card header icon
Foundations in Personal Finance

Entry-Level finance course designed to review basic math skills and their application in a consumer setting. Topics included are income, money management, spending, credit, savings and investing.
 
Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs):
Students will focus on the following throughout the course.
  • Review basic math skills and their application in a consumer setting.
  • Understand the basics of budgeting and develop a plan for spending / saving that has long term and short term components.
  • Identify the five foundations of personal finance and explain the three basic reasons for saving money.
  • Describe the difference between simple and compound interest.
  • Demonstrate how compound interest works and understand the impact of an annual interest rate.
  • Identify various types of loans and identify the most cost-effective option for purchasing a home or car.
  • Describe the elements of a credit score, explain the factors that affect a credit score and understand how to obtain a credit report.
  • Evaluate the role of marketing strategies, peer pressure, and opportunity in purchasing decisions
  • Understand the role of insurance.
  • Describe factors affecting take-home pay and identify different types of taxes.
  • Evaluate investment alternatives: money markets, bonds, single stocks mutual funds, annuities, and real estate
  • Examine the relationship between diversification and risk and the rule of 72.
 Course Syllabus
  • Rene Creamer                                         rcreamer@njuhsd.com                                       530.273.4431

card header icon
Grade Levels: 11-12

2 Semesters - No repetition for Credit

card header icon
Prerequisites

Open to 11th and 12th grade students only who have successfully completed Algebra 1 (or equivalent or higher). This course does not meet college admission requirements.