Teen Money
8 min read
How Much Should a Teenager Save Each Month?
There's no single right answer — but there is a simple framework. Here's how to figure out the right savings amount for your income, goals, and situation.
All Articles
Teen Money
The financial knowledge most people wish they had gotten 10 years earlier.
The financial concepts most adults wish they had learned earlier — how compound interest works, why a Roth IRA opened at 16 is worth dramatically more than one opened at 30, how to read a pay stub, how credit scores work and how they are built — are rarely taught in school. This category exists to fill that gap.
Teen Money covers the fundamentals of personal finance written for teenagers and young adults just beginning to interact with the financial system. That includes first jobs and understanding taxes, starting to save and the mechanics of a bank account, understanding the real cost of student loans before signing for them, and building good money habits before the high-stakes decisions of adulthood arrive.
The articles here do not talk down to younger readers. The financial concepts are explained clearly and honestly, with the math shown. The goal is to give teenagers and young adults a genuine advantage — the kind of financial foundation that most adults spend their 30s trying to build from scratch.
✓ Editorial standard:Written to be accessible to younger readers while maintaining accuracy on the financial concepts that matter most early in life.
20 articles
Teen Money
10 min read
Financial Aid Explained: What High Schoolers Need to Know Before College
Most high schoolers apply to colleges without understanding how financial aid actually works. Here's the plain-English breakdown of FAFSA, grants, loans, and how to get the most money before you enroll.
Teen Money
10 min read
Can a Teenager Start a Business? What You Need to Know
Teenagers can legally run a business in the U.S. - but there are real legal, tax, and practical rules you need to understand first. Here's the honest guide to starting a business before 18.
Teen Money
9 min read
Can Teenagers Invest in Stocks? The Complete Guide
Yes, teenagers can invest in stocks — but not exactly the same way adults do. Here's how it works, what accounts to use, and what to actually buy.
Teen Money
9 min read
How to Save $1,000 Before You Graduate High School
A $1,000 savings cushion changes your options when you leave high school. Here's a realistic, month-by-month plan to hit that milestone before graduation - even on a part-time income.
Teen Money
9 min read
The Difference Between Needs and Wants (And Why It's Harder Than It Sounds)
Everyone learns 'needs vs. wants' in elementary school. Almost nobody actually applies it. Here's why the line is genuinely blurry, how marketers exploit that blur, and a practical way to use the distinction in real life.
Teen Money
9 min read
How to File Taxes as a Teenager With a Part-Time Job
Got your first W-2 and no idea what to do with it? This plain-English guide walks you through filing taxes as a teen, step by step.
Teen Money
9 min read
Teaching Yourself About Money When Nobody Taught You
Most schools don't teach personal finance. Most parents didn't learn it either. Here's how to build real financial knowledge from scratch - free resources, what to learn first, and in what order.
Teen Money
8 min read
Teen Checking vs. Savings Account: What's the Difference?
Checking and savings accounts do completely different jobs. Here's which one you actually need, how to pick the right one, and how to use both together.
Teen Money
9 min read
How Teens Can Use a Custodial Account to Start Building Wealth
A custodial account lets a teenager invest in stocks and funds years before turning 18. Here's how they work, the tax rules, and why opening one early can be worth tens of thousands by adulthood.
Teen Money
8 min read
What Is a W-2 Form and What Do You Do With It?
Your first W-2 arrives in January and tells the IRS what you earned. Here's exactly what every box means, why it matters, and what you do with it when tax season hits.
Teen Money
7 min read
How Compound Interest Works: Why Starting at 17 Beats Starting at 27
Compound interest is the closest thing to a financial superpower. Here's how it works, why it favors teenagers specifically, and the numbers that prove it.