The average high school graduate often lacks the basic skills needed to manage their personal finances. Many are unable to balance a checkbook, and are inexperienced with budgeting, saving and investing.

Young people without basic financial skills run the risk of establishing poor financial habits. They can fail in the management of their first consumer credit card, resulting in poor credit histories which could impact buying a house, a car or even landing a job.

The following links contain a wealth of information to help you learn basic personal financial management skills that will help you throughout your life:

National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning

This award-winning site offers student guide books which outline how to: develop financial goals; analyze how you spend your money; and identify guidelines in creating a financial plan..

Hands on Banking
Hands on Banking has a program designed for teens and another for young adults. Some of the teen topics are: You and Your Money; Budgeting; Savings and Checking; and Credit and You. Some of the topics for young adults include: Earning Money; Spending Smart; Save, Invest and Build Wealth; All About Credit; and School and $$$.

Financial Literacy and Education Commission
A partnership of federal agencies, this site features a very useful section called: Taking Control of Your Finances. It covers topics like: 5 things to know about credit cards; How to protect yourself from identity theft; How to avoid common mistakes young adults make with money; and a To Do List for key stages of your life.

Practical Money Skills for Life
Visa has partnered with leading consumer advocates, educators and financial institutions to launch a national program to improve the nation's financial skills. The Personal Finance Tab discusses topics like: credit cards; debts; identity theft; budgeting; saving; buying a car; and buying a home.

JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy

This site has a feature called Reality Check, which is an interactive online budgeting calculator.