Financial ‘Awareness’ Is the Path to Financial Literacy

Column distributed by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Links to resources referenced:

Fidelity: “Fidelity's 17th Annual Resolutions Study: Americans Preparing For a Year of 'Planning with Purpose'”
- https://newsroom.fidelity.com/pressreleases/fidelity-s-17th-annual-resolutions-study--americans-preparing-for-a-year-of--planning-with-purpose-/s/fc3d5689-e2a4-433b-8048-d56053f283e0
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Inflation remains a top concern for many, as reflected in Fidelity’s annual New Year’s Financial Resolutions study. This year’s version, released Dec. 11, surveyed 3,026 adults (18 years of age and older) in early October.”
T. Rowe Price: 2025 Global Retirement Savers Study
- https://www.troweprice.com/content/dam/public/enterprise/insights/pdfs/2025/global-retirement-savers-study.pdf
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Inflation is not just a U.S. concern. T. Rowe Price’s 2025 Global Retirement Savers Study, which conducted an online survey in June and July of 2025 of more than 7,000 respondents from five countries (the U.S., Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia), reported that 42% of retirement savers indicated their top concern was inflation, finishing ahead of geopolitical events (30%), interest rates (27%) and unemployment (20%).”
Excel: Free customizable budget templates
- https://excel.cloud.microsoft/create/en/budget-templates/
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Don’t bother trying to budget unless you feel that will help you. Budgeting apps are available if you want to go that route. Examples: Rocket Money and Monarch Money. Worksheets are offered by Excel and the Navy Federal Credit Union. Or, see if a calendar might work for you (Charles Schwab offers a ‘Personal Finance Calendar for 2026,’ a month-by-month guide).”
Navy Federal Credit Union: Making Cents Monthly Budget Worksheet
- https://www.navyfederal.org/content/dam/on-track/personalfinance/graphics/budgetworksheet.pdf
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Don’t bother trying to budget unless you feel that will help you. Budgeting apps are available if you want to go that route. Examples: Rocket Money and Monarch Money. Worksheets are offered by Excel and the Navy Federal Credit Union. Or, see if a calendar might work for you (Charles Schwab offers a ‘Personal Finance Calendar for 2026,’ a month-by-month guide).”
Charles Schwab: Personal Finance Calendar for 2026
- https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/personal-finance-calendar
  - Related column excerpt:
    - “Don’t bother trying to budget unless you feel that will help you. Budgeting apps are available if you want to go that route. Examples: Rocket Money and Monarch Money. Worksheets are offered by Excel and the Navy Federal Credit Union. Or, see if a calendar might work for you (Charles Schwab offers a ‘Personal Finance Calendar for 2026,’ a month-by-month guide).”