Lesson 1 of 6

Your first money

Whether it’s a summer job, a camp check, or NIL money down the road, money you can’t see clearly is money you’ll lose. Start with the basics most kids never get taught.

  • A checking account is for money you spend; a savings account is for money you keep. Use both.
  • Direct deposit beats cash and checks — it’s tracked, it’s safe, and you can’t “lose” it.
  • Pay yourself first: every time money comes in, a set slice goes to savings BEFORE you spend a dollar.

The bottom line

Money you can see, you can control. A checking account, a savings account, and the habit of saving first — that’s the foundation everything else sits on.