Overview
Each day, we all make many decisions. Most decisions are simple, such as “what should I wear?”
or “what should I eat?” Other decisions require more information and careful thought, such as
“should I buy a new or used car?”
All decisions involve consequences and many involve risks. As decision-making skills are
improved, a person’s quality of life is enhanced. Wise choices result in better use of time, money,
and other resources.
This course provides you with an opportunity to learn more about decision-making,
especially as it relates to choices about money.

Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills are particularly important when other skill deficits exist.

For instance, if you lack the specific knowledge required for a decision, you can compensate by following a sequence of
steps to define the problem and identify resources for obtaining more information.

The course begins with a step-by-step summary of the decision-making process, a definition of
basic decision-making terms and activities to help students practice developing alternatives and
evaluating everyday choices. Students are then familiarized with common problem-solving
styles.
In this course, you are introduced to several basic economic conditions that can affect your financial
decision-making choices. You need to understand that your financial decisions may involve
a degree of risk.

Several financial risks are outlined.
There are additional ideas to help you generalize decision-making concepts to real
life situations are included at the end of the course.

Student performance goal:
■ You will increase your awareness of the consequences of financial decisions and
demonstrate effective decision-making strategies.
Course objectives: You will…
1-1 define vocabulary associated with decision-making
1-2 describe and implement the steps in a decision-making process
1-3 list potential resources for developing alternative choices
1-4 identify common decision-making strategies
1-5 identify several economic influences on decision-making