Your financial literacy education should be a continuous process that starts in childhood. Financial health is the cornerstone to being able to accomplish goals and live a good life. When you are educated about money and how it works, it will empower you. It gives you the knowledge and skills you need to budget, invest, manage your debts and save. Without financial literacy, your attempts to make, keep and grow your money will be a challenge.
What is financial literacy?
A good financial literacy definition is that you understand financial concepts and have the skills and knowledge to make the right decisions to manage your money and grow it to reach your goals. Some of the skills you need to become financially literate are creating a budget, managing your money and paying off debts. You need to know how credit works, how to invest, and how to save and plan for the future.
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Why schools need to teach it
You will be expected to make financial decisions that can have an impact on the rest of your life when you graduate from high school. You need to be able to budget and understand things like student loans, credit cards etc.
Having instant access to information and technology can help you, but you need a basic foundation in financial literacy too. Without this, you could end up with a debt burden, poor credit etc. and damage your prospects of long-term financial success. Think about the jump start you could get in life if you already knew how to budget, save etc., before you even graduate high school.
Create a budget
Creating a budget is one of the first steps you will need to take if you want to have control over your finances. Budgeting involves knowing your income and expenditure. An allowance from your parents and paychecks from a part-time job are sources of income. Your rent will be a fixed expense you need to pay every month. Your flexible expenses will include your groceries, electricity bills etc.
When you have a budget, you can track your spending. You can see where your money goes, what you can cut down on, what is worth spending on and how much you have to allocate to a savings account or emergency fund.
A college education is an important investment
A college education is one of the most important investments you can make. Receiving a scholarship can significantly reduce your tuition fees and other expenses. If you have difficulties writing papers when you’re a student, you can buy research papers online, which will help you to save time. A professional writer will write a quality paper for you, and you will have an example for you to improve your writing skills and your grades.
Don’t be a slave to debt
Don’t make the mistake of thinking of credit cards as free cash. If you’re financially literate, you will only borrow what you know you can repay. When choosing a credit card, it’s important to look at the spending limits, interest rates and terms in order to make the right choice. There are certain credit cards designed specifically for students that may include benefits like lower interest rates.
If you pay off credit card balances every month, you don’t have interest charges. Loans with lower interest rates can save you a significant amount over time.
A high credit balance or late payments on a credit card could jeopardize your attempts to rent an apartment, purchase a car etc. If you build a solid record by paying off a credit card balance in full every month, this can help to make future loans and purchases easier to secure.
Monitor your credit score
Your credit score is a crucial aspect of your financial life. Transunion, Experian, and Equifax are the three main companies that will provide you with a free credit report on an annual basis. If you have a good credit score, you can qualify for lower interest rates on loans and credit cards. Your payment history has an impact on your score, and if you pay your accounts late, it affects your credit score.
Set aside money for emergencies
Emergencies like a flat tire or lost tablet could put you into debt if you don’t have money set aside. Problems like these are only minor inconveniences if you have an emergency fund you can dig into. You need a way to get through the unexpected moments in life that are sure to happen.
Invest and create wealth
Financial literacy enlightens you on the various ways you can invest your money to generate more wealth. For example, an investment in your professional skills by attending university or college gives you a competitive advantage in your field, which can give you the chance to earn more money.
Conclusion
The financial mistakes you make as a student can have a negative impact on your future. When you’re financially literate, you have more confidence in yourself because you have the knowledge to make more informed decisions. You can create and pursue financial goals that offer you a better life. You will also build good financial habits that can trickle down to your families and communities.
Author’s Bio
Mary Spears is a brilliant storyteller whose ebooks sell fast, as fans love the way she presents her points and spins them into great stories. Her talent comes from the professional course that she took from a well-known book writer. She’s currently planning to write a book on how academic rigor causes mental health issues in university students.
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