Personal Finance Chapters
1. Foundational Financial Concepts
- Money management principles
- Financial goal setting
- Economic literacy fundamentals
- Financial decision-making frameworks
- Opportunity cost
- Time value of money
2. Banking & Cash Management
- Types of financial institutions
- Checking and savings accounts
- Online and mobile banking
- Account fees and features
- ATM usage and debit cards
- Balancing accounts
- Electronic payment systems
3. Budgeting & Financial Planning
- Creating personal budgets
- Income tracking
- Expense categorization
- Needs vs. wants analysis
- Emergency funds
- Saving strategies
- Financial record keeping
4. Credit & Debt Management
- Credit scores and reports
- Building and maintaining good credit
- Credit cards and responsible usage
- Types of consumer debt
- Interest rates and calculations
- Debt repayment strategies
- Avoiding predatory lending
5. Saving & Investing
- Savings account options
- Investment fundamentals
- Risk and return concepts
- Stock market basics
- Bonds and fixed income
- Mutual funds and ETFs
- Compound interest
- Dollar-cost averaging
6. Income & Taxes
- Understanding paychecks and withholding
- Filing tax returns
- W-4 and W-2 forms
- Standard deductions vs. itemizing
- Tax credits vs. deductions
- State and local taxes
- Tax planning basics
7. Insurance & Risk Management
- Insurance principles and terminology
- Health insurance basics
- Auto insurance requirements
- Renter's and homeowner's insurance
- Policy features (deductibles, premiums, etc.)
- Filing claims
- Liability protection
8. Major Purchases & Loans
- Auto loans and financing
- Housing costs (renting vs. buying)
- Mortgage basics
- Student loan options and repayment
- Comparison shopping
- Negotiation skills
- Understanding contracts
9. Consumer Protection & Financial Security
- Identity theft prevention
- Online security practices
- Common financial scams
- Consumer rights
- Dispute resolution
- Reading financial agreements
- Privacy protection
10. College & Education Planning
- College cost estimation
- Scholarship and grant opportunities
- FAFSA and financial aid
- Student loan types
- College ROI calculations
- Alternative education pathways
- Work-study and part-time employment
11. Career Planning & Income
- Career exploration
- Income potential research
- Employee benefits overview
- Entrepreneurship basics
- Side hustle opportunities
- Salary negotiation
- Resume and interview skills
12. Retirement & Long-term Planning
- Retirement account types (401(k), IRA)
- Employer-sponsored plans
- Social Security basics
- Power of early investing
- Long-term investment strategies
- Estate planning introduction
- Financial independence concepts
This curriculum covers the essential topics that help prepare high school students for financial independence and responsibility as they transition to adulthood.