Grade: 12 Lesson #8:

What is consumer credit? Why get credit? Am I Credit worthy?

SS.912.FL.4.1Discuss ways that consumers can compare the cost of credit by using the annual percentage rate (APR), initial fees charged, and fees charged for late payment or missed payments.SS.912.FL.4.2 Discuss that banks and financial institutions sometimes compete by offering credit at low introductory rates, which increase after a set period of time or when the borrower misses a payment or makes a late payment.

Correlated Literacy Standards:LAFS.1112.RH.3.7

Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and

media (e.g. visually,quantitatively, as well as in words.)

LAFS. 1112.WSHT.1.2Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.

Source: establishcredit.info

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SS.912.FL.4.1 Discuss ways that consumers can compare the cost of credit by using the annual percentage rate (APR), initial fees charged, and fees charged for late payment or missed payments.

SS.912.FL.4.2 Discuss that banks and financial institutions sometimes compete by offering credit at low introductory rates, which increase after a set period of time or when the borrower misses a payment or makes a late payment.

Credit For Consumers

Lesson Number 8

Correlated Florida Standards (See Full Text on Cover Page)

LAFS.1112.RH.3.7 LAFS.1112.WSHT.1.2

Essential Question What are some of the reasons to get credit? What are some advantages and disadvantages of getting credit? How can I build credit?

Learning Goals/ObjectivesStudents will be able to…

Understand some of the reasons for getting credit Understand some of the advantages and disadvantages of using credit Understand why banks issue credit List and understand some of your rights and responsibilities as a consumer Understand creditworthiness List some of the reasons for establishing a credit history and understand how a credit history is built List and understand the three principal types of consumer credit Determine a safe debt load

Overview This lesson is designed to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of what credit is

and the rights and responsibilities of using credit.

Materials Computers and projector Teacher PowerPoint (Included in lesson file) Student Handouts Guide (Included) Student Guide and Teacher Guide (Included in Lesson File) Paper/pen

Time 50 minutes

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Activity Sequence

INTRODUCTION/HOOKIn today's world, credit is integrated into everyday life. From renting a car to reserving an airline ticket or hotel room, credit cards have become a necessary convenience. However, using credit wisely is critical to building a solid credit history and maintaining fiscal fitness. Ask students if they have a general idea about the advantages and disadvantages of credit. (2 minutes)

Using the PowerPoint to guide the conversation: (45 minutes)1. Ask students, “What is consumer credit?” Consumer Credit is when the bank agrees to buy a product

for you and trusts that you will pay them back over time. (Types of credit can be in the form of a credit card or a loan. A loan lets you buy something expensive that you really want such as a boat, a car, an education, or even a home.)

2. In order to get credit you have to apply or ask for it. (The bank will grant credit to you if you’ve proven yourself to be a person who is responsible with money. They can find out by running a credit report that lists how you’ve handled money in the past. They will also base their decision on the money you have or expect to receive in the future as well as what you own. If you can’t pay the bank back, the collateral you provide may be cashed in to repay the loan. You should also know that the bank would put a limit on how much you can spend/borrow to protect you from taking more than you’re able to pay back. If the bank decides to offer you credit, you may have to pay a fee every year to use this service.)

3. Ask students, “Why get credit?”

4. Ask students why banks issue credit? (To make money, to offer service to customers)

5. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using credit.

6. Distribute handout #1 “Should they use credit?” and discuss answers.

7. Discuss the three Cs of Credit (character—will you repay the debt? capital—what if you don’t repay the debt? capacity--can you repay the debt?)

8. Discuss the responsibilities of credit.

9. Brainstorm ways to establish credit.

10. Discuss types and sources of credit.

11. Discuss the rule of thumb how much one can afford (the 20-10 rule).

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12. Distribute handout # 2 “Test your knowledge” and see what students know after the presentation.

