An Afghan's Guide to America

  [5D] Money: Developing a Household Budget   Hello, I’m Feroz Bashari, and I’m going to share with you how you can hold on to your money. [Major points]   1.        If you budget your money you are more likely to be able to pay all your bills. 2.        If you budget your money you are more likely to have savings when you need it. 3.        A budget can give you a feeling of control of your money. 4.        If you budget your money your friends are likely to admire how well you manage your life. 5.       Remember the 50 30 20   rule.   Spend 50 percent on necessities, 30% on what you want to have, and 20% for savings and retirement.   First, let me tell you a story. Ronald Reed was an average American.   In fact, he made less money than the average American, working as a gas station atte...

  [5c] Money: Credit, Credit Cards, and Insurance   I’m Feroz Bashari.   Today, let me tell you about some ways to buy things on credit, and also how to protect your wealth. [Main Points:] First, you need to know that every adult American has a credit score.   It may be good or bad, but they have one. Secondly, there are specific things you can do to improve your score.   An improved credit score will save you money. Third, obtaining a credit card can make it easier to pay for some things.   It is an important part of an overall financial plan, as long as you are responsible and pay your bill on time.   Fourth, it is dangerous to build up too much debt.   This will cause you to have more and more interest charges and fees to pay. And finally, insurance is a way to protect the wealth that you build up.   Without insurance, you could be faced with having to pay a very large bill when something goes wrong, even if it is not your ...

  I’m Feroz Bashari.   Today, let me tell you about some ways to save up your wealth.   [Main Points:] I’m going to tell you about how some people live from paycheck to paycheck, always having to worry if they will have enough money.   Other people wisely set aside money for the future because unexpected expenses come up. We’ll talk about paying yourself first.   This means putting money in savings before you start paying all of your bills. We’ll look at how saving at work can be made easier through what’s called a 401K.   Employers will sometimes match what you put in.   That is, some companies will put in an extra contribution equal to what you have saved. Finally, we’ll talk about how money can actually grow over time, especially if you set it aside and leave it to be reinvested. Why Save Your Money at All? Why is it important to save money?   Some people live from paycheck to paycheck, but other people prudently set aside money...