Adulting: Finance & Goal Planning; Resumes & Real Life

One-semester course. Adulting: Finance & Goal Planning; Resumes & Real Life (formerly Life Skills for the Young Adult) introduces students to the knowledge every young adult will need to successfully navigate the world. Students primary work consists in weekly reading and discussion on course texts; weekly discussion boards; and three independent projects: a fully functional year-long budget, a goal planning template, and a usable resume. Students will also complete three recorded presentations for their fellow students. There will be two take-home tests in the middle and the end of the semester.

The course foundation is first on sound personal finance practices, with the ability to set personal and financial goals, and how to evaluate and achieve those goals on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. This course discusses the long-term financial impacts of education debt and earning-potential. Course work takes students through the basics of money management, including budgeting, setting reasonable spending targets, purchasing within one’s means, and saving for unexpected life circumstances, major purchases, and retirement. Students will examine many forms of credit, including credit cards, personal loans, car loans, student loans, and mortgages (including the miracle of compounding interest); insurance, including car, renters, homeowners, and health; and taxes, including how to navigate tax season. 

As the course turns to goal planning, students will encounter the simple, but powerful, strategic importance of small and consistent improvements. Students will develop a goal planning template to learn how to evaluate their plans.

Additionally, the course will focus on the job search, with an emphasis on creating value for potential employers. Students will experience role-played interviews to evaluate. Students will also work on a simple, yet effective resume that they can immediately use in their job search.

Finally, several life skills will be introduced to the students. This will include how to purchase a car (new and used), how to register to vote, how to navigate government services, how to do basic home fixes, how to maintain your car, and, most importantly, how to do laundry.

All classes are live with ample interaction with the instructor and fellow students and the occasional in-class group exercise.




This is a great course that all high schoolers should take. The assignments and classes have prompted some great family conversations. Highly recommend both the course and instructor. - Parent Course Evaluation
A very important class--thank you for offering it.
- Parent Course Evaluation
Revising the budget assignments really helped me get a strong understanding of how a budget can work for me, and also helped me learn excel.
- Student Course Evaluation
I would recommend this class because the subject matter raised awareness of many 'adult' skills needed in life. I was surprised how much my son learned, and all of this in a fun way - which is how he learns best.
- Parent Course Evaluation Spring




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    Adulting: Finance & Goal Planning; Resumes & Real Life Information




    • Example Syllabus
    • Class meets once per week for 50-55 minutes.
    • Class cap: 20 students.
    • Designed for grades 9-12.
    • High school students may be awarded .5 Personal Finance or Elective credit upon completion of this course.

    Course Materials




    • Click here to purchase the course texts.
      • How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World, Jack Cousineau
      • It’s Not Common Cents, Aaminah Amin
      • Atomic Habits, James Clear
      • So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Cal Newport


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