Table of Contents

The Foundations in Personal Finance high school curriculum consists of 13 chapters of essential personal finance principles like how to budget, save, avoid debt, invest, be a wise consumer and much more!

Personal Finance

Chapter 1: Introduction to Personal Finance

Introduces the topic of personal finance, explores the evolution of credit and consumerism in America, and highlights the importance of both knowledge and behavior when it comes to managing money. 

• Lesson 1: Personal Finance and You
• Lesson 2: A History of Credit and Debt
• Lesson 3: It’s Time for a Change
• Lesson 4: The Road to Financial Success
• Lesson 5: Financial Literacy
• Lesson 6: Money Personalities and Relationships

Chapter 2: Budgeting Basics

Dives into why budgeting is key to taking control of money—and how students can get started right now. 

• Lesson 1: The Benefits of Budgeting
• Lesson 2: Components of a Budget
• Lesson 3: Building a Zero-Based Budget
• Lesson 4: Tracking Your Expenses
• Lesson 5: Make Budgeting a Habit
• Lesson 6: Relationships and Budgeting

Chapter 3: Saving Money 

Emphasizes the importance of saving and explains three reasons why students should save money: emergencies, large purchases, and wealth building. 

• Lesson 1: Saving Money Takes Discipline
• Lesson 2: Three Basic Reasons to Save
• Lesson 3: Saving for Emergencies 
• Lesson 4: Saving for Large Purchases  
• Lesson 5: Building Wealth
• Lesson 6: Compound Interest and Growth   

Chapter 4: Credit and Debt 

Identifies the dangers of debt, debunks some credit myths, explains the credit report and score, and provides practical strategies to get out of debt—and stay out. 

• Lesson 1: Beware of Credit and Debt 
• Lesson 2: Sources and Types of Credit
• Lesson 3: Credit Scores and Credit Reports  
• Lesson 4: The Truth About Credit Cards   
• Lesson 5: The Truth About Car Loans 
• Lesson 6: Getting and Staying Out of Debt    

Chapter 5: Consumer Awareness

Highlights the importance of being a smart consumer as part of a healthy financial plan, explains strategies to manage spending behavior, exposes common consumer scams, and identifies consumer rights. 

• Lesson 1: The Psychology of Sales
• Lesson 2: Buyer Beware
• Lesson 3: The Marketing Machine  
• Lesson 4: Becoming a Smart Spender
• Lesson 5: Protecting Yourself as a Consumer
• Lesson 6: Your Spending Behavior

Chapter 6: Career Readiness

Examines how students can find the right career path and create strategies to land a job they’ll love so they can thrive and enjoy their work. They’ll also discover tips for building a resumé and presenting themselves well during a job interview. 

• Lesson 1: Work Matters
• Lesson 2: Resumé and Interview Basics
• Lesson 3: An Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Lesson 4: The Path to Your Dream Job
• Lesson 5: Exploring Career Options 
• Lesson 6: Be a Lifelong Learner

Chapter 7: College Planning

Explores the variety of educational options available after high school, highlights the dangers of student loans, and explains how students can pay cash for college and avoid student loan debt. 

• Lesson 1: The Path to Intentionality
• Lesson 2: Explore Your Options
• Lesson 3: Consider the Cost
• Lesson 4: Reduce Your Cost
• Lesson 5: Build Your College Resume
• Lesson 6: Maximize Your Investment

Chapter 8: Financial Services

Explores the services provided by banks and credit unions, including the different options and features. Students will learn about responsible banking, how to manage their accounts, and the importance of keeping records.  

• Lesson 1: The Purpose of Banks
• Lesson 2: Types of Financial Institutions
• Lesson 3: Your Bank Accounts
• Lesson 4: Responsible Banking

Chapter 9: The Role of Insurance

Breaks down the purpose of insurance, explains how insurance works, shows how insurance protects a person’s assets, and highlights the eight basic types of insurance everyone needs to have in place. 

• Lesson 1: Insurance Is Important
• Lesson 2: Auto Insurance
• Lesson 3: Homeowners and Renters Insurance
• Lesson 4: Health Insurance
• Lesson 5: Life Insurance
• Lesson 6: Other Types of Insurances

Chapter 10: Income and Taxes

Digs into a huge reality in life: If someone earns an income, they’re going to pay taxes. This chapter also breaks down the basics of different types of taxes—like sales, excise, and federal taxes—including how they impact a person’s income and spending. 

