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UW Financial Literacy

University of Wyoming Extension

Saving and Investing

Saving

Saving excess money/cash to use for future purchases, emergency savings, or life expenses. This excess money can be saved in various places, financial institutions, credit unions, investment plans, or at home under lock and key.

 

Investing

What is an Investment?
An investment is a payment made to acquire the securities of other entities, with the objective of earning a return. Examples are bonds, common stock, and preferred stock.

There are two ways to earn a return on an investment, which are from ongoing payments issued by the investment or through the appreciation in value of the asset.

The concept can also mean the acquisition of fixed assets for internal use, also with the objective of earning a return. This type of investment is much more likely to generate returns through positive cash flows, rather than through appreciation.
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Source: Accounting Tools (https://www.accountingtools.com/)

 

What is to the Rule of 72?

The rule of 72 is a simple formula that shows how quick your money will double at a given return rate. Essentially, you can divide 72 by your annual compound interest rate and see how many years it will take for your investment to double.

 

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Articles

 

Financing and Investing Websites

Personal Finance Websites

  • Choose to Save - (check out the Ballpark E$timate—a short worksheet that helps you identify how much you need to save for a comfortable retirement). The University of Wyoming is a member of the American Savings Education Council (creator of Choose to Save).
  • Consumer Action Handbook - The Consumer Action Handbook is one of the most informative and popular consumer resources available.  This free guide from the Federal Citizen Information Center helps citizens find the best and most direct sources for assistance with their consumer problems and questions. Designed to help consumers before and after they make a purchase, the Handbook features great tips on car repair, purchase and leasing, shopping from home, consumer and investment frauds, home improvement and financing, choosing and using credit cards wisely, protecting privacy, making health care decisions, choosing an education plan, and much more. A searchable version of the Handbook(in English and Spanish) is available online at http://www.ConsumerAction.gov
    For single copies, send your name and address to:  Handbook, Pueblo, Colorado  81009; go online to http://www.ConsumerAction.gov and click on "Order Handbook;" or call toll-free, 1(888) 8 PUEBLO.  That's 1 (888) 878-3256, weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time and ask for the Handbook.
  • eXtension Personal Finance - Connect to the national network of the Cooperative Extension Service: it is like having a personal financial educator, but even better. Publications and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on a wide variety of financial topics are available to consumers 24/7/365 at not cost.
  • Financial Fitness Quiz - Want to improve your personal finances? Start by taking this quiz to get an idea of how well you have managed your money so far.
  • Financial Planning Association (FPA) - FPA provides brochures on timely personal finance topics to help individuals and families make smart decisions about their financial future. All brochures offer information on a variety of topics ranging from how to deal with a sudden job loss to planning for higher education.
  • How to Handle a Furlough: Develop a Plan - Sometimes, just as people are making progress to improve their finances one small step at a time, something happens to set them back. For some people in today's difficult economic climate, that setback is a furlough.
  • MyMoney.gov - A great place to get started. Find information intended by the US government to help improve the financial literacy and education of persons in the United States.
  • Young Money - Magazine and website with sections on money management, entrepreneurship, careers, investing, technology, travel, entertainment and automotive topics.
  • Wyoming Jump$tart Coalition - The coalition helps bring awareness about financial literacy topics for Wyoming's youth and provides training to teachers and students around the state.