For Teens

A quick introduction to site goals and resources for high school students.

• Why Financial Education?
  A brief introduction about why financial literacy is important for high school students.

What does it mean to be financially healthy? How do you measure it? Let's take a look.

• Financial Health for Students
  Financial Health - The concept of financial health and how it differs between students and adults.
• Measuring Net Worth
  One of the best way to measure financial health is by calculating your net worth.

Financial decisions almost always involve a trade off - getting something now usually means giving up something else.

• Choices About Money
  Financial decisions almost always involve a trade off - getting something now usually means giving up something else.
• Financial Values
  While each of us may have different values, we all make financial decisions based on them.
• Setting Financial Goals
  Setting financial goals gives us the chance to step back from everyday pressures, allowing us to think about how we’d like to be rather than as how we are.

Einstein said "compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world." Was he right?

• Compound Interest – Friend and Foe
  How compound interest affects the cost of borrowing and the gains from saving.
• How Interest Works
  Why understanding interest is crucial for comparing loans and for investing for your future.
• Fees Versus Interest
  How fees can hide extreme interest rates.

Why college is a great investment, even though it has an increasingly high cost.

• Education and Financial Success
  An introduction to the importance of higher education and the financial aid process.
• How Financial Aid Works
  An overview of how financial need is officially determined.
• Types of Financial Aid
  The main types of financial aid are education loans, grants and scholarships, work-study, and service programs.
• Repaying College Debt
  Making Smart Repayment Decisions - Flexible federal student loan repayment plans can help you avoid financial trouble and reach your financial goals.

Your choices about careers and employer benefits are some of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make.

• College and Career Choices
  From a financial perspective, the most important decision you can make about college is whether or not you go and what you plan to study.
• Earning Money
  When you get a job, you need to make the most of your income and any benefits that may be provided by your employer.
• Employer Benefits
  There are four types of employee benefit programs: health insurance, retirement plans, tax-advantaged savings, and supplemental benefits such as life and vision care insurance.
• Making Decisions About Employee Benefits
  Employee benefits vary between employers, so it’s up to the employee to make the most of whatever benefits are offered.
• Salary Expectations Versus Reality
  Most young people tend to overestimate their starting salaries.

As a financially capable individual, how you choose to spend money should reflect your goals, values, and priorities.

• Smart Spending
  We all spend money, but is your spending aligned with your financial goals?
• How to Track Spending
  Tracking your money can be a powerful way of spotting unexpected spending.
• Debt and the Pressure to Spend
  It’s wonderful to have the freedom to buy so many products, but unless you’re rich, the key to happy spending is planned spending.

Your decisions about when to borrow, how to borrow, and how to manage debt affect more of your life than you may expect.

• Credit and Credit Reports
  How to understand and monitor your credit history.
• Credit Scores
  Credit scores are like a grade for your overall financial responsibility.
• Risks and Rewards of Credit Cards
  While there are a good number of risks with credit cards, there are also a number of benefits of credit cards.
• Building and Maintaining Credit
  Understanding the decisions and behaviors that can lead to improved credit scores.

A look at commonly used financial services and accounts, including banks, credit unions, and alternative services.

• Financial Service Providers
  Not all financial services companies provide equal value.
• Checking Accounts for Students
  The basics of checking accounts, including the differences between paper checks and debit cards.
• Debit Cards Versus Credit Cards
  There are some significant differences between debit and credit cards that make them both important tools to have in your financial toolbox.
• Savings Account Basics
  A savings account can be a powerful tool for helping you manage your money, even as a teen.

How to get the most for financial services while minimizing fees and protecting your personal information.

• Managing Financial Accounts
  Account management strategies for checking and savings accounts.
• Protecting Your Personal Information
  There are many data backup solutions available designed to protect personal information that vary in their security and ease of use.
• Minimizing Account Fees
  Checking and savings account strategies for minimizing fees.

Steps you can take to minimize the chances of identity theft.

• Identity Theft
  Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
• Reading Your Credit Reports
  A detailed description of what to expect and look for when reviewing a credit report.
• Protecting Your Personal Information
  There are many data backup solutions available designed to protect personal information that vary in their security and ease of use.

One in five Americans have bad credit, which is commonly defined as a credit score below 620.

• Understanding Chronic Debt
  Spotting the warning signs of excessive debt.
• Recognizing the Warning Signs of Financial Trouble
  An introduction to the steps you can take to begin dealing with financial problems.
• Debt Management and Reduction
  Whether you do it yourself or work with a credit counselor, creating a debt reduction plan is an important first step for those with financial trouble.
• Repairing Credit
  There are no quick fixes when it comes to removing negative items from your credit report or raising your credit score. Only consistent efforts and payments on your debts will improve your credit.

Understanding your rights and responsibilities when renting an apartment.

• Renting an Apartment
  Understanding your rights and responsibilities when signing a rental agreement.
• Roommates and Money
  Simple strategies for managing your financial relationship with roommates.
• Renter’s Insurance
  Understanding the benefits (and potential pitfalls) of this type of inexpensive insurance.

The pros and cons of buying a home, including a comparison with renting.

• Buying a Home
  Pros and cons of buying a home, including a comparison with renting.
• Borrowing for a Home
  Understanding the parts of a mortgage and common mortgage loan options.
• Buying Versus Renting a Home
  How to decide if the time may be right for you to buy.

Learning the "how" and "why" of short, medium, and long-term financial planning.

• Planning for Your Financial Future
  Learning the "how" and "why" of short, medium, and long-term financial planning.
• Investing to Grow Wealth
  Why “invest” money rather than simply save it in a bank account?
• Types of Investments
  The pros and cons of stocks, bonds, and cash. The concept of asset allocation is explained.
• Saving for Retirement
  Why save for retirement and the impact of fees on investment performance.

Understanding how insurance plays an important role in our financial lives.

• Protecting Your Success With Insurance
  Understanding how insurance plays an important role in our financial lives.
• How Insurance Works
  Understanding why insurance plays an important role in our financial lives.
• Car Insurance
  Types of insurance, factors influencing cost, and choosing a policy that's right for your situation.
• Life Insurance
  Who needs life insurance, types of policies, and how to determine coverage.
• Students and Health Insurance
  Understanding the health insurance choices students have, including non-traditional and international students.