13. Go over the answers.

14. Distribute handout # 3 “how much can they safely carry?” and have students solve the answers.

15. Discuss answers.

CLOSURE (3 minutes) Explain to students that credit cards are essential for many purchases, and they certainly are easier to

use than checks. But before you pull out the plastic, make these basic guidelines part of your own credit management plan:

1. Always read and understand the fine print. Banks are in the business of making money.2. Keep track of every credit card purchase each month.3. DON’T carry a balance if you can avoid it. It’s best to pay off the entire balance before the end of the

grace period so you don’t have to pay interest.4. DON'T pay bills late. Late fees are expensive and, over time, they accrue interest. They can also

negatively impact your credit rating. Spend only as much as you can afford—or less.5. DON'T pay for any extras you don’t want or need.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION SUGGESTION/HOME LEARNING1. Have students do the activity #4 quiz.2. Have students present in class (or on video) several positive and negative actions that would affect a

person’s credit history. 3. Have students do the EverFi Financial Literacy Unit 3 lesson plan on Payment Types(if class is

registered).4. Have students log onto the Federal Trade Commission Website to see what they can do if they run into

problems with credit: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0205-using-credit-card

Sources/Bibliographic Information that contributed to this lesson:\

Practical Skills For Life: https://www.incharge.org/money-101/money-tools-for-teachers/financial-literacy-for-high-school

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Lesson 8 Handout 1 “Should They Use Credit?”

Name_________________________________ Date _______________________

For each of the following situations, circle YES, NO, or DEPENDS to indicate your opinion onwhether these people should use credit. Also, give reasons for your response.

1. Marge, age 18, plans to buy a car on credit so that she is able to drive to school.

YES NO DEPENDS

2. Fran and Bud recently took out a loan for a new roof.

YES NO DEPENDS

3. Edgar, age 20, recently used his credit card to pay for textbooks for his new semester of classes.

YES NO DEPENDS

4. Marcia, age 28, charges all her groceries on her credit card.

YES NO DEPENDS

5. Sandy and Carla, age 24 and 27, are planning on buying a boat on credit for use duringsummers. Carla will be the main signer for the loan, with Sandy being the co-signer.

YES NO DEPENDS

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Answer Key Lesson 8 Handout 1 “Should They Use Credit?”

For each of the following situations, circle YES, NO, or DEPENDS to indicate your opinion onwhether these people should use credit. Also, give reasons for your response.

1. Marge, age 18, plans to buy a car on credit so that she is able to drive to school.

YES NO DEPENDS

2. Fran and Bud recently took out a loan for a new roof.

YES NO DEPENDS

3. Edgar, age 20, recently used his credit card to pay for textbooks for his new semester of classes.

YES NO DEPENDS

4. Marcia, age 28, charges all her groceries on her credit card.

YES NO DEPENDS

5. Sandy and Carla, age 24 and 27, are planning on buying a boat on credit for use duringsummers. Carla will be the main signer for the loan, with Sandy being the co-signer.

YES NO DEPENDS

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Lesson 8 Handout #2 Test Your Credit Knowledge

Name______________________________________ Date_________________________

The following questions are designed to help you remember the credit information just coveredin class.

Directions: In the spaces provided, answer each of the following questions about credit:

List five things you can do to build a credit history.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

When a prospective creditor evaluates a credit application, they look for the three Cs: Character,Capital, and Capacity.

For each of the following statements, write the letter that corresponds toeach statement’s specific characteristic.

a) Character b) Capital c) Capacity

6. _____Do you have a savings account?

7. _____Have you used credit before?

8. _____How long have you lived at your present address?

9. _____Do you have a steady job?

10. _____Do you pay your bills on time?

11. _____What are your current debts and your current living expenses?

List four things you can do to build a credit history.

12.

13.

14.

15.

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Lesson 8 Handout #2 Test Your Credit Knowledge page 2

In the space provided, write the letter of the type of credit each statement represents.

a) Single payment credit b) Installment credit c) Revolving credit

16. _____Monthly payment on a car loan

17. _____Monthly telephone bill

18. _____Monthly heating bill

19. _____Using a credit card to buy a new jacket from a department store and then paying the

charge off over several months

20. _____Using a major credit card to buy a pair of shoes and then paying the total amount of

the credit card balance within a month

For each of the following statements, write a T in the space provided if the statement is true, andF in the space provided if the statement is false.

21. _____It is legal for a creditor to deny an applicant credit based on marital status or age.

22. _____If you are denied credit, the creditor is not legally obligated to explain why.

23. _____When creditors evaluate your income, they can’t legally refuse to consider income

from public assistance in the same manner as other income.

24. _____If you are refused credit because of a credit report, upon request from you, the lender

must give you the name and address of the credit bureau that issued the report.

25. _____Your credit report is available to anyone, regardless of the reason.

26. _____A debt collector has the right to contact you at any time of day or night.

