Money Basics

Earn Your First Income

Elective. Earn money through your own effort — babysitting, lawn mowing, selling something you made, or a first part-time job. Any legitimate income counts. Proof is a payment record plus a short reflection on what you learned.

3 milestones

1. 1Identify a real way to earn money and take the first step
2. 2Complete the work and receive payment
3. 3Reflect on the experience and plan the next earning step

Make Your First Budget

Elective. Track every dollar you spend for one full month. Build a simple income/expense spreadsheet or use a free app. Proof is your completed record plus a reflection on what you'd change. A great starting point even if your income is $0 — knowing where money goes is the foundation.

3 milestones

1. 1List every income source and every expense category
2. 2Build a one-month budget and track it live
3. 3Reflect and set one change for next month

Save Up for Something You Want

Elective. Pick a specific savings goal, write it down before you start, and track weekly progress for at least 6 weeks until you hit it. Proof is your written goal, a savings tracker, and evidence of reaching the target. Works best after making a budget (seq 20) — you'll know exactly where to cut.

3 milestones

1. 1Write down your goal and document your starting point
2. 2Track every week for 6 consecutive weeks
3. 3Reach your target and provide evidence of arrival

Take Control of Your Personal Finances

Elective — recommended Grade 9+. Complete a structured personal finance course (Khan Academy personal finance is free and comprehensive) and apply every concept to your own finances with a documented plan. Goes deeper than the budget step — covers tax, insurance, credit, and retirement basics.

3 milestones

1. 1Complete a Personal Finance Curriculum and Self-Audit
2. 2Build a Comprehensive 12-Month Personal Financial Plan
3. 3Implement for 90 Days and Review with a Financial Professional

Build and Keep a Budget for 90 Days

Elective — advanced, recommended Grade 10+. Track your income and expenses for 90 consecutive days with weekly log submissions. The challenge here is consistency: three months of honest data is hard to fake and genuinely changes how you think about money. Best tackled after completing the one-month budget (seq 20).

3 milestones

1. 1Design Your 90-Day Budget Framework
2. 2Daily and Weekly Tracking for 90 Consecutive Days
3. 3End-of-Period Analysis and Forward Financial Plan