Economic cycles have risen and fallen over the past 100 years, in a somewhat predictable fashion behaving like a wave with periods of: peak, trough, recession, recovery. An economic expansion is a term sometimes used for the increasing growth period of the business cycle. The peak is when it is at its highest point. An economic contraction is a term sometimes used for the downturn (negative growth) of the business cycle. The trough is when it is at its lowest point. All of these points in an economic cycle have important impacts on financial decision making.Many individuals make emotional decisions based on where an economic cycle may be, instead of looking a rational evidence of where the economic cycle might be going. Attached with these handouts is a document titled "Reasons Why Investors Avoided The Stock Market" which shows many major negative events, followed by tremendous growth in the economy. If individuals understand these normal economic cycles, they can really benefit financially through investments and sound financial decision making. 

Students will answer the following multiple-choice questions regarding how microeconomic principles can really impact how individuals make financial decisions. A presentation is attached with some definitions and information that may assisst with completing this assignment. Answer key can be found in the Teacher Only Discussion section of the Resource Bank. https://resourcebank.ca/groups/financial-literacy-teachers/254/discussions/

This collection features resources to support teaching Module 6C: Applying Personal Spending Plans from the Saskatchewan Financial Literacy curriculum.This is a full project that can be used in Module 6C for Financial Literacy 30. This usually takes the students about 5 hours to complete and it is very comprehensive to cover all future spending. The assignment requires the students to "screenshot" proof of items they found for their budget (and support each item with evidence). Students really enjoy this project (and adults have used it too for budgeing in real life!). Students may chose to have $0 spending on some items (pets, legal, etc), but they should explain their reasoning for entering a zero. As well, students should enter savings  into their budget (at least 10% of earnings).

Answer the following questions in complete sentences regarding how microeconomic principles can really impact how individuals make financial decisions.

Module 33 MacroeconomicsAssignment Instructions: Answer the following questions regarding how macroeconomic principles can really impact how individuals make financial decisions.

Budgeting is an important task for money managment. Using a spreadsheet can make this task much easier with tools that autocalculate totals. As well, the spreadsheet can be copied easily for each month or year. Categories can be easily tailored to the users' needs by adding items that are specifc to their financial situation.Budgets are used by non-profit groups, organizations, businesses, sports associations and volunteer groups for their cash flow management. Using a spreadsheet will make budgeting and decision making much easier and transparent for all users. Here is a variety of blank templates and examples that can be used for various budgeting purposes. 

This task allows the students to create a family’s cash flow budget based on their current situation, analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to their household budget, and give the family some financial advice.The assignment also asked the students various planning questions regarding family budgets, events that affect the budget and variables to consider when a household plans their budgets.

This activity contains three case studies which allow students to evaluate situations that are considered when budgeting. The students will create budgets for the individuals in the cases as part of this assignment.

Students will learn the consequences of not paying one’s debts and the choices of last resort for out-of-control debt. Students will explain how using [types of predatory loans] can cause a vicious cycle of debt. Bankruptcy is also introduced, and the various costs associated with bankruptcy are outlined. The students will discover what steps a person can take to avoid filing for bankruptcy, including seeing a credit counselor.

Comic Book titled “The Game Plan” by The Healthy Aboriginal Network https://istorystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Game-Plan.pdf The Healthy Aboriginal Network’s Game Plan is a comic book for Aboriginal youth featuring a teenager named Jake who struggled with financial wellbeing until he was taught a lesson or two in financial literacy. Making the right financial decisions helped Jake achieve his goals and feel financially empowered. 

This activity allows the students to discuss the burden of student loans and financing post-secondary education. An additional aspect to this activity is the mental health aspect regarding heavy debt loads for post-secondary. The discussion could include a debate on student loans, who is responsible and can a student "walk away" from this debt? Should the government pay for post-secondary education for everyone? If yes, would you be willing to pay more taxes for free post-secondary education?Students often finance their post-secondary education, which can be very expensive over many years. How does a student pay this debt back if they are unable to finish their program, especially in expensive programs such as medicine or law?  

If you find you have only a passing understanding of the daily barrage of economic news and you want to learn more, you're in the right place. Each month in Economy 101, we'll approach a different aspect of the economy in clear and simple language. Economics is about choices, and our choices are only as good as our understanding of the issues.

"There are 44 modules worth of activities and resources on this page! 31 modules with the secondary icon are designed for high school instruction in the Saskatchewan Financial Literacy 20/30 curriculum.

Although some of the content of the 13 other modules are designed for middle years instruction, they are easily adaptable to secondary learners. Teachers, consult your school division to see if the 13 modules have been taught at the middle years level to avoid repetition.

Simply click on a theme, select a module for instruction, pick an appropriate suggested activity from the Teacher’s Guide, and download the necessary resources to help students meet the module’s outcome."

MyMoneyCoach: This website presents excellent information for students to learn about various types of debt:
- Student Loan Budgeting and Money Management - Practical Tips for Post-Secondary Students: Money Management Strategies -- * Develop a workable budget that also gives you a little money for fun… yes, fun! * If you are using student loans or have enough money saved to get you through, set it all aside in a separate savings account.
- Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt: Here are some practical ways you can quickly tackle your credit card debt and take your first real steps toward getting out of debt: * Put your credit cards away until you have completely paid off the outstanding balances.
- Create a Budget to Get Out of Bad Debt - Shed Your Debt Weight: Did you make any resolutions this year? Many people plan to shed the extra pounds that are dragging them down – but does that include weight from your bad debt? It’s amazing how heavy a maxed out credit card can feel!
- How to Get Out of Debt and Keep it that Way: Debt solutions and strategies to get out of debt can vary for everyone, however, the sooner someone is able to deal with their debt, the more options they generally have available to them.

This resource consists of various Inflation Resources- lessons, graphics, presentations, assignments and quiz questions for teachers to use with Module 33: Macroeconomics within the Financial Literacy courses

The objective of this activity is for students to become familiar with common cognitive biases they may experience while making financial decisions. Students race to match definitions and examples of how biases show up in a personal finance context to the corresponding biases.  

"Personal Finance program teaches students in grades 9-12 personal money management skills including the key elements of personal finance such as spending wisely, budgeting, saving, investing and using credit."You can contact your local Junior Achievement (JA) to offer this course or you can enrol as a teacher and have your students complete it under your direction.  This can also be accessed by a student or parent as well (with a free account).

This presentation helps to teach Module 33: Macro-Economics: Investigate the role and responsibilities of the Bank of Canada in regulating interest rates in Canada,  research and assess the impact of each stage of the economic life cycle on Saskatchewan and Canadian markets and examine the relationship between economic factors such as interest rates and economic conditions (e.g., recession, depression and bull market) and investment relative to a country’s economic growth.

In this lesson you will learn about how the larger macroeconomic situation impacts every Canadian (market growth/decline, inflation, and domestic and global economic conditions (war, unemployment, labor, international trade). This lesson will explore questions such as: What are key indicators (types of markets, unemployment, inflation, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP)) identifying to a country’s economic performance and how do these affect financial decisions?