Financial Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension offers a number of resources to help families and individuals stretch their dollars and meet their financial goals.
Money Matters
This series of online modules can help you learn new money management skills and build on your financial strengths. Contact our UW Madison Extension Douglas County Educator to learn how you can receive a certificate of completion to meet local financial education requirements.
**New in 2026-Money Matters Live
Monthly Zoom sessions on the first Tuesday of the month, same topic offered twice daily, from 10-11 a.m. or 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Register for Money Matters
View PDF
Rent Smart Virtual Classes
Renting affordable housing is a big step. This program helps individuals build knowledge and skills for a successful rental experience. Virtual classes are now available statewide. Register for a virtual Rent Smart class. The dates for classes and class times can be found on the flyer:
Rent Smart is designed for people with little or no rental experience or those that have had difficulty obtaining rental housing.
What you will learn:
– Planning for and meeting monthly expenses
– Tips for finding and maintaining affordable housing
– How to complete an application and why landlords screen applicants
– Strategies for building positive relationships with landlords and neighbors
– Responsibilities and rights of landlords and tenants
This event will be conducted in English. You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make this event more accessible. Contact us at todd.wenzel@wisc.edu or you may include your request here (on the registration form). Make your request at least 25 days before the event.
Rent Smart is brought to you by UW-Madison, Division of Extension.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.
Resources and Links
Check Your Credit Report Lots of people can read your credit report: landlords, employers, insurance agencies, banks and more. You should know what they see. Learn why credit reports matter and how to check yours.
Pay Down Debt with Power Pay Making “Power Payments” is a widely recommended way to pay down debt faster so you can start saving. This website from Utah State University Extension offers tools that make it easy to implement this strategy. Also features other useful resources like a Spending Plan tool that creates your budget online instead of with a pencil and paper.
Reverse Mortgage Fact Sheet – Reverse Mortgage Considerations
Spend Smart Eat Smart This fun, interactive resource from Iowa State University Extension offers a number of useful tools for cutting back on food costs. Meal planning, smart shopping, low-cost recipes and more.
Paying Down Credit Card Debt This site from the Federal Trade Commission offers information on paying down credit card debt including a calculator to show how much you can save by paying more than the minimum payment required.
Ballpark Estimate An easy-to-use worksheet that helps consumers identify approximately how much to save in order to fund a comfortable retirement. Can be completed on paper or online to let the computer do the math. Designed for consumers with more than 10 years left before retirement.
- Eviction alternatives–fact sheet for landlords (PDF, 2 pgs,431 KB)
- Renters–what to do when eviction moratorium ends. (PDF, 1 pg., 212 KB)
- Financial Education Group Workshops for agencies and organizations on a variety of topics including building credit, budgeting, saving and more. Contact us for our next workshop of call to schedule an event for your organization
- Money Management Coaching and Individual Counseling providing support and encouragement to help people gain financial stability and pursue their goals. Meet in person or via Web to help extend dollars, organize finances, meet monthly expenses and learn about area resources that can help.
- Building and Maintaining Credit Advice on how to build or maintain credit and how to regularly check your free credit report
To schedule an appointment, arrange a workshop or ask a question, contact:
Tracy Henegar
Extension Bayfield County
Courthouse, PO Box 218
Washburn, WI 54891
715-395-1426
tracy.henegar@wisc.edu
Heidi Undgrodt
Extension Bayfield County
Courthouse, PO Box 218
Washburn, WI 54891
715- 373-3288
heidi.ungrdot@wisc.edu@wisc.edu
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