Learn the Basics of Financial Literacy

Overview

In this section, you will begin your journey into the fundamentals of financial literacy—a skill that is essential for life beyond high school. Through these activities, you will learn key concepts such as budgeting, saving, debt, and credit, and discover how each one shapes both your daily choices and long-term financial decisions. You will also reflect on your own money habits and begin to see how strengthening your financial knowledge can give you greater control and confidence.

By the end of this section, you will be equipped with the basic language of personal finance and recognize how the decisions you make today can shape your financial future. Whether you are preparing for college expenses, managing a paycheck, or simply learning to be a more informed consumer, this section will provide the foundation for building strong financial habits that support your goal.

Learn

In this activity, you will explore essential personal finance concepts that play a major role in both your daily life and your long-term financial success. These videos use real-world examples to explain core topics such as budgeting, saving, credit, debt, and planning for college costs. You will see how the financial choices you make today—whether managing a paycheck from a part-time job or setting aside money for future expenses—can shape your opportunities after high school.

You will watch the following videos, linked here and embedded below:

1. 1. How to Make Your First Budget | 10 min (Figure A)

   2. Financially Inclined Podcast | 17 min (Figure B)

Apply

(Optional) Use the information you learned to complete the activity outlined below.

After watching the How to Make Your First Budget (Figure A) and Financially Inclined Podcast (Figure B) videos above, please complete the following tasks:

Task 1 - Use what you learned from the How to Make Your First Budget (Figure A) video to build a simple budget that reflects your current situation. You can use real or estimated numbers if you do not have a job. A Budget Sample Template (Figure C) is provided. Click the previous link or the image below to make a copy of the Budget Sample Template (Figure C) that you can complete.

Task 2 - Use what you learned from the Financially Inclined Podcast (Figure B) video above to choose one short-term savings goal and reflect on the following questions:

• What do you want to save for? (i.e., new phone, emergency fund, college, concern, travel, etc.).

• How much will it cost?

• How much can you realistically save for weeks/month?

• How many weeks or months will it take you to reach your goal?

Click the link to access Module 4 Section 04 - Explore Financial Aid Option.