We need to stop assuming that good financial decision-making is instinctual. All of our financial systems are created by people, businesses, and governments. No one is born knowing how to use a credit card or write a check. They have to be taught. This is why Lesson 1 of our curriculum answers the question “What is Money?” Because for anyone to understand financial systems, they have to understand the very basics. Not assuming people should know something already allows us to teach and build materials with patience, kindness, and humility.

Too often, financial education relies too heavily on just being factual. While this is, of course, very important, presentation is forgotten about or minimized. Financial education should be bright, colorful, and inviting. For the same reason a child is more likely to pick up a comic book than a dictionary, we believe our material needs to look like something you would WANT to read.

Whether it is budgeting or credit cards, when talking about financial tools, it is important to use those financial tools. We cannot pretend that responsible credit card use is “common sense.” We have to teach and practice using a credit card responsibly. Doing so gives people practical skills that they can apply as they reenter communities and rebuild their lives.