I remember graduating high school with a shiny diploma in one hand and absolutely no clue how to manage a budget, open a credit card responsibly, or build wealth.
Nobody taught me how compound interest could work for me—or how bad habits could work against me. We learned how to dissect a frog, sure. But not how to build a credit score or understand a Roth IRA.
If you’ve ever felt like you missed the money memo, you’re not alone. The truth is, most of us never got a real financial education in school. But the good news? It’s never too late to learn—and trust me, the payoff is worth it.
Let’s dive into the money skills you should’ve been taught—and how you can start mastering them now.
Why Financial Literacy Actually Matters
Money touches every part of our lives. And yet, we treat financial literacy like an elective instead of a life essential. But here’s the reality: being good with money isn’t about being rich—it’s about being resilient.
1. Financial Literacy = Freedom
When you understand how to manage, grow, and protect your money, you unlock choices. Choices to leave toxic jobs, build businesses, buy homes, invest confidently, and retire your way—not society’s way.
2. Myths That Held Me Back
Before I dove into finance, I believed a few myths:
- “It’s only for rich people.” Nope. Financial literacy is how people become wealthy—not the other way around.
- “It’s all numbers and jargon.” Turns out, most of it is just common sense with a calculator.
- “I’ll figure it out later.” I did—but not without a few expensive lessons first (hi, credit card debt in my early 20s).
If you’ve believed any of those, you’re in good company. But let’s rewrite the story.
Building Wealth Through Entrepreneurship
One of the most powerful things I ever did for my financial life? Start something of my own.
1. Start with What You Know
You don’t have to invent the next Uber. You just have to solve a problem for someone. I started with freelance design work, then moved into digital products and income strategy coaching.
Ask yourself: What do people already come to me for help with? That’s often your niche.
2. Write It Down—Even the Messy Version
Your business plan doesn’t have to be 50 pages long. Start simple:
- What are you offering?
- Who are you helping?
- How will you make money?
- How will you get in front of people?
I had my first “business plan” scribbled in a notebook with bullet points. The clarity was game-changing.
3. Fund Smart
I started with savings and scaled slowly. But there are other ways:
- Microloans
- Grants for small businesses
- Crowdfunding
- Selling a service before building the product
What matters is starting lean and validating your idea early.
4. Use Free or Low-Cost Tech
Some of the tools that helped me the most cost me nothing to start:
- Canva for branding
- ConvertKit for emails
- Shopify for selling
- Google Sheets for everything else
The point is—you don’t need thousands of dollars to start a business. You need a problem to solve, a way to deliver the solution, and consistency.
Smart Investments I Wish I Learned About Earlier
I used to think investing was just for Wall Street guys in suits. Now I know—it’s for anyone who wants to stop trading time for money.
1. Stock Market Basics
I started with index funds—specifically VTI and VOO. Why?
- They’re diversified (you own a piece of hundreds of companies).
- They’re low cost.
- They grow over time if you stay in the game.
I auto-invest $500/month and barely touch it. That one habit changed my trajectory.
2. Mutual Funds & ETFs
If picking individual stocks feels overwhelming, mutual funds and ETFs are your friends. They're managed by professionals and offer built-in diversification. I started small, reinvested dividends, and let time do the heavy lifting.
3. Real Estate (Even Without Buying Property)
I used to think real estate investing required buying a duplex. But I started small through platforms like Fundrise and REITs inside my Roth IRA. Passive income without being a landlord? Yes, please.
4. Try Alternatives (But Know the Risks)
I dipped into:
- Crypto (with money I could afford to lose)
- Peer-to-peer lending (moderate success)
- T-bills and I-bonds (great for low-risk returns)
Alternative investing is exciting—but not essential. Start with the basics first.
The Income Stream Equation: More Than Just Your Day Job
Here’s something school definitely didn’t teach us: having more than one income stream is how most wealthy people stay wealthy.
1. Passive Income Ideas
- Dividends: My ETF holdings now pay quarterly dividends. Small but steady.
- Digital Products: I sell budgeting templates and digital planners that generate income while I sleep.
- YouTube or Affiliate Content: Even a small following can earn when set up right.
2. Active Income That Built My Safety Net
- Freelance work: I wrote blog posts, created designs, and edited content on the side.
- Consulting: Once I had traction, I helped others do what I did.
- Virtual Workshops: I ran a few finance 101 classes online. The feedback (and income) was surprisingly encouraging.
You don’t need to do everything at once—but you do need to stop relying on just one paycheck.
What Gets in the Way—and How to Break Through
Let’s be real: most of us aren’t avoiding financial literacy because we’re lazy. There are real barriers.
1. No Time
Start with 15 minutes a day. That’s enough to read an article, listen to a podcast, or watch a YouTube video. I used to listen to ChooseFI while washing dishes.
2. No Resources
There are amazing free tools:
- Coursera for finance basics
- Investopedia for definitions
- Podcasts like The Money Guy Show, Afford Anything, Her First 100k
- Reddit’s r/personalfinance is surprisingly helpful
3. Fear of Getting It Wrong
I get it—I made money mistakes early on too. But you don’t get better by avoiding it. You get better by starting messy, asking questions, and tweaking as you go.
My “Un-Schooled” Money Curriculum
If I could design a personal finance class every teen had to take, it would include:
- How compound interest works (and why starting at 22 is better than 32)
- The real cost of debt and how to avoid it
- Why credit scores matter
- Budgeting methods (zero-based, 50/30/20, etc.)
- How to build emergency funds before emergencies
- How taxes really work
- What to know about insurance, estate planning, and retirement accounts
If that sounds like a lot—it is. But that’s why it’s so empowering to finally take control of it for yourself.
Financial Mastery Tips
- Don’t wait for someone to teach you—build your own curriculum.
- Start with what you need now: debt? savings? income? Focus there first.
- Track your progress monthly: nothing builds momentum like watching yourself grow.
- Stack income streams slowly: you don’t need 7 at once. Build one, then another.
- Share what you learn: teaching someone else is the best way to master it.
Make Up for What School Missed—And Then Some
You didn’t miss your shot because no one taught you personal finance in school. You’re not behind. You’re just beginning—with the kind of clarity, tools, and intention most people never get.
So start now. Learn what matters. Take control. And build the kind of wealth—and life—you deserve.
This isn’t about being perfect with money. It’s about being powerful with it.