27. _____To be within a safe debt load, your total credit should not exceed 20% of your net pay

after subtracting rent.

28. What should you do if you find there is inaccurate information on your credit report?

29. Generally, how long can a consumer reporting agency report unfavorable information?

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30. How long can bankruptcy information be reported by a consumer reporting agency?

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Answer Key Lesson 8 Handout #2 Test Your Credit Knowledge

Name______________________________________ Date_________________________

The following questions are designed to help you remember the credit information just coveredin class.

Directions: In the spaces provided, answer each of the following questions about credit:

List five things you can do to build a credit history.

1. Establish a steady work record.2. Pay all bills promptly.3. Open a checking account and don’t bounce checks.4. Open a savings account and make regular monthly deposits.5. Apply for a small loan using your savings account for collateral and then pay it back as agreed.6. Get a co-signer for a loan and pay back the loan as agreed.

When a prospective creditor evaluates a credit application, they look for the three Cs: Character,Capital, and Capacity.

For each of the following statements, write the letter that corresponds toeach statement’s specific characteristic.

a) Character b) Capital c) Capacity

6. __b___Do you have a savings account?

7. __a___Have you used credit before?

8. __a___How long have you lived at your present address?

9. __c___Do you have a steady job?

10. __a___Do you pay your bills on time?

11. __c___What are your current debts and your current living expenses?

List four things you can do to build a credit history.Any of these answers are correct:■ Establish a steady work record.■ Pay all bills promptly.■ Open a checking account and don't bounce checks.■ Open a savings account and make regular deposits.■ Apply for a local store credit card and make regular monthly payments.■ Apply for a small loan using your savings account as collateral.■ Get a co-signer on a loan and pay back the loan as agreed.

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Answer Key Lesson 8 Handout #2 Test Your Credit Knowledge page 2

In the space provided, write the letter of the type of credit each statement represents.

a) Single payment credit b) Installment credit c) Revolving credit

16. __b___Monthly payment on a car loan

17. __a__Monthly telephone bill

18. __a___Monthly heating bill19. __c___Using a credit card to buy a new jacket from a department store and then paying the

charge off over several months

20. __a__Using a major credit card to buy a pair of shoes and then paying the total amount of

the credit card balance within a month

For each of the following statements, write a T in the space provided if the statement is true, andF in the space provided if the statement is false.

21. __F___It is legal for a creditor to deny an applicant credit based on marital status or age.

22. __F___If you are denied credit, the creditor is not legally obligated to explain why.

23. __T___When creditors evaluate your income, they can’t legally refuse to consider income

from public assistance in the same manner as other income.

24. __T___If you are refused credit because of a credit report, upon request from you, the lender

must give you the name and address of the credit bureau that issued the report.

25. __F___Your credit report is available to anyone, regardless of the reason.

26. __F___A debt collector has the right to contact you at any time of day or night.

27. __T___To be within a safe debt load, your total credit should not exceed 20% of your net pay

after subtracting rent.

28. What should you do if you find there is inaccurate information on your credit report?Contact the credit bureau. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the credit bureau

must investigateyour report

29. Generally, how long can a consumer reporting agency report unfavorable information?

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7 years

30. How long can bankruptcy information be reported by a consumer reporting agency?Up to 10 years

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Lesson 8 Handout 3 “How Much Can They Safely Carry?”

Name_________________________________ Date _______________________

Most people can afford a certain amount of credit and stay within a safe budget. This amount iscalled a “safe debt load.” The following exercises will give you practice determining safe debt loadsbased on various incomes and fixed expenses.

DirectionsRead each of the following scenarios and determine the largest amount of debt eachperson can safely carry. Write your answers in the blanks provided. Use the space below each question toshow how you arrived at each answer.

1. David has a monthly net income of $1,360. His fixed monthly expenses consist of a rentpayment of $450. He is paying off a student loan of $116 per month.

David would like to buy a new television set using a credit card. What is the largest monthlypayment David can afford for the television set so that his credit card payments and student loankeep him within a safe debt load of 20%?

2. Marsha and Michael have a combined monthly net income of $3,500. Their fixed monthlyexpenses consist of $675 for rent. They also have an outstanding student loan balance of $6,000and a balance of $1,000 for the stereo they bought last month.

How much more debt can they take on and still be within a safe debt load?

