Section A - Understand the importance of managing personal finance Flashcards
What are the functions of money?
1) Unit of Account
2) Means of Exchange
3) Store of Value
4) Legal Tender
What is unit of account?
It allows us to place a monetary value on goods or service.
What is means of exchange?
It allows us to trade
What is store of value?
It allows us to use it in the future as it keeps its value.
What is legal tender?
It is a legal recognition form of payment.
What are the factors that influence the view of money?
1) Personal attitudes
2) Life stages
3) Culture
4) Life events
5) External influences
6) Interest rates
Explain the financial needs of a child.
Limited needs, mainly reliant on parent.
May want to buy sweats or toys.
Explain the implications of the financial needs of a child.
1) Money received from presents may be spent as attitude will be that this is to buy things you want.
2) May be encouraged to save or parents or grandparents may set up a savings account for you into which they make regular payments.
3) May rely on pocket money.
Explain the financial needs of an adolescence.
Want to be more independent.
Slightly less reliant on parents as want to socialise away from family.
Explain the implications of the financial needs of an adolescence.
1) May look for a part time job
2) Still partially reliant on pocket money
3) More likely to receive cash as gifts and may be willing to save up smaller amounts in order to make bigger purchases.
Explain the financial needs of a young adult.
University or starting a career
Looking to be more independent
Buying a car and buying or renting a flat or house
Looking to settle down and maybe get married or start a family.
Explain the implications of the financial needs of a young adult.
1) May take a student loan if going to university.
2) Borrow money to pay for a car or purchase one on a finance deal.
3) May be looking at taking out a mortgage.
4) Need to earn money to support self and others.
5) Eligible for credit and debit cards.
Explain the financial needs of a middle aged person.
Support family.
Start saving for children’s futures, e.g. university, weddings, etc.
Look to improve own lifestyle, e.g. new car or move house.
Enjoy having access to additional money to spend on luxuries such as foreign holidays.
Explain the implications of the financial needs of a middle aged person.
1) Savings accounts for specific purposes.
2) Paying a mortgage.
3) Planning for own future through pensions and retirement plans.
4) Likely to be the stage of life when income peaks but matched with high expenditure.
Explain the financial needs of an old aged person.
Fewer dependents.
May downsize, e.g. move from family home to a smaller retirement home.
Fewer financial needs for assets but may be higher for services such as health care.
Explain the implications of the financial needs of an old aged person.
1) Mortgage payments stop or become lower.
2) Less income as reliant on a pension rather than a salary.
Why is planning expenditure important?
It ensures that you avoid over spending which will put you at risk of financial difficulties both now and in the future.
What will a poor credit rating affect?
The ability to borrow money in the future.
How would you remain solvent
Set financial targets and goals.
What is the advantage of savings
They will help provide a safety net for the future, for example to provide insurance against loss or injury.
Expenditure can help counter the effects off…
Inflation
Give an example of inflation
If you spent £150,000 buying a house today the value of the house would increase. If you left £150,000 in a savings account the amount would go up because of inflation but the spending power of your savings would go down.
What are the common principles to be considered in planning personal finance?
1) Avoid getting into debt
2) Control costs
3) Avoid legal action and/or repossession
4) Remain solvent
5) Maintain a good credit rating
6) Avoid bankruptcy
7) Manage money to fund purchases
8) Generate income and savings
9) Set financial targets and goals
10) Provide insurance against loss or illness
11) Couter the effects of inflation
Explain what cash is.
Notes and coins in a wide range of denominations.
Explain what a debit card is.
Issued by banks with payments for goods and services being deducted directly from a current account.
Explain what a credit card is.
Issued by financial institutions allowing customers to delay payments for goods and services.
Explain what a cheque is.
A written order to a bank to make a payment for a specific amount of money from one person’s account to another account.
Explain what an electronic transfer is.
Payment is transferred directly from one bank account to another.
Explain what a direct debit is.
An agreement made with a bank allowing a third party
to withdraw money from an account on a set day to pay for goods or services received, e.g. pay a gas bill.
Explain what a standing order is.
An agreement made with a bank to transfer a xed sum of money to a third party account on a set date on a regular basis, e.g. pay £30 for a phone contract each month.
Explain what a pre-paid card is.
Money is uploaded onto a card with transactions then being withdrawn to reduce the balance.
Explain what a contactless card is.
Cards containing antennae allow money to be transferred when the card touches a contactless terminal.
Explain what a charge card is.
Issued by financial institutions allowing customers to delay payments for goods and services for a short period of time; the balance must be paid off in full when a statement is issued.
Explain what a store card is.
Issued by a retail outlet so that customers can delay payments for goods and services (similar to a credit card but only accepted by stores specified).
Explain what mobile banking is.
The ability to carry out financial transactions using mobile devices such as phones or tablets.
Explain what Banker’s Automated Clearing Service (BACS) faster payment is.
A system that allows the transfer of payments directly from one bank account to another.
Explain what Clearing House Automated Payment System (CHAPS) is.
A system that allows the transfer of payments directly from one bank account to another.
What are the advantages of cash.
Most widely accepted form of exchange
Physical not virtual
Consumers feel confident when using
Makes budgeting easier
What are the disadvantages of cash.
Can be lost or stolen Threat of counterfeit
Only really appropriate on purchases up to a certain amount
Cannot be used online.
What are the advantages of debit card
No need to carry cash
Secure method of payment with low risk of theft
Widely accepted
Offers a degree of protection on purchases
Suitable for online transactions.
What are the disadvantages of debit card
Short time lapse between making
the transaction and the money being withdrawn from the customer’s account may result in overspending
Not accepted or appropriate for small transactions
What are the advantages of credit card.
Allows a period of credit that is interest free, e.g. one month
Most cards are widely accepted
Loyalty schemes are often offered, e.g. collect points or cash back
Offers a degree of protection on purchases
Suitable for online transactions
What are the disadvantages of credit card.
Interest is charged on balances not paid off within a month
Can encourage a customer to overspend and get into debt
Interest is charged on cash withdrawals
A limit will be set on the amount of credit allowed.
What are the advantages of cheque.
Low risk form of payment as the cheque can only be cashed by the named payee
Widely accepted for face-to-face and postal transactions
No need to provide change as can be written for an exact amount.
What are the disadvantages of cheque
Expensive for the consumer if the bank refuses to clear the cheque, i.e. it ‘bounces’.
The time delay between writing the cheque and it being cashed could cause a consumer to go overdrawn.
Viewed as old fashioned.
Easy for the consumer to make errors when writing the cheque which will create problems for both the consumer and the recipient.
What are the advantages of Electronic transfer
Almost instantaneous Provides a record of payment No additional costs incurred
Easy to use for one-off and more frequent transactions
What are the disadvantages of electronic transfer
Risk of loss if the transfer is incorrectly set up
Not appropriate for face-to-face transactions
What are the advantages of direct debit
An easy way to make regular payments, e.g. utility bills Amount paid can vary to ensure the payment matches the amount required by the vendor Quick and easy to set up
What are the disadvantages of direct debit
If the payer makes a mistake and takes too much it is the payee’s responsibility to claim back the money
The payer determines the amount paid each time making it dif cult for the payee to plan and budget
What are the advantages of a standing order.
The same amount is paid each time making it easier for the payee to plan and budget
Easy both to set up and to cancel
No need to remember to make regular, standard payments