Young people starting out can face many challenges. Job markets are tougher and everything is more expensive and harder to navigate, so knowing how to manage your money is one of the most important skills there is.
Like any skill, good money-management is learned and that learning is about way more than book-learning. Having real-world experience makes all the difference in knowing how to negotiate the financial road map — and to read the map, you need to have some financial literacy under your belt.
Some kids are lucky enough to have a financial education class in high school, but even those kids can take the course and come out saying “now what? How do I apply this in real life?” Applying knowledge comes with practice, and knowing where to start is the first step toward achieving lifetime financial security.
Your Money Matters will be hosting the 1st Annual Fianancial Literacy Youth Summit at Green River College on Sat., Nov. 13 for youth ages 16-21. It’s free to attend —all you need to do is sign up!
Making a future —one step at a time
Clinton Taylor started the unique mentorship program Your Money Matters Mentoring because of that gap between the things learned in school and the real-world application of what you know. Having someone in your corner who can walk you through the most basic steps – like getting that first bank account – to more complex things like budgeting and dealing with debt, can mean the difference between life-changing success and financial frustration.
“You need financial literacy to close the wealth gap and to make a future for yourself,” says Clinton Taylor.
Clinton worked in social services for years and saw a need to help young people, especially those within economically vulnerable, low-income communities and local schools, to get the help they needed to responsibly manage their money to make informed decisions about their financial health. “We learned through trial and error when I was younger, and things are way more complicated now — you need financial literacy to close the wealth gap and to make a future for yourself,” Clinton says.
Your Money Matters offers a lot more than just class time. One-on-one mentoring builds a relationship between mentors and pupils, and class attendees receive a per-day-attended cash bonus. Nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Class time and one-on-one mentoring gives youth a head start in life.
Time is money — your money
There’s no better time than now to get started on looking after your future. The first ever Your Money Matters Youth Summit is coming Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Green River Community College Main Campus, Student Centre.
Volunteers needed! Do you have some time to spare to make a difference in the lives of local kids? Check out the website here for more information or contact them at ymmm.events@gmail.com. Find them on Facebook here.
Young people face many challenges these days. Knowing how to manage their money can make all the difference to financial success.
