Personal Finance course from the Open University

gallygirl

Have just discovered that the OU is offering a new course on personal finance called 'You and your money: personal finance in context'.

The course covers saving, borrowing, insurance, pensions, long term planning etc. It's a 1st level course, which means it is not too scary, it's an entry level course ideal for those who haven't studied for ages / have never studied. Also, although you have to do 4 assigments there is no exam. It can count towards a degree in social science, business studies, economics or maths. Or you can just do it for personal satisfaction.

The fee is £295 BUT there is help available ....have pinched this from the OU website......

You can apply for a grant towards your fees for undergraduate courses (Levels 1 to 3) and, depending on certain eligibility criteria, you could get your fees paid for if:

• your gross household income is no more than £15,345 for a full award and up to £25,645 for a partial award (at 2006/2007 rates),
• you are receiving certain benefits (Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance or New Deal Allowance), or
• you are unemployed.

In addition, allowances are given for a partner and dependent children. These are £2,000 for a partner, £2,000 for your first child and £1,000 for each further child. If you live with your parents, their income will not be included in any assessment of your household income.
For example, if you have a partner and two children who are dependent on you, you could be earning up to £30,645 and be entitled to receive some financial support.

I can't recommend the OU enough, and most of you could end up teaching the course with your experiences!!!!! I did my degree with them, while working full time. There is SUCH a lot of support from tutors, and I met my best friend there! If anyone wants to pm me I'd be glad to help.

ou website is www.open.ac.uk or try this to the course:
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C02DB123

If only 1 person decides to take this further I'll be SO chuffed, it really can lead to a life changing experience!!!!!

southernscouser

I would love to do something like this but only when I'm debt free. I know it's only £295 but I wouldn't be able to concerntrate on it properly whilst I'm fighting the debt demons! :rolleyes:

I would also like to do some work for The CCCS or better still Martin could pay me to advise on this board!

jessicamb

Get this - as part of our finance department I have to give a basic course on personal finance to others at work (part of "getting out into the business" and "being a business partner" - how weird is that?

Annie_Fanny

Jessicamb - why is that weird??

Annie

jessicamb

Well - I'm more of a money spending expert than a money saving one.

At the mo I'm planning on going through the most basic of things like what is a budget and if you make the minimum repayments it will take you forever to pay off balances - just seems a bit like the pot calling the kettle black on some things.

southernscouser

jessicamb wrote:

Well - I'm more of a money spending expert than a money saving one.

At the mo I'm planning on going through the most basic of things like what is a budget and if you make the minimum repayments it will take you forever to pay off balances - just seems a bit like the pot calling the kettle black on some things.

Make sure you end the speech by shouting at the top of your voice;

NERDS RULE! :cool: :rotfl:

jessicamb

I will preach the word!

tawnyowls

It's a shame there isn't a course on budgeting and managing finances in schools - would be a lot more useful than some of the tosh going into kids' heads.

Molanole

I think this looks really interesting. There's another course which is run by the Institute of Financial Services about personal finance. I think it's only run in 6th Forms though.

Brassic

tawnyowls wrote:

It's a shame there isn't a course on budgeting and managing finances in schools - would be a lot more useful than some of the tosh going into kids' heads.

I couldn't agree more - I've been saying for a while now that it should be a mandatory class in either sixth form, or I suppose the year before since not everyone goes to sixth form. A lot of my early debt was run up by me being completely ignorant - and my parents being about as bad with money as I was couldn't advice me either.

Can we petition this somewhere? Would I/we have to write to the ministry of education? Is it something we could campaign for or am I being naive\stupid?

JAMIEDODGER

im already booked up to do this course in nov when my current OU course ends,, im really looking forward to it!