First-money path · 8 lessons · 48 questions

Young adult launch

Connect a first paycheck to benefits, taxes, banking, credit, transportation, education choices, and side-income responsibilities.

Who it serves

Teens, college students, recent graduates, apprentices, and people entering their first steady job.

What you build

A first-year money plan that values the whole job offer and avoids expensive early commitments.

Your lesson sequence

  1. 1Build your money map: net worth, cash flow, and goalsLearn the three numbers that reveal where your money stands: net worth, monthly cash flow, and the monthly amount required for each goal.14 min →
  2. 2Build a spending plan you can actually followCreate a flexible budget that covers needs, future expenses, goals, and some enjoyment without pretending every month is identical.15 min →
  3. 3Understand credit scores, utilization, and credit buildingLearn what credit-scoring models commonly evaluate, how reported balances affect utilization, and how to build history without gimmicks.16 min →
  4. 4Understand your paycheck, taxes, and withholdingRead a pay statement, understand withholding and benefit deductions, prepare for self-employment taxes, and avoid treating a refund as free money.17 min →
  5. 5Compare education costs and manage student loansEvaluate education as an investment, understand grants and federal versus private borrowing, compare repayment by monthly cost and total paid, and respond early when payments become difficult.24 min →
  6. 6Buy and finance a vehicle by total costSet an all-in vehicle budget, separate the purchase from the financing, compare written offers, recognize add-ons, and avoid a low payment that hides a high total cost.22 min →
  7. 7Evaluate total compensation and workplace benefitsCompare job offers beyond salary, understand health and retirement documents, value paid time and employer contributions, and protect benefits during enrollment and job changes.24 min →
  8. 8Run gig and self-employment income like a real businessCalculate true profit, separate taxes and operating reserves, document income and expenses, replace missing employee benefits, and decide whether a gig is actually improving the household.27 min →
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