Kids have a total lack of money sense. We review the outline of a class we put together to help our high schoolers get a sense of money and think more long-term about their life after high school.

** Class objective: help your student think ahead and prepare for the first 10 years after high school

1. Plan for education beyond high school

2. Plan for a career

3. Understand income level and buying power

4. Understand common things about adult finance -- debt, credit cards, saving, mortgage, rent, insurance, deductible, copay, taxes, etc.

** Couldn't find anything off-the-shelf

** How did we structure this?

1. Career research, included testing: Youscience.com, Pick 3 jobs, Find open jobs, trace requirements, focus on entry level

2. 10 year financial plan for school debt and expected income. Spreadsheet by year, showing debts and income. Research costs of college, junior college, certifications, etc

3. Dave Ramsey Financial class. For the more generic info, debt, terms, etc. Review of the class. Home school edition

4. Include kids in some family financial details -- bills, unexpected expenses, etc.

5. Create a budget based on plan from step 2. Housing, renters insurance, transportation (and associated costs), food, cell phone, Netflix, saving, giving, electricity, water, internet, clothes, etc. Check budget against reality. I.e. Buy groceries. Visit local housing at various income levels. Use irs.gov to figure out what taxes they’ll have to pay. 

** Did the class work? What was the outcome?

Kids found some career options, discovered the financial cost of college. Junior college became the path of choice. 

Made clear certain career paths just aren’t financially as viable as others

With multiple kids we could easily compare budgets between someone making $35k and $60k after school. With only 1 kid you may put together a couple options so they can see what a difference their career choices make. 

Took class Junior year, let us plan senior year to begin skills learning toward possible careers