The start of My Economics Education
I finally reached a breaking point in January 2018.
After spending so much money on gifts and nights out with friends in December, I realized I was desperate for change. I’m not one for a “New Year, New Me” strict resolution, but I grew tired of the cycle of moving money from my pathetic savings account to cover credit card charges of stuff I didn’t really need or love. I acknowledged my economics “mis”education and resolved to read about practical solutions for my financial shortcomings.
Breaking out my computer to Google money books and blogs (I don’t even think I really knew the phrase “personal finance”), I made a commitment to myself that I would try to find a way to not only pay off that looming credit card statement, but to actually save and prevent another sinking feeling of too much debt. With all those failed attempts at budgeting behind me, and I decided to get my financial life together. I’d been so lucky to have a steady job I loved, years of fun memories from traveling, and no major health challenges, but I didn’t have a plan or vision for future purchases, let alone my financial future.
As I started dipping my toes in the water of personal finance, a piece of news accelerated my desire to learn more about saving, investing, and money management along my path toward Financial Independence. In March, my department chair told me next year I’d be teaching the one class no one else wanted: Economics.
Learning I would teach Economics proved to be a turning point for me. I try my best to maintain a sense of teacher self-awareness in order to avoid coming across as a hypocrite. I decided that if I would teach a classroom full of 17-year-olds about financial literacy, I would have to walk the walk. This is when I started my own “economics education.”
Teaching economics intensified my desire to learn about investing and building wealth.
Teaching economics made me want to be a model for students (especially female students) to manage money and achieve financial independence.
Teaching economics inspired me to confront my past money mistakes and help students recognize and avoid common pitfalls.
Teaching economics deepened my awareness of inequality and the lack of financial literacy nationwide.
Thanks for stopping by to learn about my journey toward Financial Independence and the lessons I’ve learned, shared, and designed in the classroom. Finding the blogs of others on the way toward Financial Independence (and Retiring Early) helped me see my path more clearly. Encouragement from the PF blogger community inspired me to share my stories — especially from Principal F.I. who interviewed me here when I was still unsure if I wanted to write.
I hope you can take something from my experiences that will impact your life.
My Economics Education 
Sounds like you have a fantastic well of information to supplement your High school class. My daughter will just be starting h.s., but we are already talking about what it would look like to graduate college debt free, or as debt free as possible.
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That is so great to have open conversations with your daughter about debt! I grew up without much direct financial knowledge and I know some of my students have no idea about debt. Kids generally like money, so it’s easy to capitalize on that mindset to encourage good habits for financial independence.
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