Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

serving the state of wisconsin since 1839

DATCP works to assure safe food, healthy people, animals, plants and environment, vibrant agriculture and fair business practices.

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Are You “Money Smart?” – Money Smart Week is April 21-28, 2012
April 19, 2012

Are You “Money Smart?”  (PDF) 

Contact:  Jerad Albracht, Communications Specialist, 608-224-5007
Jim Dick, Communications Director, 608-224-5020

MADISON – Whether you are pinching pennies or going on a spending spree, you need to have a plan and be smart about the financial decisions you make.

To help Wisconsin consumers make intelligent and informed decisions with their cash, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is joining the Department of Financial Institutions and the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy in recognizing April 21-28, 2012 as Money Smart Week.

“From coins gifted by the Tooth Fairy to Social Security checks received from the government, Americans manage money from childhood to retirement,” said Sandy Chalmers, Division Administrator for Trade and Consumer Protection.  “Money Smart Week is an opportunity to teach consumers about ways to thoughtfully manage their income and to avoid scams and common financial pitfalls.”

Headed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Money Smart Week (MSW) features a series of free classes and activities designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances.  A wide range of events will be held across the state over the course of the week, including homebuyer education sessions, free document shredding days, workshops for children, retirement planning seminars, trainings on adjusting to fixed incomes and more.

To view a calendar of events for Wisconsin, visit the Money Smart Week website at https://chicagofed.org/applications/msw_calendar/public.htm?campaign=12.

The DATCP website has a number of useful factsheets for identifying scams and making informed purchasing decisions.  To view these documents, visit http://datcp.wi.gov, hold your mouse over the “Consumer” link in the top navigation bar and choose “Factsheets & Publications” from the drop-down menu.

Connect with us on Twitter at twitter.com/widatcp or Facebook at facebook.com/widatcp.

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