Do you thinks that there are more important things to worry about than bothering about managing your own money. Like how the Finance Minister is handling the Nation's budget. Saving where he should spend and spending where he should save! Or how RBI is managing the monetary policies for the country. Or the Sub prime mess that is raising a stink in the US (and worldwide).

And if you are done with that, you need to worry about your Company's finances. Whether the capital is enough and accounting ratios are on the right track. And we have complex financial statements and models to keep us informed about the financial health of the company.

So where does handling my own money stand in the pecking order? You need to answer that for yourself. And that's why it's called personal finance, I guess!

Here is a brief overview of the six lessons in the self-study course Manage Your Money designed by Ohio State University.

Lesson 1: Getting Started. This lesson focuses on individual and family values about money. It gives you some suggestions about ways to talk with your partner and family about money matters. You are asked to think about and develop some financial goals for the future. There also are suggestions and tools to help you start tracking your expenses.

Lesson 2: Where Does Your Money Go? This lesson discusses cash flow, income, and expenses. There are worksheets on which to write critical information about your income, what you owe (your credit use), and types of expenses (fixed, regular flexible, and occasional) so that you have a better picture of your current financial standing.

Lesson 3: Stop Spending Leaks. This lesson will help you examine your spending habits to see if any problems exist. Suggestions are given for changing spending practices and habits. An agreement is included to help you and other family members commit to a personal plan to reduce spending so funds can be used to reach important goals set in Lesson 1.

Lesson 4: How Much Credit Can You Afford? The focus in this lesson is on the pros and cons of using various types of consumer credit, wise credit management, and the importance of your credit history. Some checklists will help you determine if you have some credit problems, and worksheets help you compare some credit alternatives.

Lesson 5: Develop Your Budget. Guidelines and worksheets for developing a written budget are the focus of this lesson. The guidelines and tools are intended to help you actually “plan” future use of income so that you are in better control of day-to-day and longer-term finances.

Lesson 6: Your Net Worth and Financial Records. The first part of this lesson focuses on your net worth and how you own property. The second part will help you collect and organize your very important financial records.