Financial Independence - Earn More, Spend Less, Build Wealth
Three-quarters of adults live paycheck to paycheck. Help your students unlock financial independence with practical strategies to spend less, earn more, and build wealth. This ready-to-use, engaging, standards-based lesson takes financial literacy to the next level with real-world applications they can use immediately.
What’s Inside the Financial Independence Lesson?
Lesson Plan: Aligned with financial literacy standards, the lesson plan includes easy-to-navigate digital and printable resources links.
Google Slides Presentation: Speaker notes feature clear instructions, helpful tips, and links to supplemental resources, with advanced content for curious learners.
Exit Ticket + Additional Resources: Wrap up with an exit ticket to reinforce learning and a list of recommended resources for those who want to keep listening, reading, or watching after class ends.
Part I. Earn More
Discover five proven strategies to boost income. Activities include:
Raise or Salary Negotiation: Students practice researching and crafting a winning pitch (print and digital versions included).
Job Searching: Learners explore strategies to “level up” pay, benefits, or career opportunities.
Part II. Spend Less
Your students will learn nine actionable ways to save money. Activities include:
Budgeting Methods: Students will explore envelope and zero-based budgeting strategies.
Expense Negotiation: Challenge your students to create and personalize a script to lower costs like cell phone bills.
Part III. Build Wealth
Introduce your students to high-yield savings, CDs, and stock index funds, leading to the big finale: calculating their personal financial independence number and mapping out actionable steps to reach it!
Why You'll Love This Lesson
Save time. Designed for busy educators, this lesson is structured, easy to follow, and ready to use—just download, open, and teach.
Engage and retain students. Forget the blank stares. With real-world examples, students understand how today’s choices shape tomorrow’s financial freedom.
Build student independence. With hands-on activities, students practice setting financial goals, budgeting, and planning for the future. They’ll leave with their personal financial independence number and the confidence to make smart money moves.
Who Is This Lesson For?
While this lesson is accessible for high school students, it’s most impactful for those with some income, spending, or saving experience. The activities dive into budgeting and net worth—valuable concepts for all ages, but more engaging and relatable for late high school, adult education, or post-secondary students with active personal finances.
Still deciding? Check out a detailed preview! Or get your copy of the Financial Independence Lesson & Activities now!
