Lesson Plan Part I: Estimating Net Pay Budgeting is one of the backbones of money management and personal finance. Understanding what’s coming in and what’s going out can help a household pinpoint areas to improve savings rates, prioritize spending on things that truly matter, and plan for expected goals as well as unexpected emergencies. I’m… Continue reading Budgeting Lesson Plan: Teaching Basic Budgeting Skills to High Schoolers (Part I)
Author: econteach
Conscious Consumption: Getting Something On Sale is NOT a Marginal Benefit
Shoppers love a good deal. If you’re like me, the rush of getting something on sale is borderline euphoric. I was raised by a wonderful woman who lived for sales. During my childhood, I spent Saturdays with my mom hunting for bargains at yard sales, moving sales, rummage sales, thrift stores, you name it. I’m… Continue reading Conscious Consumption: Getting Something On Sale is NOT a Marginal Benefit
Investing 101: Basics for Beginners
Where do you start when you want to invest? You’ve probably heard that you should invest, right? Maybe you heard it from a friend, coworker, or a rich uncle. Most of us know we should be investing, but may be intimidated or, if you’re like me, clueless about the difference between stocks and bonds. And… Continue reading Investing 101: Basics for Beginners
In Defense of Baby Steps: Mindfulness and Budgeting
Mindful actions can lead to a healthier relationship with money One of the things I love about my job is the clean slate that comes with the beginning of each school year. For me, this serves as a starting point for crafting a new way to frame my instruction, developing a new classroom systems, or… Continue reading In Defense of Baby Steps: Mindfulness and Budgeting
The First Day of Class: A Lesson in Scarcity
What can you do on the first day of economics class? Figuring out what to do on the first day of class is a minefield for high school teachers. Do you go over the syllabus and risk boring kids to death on day one? Do you scour the internet for “cool” first day ideas and… Continue reading The First Day of Class: A Lesson in Scarcity
Financial Suggestions For an Upcoming Graduate
Financial Suggestions For an Upcoming Graduate This week we finally experienced some nice weather so I met up with a friend for tennis. She’s finishing her last year of dental school and had some free time. After the match she asked if I wanted to grab a beer and, like a weirdo who just updated… Continue reading Financial Suggestions For an Upcoming Graduate
2 Money Lessons I Share With Students
2 Money Lessons I Share With Students When it comes to getting students to think about their “adult” finances, I try to emphasize some of the lessons I’ve learned so they can avoid some pitfalls that can set them back from reaching their financial goals. Here are two money lessons I share with students: Money… Continue reading 2 Money Lessons I Share With Students
3 Ways I Sabotaged My Financial Progress
3 Ways I Sabotaged My Financial Progress When I really buckled down to focus on the state of my finances, there was much room for improvement. As I gradually made baby steps when it came to budgeting, I had some blind spots. Looking back, I notice 3 clear ways I wasn’t really progressing as much… Continue reading 3 Ways I Sabotaged My Financial Progress
Teaching the Fundamentals of Economics
So you're teaching economics. Where do you start?? When I started putting together my economics lessons I knew I should start with the basics. But first, a confession: In the decade since I took an economics course I forgot the basics 😱 Now, with that confession off my chest, here’s where I started: What is… Continue reading Teaching the Fundamentals of Economics
5 Steps for Financial Independence
5 Steps for FI: These general ideas can help shape your journey to Financial Independence! In no way are these 5 basic steps guaranteed to help you “get rich quick.” Nor are they unique ideas no one in the history of personal finance has ever put into print. These 5 basic steps are based on… Continue reading 5 Steps for Financial Independence