Credit card and personal finance education on the agenda in NJ
New legislation in New Jersey’s state government would require personal finance education including a variety of detailed explanations on credit and debt terminology and consequences for card applicants.
The bill sponsored by New Jersey state Senator Barbara Buono and passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce Committee would require lenders to register with colleges and universities annually to announce their presence on campus.
The bill would also inhibit lenders from offering a slew of freebies to young adults that sign up for a credit card.
Buono commented on the importance of personal finance education saying, “Promotional sales gimmicks and students’ own ignorance about the factors playing into their personal credit and credit card debt result in many young adults getting in way over their heads. By informing them of the facts and eliminating sales gimmicks, we can hopefully empower students to make better credit decisions.”
As the bill moves through the full senate, the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that campus officials generally support the measure.
Rowan University spokesman Joe Cardona hailed the bill as important legislation. At Rowan, credit card companies have been banned from on-campus solicitations for over 10 years, reports the Inquirer.
Uptick seen in personal finance education
Attendance at personal money management classes is up both in the classroom and online, but why is personal finance education important?
The Wall Street Journal is reporting significant increases to education and “financial literacy” classes that are hosted at local community spots, universities, and online from educational institutions like MIT.
Some people hoping to learn about the effects of the credit crunch, the status of the real estate market, and economic theory are apparently turning to OpenCourseWare financial tools which are much like a virtual class to learn the importance of finance.
Lecture notes, study guides and exams are available from this online offering of more than 180 business and financial education classes from nearly 250 universities globally.
High school students are also taking more personal finance education classes as the economy increasingly impacts how they will handle credit decisions in college and their plans for future careers.
Schools across the nation are reportedly realizing the importance of personal finance and making personal finance education courses and know-how a top priority.