Family and consumer science
Project description
20 points possible – the Home Ownership and Appliance assignments can be turned in as hard copy if you have problems attaching all the files needed.

Download the attached file and look at each of the assignments. Choose ONE of the assignments that will be most helpful for you at this point in your life. Make sure you complete everything listed for that assignment. You Pick assignment.

YOU PICK (20 points possible)
Due
Mar 2
Look at each of the following assignments. Choose ONE of the following assignments
that will be most helpful for you a
t this point in your life. Make sure you complete everything
listed for that assignment. If you are married and your spouse is in this class, do a different
assignment than your spouse.
Turn in the underlined item(s).
1. COMPARE CREDIT CARDS
–
Create
a
table
that shows
the following information
for at least 3 credit cards: grace period, interest rate, annual fee, over
–
the
–
limit fee, late fee, cash
advance interest rate/fees, and transfer interest rate. In a one page
paper
discuss your needs for a
cred
it card, which card best fits your needs, and why. State which one you would choose.
2. BUYING VS. LEASING
–
Compare the same car (or very similar cars) when
purchased or leased.
Create
table
t
hat shows
the cost to get into the car, monthly payments, t
otal
cost, end result (added fees, car equity, etc.)
for both leasing and buying
. Write a one page
paper
discussing the leasing terms and the loan terms. Discuss which option you would choose and
why.
3. INSURANCE
–
Choose one type of insurance (auto,
home, health, disability or life
insurance). Compare at least 2 different insurance companies.
Create
a
table
t
hat shows
premiums and coverage (compare several different items covered)
for each insurance
. Write a
one page
paper
discussing what type and
amount of coverage you need. Discuss which one you
would choose and why.
4. HOME OWNERSHIP
–
Complete and turn in the “How Much House Can You
Afford”
form
(available online
on
Canvas
). Call 2 mortgage companies and ask what the current
interest rate is
for a 30 year fixed mortgage (call on the same day). Use one of those rates for the
worksheet. When you find the amount that you qualify for, look in the newspaper or on the
Internet for homes in that price range. Cut out or print the
advertisement
and attach it to your
assignment. Write a one page
paper
discussing what you learned about your situation, what the
interest rate was you used, what homes were available, and which, if any, you might choose.
5. HOME INVENTORY
–
Complete a home inventor
y.
Create a
table
that has the
following information for each item: date of purchase, amount, model number and any other
important information. NOTE: Do not do this assignment if you have less than 10 major items to
inventory.
6. STEP
–
DOWN
–
PRINCIPLE
–
For one month use the SDP to reduce expenses. While
keeping track of expenses, keep track of each time you consciously used the SDP. You must
have at least 5 different times.
Create
a
table
that has
the following three things for each
purchase: wh
at you would have spent without using the SDP, what you did spend using it, and
the difference between the two. Total the amount saved for the month. Write a one page
paper
discussing how much you saved. What did you learn? Will you continue using it?
7. MAJOR APPLIANCE
–
Pick one major appliance such as a washer, refrigerator,
DVD player
, etc. Find and turn in a copy of a consumer report
article
about that appliance. Go
to at least 3 stores and compare prices and features of comparable models.
Create
a
table
t
hat
shows
the prices and several features
for each appliance
. Also
, i
n a one page
paper
discuss what
you learned from the consumer report and which appliance you would buy.
8. FINANCIAL FILE
–
create your own personal financial
file
. Y
ou must have at least
the following 6 files:
1
–
personal
information (
for items such as Social Security
card, birth
certificate, immunization record, etc.),
2
–
financial
statements (put the worksheets from the
Financial Checkup in here as well as your cr
edit
history
),
3
–
debt or loans,
4
–
checking
or
savings accounts,
5
–
insurance, and
6
–
taxes. You may add any additional files you would like,
but include all of the mentioned files even if you currently have no information for that file.
You
will no
t get full points unless you have all 6 required files.
You must bring your file to the
instructor
’
s
or TA’s office hours
to be graded.