Financial

Our financial program at K-State Extension Sedgwick County consists of two programs at this time. We offer workshops on basic budgeting and helping people understand how their attitudes, values, and habits shape the way they handle money.

Money Habitudes®

Money Habitudes® is a financial education tool and behavioral framework that helps people understand how their attitudes, values, and habits shape the way they handle money.

Instead of focusing only on income or budgeting skills, it looks at the behavioral side of money—why people spend, save, give, or avoid financial planning the way they do.

Core idea: People don’t all relate to money the same way. Money Habitudes identifies common “money personalities” or patterns, such as:

  • Security-oriented: focused on saving, stability, and avoiding risk
  • Spontaneous: enjoys spending in the moment and flexibility
  • Planning/goal-oriented: likes structure, budgets, and long-term goals
  • Caregiver/giving: prioritizes helping family, friends, or causes
  • Status/achievement-driven: values money to reflect success or accomplishment

Most people are a mix of several habits, not just one.

Why it matters:

  • It helps people understand why they make financial decisions
  • Reduces conflict about money in families or relationships
  • Communicates more clearly about priorities
  • Builds budgets that reflect real-life values, not just numbers
  • Information relayed in simple terms

Money Habitudes, a series of five workshops —

Purpose: Money Habitudes helps people understand how and why they use money—so they can make better choices that fit their lives.

Description:

  • Lesson 1: Why Does Money Matter? Understanding Money Habitudes
  • Lesson 2: The Money Habitudes Influences
  • Lesson 3: Thinking about My Habitudes
  • Lesson 4: Goals and Obstacles
  • Lesson 5: How to make a Budget

Budgeting Basics

Budgeting is making sure that you're spending less than you're bringing in and planning for both the short-term and long-term. It's a proactive approach to managing your money.

Budgeting is an itemized summary of likely income and expenses for a given period. Typically, it is created using a spreadsheet and provides a concrete, organized and easily understood breakdown of how much money you have coming in and how much you are spending. It's an invaluable tool to help you prioritize your spending and manage your money - no matter how much or how little you have.

Planning and monitoring your budget will help you identify wasteful expenditures, adapt quickly as your financial situation changes, and achieve your financial goals. When you actually see the breakdown of your expenses, you may be surprised by what you find; this process is essential to completely grasp how things can add up. Creating a budget will decrease your stress levels because, with a budget, you will be able to adjust or adapt to any surprises.

Workshop: Budgeting Basics - K-State Extension Sedgwick County offers this two-session workshop to groups, schools, and churches in the community. Plan for 1-1/2 hours per session.

Session 1:

  • Budgeting Basics - How we manage our money is an individual matter, but a very important part of our lives.
  • You and Your Money Quiz - Family members often have very different approaches to money management.
  • Wants, Needs, Goals - Differences

Session 2:

  • Tracking Your Spending - Use an 8-1/2" by 11" sheet to get eight spaces (by folding three times) and write the days of the week on each space.
  • Does Your Money Have Wings? - Ways of Saving