Period 3 — Personal Finance

Your new job offers a 401(k) with a 50% employer match on up to 6% of your pay. How much do you want to contribute?

Your car breaks down on the way to work. The mechanic says it needs a $1,200 repair, and you need the car to get to your job.

Friends invite you on a weekend trip that would cost about $400. Go, or skip it and keep the cushion?

You've got $1,000 in extra cash sitting in checking, earning almost nothing. A friend suggests opening a brokerage account and investing it in a diversified index fund instead.

You get a pre-approved credit card offer: a $2,500 limit at 24% APR. You've been wanting a $900 laptop for a side hustle.

You just got a raise. Do you bump up your 401(k) contribution, or take the extra as take-home pay?

You got an unexpected $500. What do you do with it?

You see a great deal on a $600 gaming setup. Buy it now, or hold onto the cash?

You survived the layoff and your paycheck is back — with a raise. To celebrate, you're eyeing a $500 phone-and-gadget upgrade you don't really need. Treat yourself, or rebuild the cushion the layoff drained first?

At the end of the year a limited-time festival package goes on sale for $450 — a want, not a need. You've been setting money aside toward next year's goals. Grab the tickets, or keep the money working toward the plan?