Foundations of Teen Personal Finance

This unit introduces foundational personal finance concepts for teens, including goal-setting, budgeting, banking, credit, taxes, basic consumer decisions, and safety practices. It prepares students to manage day-to-day money, make informed education and career-related financial choices, and transition into deeper personal finance topics in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze personal financial goals and create a monthly budget that aligns income, expenses, savings, and short-term priorities using a written or digital budgeting tool
• Apply banking and cybersecurity practices by identifying features of checking and savings accounts, completing the steps to open a checking account, and demonstrating safe online and mobile banking behaviors
• Demonstrate understanding of income and obligations by distinguishing gross pay from net pay, identifying common tax forms, and comparing types of credit and debt including basic interest calculations and consequences of misuse
• Evaluate postsecondary and consumer financial options by comparing costs and benefits of college and alternatives, summarizing types of financial aid, preparing a basic resume, and assessing major purchases (e.g., first car) and insurance considerations