"It's arguably the most important skill of our lives, and school doesn't teach it. Our society runs on money, so it's high time we learn it!"
In This Is Not Financial Advice; The Money Learning Game, you help townsfolk and play through rounds representing their lives, making "years" of actual financial decisions and learning how to use the personal finance tools of today - Checking and Savings, HYSAs, CDs, stock investing, 401ks, Roth IRAs, real estate, and so much more.
And, at the end of the day, learn that money isn't about the money - it's about the life it impacts, the possibilities it opens up, and the dreams it helps build. Gain confidence in your own money skills, so you can make the system work for you, gain financial freedom, and achieve your dreams in life!
I believe the best way to learn the system is to dive head-first into actually using the system, but in a fun and rewarding way! As such, each level of the game is designed to actually simulate real accounts and systems used in the adult world, such as budgeting, saving, credit, interest, investments, and more.
These concepts and simulations are wrapped up in stories about the life behind the money challenges - meet the middle school boy saving up for a Lego kit, the new-grad girl working part time to go to trade school, the single mom juggling a tight budget and dreams of starting her own business, the middle-aged dad investing for his kid's college fund, and the 55 y/o planning a retirement of their own.
With every townsfolk they help, your student collects cats for their cafe, recipes, decor, and more!
The two most common accounts that hold money, their differences, and when to use each one!
Rent, groceries, transit, and fun money: learn to plan your budget around real expenses every year.
Where you park your savings matters! Watch a higher rate compound over time.
Money 101: the basics and skills to managing your own money on a day-to-day basis.
Building blocks toward real financial independence (and maybe early retirement?).
Advanced moves and asset strategies once the basics feel easy, to build generational wealth!
I am the twentysomething sidequester behind This Is Not Financial Advice. I have always been passionate about financial freedom (ever since my first "business" in 4th grade!), and will talk your ear off over it for hours if you let me.
I believe that financial freedom is not about the money - it's not about the math, and it's not about the numbers. Ultimately, financial freedom is about the human life it impacts, the doors it opens, and the human being that it empowers - so that that person can live their life to the fullest (whatever that may mean to them!).
Over the years, I had been shocked and a little horrified to learn just how few people were taught personal financial education in school. I've worked at major tech companies where new-grad peers had no idea how to manage their new-adult money, and I've worked at financial institutions where parents told me daily how much they wished their kids could get better financial education. I try to never let a friend of mine enter adult life without some good money basics, so it's a dream to finally be building something to help share those good money basics with younger students. I want to inspire kids to get excited about personal finance - really excited - and strive for the lives they can lead when money isn't a worry but a point of pride.
Follow along to hear when we launch! I'll only email when we're ready for you to jump in, which means 1 email/month max - I hate spam (and am also too busy putting my creativity into the game to be making that much marketing). Unsubscribe anytime!
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