Students go to school and learn reading, writing, arithmetic, history, and science. But no one teaches students about how to deal with financial matters.

U.S. high school seniors continue to struggle with personal finance basics according to a study published on April 5, 2006 by the Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy.

These are the questions students need to ask:

• Credit

How do I get it? How to I manage it? How do I repair it? Why do I need it? What purpose does it serve? What is a credit score? These are the questions young people need to ask themselves as they begin their financial, adult lives.

• Personal Finance

How do I become a savvy consumer? Should I shop online? Do I send in those warranty cards on the products I buy? How much will it cost me to buy something on a credit card and only pay the minimum amount each month? What kind of savings, brokerage accounts should I have? How do I protect myself against identity theft?

• Economics

What is the National Debt? How does inflation affect me? What is the difference between core inflation and the inflation I experience myself? Why do I care about the strength of the dollar and the balance of trade?

• Entrepreneurship

Should I go to work for a company or should I start my own business? What are the pluses and minuses?

• Retirement?

Why should I think about that? I am too young!

Money Smart$ for Teens

answers your questions, highlights books that will educate you
on finances, economics, and wealth creation, and
links you to websites that provide financial education.