Ways to sharpen your finance skills while still at school

No matter how old you are, giving yourself a robust financial education is more vital than ever.
Financial wisdom isn’t merely about tallying pennies. You've got to master essentials like:

  • Budgeting: Perfect the skill of money allocation.

  • Saving: Learn to put money aside for future dreams.

  • Investing: Discover how to make your money grow.

  • Understanding Credit: Grasp credit cards, loans, and the concept of interest.

  • Risk and Reward: Understand the possible highs and lows in money moves.

Understanding these concepts will not only help you in your personal life, but can also help you understand the basics of finance should you wish to work in it! That being said, not all learning needs to be purely theoretical, we’ve put together soe great ways to sharpen your finance skills and develop your financial acumen:

1. Virtual Stock Market Games

Why not dive into games to make stock market learning fun and approachable? Here are platforms you can check out, including some tailored for Aussies:

  • Wall Street Survivor: Here, you can grasp investing basics using pretend money.

  • Investopedia's Stock Simulator: Dive into a simulated environment mirroring real-world stock trading.

  • ASX Sharemarket Game: Hosted by the Australian Securities Exchange, with this, you trade stocks with a pretend AUD 50,000. It’s a neat way to get a feel for the local stock scene.

2. Finance Storytelling Sessions

Immerse yourself in tales about budgeting, saving, or spending. Picture a youngster stashing away pennies for a toy or a teenager stretching their dollars for their first gig.

3. App-based Learning

Your smartphone? It’s a treasure trove of learning gems. Here are apps to boost your financial know-how:

  • PiggyBot: Keep tabs on your pocket money, set financial targets, and get your head around budgeting.

  • iAllowance: Think of this as a digital piggy bank, sprinkled with concepts like compound interest.

  • Simple: For teens like you, offering a wholesome glance at money management.

  • Spriggy: An Aussie special, it's both a prepaid card and app for folks aged 6-17. Here, you and your parents can juggle pocket money, plan savings, and get a grip on basic finance.

  • FirstStep: A beginner-friendly Aussie micro-investing app.

  • Frollo: Dive deep into personalized insights and master budgeting with this. Link your bank, track your in-and-out flows, and foster fundamental budgeting skills.

4. Field Trips to Financial Institutions

Ever thought of popping into local banks or financial hubs? They're practical classrooms. Get to know ATMs, chat up banking pros, or watch the daily grind.

5. DIY Piggy Banks

Craft your own piggy bank. Then, challenge yourself with a savings quest, like stashing away for a game or novel.

6. Interactive Finance Workshops

Engage in workshops where you role-play – say, acting as shop owners or shoppers. It’s a cool way to gain hands-on financial wisdom.

7. Money-themed Board Games

Board games like 'Payday', 'The Game of Life', or 'Cashflow for Kids' morph budgeting, decision-making, and strategic thinking into playful fun.

8. YouTube Series or Podcasts

YouTube is teeming with knowledge. For finance, countless channels are crafted for younger audiences like you. Dive into:

  • Biz Kid$: This award-winning channel demystifies everything from startups to budgets, mixing sketches, animations, and real-world tales.

  • Young Money World: It’s all about turning tricky financial concepts into lively, engaging animations.

  • KidsMoneyCents: Perfect for youngsters, it simplifies money basics with eye-catching animations and kid-friendly talk.

  • Finance Fortnite Fundamentals: A mash-up of gaming with finance teachings – it's both fun and enlightening.

But a quick tip: always pick videos or channels that match your age and know-how. Consistently expose yourself to these tools, and soon, you’ll boast a solid finance foundation.

All in all, Interactive learning alters your perception of finance and is a great way to develop your knowledge and skills. With these tools, you're not just crunching numbers but embracing values of responsibility, vision, and judgment. Dive in and embrace the financial journey ahead!