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Pop quiz - If you take out a loan, do you pay back the same amount? Will financial aid cover all your college expenses? When you retire, will your monthly Social Security income be enough to live on?

According to a 2004 survey conducted by the Charles Schwab Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), teens ages 13 to 18 are lacking knowledge of basic financial concepts, including answers to the topics above. In fact, the survey found that a majority of teens don't know how to manage debt, create a budget, or open a savings account. Instead of standing by while the next generation makes poor money decisions, experts are creating programs designed to add some cha-ching to your brain bank.

Money Matters: Make It Count
If tackling important financial issues and participating in fun, interactive activities and exercises like learning the basics of investing sounds interesting, you'll enjoy this program from Schwab and BGCA (http://moneymatters.bgca.net). Education-related expenses such as computing college costs, creating a college budget, searching for scholarships, and identifying sources of financial aid are also part of the curriculum - a big plus. Teens who have completed the program say they are more responsible with money, think differently about spending, and make smarter choices when it comes to their finances.

Wise Borrower Curriculum
Understanding personal finance and debt management is a skill that's sure to come in handy. That's why Access Group designed this quickie online course (www.accessgroup.org/wiseborrower). Just choose a topic from the list of tutorials, click on the link, and learn. Topics include federal consolidation loans, credit scoring basics, and credit repair. Test your newfound knowledge with the quiz at the end of each tutorial.

Citigroup's Financial Education Program
Are you anxious to make your money grow, understand where it goes, and make smart buying decisions? Check out Citigroup's teen curriculum (www.financialeducation.citigroup.com), then enter the Financial Education Challenge (www.dosomething.org/ challenges/financial). The 10-day online financial education game for middle and high school students will determine your financial prowess through a series of tasks. But it's not easy - unexpected challenges are presented - just like in real life!

Money Lessons via TV
Take it from Brenda - bankruptcy is hard to miss when you're not watching what you spend and how you spend it. Luckily, you can witness her money mishaps at college and how she got out of trouble in the financial fable series "Brenda Bankruptcy" (now available on DVD). The DVD includes episodes "The credit card Trap," "The Saving Zone," and "The Assurance of Insurance."

To learn from Brenda and proceed to your fiscal health, call 202-822-9633 for free copies of the DVD while supplies last.


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Ysolt Usigan is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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