Happy Financial Literacy Month

For many Americans, much of what we know about money stems from pieces of advice that start with the word, “don’t”.

“Don’t buy a brand new car.”
“Don’t spend money on things you don’t need.”
“Don’t trust the banks.”
…etc, etc, etc.

Friends and family who had bad experiences warned us and we listened closely. This secondhand advice then crystallized into our core  beliefs about money. While there’s nothing wrong with passing along cautionary tales to help our loved ones avoid pitfalls, stop signs and caution tape aren’t helpful to someone who is lost, or whose wealth hasn’t risen in two decades.

We know what not to do, but how many of us know what we should be doing with our money? How do we get from where we are now to where we want to go? A lost driver needs a map or a helpful gas station attendant who can point the way in the right direction.

Financial Literacy Month started as Youth Financial Literacy Day by the National Endowment for Financial Education and was later adopted by the Jump$tart Coalition to help introduce financial education curriculum to K-12 classrooms nationwide. From setting a budget to investing for the future, Financial Literacy is about learning how to make your money work for you, rather than the other way around.

At Payactiv, we believe that everyone deserves to make their financial goals a reality. That starts by shifting the focus away from “don’t do this” and toward “try that!”. That’s why we’re dropping volumes of free and valuable personal finance tips throughout the month of April, including:

• Why It’s Important to Track Your Income and Expenses Every Month
• How an Increase of $1 Per Hour Impacts Your Lifetime Earnings
• Common Ways to Stand Out for a Promotion at Work
• … and more!

In the meantime, catch up on financial topics we’ve already covered like how credit card interest works or how taxes are calculated. Then follow Payactiv on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay in the loop throughout Financial Literacy Month.

Help us improve our roadmap by leaving us a comment or question on social media and we might bring it up on our podcast, “Good Cents, by Payactiv”.  At the end of the month, we hope our Financial Literacy content will help you pinpoint your next financial goal and make a plan for getting there.

Happy Financial Literacy Month from your pals at Payactiv.