Return to site

Reasons Personal Finance Should Be Taught in School

broken image

From high school graduation until retirement, Americans make countless financial decisions, and the choices they make early on often have long-term consequences. Young individuals must gain the knowledge and experience necessary to make these choices. All school-age children are taught a strong foundation in reading, writing, and math to become contributing members of society. The same should be true of their financial education. Many students will choose between attending college or landing a full-time job when high school is complete. Regardless of who attends college, everyone is concerned about covering housing, transportation, insurance, and meal expenses. The average American loses around $1,800 annually due to financial illiteracy.

Finance is a part of daily life. The choices made regarding careers, first home purchases, marriages, and the birth of children are all greatly influenced by financial situations. Every day, people must make monetary judgments about anything from where to eat and what to purchase to traveling, going out with friends, and haggling over costs. Young individuals must gain the knowledge and expertise to make these choices, whether large or minor.

When high school graduates decide to attend college, a university, or pursue further vocational training, it is often their first significant financial choice. Many of these high school graduates are unaware of the impact of paying back student loans on their finances after graduation. The pandemic and rising inflation costs have significantly burdened consumers, increasing their financial worries. Other elements like excessive student debt and shaky retirement security have made it even more crucial to give high school students financial literacy a high priority.

A person’s life might suffer significantly from debt or a lack of money. Divorce, ill health, despair, and bankruptcy are all consequences of financial difficulties. Millennials are beginning their careers with a total debt of $1.52 trillion. Graduates of colleges owe more debilitating student debts than ever. They are not saving as much as they might be since they are taking years to attempt to pay off loans. These staggering statistics might be avoided if students were educated about debt, the many methods to pay for college, and the value of not taking on more debt than feasible. They should be educated about the risks associated with using credit cards, such as their high-interest rates and the significance of paying them off.

People may make better spending choices because they know their financial situation. Early financial education would explain the importance of budgeting. This practice helps Americans be alert and responsible with money because you must examine expenditures when managing a budget.

⅓ of Americans are saving nothing for retirement . Lack of funds is a significant issue since the majority will need at least $1 million to retire. Starting early is the most crucial retirement savings tip. Still, since they are not teaching the value of compound interest and time, high school graduates miss a critical early-stage window of opportunity.