THE ULTIMATE

MOney lIfe skills

CHECKLIST
HOW TO USE THIS CHECKLIST

Congratulations on downloading this checklist! You’ve probably noticed two things:

1. It’s not broken down by age.
2. It’s very long.
I know it would be nice to have an age-by-age checklist, but it’s just not reality. Learning how to
manage and handle money, and aligning those lessons with your kid’s developing financial capabilities is
a bit of a mess.
A money education doesn’t happen in a straight line.
I’ve ordered this in a way that makes sense – the money lessons and capabilities build on each other,
so your child can roughly start at the beginning of each section and work their way through.
Each of the statements below is an “I” statement. You want your child to build money confidence, so
they need to take ownership of their learning process by checking off the lessons when they feel like
they’re ready to.

C AT E G O R I E S
AS FOR THE LENGTH
OF THIS CHECKLIST,
JUST REMEMBER THAT:
H AND L E Y O U R MO NE Y
E AR N Y O U R MO NE Y
Giving your child a money
education is an 18-year-long S PE ND Y O U R MO NE Y
process. G R O W Y O U R MO NE Y
Don’t get overwhelmed BANK Y O U R MO NE Y
looking at this list! O R G ANI ZE Y O U R MO NE Y
PR O T E CT Y O U R MO NE Y

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

 HANDLE
your Money
I CAN:

R E CO G NI ZE CO I NS AND BI L L S
CO U NT MO NE Y
MAKE CH ANG E WI T H MO NE Y
MAKE A CAS H PU R CH AS E
KE E P T R ACK O F MY MO NE Y
MAKE A D E BI T CAR D PU R CH AS E
WR I T E A CH E CK
CO NFI D E NT L Y H AND L E MO NE Y

EARN
your Money
I KNOW:

MO NE Y I S E AR NE D
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N S AL AR Y AND H O U R L Y I NCO ME
PE O PL E CAN G E T PAI D WE E KL Y , BI -WE E KL Y , O R MO NT H L Y
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N G R O S S AND NE T PAY
H O W T O S E T U P D I R E CT D E PO S I T O F PAY CH E CKS I NT O MY CH E CKI NG ACCO U NT
H O W T O T AKE AD V ANT AG E O F A MAT CH I NG CO NT R I BU T I O N T O MY 4 0 1 ( K) -
R E T I R E ME NT ACCO U NT FR O M MY E MPL O Y E R

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N ME R I T R AI S E S AND CO S T O F L I V I NG I NCR E AS E S
S T AT E S H AV E D I FFE R E NT I NCO ME T AX L E V E L S ( AND S E V E R AL S T AT E S H AV E NO NE )

I H AV E T O FI L E PE R S O NAL T AX R E T U R NS E ACH Y E AR
H O W T O CR E AT E A R E S U ME
H O W T O APPL Y FO R A J O B
T O L O O K U P T H E CO S T O F L I V I NG BE FO R E T AKI NG A J O B
S O ME J O BS O NL Y CO NS I D E R CO L L E G E G R AD U AT E S , WH I L E O T H E R J O BS ACCE PT
H I G H S CH O O L /G E D S G R AD U AT E S
I CAN NE G O T I AT E MY I NCO ME WH E N I R E CE I V E A J O B O FFE R
H O W T O NE G O T I AT E O T H E R BE NE FI T S I N A J O B O FFE R PACKAG E BE S I D E S S AL AR Y
H O W T O S E CU R E R E FE R E NCE S FO R FU T U R E J O B APPL I CAT I O NS
WH AT PAS S I V E I NCO ME I S
T H AT Y O U NE E D A BU S I NE S S PL AN BE FO R E S T AR T I NG A BU S I NE S S
S T AR T I NG A BU S I NE S S CO S T S MO NE Y AND H AS R I S KS
BU S I NE S S E S NE E D CU S T O ME R S WH O WANT WH AT I WANT T O S E L L ( PR O D U CT ,
O R S E R V I CE )
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N G R O S S AND NE T PR O FI T
BU S I NE S S O WNE R S MU S T FI L E AD D I T I O NAL T AX D O CU ME NT S E ACH Y E AR

SPEND
your Money
I KNOW:

T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A NE E D AND A WANT

T H AT I F I S PE ND MY MO NE Y O N O NE T H I NG , I T ME ANS I ’M S AY I NG NO T O
S O ME T H I NG E L S E ( O PPO R T U NI T Y CO S T S )
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N BU Y I NG S O ME T H I NG NE W AND U S E D
T H AT MU CH O F WH AT I S PE ND MY MO NE Y O N G E T S T AXE S AD D E D T O I T
H O W T O R E AD A S T O R E R E CE I PT

