Financial Confidence

Teaching teens what many adults NEED

Program

Financial confidence is a D2S program designed to host/teach personal finance basics to teens. Every week (Wednesday & Thursday), we volunteer to host the program that is built by Dress 2 S.O.A.R’s proprietary financial content. Our volunteers are here to support the teens in their understanding of the content with their own personal experience. This course is ongoing throughout the year with multiple houses at Koinonia Homes for Teens. 

The Intelligence in Teens

Perhaps it comes as a surprise that teens are sponges and hungry for information when it comes to financial literacy. I mean, let’s face it, finances for adults can be one of the most daunting, and stressful topics that we NEED to address. The youth at Koinonia Homes for Teens were eager to learn about finances in an effort to overcome these stresses. Prior to their education the teens shared the following when it comes to finances*:

• Frustration: Negative emotions expressed such as fear, anger, frustration and even hatred that leave them feeling stressed. 

• Role Models: A lack of parents handling money well, the teens pointed out they do not want to “be like them”, and they will handle finances differently. 

• Pragmatism: Some students were able to use real life scenarios with the jobs they have had and articulated their own tips on saving, budgeting, spending, and more. 

Money Isn’t Everything: The biggest take away was that money is a tool (like a hammer) and is not going to make them happy.