Making Every Dollar Count
The Making Every Dollar Count website, Haga Rendir su Dinero in Spanish, is an interactive webpage that walks visitors through the process of setting up and then sticking to a spending plan. Because it was developed by the University of California Cooperative Extension as a public service, the information is free and the website offers nothing to buy. No registration is required and no information is gathered about users.
“Many California families are struggling to make ends meet,” said Karen Varcoe, UC Cooperative Extension consumer economics specialist. “If they correct some common spending mistakes it could stretch their income enough to keep them from turning to short-term loans and credit, schemes that can lead to financial burdens they may never escape.”
The program consists of lessons on goal setting, making spending choices, stretching income, budgeting, paying bills on time, options for buying when cash is not available, saving money on food and the impact of food advertising.
The online, self-paced tutorial is available 24/7; and it can be stopped and returned to later. Users have the option to read and/or listen to all the information. Simple games and quizzes make the lessons engaging and memorable.
The effectiveness of Making Every Dollar Count has been proven. UC academics evaluated 147 participants who used the curriculum. Forty-seven had classroom and computer instruction, 56 had classroom instruction only and 44 had computer instruction only. Half of the combined learners, 48 percent of the classroom students and 40 percent of the computer-only users had taken steps to save money on food that they found on the website. Nearly all the participants believe they had learned from the program and were taking suggested actions to manage their finances.
Cutting back food costs is an important strategy for sparing the family budget. The website suggests eating at home and shopping smart at the grocery store to reduce spending.
“Everyone has to eat, but as a culture, Americans now eat a lot of processed foods and restaurant foods. It’s an expensive habit,” Varcoe said. “The website shows how to save money by eating at home and taking advantage of discount stores, sales and specials.”
Users who are already in debt can find useful information on how to settle their accounts. Armed with knowledge, participants will be better prepared for working with creditors to establish a payment plan that is fair for both parties.