• Lesson 1: What Happened to My Money?
• Lesson 2: Taxes on Your Paycheck
• Lesson 3: Income Tax Basics
• Lesson 4: Filing Your Income Taxes
• Lesson 5: Taxes on Other Types of Income
• Lesson 6: Taxes on Things You Buy

Chapter 11: Housing and Real Estate

Identifies the differences between renting and homeownership. Students will discover the financial costs related to having their own place to live, and they’ll learn what to do when they’re ready to buy a house.

• Lesson 1: Living on Your Own
• Lesson 2: Renting vs. Owning
• Lesson 3: Renting 101
• Lesson 4: Buying a House

Chapter 12: Investing and Retirement

Dives into the basics of preparing for retirement, investing for the future by understanding the stock market and mutual funds, and planning to live a life bursting with generosity. 

• Lesson 1: Money for the Future
• Lesson 2: Understanding Investments
• Lesson 3: Investing Through Retirement Plans
• Lesson 4: Protecting Your Investments
• Lesson 5: Planning for Retirement 
• Lesson 6: Outrageous Generosity

Chapter 13: Global Economics

Examines how the global economy impacts personal financial decisions and how different global economic systems influence decisions about goods and services that are used around the world. 

• Lesson 1: Macroeconomics and Global Activity
• Lesson 2: Economic Systems
• Lesson 3: The U.S. Economy
• Lesson 4: Thinking Globally

Table of Contents

The Foundations in Economics and Personal Finance high school curriculum consists of essential personal finance principles like how to budget, save, avoid debt, invest, be a wise consumer and much more! It also provides a solid foundation in economic principles, covering markets, production and economic theories.
 

Personal Finance

Chapter 1: Introduction to Personal Finance

Introduces the topic of personal finance, explores the evolution of credit and consumerism in America, and highlights the importance of both knowledge and behavior when it comes to managing money. 

• Lesson 1: Personal Finance and You
• Lesson 2: A History of Credit and Debt
• Lesson 3: It’s Time for a Change
• Lesson 4: The Road to Financial Success
• Lesson 5: Financial Literacy
• Lesson 6: Money Personalities and Relationships

Chapter 2: Budgeting Basics

Dives into why budgeting is key to taking control of money—and how students can get started right now. 

• Lesson 1: The Benefits of Budgeting
• Lesson 2: Components of a Budget
• Lesson 3: Building a Zero-Based Budget
• Lesson 4: Tracking Your Expenses
• Lesson 5: Make Budgeting a Habit
• Lesson 6: Relationships and Budgeting

Chapter 3: Saving Money 

Emphasizes the importance of saving and explains three reasons why students should save money: emergencies, large purchases, and wealth building. 

• Lesson 1: Saving Money Takes Discipline
• Lesson 2: Three Basic Reasons to Save
• Lesson 3: Saving for Emergencies 
• Lesson 4: Saving for Large Purchases  
• Lesson 5: Building Wealth
• Lesson 6: Compound Interest and Growth   

Chapter 4: Credit and Debt 

Identifies the dangers of debt, debunks some credit myths, explains the credit report and score, and provides practical strategies to get out of debt—and stay out. 

• Lesson 1: Beware of Credit and Debt 
• Lesson 2: Sources and Types of Credit
• Lesson 3: Credit Scores and Credit Reports  
• Lesson 4: The Truth About Credit Cards   
• Lesson 5: The Truth About Car Loans 
• Lesson 6: Getting and Staying Out of Debt    

Chapter 5: Consumer Awareness

Highlights the importance of being a smart consumer as part of a healthy financial plan, explains strategies to manage spending behavior, exposes common consumer scams, and identifies consumer rights. 

• Lesson 1: The Psychology of Sales
• Lesson 2: Buyer Beware
• Lesson 3: The Marketing Machine  
• Lesson 4: Becoming a Smart Spender
• Lesson 5: Protecting Yourself as a Consumer
• Lesson 6: Your Spending Behavior

Chapter 6: Career Readiness

Examines how students can find the right career path and create strategies to land a job they’ll love so they can thrive and enjoy their work. They’ll also discover tips for building a resumé and presenting themselves well during a job interview. 

• Lesson 1: Work Matters
• Lesson 2: Resumé and Interview Basics
• Lesson 3: An Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Lesson 4: The Path to Your Dream Job
• Lesson 5: Exploring Career Options 
• Lesson 6: Be a Lifelong Learner

Chapter 7: College Planning

Explores the variety of educational options available after high school, highlights the dangers of student loans, and explains how students can pay cash for college and avoid student loan debt. 