3. Juanita has a monthly net income of $2,500. Her fixed monthly expenses consist of $500 forrent. She also pays a car insurance premium of $68 and a car payment of $167.

Are these payments within Juanita’s safe debt load?

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www.practicalmoneyskills.com credit student activity 7-3Answer Key Lesson 8 Handout 3 “How Much Can They Safely Carry?”

Most people can afford a certain amount of credit and stay within a safe budget. This amount iscalled a “safe debt load.” The following exercises will give you practice determining safe debt loadsbased on various incomes and fixed expenses.

DirectionsRead each of the following scenarios and determine the largest amount of debt eachperson can safely carry. Write your answers in the blanks provided. Use the space below each question toshow how you arrived at each answer.

1. David has a monthly net income of $1,360. His fixed monthly expenses consist of a rentpayment of $450. He is paying off a student loan of $116 per month.

David would like to buy a new television set using a credit card. What is the largest monthlypayment David can afford for the television set so that his credit card payments and student loankeep him within a safe debt load of 20%?

$20.00$1,360 x 10% = $136$136 - $116 = $20

2. Marsha and Michael have a combined monthly net income of $3,500. Their fixed monthlyexpenses consist of $675 for rent. They also have an outstanding student loan balance of $6,000and a balance of $1,000 for the stereo they bought last month.

How much more debt can they take on and still be within a safe debt load?

$1,400.00$3,500 x 12 = $42,000$42,000 x 20% = $8,400$8,400 - $6,000 - $1,000 = $1,400

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3. Juanita has a monthly net income of $2,500. Her fixed monthly expenses consist of $500 forrent. She also pays a car insurance premium of $68 and a car payment of $167.

Are these payments within Juanita’s safe debt load?

Yes$2,500 x 10% = $250$250 - $167 - $68 = $15

www.practicalmoneyskills.com credit student activity 7-3Lesson 8 Optional Extension Activity Quiz CreditName ____________________________ Date_____________________

True-False1. _____A disadvantage of using credit is impulse buying.2. _____Capital refers to a person’s assets.3. _____A steady employment record helps a person’s credit history.4. _____Installment credit usually allows a person to make additional purchases on an account.5. _____Using the 20-10 rule, a person making $40,000 a year after taxes should have no morethan $8,000 of outstanding debt.

Case ApplicationAna Gonzalez is considering a loan to finance her college education. She currently owes money onseveral charge accounts and credit cards. What actions would you recommend?

Multiple Choice6. A common advantage of using credit is:

A. less impulse buyingB. lower cost for items purchasedC. ability to obtain neededitems nowD. lower chance of overspending

7. A person’s regular income is referred to as:A. characterB. capitalC. collateralD. capacity

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8. To build a credit history, a person could:A. establish a steady employment recordB. file his or her federal income taxes on timeC. use an ATM several times a monthD. request to view her or his credit file

9. Utility companies and medical service organizations commonly offer ______ credit.A. revolvingB. single-paymentC. installmentD. retail

10. Using the 20-10 rule, a person earning $1,500 a month should not have monthly credit payments that exceed:

A. $300B. $150C. $20D. $30

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Answer Key Lesson 8 Optional Extension Activity Quiz CreditName ____________________________ Date_____________________

True-False1. __T___A disadvantage of using credit is impulse buying.2. __T___Capital refers to a person’s assets.3. __T___A steady employment record helps a person’s credit history.4. __F___Installment credit usually allows a person to make additional purchases on an account.5. __T___Using the 20-10 rule, a person making $40,000 a year after taxes should have no morethan $8,000 of outstanding debt.

Case ApplicationAna Gonzalez is considering a loan to finance her college education. She currently owes money onseveral charge accounts and credit cards. What actions would you recommend?

Multiple Choice6. A common advantage of using credit is:

A. less impulse buyingB. lower cost for items purchasedC. ability to obtain needed tems nowD. lower chance of overspending

7. A person’s regular income is referred to as:A. characterB. capitalC. collateralD. capacity

8. To build a credit history, a person could:A. establish a steady employment recordB. file his or her federal income taxes on timeC. use an ATM several times a monthD. request to view her or his credit file

9. Utility companies and medical service organizations commonly offer ______ credit.A. revolvingB. single-paymentC. installmentD. retail

10. Using the 20-10 rule, a person earning $1,500 a month should not have monthly credit payments that exceed:

A. $300B. $150C. $20D. $30

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