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

H O W T O R E T U R N A PR O D U CT T O A S T O R E
H O W T O U S E A CO U PO N

T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A S T O R E CO U PO N AND A MANU FACT U R E R CO U PO N

H O W T O S U BMI T A R E BAT E
H O W T O CO MPAR E PR I CE S O F S AME -S I ZE D PR O D U CT S
H O W T O CO MPAR E PR I CE S BE T WE E N O NL I NE AND PH Y S I CAL S T O R E S
S O ME PU R CH AS E S R E Q U I R E MAI NT E NANCE S PE ND I NG , WH I L E O T H E R S AR E A
O NE -T I ME E XPE NS E
H O W T O AS K FO R A D I S CO U NT
H O W T O FI G U R E O U T T H E CO S T O F S O ME T H I NG T H AT I S S O L D BY WE I G H T
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A G I FT CAR D , A D E BI T CAR D , AND A CR E D I T CAR D
WH E R E MO NE Y I S S O U R CE D FO R D E BI T CAR D PU R CH AS E S , AND WH E R E I T ’S
S O U R CE D FO R CR E D I T CAR D PU R CH AS E S
H O W T O PL AN MY S PE ND I NG
H O W T O T R ACK MY S PE ND I NG O NL I NE , AND BY PAPE R
H O W S O ME O NE G E T S I NT O D E BT
WH AT L O Y AL T Y R E WAR D PR O G R AMS AR E FO R T H E PR O D U CT S /S E R V I CE S I U S E
R E G U L AR L Y
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N “I CAN’T AFFO R D T H I S ” AND “I WANT T O PR I O R I T I ZE
S O ME T H I NG E L S E ”
H O W T O L O O K AT PR O S AND CO NS WH E N MAKI NG A FI NANCI AL D E CI S I O N
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A FI XE D E XPE NS E AND A V AR I ABL E E XPE NS E

T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N R E NT I NG AND O WNI NG

H O W T O PAY A BI L L , O NL I NE AND BY MAI L
H O W T O PO L I T E L Y D I S PU T E A BI L L
H O W T O D O A S PE ND I NG AU D I T
T H E CO NS E Q U E NCE S T O NO T PAY I NG BI L L S O N T I ME
I F I D O N’T PAY A CR E D I T CAR D WI T H I N T H E G R ACE PE R I O D , I G E T CH AR G E D
I NT E R E S T
H O W O V E R S PE ND I NG CAN L E AD T O BANKR U PT CY
H O W T O PU MP G AS , AND H O W T O PAY FO R I T AT T H E PU MP AND I NS I D E T H E
STORE
T H AT S PE ND I NG WI T H A CR E D I T CAR D CAN O FFE R PR I CE PR O T E CT I O N AND
O T H E R PR O T E CT I O NS
H O W T O S H O P AR O U ND FO R I NS U R ANCE PO L I CI E S
H O W T O E AT H E AL T H Y , O N A BU D G E T

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

H O W T O G E T Q U O T E S FR O M MU L T I PL E PE O PL E BE FO R E MAKI NG A S PE ND I NG
D E CI S I O N
H O W T O MAKE A D O NAT I O N T O A CH AR I T Y , AND T H AT I MI G H T G E T A T AX
WR I T E -O FF FR O M I T
T H E D I FFE R E NT S O U R CE S O F PAY I NG FO R CO L L E G E ( G R ANT S , S CH O L AR S H I PS ,
L O ANS )
AD S AR E MAR KE T I NG ME S S AG E S CR E AT E D S O T H AT I ’L L BE MO R E L I KE L Y T O
BU Y A PR O D U CT
T O G E T A L O AN, I NE E D T O H AV E S O ME S O R T O F CO L L AT E R AL
I CAN G E T A L O AN WI T H T H E H E L P O F A CO -S I G NE R

GROW
your Money
I KNOW:

I F I D O N’T S PE ND AL L MY MO NE Y , I CAN S AV E I T I NT O A L AR G E R AMO U NT

I F I PU T MY MO NE Y I N A BANK WI T H AN I NT E R E S T R AT E , I T G R O WS
H O W T O S E T A S AV I NG S G O AL
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A L O NG -T E R M AND A S H O R T -T E R M S AV I NG S G O AL
WH AT CO MPO U ND I NT E R E S T I S
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N S AV I NG MO NE Y AND I NV E S T I NG MO NE Y
WH AT AN E ME R G E NCY FU ND I S , AND H O W T O CAL CU L AT E WH AT MI NE
S H O U L D BE BAS E D O N E XPE NS E S
I T ’S E AS I E R T O S AV E MO NE Y WH E N Y O U KE E P Y O U R L I V I NG E XPE NS E S L O W
G AI NI NG E D U CAT I O N AND S PE CI AL I ZE D T R AI NI NG MAY I NCR E AS E MY I NCO ME
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A CE R T I FI CAT E O F D E PO S I T , A BO ND , A S T O CK,
AND A MU T U AL FU ND
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N A T R AD I T I O NAL AND A R O T H R E T I R E ME NT ACCO U NT
H O W T O U S E A R E T I R E ME NT CAL CU L AT O R
H O W T O O PE N A R E T I R E ME NT ACCO U NT , AND T H AT I H AV E T O FU ND I T BY
CH O O S I NG I NV E S T ME NT S

