Topic outline

  • Introduction

    This online course will help you manage the household balance sheet, by looking at four key assets and liabilities.

    You’ll explore debt, and how it affects credit scores and your ability to borrow; investments, including savings accounts, bonds, shares and holdings in funds; property, and the costs and risks of buying and selling it; and pension funds, including how to properly plan and save for your retirement.

    The Open University’s Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance created this course, with the generous support of True Potential LLP.

    Duration: 4 weeks
    Weekly study: 3 hours

    • Learning outcomes

      Topics you will cover:

      • Different ways of borrowing
      • The cost of borrowing
      • The lending institutions
      • Managing debts
      • Savings products and their returns
      • Investment products and their returns
      • Buying and selling property
      • Mortgage products
      • The household balance sheet and how to manage it
      • Pension planning
      • Pension products


      By the end of the course, you'll be able to..

      • Identify and understand the different forms of borrowing and the cost of debt
      • Identify and understand how to buy and sell property
      • Identify and understand how to compile a household balance sheet and to measure the risks associated with it
      • Explore the different ways to invest and the returns provided by different investments
      • Explore the ways to plan for a pension income

      • Access this course

        This course is free. Extra benefits are available. For additional information click below to access the course and details. Good luck!

        https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/managing-the-household-balance-sheet