High School Program
Junior Achievement Presents: JA Personal Finance
The five Junior Achievement lessons were developed to compliment and extend the educational impact of the information contained in the JA Personal Finance Program. JA is a complete seven-unit financial education program designed for classroom teacher delivery. The program helps students prepare for a successful financial life by demonstrating the importance of sound habits of budgeting, planning, saving, goal-setting, investing, and managing risk.
Unit Titles and Summaries
Unit One: Your Financial Plan: Where it All Begins
Most people don’t plan to fail. They simply fail to plan. This unit explains how to create SMART goals and gives students a planning process for implementing them.
Unit Two: Budgeting: Making the Most of Your Money
Having a plan for spending and saving is critical. Here, students learn how the budgeting can help them realize financial goals and make decisions about money.
Unit Three: Investing: Making Money Work for You
Saving is one way to accumulate money. Another is by investing. Students learn about major types of investments, the time value of money, and the rule of 72.
Unit Four: Good Debt, Bad Debt: Using Credit Wisely
The double-edged sword of credit. Students look at when to use credit, establishing a good credit standing, and the importance of having a good credit score. The pitfalls of credit – including bankruptcy – are also examined.
Unit Five: Your Money: Keeping It Safe and Secure
Students are introduced to the world of financial services, including some of the ones they may already be using, including check accounts, credit cards and debit cards. They learn about consumer and other types of fraud that could destroy their plans.
Unit Six: Insurance: Protecting What You Have
Part of sound money management is to have a plan to protect what you have. Whether it’s your health, your home, your car, or your property, protecting these valuable assets is critical to any financial plan.
Unit Seven: Your Career: Doing What Matters Most
Relating financial goals to a career choice is a key concept that many people don’t keep in mind.
For additional information on this and all Junior Achievement programs, please visit www.ja.org