Personal Finance Education
Financial Literacy Basics
BAFEF offers five modules - available as a series or a la carte - to San Francisco Bay Area schools or community/youth groups of 10 or more students ages 14-24. Our extensive pool of volunteers allows us to work within your group’s schedule, whether during school hours, early evenings or on the weekend.
Our program is on hiatus during Summer 2024.
Financial Literacy Modules
Modules with more than one lesson are designed to be taken as a whole, in sequence. In-person lessons run 60-90 minutes and include activities, zoom lessons are 60 minutes.
Budgeting 101
Lesson 1 – How do I leverage a budget? This module explores the purpose of a budget, tracking income and expenses, distinguishing between wants and needs, and managing debt effectively.
Lesson 2 – How do I create a budgeting habit? This module guides students through an activity that helps them track their real-life spending and provides modern tools and helpful hints for sticking to their budget.
Understanding Credit
Lesson 1 – What are the basics of credit? In this module, we explore fundamental aspects of credit, encompassing credit cards, debit cards, the concept of interest, and popular types of loans in modern society.
Lesson 2 – How can we use credit responsibly? Many Americans grapple with credit issues due to common mistakes. This module delves into credit score calculations, credit pitfalls, and strategies for young individuals to responsibly manage credit.
Basics of Investing
Lesson 1 – How can we build wealth over time? This module delves into foundational investing principles, including stocks, bonds, index funds, and exchange-traded funds.
Lesson 2 – How does long-term investing work? This module covers advanced investing fundamentals, such as the time value of money, compound interest, and the concepts of risk and diversification.
Lesson 3 – How can we apply this knowledge? This module includes a concise review of the previous two lessons and focuses on an interactive investment game facilitated by our volunteers.
Taxes and Your Paycheck
Lesson 1 - Why do we pay taxes? This module explains the reasons behind government taxation and major tax categories relevant to young adults.
Lesson 2 - How are taxes deducted from my paycheck? This module focuses on the paystub and the calculation and withholding of taxes for American workers. It concludes with interactive activities related to taxable income.
Paying for College
Lesson 1 – How can I get ready to pay for college? This module initiates the discussion of saving for and financing college, covering the financial aid process and best practices for college-bound students.
Lesson 2 – How do I understand student loan documents? This module educates students about key contract terms in student loans, equipping them to read and comprehend loan documents. It includes an interactive activity to determine manageable student debt levels.
