4 Steps to Learn Financial Literacy as a Homeschool Family

Are you concerned about how to teach financial literacy to your homeschooler? Do you feel inexperienced or worried about paying for another curriculum? 

Well, J and I recently spoke with Joel Chrisler, who is the Director of Teacher Engagement and Support for Jump$tart. Jump$tart is a non-profit that partners with over 100 different businesses, organizations, and resource creators. Jump$tart’s goal is to make financial literacy available to every American student as well as parents, teachers, and communities. He provided wonderful insights that can help you prepare and organize your financial future as a homeschool parent. He also provided tips on how to integrate financial literacy within your home. Note: All Jump$tart’s resources are free!

• Change your family tree. 
• Use Jump$tart’s FREE financial resources.  
• Invest by starting early and putting a small amount of money away now.
• Pause for self-reflection and ask yourself questions as a homeschool parent. 

The 4 Steps for Financial Literacy Growth

Change your family tree. If your family sets unhealthy financial reactions, take time to process those behaviors. Journal about them if you wish. You can also implement new strategies to develop healthier financial decisions. 

Mr. Chrisler shared a story about one of his students, who came from a financially struggling family. She watched her parents live paycheck-to-paycheck and fight over money issues. She was so grateful for his class because she learned that she didn’t have to live like that. Therefore, work on your family tree and develop healthy habits to benefit your homeschoolers. 

Use Jump$tart’s free resources. You can use these resources to educate yourself and your homeschoolers. Whether you use the Reality Check or the clearinghouse option, feel free to utilize the website and all that it offers. If you have specific questions, Mr. Chrisler will happily speak with you. 

Next, invest by starting early and putting a small amount of money away now. Meet with an investor. You can also bring your homeschooler along to the meeting, so they learn the importance of investing at a young age. 

Finally, pause for self-reflection and ask yourself questions as a homeschool parent. Ask yourself questions like: 

• “Why did I make that financial decision?” 
• “What has led me to make these financial decisions?” 
• “What in my life causes me to spend or save?”
• “What do I give up when I make a financial decision?”
• “What are my needs versus my wants?”

These questions will help you work on behavioral finance and processing your own emotions, surrounding spending. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mr. Chrysler provided insightful steps on how to engage with financial literacy in your home. These tips can help both you and your homeschooler learn how to succeed on your financial literacy journey. You can change your family tree, use Jump$tart’s resources, invest and put a small amount of money away early, and pause for self-reflection. Move forward in your financial literacy journey with confidence!

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This came from a resource on the interview with Joel Chrisler.

- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)

Helpful Links:

Home - Jump$tart Coalition

Clearinghouse

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