Financial Literacy is an essential life-skills course designed to empower students with the knowledge and confidence to make smart, informed decisions about money—now and in the future. Through practical lessons, real-world scenarios, and hands-on activities, students will build a strong foundation in personal finance and develop healthy money habits that will serve them throughout adulthood. Students will explore a wide range of core topics, including:

• Budgeting & Money Management:
  Understanding income, expenses, savings, needs vs. wants, and how to build a simple but effective personal budget.

• Banking Basics:
  How checking and savings accounts work, debit vs. credit cards, online banking, interest, and the role of financial institutions.

• Saving & Investing:
  Short-term vs. long-term savings, compound interest, stocks, bonds, index funds, diversification, and how to grow wealth slowly and sustainably.

• Credit & Debt:
  What credit scores are, how to build good credit, responsible borrowing, student loans, interest rates, and strategies to avoid debt traps.

• Taxes & Paychecks:
  Reading a pay stub, understanding withholdings, filing basic taxes, and how taxes impact income.

• Entrepreneurship & Income Streams:
  Different ways to earn money—including part-time jobs, freelancing, digital income, and starting small businesses.

• Consumer Awareness & Decision-Making:
  Comparing prices, understanding contracts, avoiding scams, spotting predatory lending, and making thoughtful financial choices.

• Cost of Life:
  Understanding real-world expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, food, health insurance, and emergency funds.

• Planning for the Future:
  Goal setting, major life choices (college, career, travel), financial independence, and long-term planning.

By the end of the course, students will walk away with practical skills they can apply immediately—whether managing their first paycheck, opening a bank account, or mapping out long-term goals. Financial Literacy prepares students not just to survive, but to thrive in an increasingly complex financial world.