Money & ME recognizes that many low-income people do not have basic financial literacy skills which leads to poor money management. Often these people spend money on things they want instead of things they need. They have not learned the importance of savings or developing a basic budget. There are language and cultural differences between low-income and middle-income people. The Money & ME curric
ulum and training addresses these differences. While it was in development, many focuses groups identified that there is a language difference between low-income and middle income. For example, if you ask a low-income person if they owe debt, he or she will typically say “no.” However, if you ask that same person if they owe money to a pawn shop, a pay day loan, or a friend or family member, he or she would say “yes.” Another difference is other curriculum's talk about “finances.” This is another word that is not commonly used among low-income people. Money & ME addresses how people manage their money. The word “finances” is not used. Those are just two of the many differences that Money & ME addresses when teaching low-income people. The Money & ME Program provides a “Train the Trainer” model to ANYONE who would like to help low-income people take control of their money. This training is an online training that focuses on three areas:
1) Cultural sensitivity to low-income people.
2) Content of Money & ME program
3) Logistical: How to have a successful Money & ME program at any organization.
