I love shopping at discount stores, especially Dollar Tree.  I recently read an article that discussed the things you should and shouldn’t purchase from dollar stores and I wanted to share some of the pros an cons of these bargain stores.  First of all, I will admit that I cannot leave Dollar Tree without spending at least $10 every time!  Even if I am just going in for a few items, it seems like $10 is the amount I always spend.  I am definitely guilty of purchasing the items the article said not to like batteries, toothbrushes, grocery items, knives etc.   Maybe if I spent a few bucks more, I wouldn’t have had to throw away knives that the handle broke off the first time I used it.  Some of the items that I will only get from Dollar Tree are greeting cards and giftwrap.  These were items the article said were a great deal to purchase there.  Well, of course, why pay more than $3 for a greeting card when you can get 6 for that price!  I have had my share of success and failure with purchases from the Dollar Tree.  I think the next time I head to Dollar Tree I will only take enough money for the amount of items I need to get, well maybe I’ll take at least one or two dollars more.

-Sarah Janda

CALL FOR PRESENTERS FOR OREGON’S FIRST FINANCIAL LITERACY TEACHER CONFERENCE

Portland, Oregon, March 17, 2014  — Financial Beginnings is seeking proposals for presenters at its first Financial Literacy Teacher Conference in Oregon.  The conference will take place August 19th and 20th at Portland State University.

Financial Beginnings is bringing this conference to Oregon in response to the recent revision of the Oregon Social Science Content Standards.  The new standards incorporate personal finance earlier and in more depth in K-12 instruction.

Financial Beginnings is seeking qualified financial and education professionals to deliver presentations at the conference.  Financial Beginnings is accepting proposals for two separate speaking categories:

1. Presenters who will deliver curriculum developed by the Jump$tart Teacher Training Alliance. 

Jump$tart Teacher Training Alliance curriculum topics:

-Global Economics and Personal Finance

-Spending and Financial Planning

-Saving and Investing

-Enhancing Earning Capacity

-Risk Management and Insurance

-Managing Credit and Debt

-Financial Services and Identity Theft

2. Presenters who wish to deliver presentations at breakout sessions that are relevant to K-12 educators in helping them to either deliver financial education lessons in their classroom or further understand personal finance.

Breakout session presentations should be based on personal finance best practices/ideas and not attempting to sell attendees on a product.  Presentations must include learning objectives and provide attendees with tools they can implement in their everyday lives and/or in the classroom.

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Presentation and Conference Objectives

Qualified presenters should:

-Have several years of industry experience in the presented topic

-Be an engaging speaker

-Expand on the provided curriculum with up to date information

Our objective is to help K-12 educators increase their own personal knowledge about personal finance topics and provide them with tools they can use in the classroom to educate their students.

Deadline for Submission

The deadline for submission is March 31, 2014.   To find more information and to submit your proposal, please go to: www.financialbeginnings.org

For more information on the Financial Literacy Teacher Conference: http://www.financialbeginnings.org/teacher-training/

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About Financial Beginnings

Formed in 2005 and based in Portland, OR, Financial Beginnings is a nonprofit organization that provides free financial education programs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Financial Beginnings’ largest program educates youth and young adults in the basics of personal finance through visits to schools or community groups. Financial Beginnings’ courses incorporate all aspects of personal finance to provide individuals the foundation needed to make informed financial decisions. More information is available at www.financialbeginnings.org.

In addition to Financial Beginnings, the Financial Literacy Teacher Conference is sponsored by Portland State University School of Business, Bank of America, Allen Sakai & Co. and Point West Credit Union.  The  Conference utilizes the Jump$tart Teacher Training Alliance model developed by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, the National Endowment for Financial Education, Junior Achievement USA and the Take Charge Institute at the University of Arizona with insight from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Department of Education, the conference will increase educators’ competency and level of comfort in personal financial management, as well as offer age-appropriate Oregon financial literacy standards-teaching strategies to use in the classroom.

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