12 interactive lessons on budgeting, credit, investing, taxes & more — built for teens, by a teen.
12 interactive lessons to build your complete financial foundation.
The 50/30/20 rule and a live budget calculator.
BeginnerWhy starting at 16 vs 26 can mean $200K+ more.
IntermediateWhat makes up your score and how to build it at 18.
ImportantBrackets, W-2s, and a live tax calculator.
EssentialChecking vs savings, APY, FDIC, and avoiding fees.
BeginnerDecode every line — FICA, net pay, and more.
PracticalCategorize expenses and see where money goes.
BeginnerPremiums, deductibles, and 4 types to know.
IntermediateNot all debt is equal — learn what to avoid.
ImportantSMART goals and a savings timeline calculator.
BeginnerTrue cost calculator and lease essentials.
PracticalHow scams target teens and how to stay safe.
Essential⚠️ Brackets are marginal — you only pay each rate on income within that range.
| Checking | Savings | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Daily spending | Grow money |
| Debit card | ✅ | Usually no |
| APY | ~0% | 0.5–5%+ |
| Best for | Bills, groceries | Emergency fund |
Tap each expense to label it a Need or a Want.
Covers doctor visits and hospital stays. Pay a monthly premium; after your deductible, insurance pays the rest. Stay on parents' plan until 26.
Required by law to drive. Liability covers others; add collision/comprehensive if your car is worth $4,000+.
~$15/month covers YOUR belongings in a fire or theft. Your landlord's policy covers the building, not your stuff.
Term life is cheapest — lock it in young when healthy. Most teens don't need it yet, but understand it early.
$3,000 balance at 25% APR — minimum payments vs aggressive payoff.
"Save $500 for a laptop" not "save money"
Attach a dollar amount and a deadline
Stretch yourself but stay realistic
Aligns with your bigger life plans
Set a specific end date for urgency
Fake emails/texts from "your bank" or "IRS" asking for your SSN or login. Real companies never ask via text.
"Earn $500/day from home!" They ask for bank info for "direct deposit" — then drain your account.
Free V-Bucks or gift cards requiring your credit card or password. Always a scam.
"You won! Pay a small fee to claim." Legitimate scholarships never charge you money.
Scammers transfer your phone number to their SIM, bypassing 2FA. Use an authenticator app.
20 questions across all 12 modules.
Quick definitions for terms that show up in real life.
Annual Percentage Rate — yearly cost of borrowing. Always check before taking a loan or card.
Annual Percentage Yield — how much you EARN on savings including compounding. Higher = better.
Assets minus liabilities. Growing net worth is the goal of personal finance.
Earning interest on your interest. Over decades, turns small savings into large wealth.
How much of your credit limit you're using. Keep under 30% to protect your score.
Federal Insurance Contributions Act — Social Security (6.2%) + Medicare (1.45%) from every paycheck.
What you pay out of pocket before insurance covers costs. Higher deductible = lower premium.
3–6 months of expenses in cash. Your #1 financial priority before investing.
Monthly debt ÷ monthly gross income. Lenders want this under 43%.
Low-cost investment tracking the whole market. Best starting investment — ~7–10%/year historically.
Government protection of bank deposits up to $250,000 per bank.
Gross = earned before taxes. Net = what hits your bank. Always budget with net.
1–2 months' rent held by landlord. Returned if you leave with no damage.
Rising cost of goods over time (~3%/yr). Cash loses value; investing outpaces it.
W-2 = employee (taxes withheld). 1099 = freelancer (you pay taxes yourself).
Scam messages pretending to be trusted sources to steal your info. Never click suspicious links.