Learning Objectives
1. To know what money is.
2. To understand features of different finance products.
3. To understand the importance of maintaining a good personal credit record.
What is money?
Have you ever played Monopoly? At the beginning of the game, every player will receive some money notes.
Can you tell me the uses of money in Monopoly?
We always use money to buy things. Money serves as a medium of exchange. It can be used for making payments or settling debts.
Have you ever taken a close look at the bank note?
Let’s take out a $10 note.
1. Who prints $10 note?
2. What is the colour of a $10 note?
3. Can you name the banks which also serve the issuance of bank notes in Hong Kong?
4. What are the colours of other bank notes?
5. Other than bank notes, what other kinds of money are used in Hong Kong?
6. Can you list all the coins we have in Hong Kong?
When issuing bank note, what do the note-issuing banks (NIBs) need to stipulate?
Authorization is accompanied by a set of terms and conditions agreed between the Government and the three note-issuing banks (NIBs). Bank notes are issued by the three banks, or redeemed, against payment to, or from, the Government Exchange Fund in US dollars, at a specified rate of US$1 to HK$7.80 under the Linked Exchange Challenging Question 1
Saving money
In Chinese culture, children receive red packet during the Lunar New Year, which represents good luck in the coming year.
Instead of putting the money in the piggy bank, where can the children put their money?
Children can save money in the bank.
Depositing money in the bank savings account will help the money earn more money. Do you know why?
Saving money in the bank can earn interest.
Interest is the amount of money that the bank pays you when they use your money. The bank uses the money to make loan to other people or business.
When you deposit your money in the bank, the bank will issue you a bank book or bank
statement and tell you how much money is in your savings account. The interest earned is also shown.
ABC Bank
Survey
The aim of the survey is to let students gain an understanding on their own spending pattern.
Form a group of 6 students. Conduct a survey on how they spend money per week.
(Step 1) Fill in the details of spending per week by yourself.
Pocket money per week: ______________________________________________
Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Total Item
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Transportation
Fees
Meals Books
Stationery
Snacks
Saving Others
Have you ever set a budget before? A budget will help you think more about how to spend money.
(Step 2) Before sharing with others, calculate the percentage of spending on each item based on the pocket money per week.
Total Item
% Transportation fees
Meals Books Stationery Snacks Saving Others
(Step 3) Compare the percentage spent on different items among classmates. What do you notice?
(Step 4) Self-reflection
1. Do you spend money wisely?
What is a cheque?
Have you ever seen a cheque? Sometimes, schools require you to pay with a cheque for the purchase of books and stationary. Paying with a cheque is easier and safer than carrying “real” money. A cheque is a substitute for cash for settling debts or making payments.
How do your parents get a cheque book?
They need to open a current account in a bank. A cheque book will be given to the holders of every current account. Before issuing a cheque to others, your parents should make
2. What is money?
3. Other than paying by bank notes, can you name some other means for payment?
Components of a cheque Item Component
1 Name of the payee/drawee 2 Name of the payer/drawer 3 Amount to be paid (Words) 4 Amount to be paid (Figures)
5 Issued date
6 Signature of the drawer
7 Account number
8 Cross mark for crossed cheque
9 Cheque number
10 Counterfoil
1. Fill in the blank with suitable item number.
Biz Bank Limited 基滙銀行有限公司
Hong Kong SAR 香港特別行政區
1 July Year 1
Day 日 Month 月 Year 年
Pay or bearer 祈付 HANDSON PROPERTY 或持票人 HK dollars
港幣 THREE THOUSAND ONLY
BEAUTY FULL CO.
801211 012 455 467861 003
HK$3,000.-- Activity 1
2. Matching
Open Cheque
Crossed Cheque
Post-dated Cheque
Stale Cheque
- A future date is stated at the time of issue to withhold payment until that date.
- The holder of the cheque can draw cash from the bank counter.
- With two parallel lines printed or drawn across.
- Can only be deposited into the account of payee.
- Presented to be cashed or
deposited at a bank six months or more after the date written on the cheque.
What are the reasons for a company or an individual not successful in honouring a cheque?
1.
2.
3.
Challenging Question 2
What is exchange rate?
When you go travelling, you need to exchange the corresponding currency for spending in that country, for example, you need to change HK Dollar to RMB for spending in China. Exchange rate is the market price for which one currency can be exchanged for another. For example, if the US exchange rate for the HK Dollar is $7.75, this means 1
US Dollar can be exchanged for $7.75 HK
dollars.
Think of some countries that you may want to visit in this summer. You will spend an estimate of HK$10,000. Mark down their currency rates today and check them again two weeks later to see if there is any difference.
Value of my portfolio Currency chosen Currency
rate today
How much can you exchange today?
Currency rate two weeks later
How much can you exchange after two weeks?
e.g. US HK$7.75 US$1290.32 HK$7.76 US$1288.66 Activity 2
Point to note:
Linked Exchange Rate System in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong dollar is officially linked to the US dollar at the rate of 7.8 Hong Kong dollars to one US dollar. The Linked Exchange Rate is the linchpin of Hong Kong's monetary system. It plays an important part in supporting Hong Kong's role as a trading, service and financial centre.
(Source:
http://www.info.gov.hk/hkma/eng/classroom/page/work/wor
Answer the following question after you finish the previous activity.
Which country do you want to go and why?