• Lesson 1: The Path to Intentionality
• Lesson 2: Explore Your Options
• Lesson 3: Consider the Cost
• Lesson 4: Reduce Your Cost
• Lesson 5: Build Your College Resume
• Lesson 6: Maximize Your Investment

Chapter 8: Financial Services

Explores the services provided by banks and credit unions, including the different options and features. Students will learn about responsible banking, how to manage their accounts, and the importance of keeping records.  

• Lesson 1: The Purpose of Banks
• Lesson 2: Types of Financial Institutions
• Lesson 3: Your Bank Accounts
• Lesson 4: Responsible Banking

Chapter 9: The Role of Insurance

Breaks down the purpose of insurance, explains how insurance works, shows how insurance protects a person’s assets, and highlights the eight basic types of insurance everyone needs to have in place. 

• Lesson 1: Insurance Is Important
• Lesson 2: Auto Insurance
• Lesson 3: Homeowners and Renters Insurance
• Lesson 4: Health Insurance
• Lesson 5: Life Insurance
• Lesson 6: Other Types of Insurances

Chapter 10: Income and Taxes

Digs into a huge reality in life: If someone earns an income, they’re going to pay taxes. This chapter also breaks down the basics of different types of taxes—like sales, excise, and federal taxes—including how they impact a person’s income and spending. 

• Lesson 1: What Happened to My Money?
• Lesson 2: Taxes on Your Paycheck
• Lesson 3: Income Tax Basics
• Lesson 4: Filing Your Income Taxes
• Lesson 5: Taxes on Other Types of Income
• Lesson 6: Taxes on Things You Buy

Chapter 11: Housing and Real Estate

Identifies the differences between renting and homeownership. Students will discover the financial costs related to having their own place to live, and they’ll learn what to do when they’re ready to buy a house.

• Lesson 1: Living on Your Own
• Lesson 2: Renting vs. Owning
• Lesson 3: Renting 101
• Lesson 4: Buying a House

Chapter 12: Investing and Retirement

Dives into the basics of preparing for retirement, investing for the future by understanding the stock market and mutual funds, and planning to live a life bursting with generosity. 

• Lesson 1: Money for the Future
• Lesson 2: Understanding Investments
• Lesson 3: Investing Through Retirement Plans
• Lesson 4: Protecting Your Investments
• Lesson 5: Planning for Retirement 
• Lesson 6: Outrageous Generosity

Chapter 13: Global Economics

Examines how the global economy impacts personal financial decisions and how different global economic systems influence decisions about goods and services that are used around the world. 

• Lesson 1: Macroeconomics and Global Activity
• Lesson 2: Economic Systems
• Lesson 3: The U.S. Economy
• Lesson 4: Thinking Globally

Economics

Section 1: Fundamentals of Economics

Learn about scarcity, choice, and opportunity cost. You’ll walk through scenarios with a partner and discuss the opportunity costs for each. 

• Lesson 1: Scarcity and Choice 
• Lesson 2: Production-Possibility Curve
• Lesson 3: Making Informed Decisions
• Lesson 4: Economic Systems
• Lesson 5: Supply and Demand
• Lesson 6: Wage Determination

Section 2: The Market

Learn about trade, specialization, and absolute and comparative advantage. You’ll also learn how to calculate and interpret trade surplus and trade deficits.

• Lesson 1: Comparative Advantage
• Lesson 2: Trade Barriers
• Lesson 3: Positive and Negative Externalities
• Lesson 4: Price Controls
• Lesson 5: Market Structures

Section 3: Producing in the Market

Learn about the factors of production and why they’re necessary for production. You’ll have the opportunity to identify resources according to which factor they represent. 

• Lesson 1: Factors of Production
• Lesson 2: Thinking at the Margin
• Lesson 3: Business Types
• Lesson 4: Economic Development
• Lesson 5: Measuring Growth

Section 4:  Economic Theory

Learn about the history of money and the basic characteristics of money. You’ll also learn about the money supply in the U.S.

• Lesson 1: History and Supply of Money
• Lesson 2: Monetary Policy
• Lesson 3: Inflation
• Lesson 4: Fiscal Policy
• Lesson 5: Business Cycle Theory
• Lesson 6: Economists in History