Are You Smart about Money?

Are you smart about money? Did you know you can graduate college or get an MBA and never take a class in personal finance?  That includes the accounting, business and finance majors!  Very few high school students can even take personal finance classes.  We make daily decisions spending, investing, mortgages and car loans every day without much thought. 

Background

The financial crisis of just a few years ago has sparked a new interest in personal finance in high school.  A few states are including personal finance as a graduation requirement for a high school diploma.  There are school districts across the country that makes personal finance an optional course.  Sounds good, doesn’t it?  How effective are these classes?

According to the Jump Start Coalition found that the students who took the personal finance classes were no more financially literate than the ones who never took the classes.  They pass the class, but fail to retain the information.  The National Endowment for Financial Education has been addressing youth financial literacy since 1984.  The material is available, why isn’t it working?

Their program has reached more than 5 million students and individuals in schools, youth organizations, community programs and other settings in 50 states.  What do the classes cover?  Topics include your financial plan, budgeting, investing, debt, insurance, and career.  With that many people exposed to these excellent materials, I would think the results would be better.  There are books, websites, online classes and materials too.

Does it work?

Is it putting it in the classroom that is the problem?  Various programs say they are fun, engaging, and relevant to the participants.  They use games or interactive online programs to teach financial literacy.  Some of the biggest credit card companies, banks and numerous other people are all trying to solve the financial literacy problem.  There certainly is a lot of material out there for children.  Why doesn’t it work?

Students attend school and this particular class for a maximum of five (5) hours a week.  How much influence or change can be accomplished in such a short amount of time?  At best, one class (if available) in personal finance may be given in a school!  In addition, students must take a variety of classes to meet graduation requirements.  How do you make the class more meaningful or more impact to the students?

Solution

Personal finance is no different than anything else you learn, it takes practice.  You can practice doing homework, but what happens when you are finished with the class?  You still need to practice and practice what was taught to you.  Practice increases your level of understanding.  A habit is formed when you do something for 21 consecutive days.  Practice smart money habits and accomplish your financial goals.   How can you continue learning and stay accountable?  The answer is parent involvement!

What can your parents do to help?  They can model good financial habits and help you continue to develop your own habits.  They can stress savings, living on less than you earn and frugal living.  Talking about it is not enough; parents must set an example for the children.  Children are very observant and learn more from what parents do versus what they say.  So come on parents set the example!

Final Thoughts

You can take the best classes at the best school or university and achieve Phi Beta Kappa or graduate Summa Cum Laude.  If you do not apply your knowledge or practice it, you will forget 90% in a matter of years.  Taking a financial literacy class is a great first step.  In fact I have written extensively about teens and financial skills.  Here are three of my articles,”Financial Skills for Teens”, “More Financial Skills for Teens” and “Even More Financial Skills for Teens”.   Your next step is to practice your knowledge with people who can help you become better at these skills.  If your parents are not good financial role models, they can change.  These classes can change family’s lives as well.

Students can teach the parents!  Why not?  I learn from my children all the time.  I learn from my students, friends, colleagues, strangers, blogs, written and spoken material.  You probably do too!  So let’s get on board to actually change things by practicing what we learn and change our lives.  You may find it interesting to learn more about me by reading a Q and A on ValuePenguin. How can you make a difference today?  Parents and students demonstrate good financial skills and practice them daily. How to practice good financial habits?  Make them habits by practicing them every day!  Are you smart about money?

Photo by:  Flickr