Strawberry Store launched a new tablet computer, “Jpad” with a 10” multi-touch screen. As it can install many educational games, Simon, a 13-year-old boy wants to buy one. He discusses with his father about the idea of purchasing a “Jpad”.
Credit card is a type of
consumer credits. Let me tell you more later. By the way, how would you pay me back?
Daddy, I’d like to order a “Jpad”
online but it only accepts credit card. What is credit card?
Can you help me order one?
Daddy, can I pay you by instalment?
It’s OK but why?
I would like to use my savings to buy a new monitor as well.
Haha, it’s OK.
But I will charge you interest.
Case Study
Can you help Simon’s father answer Simon’s queries?
1. What is credit card?
2. What is consumer credit? Can you give some examples?
3. What is personal instalment loan?
4. Why interest is charged?
Class Discussion
In this session, we will introduce three major types of personal finance products.
What are mortgages?
Mortgage is a long-term loan that is used for buying a property only. It is a loan that is secured by real property. Most mortgage loans in Hong Kong are floating rate loans with a fixed payment paying for both principal and interest each month.
There are two common standards used for calculating the interest rate of the loan: (i) a certain percentage above or below the prime rate (usually called “P”); and (ii) a certain percentage above or below the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate (usually called “HIBOR “).
Mortgages
Personal Loans Credit Cards
Process of buying a property with mortgage
Here is the process of buying a property. Sometimes, buying an apartment involves a large sum of money and many people are not able to pay in full, so they will usually apply for a mortgage loan.
Can you explain the process of buying a property with mortgage using the above chart?
BANK
Property buyer Property
Developer/
Owner
Down payment +
Mortgage loan
Mortgage loan
Title of property
Title of property
Simon and Denise lived in a flat with a monthly rental fee $8000 after getting married. They are now discussing whether to buy a two-room flat in Kowloon at a cost of HK$3,000,000. Can you help them solve the following questions?
1. How much down payment do they need to pay? (Hint: People in Hong Kong usually pay 30% of the purchase price as the down payment.)
2. What is the amount of the mortgage loan? (Hint: The bank will help them to pay for the remaining 70%.)
3. Simon and Denise saved only HK$700,000. Can they buy the flat now? Where can they seek help?
Case Study
What are personal loans?
Personal loans are always repaid by fixed instalments. It is a type of unsecured loan. The borrower of the loan repays the principal and interest in equal periodic payments.
There are some special purpose loans, such as loans for marriage, tax payment, education purpose, car payment and travel. Many large retailers in Hong Kong offer consumer instalment loans. For example, when you buy a mobile phone in an electronic appliance store, you can ask for paying by instalment loans. The amount of loan a borrower can borrow depends on his/her personal financial status.
Point to note:
What is overdraft (OD)?
An overdraft occurs when a person withdraws more money than the balance of his/her bank account. Interest will be charged on the overdraft amount.
What are credit cards?
Can you name some features of credit cards?
A plastic card with a pre-approved credit limit
Purchases normally becomes payable within a grace period (up to 30 days) with no finance charge imposed.
The balance due may be paid in full or paid down in monthly instalments of principal plus interest.
Credit card interest rates, annual fees, and repayment terms may vary.
Cash advance is a common feature for credit card. Interest would be
Use credit cards wisely
Do you know why people like using credit cards for making payment?
What are the differences for paying by credit cards or by cash? Discuss with your classmates on the advantages and disadvantages of using credit cards.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Homework
Ask your parents to have a credit card statement of any bank. Look at the statement and answer the following questions.
1. What is the due date of the payment? ______________________
2. How many items were paid by credit card? ______________________
3. How much was spent on credit? ______________________
4. What is the minimum payment required? ______________________
5. What is the annual rate of interest being charged? ______________________
6. If you only pay the minimum payment, what will be the finance charge to be paid next month? (Hint: <Total amount of payment – Minimum payment>*monthly periodic rate)
Terminology
1. Credit limit: Maximum amount of purchase and/or cash advance a credit card holder may be used on the credit card.
2. Grace Period: Period of time allowed for credit card holders to settle the account without
Personal Credit Record
Personal credit record provides personal credit history. When determining one’s creditworthiness, this credit record will be used. So, it is necessary to maintain a good personal credit record.
In Hong Kong, there are credit reference agencies (CRAs) providing services on collecting personal credit data and taking records. After analyzing the data and records, a credit score will be assigned to each individual and for the use of approving one’s consumer credit.
A credit score refers to the credibility of an individual to repay the loan. Here is the scale of credit score:
Have you ever borrowed money from your parents? When will you repay the money? Have you set a date for the repayment?
How to build up a good personal credit?
Reasons for maintaining a good personal credit record:
Class Discussion
1. Money is an asset that is generally acceptable as a medium of exchange and can be used for settling payments or debts.
2. Saving money in the bank can earn interest. Interest is the amount of money that the bank pays you when they use the money that you keep in the bank.
3. A cheque is a substitute for cash for settling debts or making payments. Paying with a cheque is easier and safer than carrying “real” money.
4. There are three major types of personal finance products: mortgages, personal loans and credit cards.
5. Mortgage is a long-term loan that is used for buying a property only.
6. Personal loans are types of unsecured loans and always repaid by fixed instalments.
7. Credit card is a plastic card with a pre-approved credit limit. Purchases by using credit card normally become payable after a grace period (up to 30 days) with no finance charge imposed.
8. Personal credit record provides personal credit history. When determining one’s creditworthiness, this credit record will be used. It is necessary to maintain a good personal credit record.
