Wi$e Up for Your Financial Security
Step-by-step Financial Plan

It’s never too soon to start planning for your financial security. That’s why the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor has created the Wi$e Up program for young women. The FREE Wi$e Up Curriculum teaches young women to get a grip on their finances.

Click here to see view Curriculm Contents. This self-help financial planning tool will enable you to develop your own action plan.

Below is an Example of the Self-Help Financial Planning Materials:

Are You Wi$er Now? My Action Plan for Savings

1. I want to improve my money-saving skills.
   1. -- Yes
   2. -- No
2. My goals for improvement in the area of starting and following a savings plan are:
   1. -- Starting an emergency fund.
   2. -- Establishing a set-aside account (for income and/or for expenses).
   3. -- Opening or adding to a current savings account.
   4. -- Opening an Individual Retirement Account.
   5. -- Identifying ways to reduce expenses so I have more money to save.
   6. -- Other __________________________________________________________
   7. ________________________________________________________________
   8. ________________________________________________________________
3. I plan to achieve my goals by:
   1. -- Attending educational programs starting (date) __________________________ .
   2. -- Utilizing the Wi$e Up Handbook by completing the exercises & worksheets beginning
   3. _______________________________________________________________ .
   4. -- Accessing the recommended websites beginning ________________________ .
   5. -- Writing up an action plan for myself and monitoring my own progress beginning _ .
   6. -- Discussing my plans with my spouse or family (if applicable) beginning ________ .
   7. -- Other __________________________________________________________
   8. ________________________________________________________________
   9. ________________________________________________________________
4. I plan to put these goals into action by (indicate date):
   1. -- “Paying myself first” by saving regularly starting __________________________ .
   2. -- Saving at least 10 percent of my income starting _________________________ .
   3. -- Using coupons when I shop and put the money I save in a savings account starting .
   4. -- Establishing an emergency fund for three to six months living expenses starting _ .
   5. -- Saving money to pay cash for big-ticket items instead of charging them to a credit card starting .
   6. -- Saving for a future high-cost purchase, such as a house or college education starting .
   7. -- Making as large a payment as possible on my credit charges beginning _______ .
   8. -- Saving more than I am currently saving towards my retirement starting _________ .
   9. -- Other __________________________________________________________
   10. ________________________________________________________________