Earning, budgeting, and digital money

30 lessons for ages 14–16

First jobs, first cards, first real budget.

1. 1

   Build your first real budget

   List income, then assign every dollar a job before the month begins.

2. 2

   The 50/30/20 rule

   Roughly 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings — a useful starter split, not a law.

3. 3

   Pay yourself first

   Move money to savings the moment you're paid, not whatever's left at month-end.

4. 4

   Opening a teen checking account

   Look for no monthly fee, a debit card, and a parent-linked view for safety.

5. 5

   How debit cards work

   A debit card spends money you already have. No balance, no charge.

6. 6

   How credit cards work

   A credit card spends the bank's money. If you don't pay it off monthly, interest piles up fast.

7. 7

   APR explained simply

   APR is the yearly cost of borrowing. A 24% APR means a $100 balance grows by ~$2 each month.

8. 8

   Why credit scores matter

   A higher score unlocks lower rates on cars, apartments, and even some jobs.

9. 9

   Building credit responsibly

   Ask to be an authorized user on a parent's card with on-time, low-balance habits.

10. 10

    The danger of minimum payments

    Paying only the minimum can stretch a small balance into years of payments.

11. 11

    Buy-now-pay-later traps

    Splitting a purchase makes it feel cheaper, but missed payments trigger steep fees.

12. 12

    First job paperwork

    Learn what a W-4, I-9, and pay stub are before your first shift.

13. 13

    Reading a paystub

    Gross pay minus taxes and deductions equals net pay — what actually lands in your account.

14. 14

    Tipping basics

    In the US, 18–20% is standard for sit-down service. Plan tips into your budget.

15. 15

    Side hustle ideas for teens

    Tutoring, dog walking, reselling, freelance design — pick one and commit for 90 days.

16. 16

    Setting hourly rates

    Research what others charge, then quote slightly above your minimum acceptable rate.

17. 17

    Sales tax and final price

    Add about 5–10% (varies by state) to the sticker price so the register doesn't surprise you.

18. 18

    Smart shopping tactics

    Use price-history tools, wait for seasonal sales, and never shop hungry or bored.

19. 19

    Car costs beyond the sticker

    Insurance, gas, maintenance, and registration can equal the monthly car payment itself.

20. 20

    Renters vs. owners (early intro)

    Renting trades flexibility for no equity. Owning trades freedom for long-term growth.

21. 21

    What an emergency fund covers

    Aim for 1 month of essential expenses now, building toward 3–6 months as an adult.

22. 22

    Goal-based saving accounts

    Open a separate sub-account for each goal so progress is visible and protected.

23. 23

    Risk vs. reward, the trade-off

    Higher possible returns come with higher possible losses — always.

24. 24

    What is a stock?

    A stock is a tiny ownership slice of a company. You win when the company grows.

25. 25

    What is a bond?

    A bond is a loan you make to a company or government in exchange for interest.

26. 26

    Index funds in one sentence

    An index fund lets you own a tiny piece of hundreds of companies at once, cheaply.

27. 27

    Investing vs. saving

    Save for goals under 3 years away. Invest for goals 5+ years away.

28. 28

    Why diversification matters

    Don't put all your savings in one stock — spread risk across many investments.

29. 29

    Inflation, in plain English

    Prices tend to rise about 2–3% a year, which is why money under the mattress slowly loses value.

30. 30

    Money and friendships

    Talk about splitting bills upfront. Awkward 5-minute chats prevent month-long resentments.