National Center for Family Literacy and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Make the Message of Smart Spending Fun
January 09, 2012
NCFL and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation introduce “A Day at Dollar General: Learn While Shopping,” an online game that teaches financial responsibility
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – (January 9, 2012) – The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) has partnered with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to teach families the value of financial responsibility through “A Day at Dollar General: Learn While Shopping.” The interactive online game recreates the experience of shopping in a real store and encourages children to learn while shopping.
By expanding the definition of literacy to include smart financial habits, NCFL and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation are teaching children to make informed spending decisions that will help them reach their goals.
“A Day at Dollar General: Learn While Shopping” is tailored to families and children, providing them with a fun and interactive game that teaches good spending habits. The game has four sections that are quick and easy to complete. The subjects covered by the game are:
· Budgeting – teaches children to identify the difference between wants and needs and manage expenses within a certain income.
· Planning a shopping trip – encourages families to get in the habit of reading store advertisements, collecting coupons and making shopping lists to avoid impulse buys.
· Spending wisely – shares smart shopping strategies such as taking advantage of store specials and comparison shopping.
· Managing money – stresses the importance of factoring price into purchasing decisions and offers tips to make and reach long-term savings goals.
Reports such as “The Financial Literacy of Young American Adults: Results of the 2008 National Jump$start Coalition Survey of High School Seniors and College Students,” have found that interactive games help stimulate the interest of minors in investment-related personal finance topics.
“Using this game to immerse families in these activities turns a topic as important as financial planning into something interactive and fun,” said Emily Kirkpatrick, vice president of NCFL. “When children have a strong understanding of good money management, they’re better equipped to succeed later in life with an invaluable skill set that will help them smartly take the reins of their own finances.”
Given the current financial climate, it is important that parents set a good example for their kids by making smart choices when it comes to money management. As such, parents can reinforce the message of living within your means – as well as teach their children invaluable skills related to calculating cost per unit and comparison shopping – by putting the tips from the game sessions into practice on a regular basis.
“Together, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and NCFL want to make money management fun and educational for the whole family,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General’s director of community initiatives. “We are focused on providing families with the tools they need to make smart financial decisions.”
Families can complete the game in their homes or as part of a family-focused learning program,giving parents a forumto develop a deeper understanding of their own finances and share the lesson of smart money management with their kids in an engaging way.
NCFL and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation expect to update the game on an ongoing basis to encourage sustained learning as children grow and face new and more difficult financial decisions.
ABOUT NCFL
The National Center for Family Literacy, founded in 1989 and based in Louisville, Ky., is the worldwide leader in family literacy. More than 1 million families have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL’s work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers. For more information, contact 1-877-FAMLIT-1 or visit www.famlit.org.
About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $64.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 3.7 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, visit www.dgliteracy.org.
About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 70 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 9,800 stores in 38 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America's most-trusted manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, Kellogg's, General Mills, Nabisco, Hanes, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.
###
CONTACT:
Kelly Pakula
415-591-8455
ncfl@shiftcomm.com
Tawn Earnest
615-855-5209
tearnest@dollargeneral.com
Kelly Pakula
415-591-8455
ncfl@shiftcomm.com
Tawn Earnest
615-855-5209
tearnest@dollargeneral.com
About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) is proud to serve as America’s neighborhood general store. Founded in 1939, Dollar General lives its mission of Serving Others every day by providing access to affordable products and services for its customers, career opportunities for its employees, and literacy and education support for its hometown communities. As of August 4, 2023, the company’s 19,488 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and pOpshelf stores across the United States and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico provide everyday essentials including food, health and wellness products, cleaning and laundry supplies, self-care and beauty items, and seasonal décor from our high-quality private brands alongside many of the world’s most trusted brands such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, General Mills, Hershey, J.M. Smucker, Kraft, Mars, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Learn more at DollarGeneral.com.