JA Personal Finance®
JA Personal Finance focuses on earning money; spending money wisely through budgeting; saving and investing money; using credit cautiously; and protecting one's personal finances.
Following participation in the program, students will be able to recognize the fundamental elements of smart personal finances. They also will be able to apply those elements to a personal financial plan that allows them to set specific goals for their lifelong financial needs and desired quality of life.
JA Personal Finance targets high school students. It is composed of five sessions, each 45 minutes long. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed plans for the volunteer and materials for 32 students.
All JA programs are designed to support the skills and competencies identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. JA programs also correlate to state standards in social studies, English, and mathematics, and to Common Core State Standards.
| Pillars of Student Success | Entrepreneurship: | Financial-Literacy: | Work-Readiness: |
|---|
| Program Implementation | Program Grade-Level |
|---|---|
| Classroom-Based | High School |
| Program Concepts | Program Skills |
|---|---|
| Budget, Budgeting, Compound interest, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit cards, Credit reports and scores, Debt, Earning, Education, Expense, Fixed expenses, Fraud, Identity theft, Income, Insurance, Interest, Investing, Lifetime earnings, Opportunity cost, Personal finances, Pay yourself first, Principal, Risk, Risk management, Saving money, Savings, Variable expenses | Analyzing information, Categorizing data, Creativity, Decision making, Evaluating alternatives, Graphic presentation, Oral, visual, and written communication, Prioritizing information, Read for understanding, Using a timeline, Working in pairs, teams, and groups |
Program Sessions
Session One: Plan to Earn
Students learn that healthy personal finances take planning and managing. They begin to analyze major life events and issues that have financial implications.
Session Two: Saving for Life
Students analyze the role saving plays in their personal finances and how having a healthy savings plan is necessary in all phases of life.
Session Three: The Budget Game
Students investigate budgeting and why many people have difficulty staying within a budget.
Session Four: Credit Choices
Students analyze the importance of credit and the outcomes of wise and poor use of credit.
Session Five: Savvy Consumer
Students work in groups to create public service announcements to inform each other of risks to their finances and identify ways to protect themselves from potential losses.