Teens & Money

Strong financial knowledge and skills are critical to future success. Down the road, when today's teens head off to college or begin careers, they will face choices and responsibilities that will have long-term effects on their financial futures. They must be prepared to make wise decisions about earning and spending, credit and budgeting, and saving and investing.

For Students

Taylor & Tyler
See how fast credit card interest can grow. Budget your money! Watch the video:

See how fast $25 earning compound interest can add up. Time is money! Watch the video:

Download the Taylor Compound Interest Poster (PDF 325 KB)

Buying a car can be more expensive than you think. Start saving now! Watch the video:

Want your own apartment? Begin with a monthly budget! Watch the video:

How Fast Will Your Savings Grow?
Plug in your numbers to see how fast your savings will grow using various interest rates and time periods. Go to the Savings Calculator.

The Power of Compounding
Regardless of the type of investment, saving regularly and reinvesting your interest income can turn even modest amounts of money into sizable investments through the remarkable power of compounding.

Play Moneytopia
Play Moneytopia!

Your goal is to successfully manage your money throughout life, until you achieve your "big dream." To win, keep careful track of your finances, pay your bills on time, and take care of all the little day-to-day things that can impact your finances. Want to know more? Check out the preview or dive in and play.

The Gen i RevolutionGen i Revolution Game
This competitive online game includes 15 missions in which students complete a variety of activities to beat back the insidious "Murktide"—a mysterious infestation that is causing confusion about basic personal finance principles. Developed for middle and high school students, Gen i Revolution was created by the Council for Economic Education with a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Join the Revolution.

Dollars from Sense
A website designed to help young adults understand the basics of personal finance, reach financial goals and learn how to make investments. The site was created by Baruch College with a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Visit Dollars from Sense.

For Teachers

Financial Literacy Training for High School Students
Download eight independent instructional modules and handouts developed by The Center for Financial Studies at Southern New Hampshire University with a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.

Learn More About Compound Interest
This series of lesson plans explore the mathematics behind compound interest and compare annual percentage rate and annual percentage yield. The lessons get progressively more challenging as the students get older, beginning with middle school and continuing through high school.
Lesson Plan: 

Assessment: 

Assessment Answer Sheet: 

Now You Try Worksheet: 

Now You Try Answer Sheet: 

Teacher Work Sheet: 

NEFE High School Financial Planning Program
While most financial education programs focus on subjects to be learned, this widely used program turns the focus on the students, so the curriculum isn’t about creating a budget, it’s about creating their budgets, their financial plan, their saving plan. This makes the lessons personal and helps the students immediately apply what they are learning. Visit the Site.