What They Should've Taught Us in School About Money

Why Financial Education Matters Now More Than Ever

Let’s be honest—most of us didn’t get a solid financial education growing up. Sure, we learned how to calculate compound interest in math class (maybe), but we didn’t learn how to budget, how to manage debt, how to build wealth, or how to use money as a tool for freedom.

And yet, money is at the center of nearly every major decision we make—where we live, what jobs we take, how we care for our families, and what kind of future we can create for ourselves.

That’s why Financial Literacy Month matters. And that’s why I do this work.

Here’s What We Should’ve Learned Sooner

If school had given us a real-world financial curriculum, it might’ve included lessons like:

• How to build a budget based on your real life (not a spreadsheet fantasy).
• What credit actually is and how to use it without fear.
• Why saving is about more than emergencies—it’s about opportunities.
• How to talk about money without shame.
• How to calculate your “magic number” so you know how much your life really costs.

This kind of education doesn’t just create better savers. It creates more confident decision-makers, less stress, and stronger families and communities.

And it's not too late to learn.

Where to Start If You're Feeling Behind

Financial literacy isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about starting where you are. If you’re new to this journey, here are three powerful steps to get going:

1. Reflect on your money story.
   What did you learn about money growing up? What beliefs do you carry into adulthood that might be holding you back?
2. Track your last 90 days of spending.
   Before we build a plan, we need to get curious (not judgmental) about where your money is actually going. This is the first step in all my programs for a reason—it brings clarity and power.
3. Pick one small habit to build this month.
   Maybe it’s checking your accounts weekly, starting a savings transfer, or finally having that money convo you’ve been avoiding. Small steps lead to major wins.

Let’s Make This Month a Turning Point

You deserve to feel confident and capable when it comes to your finances. And this month, I’ll be sharing tools, stories, and actions to help you build a stronger financial foundation—no shame, no fluff, just real strategies that work in real life.

📚 Want to start with something simple?
Read my book How to Afford Everything or check out my free resources at howtoaffordeverything.com.

📅 And stay tuned—my 4-Day Financial Reset Challenge kicks off soon!

Not Sure Where to Start?

Financial literacy begins with one simple—but powerful—step: look at where your money is actually going.

In my recent conversation with Amanda Liford on the Talk Clutter to Me podcast, we talked about how easy it is to just keep going and assume we know our money situation—until we finally stop and review our bank statements, payment apps, and credit card bills.

💡 The first step? Review a 90-day snapshot of your spending with curiosity, not judgment. This is about clarity, not shame. You might discover subscriptions you forgot about, income that didn’t land, or money leaks that are easy to plug.

We also talked about visual tools to help you stay organized—from free apps to old-school notebooks—and why writing down your debts by hand can actually help you feel more in control.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: Talk Clutter to Me: Organizing Your Finances with Dr. Darla Bishop

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, this episode is the perfect nudge to take the first step.