although most consumers carry several, for an unfortunate few they are out of reach. But no matter how easy or difficult it is to borrow money, one thing is certain: paying it back is the real challenge. This program helps high school and college-level viewers understand the basics of financial credit systems, the best ways to obtain and manage credit, and how credit decisions can influence one's future. Focusing on credit cards, car loans, student loans, and mortgages, the program offers lighthearted dramatizations that illustrate good and bad borrowing and spending habits and highlight discipline as the key to a great credit rating and sustained financial health. Students will also encounter the four C's of lending-capacity, credit, capital, and collateral.

Because teenagers have sources of income too, it's increasingly important for every young adult to master basic banking skills. That's where Checks and Balances comes in. This informative, practical, and entertaining video covers the fundamentals of checking and bank accounts, such as filling out a check correctly, maintaining a checkbook register, and reconciling a bank statement. In addition, the video presents various banking techniques, including ATM transactions, debit cards, and online banking. Viewers will learn what factors to consider when choosing a bank, as well as how to identify different types of checking accounts. Correlates to the National Standards of Life Skills for Life Work.

One of today's rites of passage, from teenager to young adult, is the credit card. Armed with a brand-new credit card, many older teens and young adults gain immediate buying power, but not always knowledge of how to use credit responsibly. This program guides viewers through a maze of introductory rates, finance charges, credit reports, credit repair, card safety, and purchase decisions. First-person stories from credit card users and abusers as well as a credit counseling expert help viewers understand how credit cards actually work.