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

 BANK
your Money
I KNOW:

H O W T O R O L L MY CO I NS FR O M A J AR AND T AKE T H E M T O T H E BANK T O D E PO S I T

WH Y Y O U ’D WANT T O S AV E MO NE Y I N A BANK AND NO T I N J AR S
BANK ACCO U NT S AR E FD I C I NS U R E D
WH AT T O L O O K FO R WH E N PI CKI NG A BANK ACCO U NT ( FE E S , I NT E R E S T R AT E ,
FD I C-I NS U R E D , E T C.)
H O W T O O PE N A BANK ACCO U NT ( CH E CKI NG O R S AV I NG S )
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N CAS H , CH E CKS , D E BI T CAR D S , AND CR E D I T CAR D S
WH AT I T ME ANS T O O V E R D R AFT , O V E R D R AFT FE E S , AND H O W T O O PT O U T O F
THEM
H O W T O U S E AN AT M, AND PO T E NT I AL FE E S I NV O L V E D
H O W T O CO NNE CT ACCO U NT S O NL I NE ( CH E CKI NG , S AV I NG S , I NV E S T ME NT S , E T C.)
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N E AR NI NG I NT E R E S T O N MO NE Y S AV E D AND PAY I NG
I NT E R E S T O N L O ANS I ’V E T AKE N O U T
H O W T O CL O S E A BANK ACCO U NT
H O W T O S E T U P AU T O MAT I C WI T H D R AWAL S T O S AV I NG S
H O W T O S E T U P AU T O MAT I C BI L L PAY
H O W T O U S E MY BANK’S MO BI L E APP
H O W T O APPL Y FO R A CR E D I T CAR D
CR E D I T CAR D S MAY H AV E AN ANNU AL FE E
I T AKE CO NT R O L O V E R MY FI NANCI AL ACCO U NT S AT E I T H E R 18 O R 21
( D E PE ND I NG O N MY S T AT E ’S L AWS )

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

 ORGANIZE
your Money
I CAN:

O R G ANI ZE MY MO NE Y I N A WAL L E T , PU R S E , MO NE Y J AR , E T C.
CR E AT E A BU D G E T FO R AL L MY I NCO ME AND E XPE NS E S
O PE N S E PAR AT E BANK ACCO U NT S FO R S E PAR AT E MO NE Y G O AL S AND NE E D S
BU D G E T MY MO NE Y BY PE R CE NT AG E S ACCO R D I NG T O MY L I FE PR I O R I T IE S

PROTECT
your Money
I KNOW:

Y O U PAY A MO NT H L Y PR E MI U M FO R I NS U R ANCE PO L I CI E S
T H E V AR I O U S T Y PE S O F MAJ O R I NS U R ANCE PO L I CI E S ( L I FE , H E AL T H , CAR , H O ME ,
BU S I NE S S , E T C.)
Y O U S H O U L D R E AD T H E FI NE PR I NT BE FO R E S I G NI NG FI NANCI AL D O CU ME NT S
AND CO NT R ACT S
MY PE R S O NAL I D E NT I T Y CAN BE S T O L E N T H R O U G H MY FI NANCI AL ACCO U NT S
BANKS O FFE R I NS U R ANCE FO R MO NE Y I KE E P I N T H E M, BU T I NV E S T ME NT S D O NO T
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N MY CR E D I T R E PO R T AND MY CR E D I T S CO R E
T H E D I FFE R E NCE BE T WE E N G E T T I NG I NS U R ANCE AND S E L F-I NS U R I N G
MY CR E D I T S CO R E CAN BE L O O KE D AT BY E MPL O Y E R S WANT I NG T O H I R E ME
WH E N I CO MBI NE FI NANCE S WI T H S O ME O NE , I T AKE O N S O ME O F T H E I R
FI NANCI AL R E S PO NS I BI L I T I E S ( AS D O T H E Y )

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM

WH AT A PR E NU PT I AL AG R E E ME NT I S
I CAN G E T A FR E E CR E D I T R E PO R T E ACH Y E AR , AND S H O U L D PE R I O D I CAL L Y
CH E CK I T FO R S U S PI CI O U S ACT I V I T Y
I S H O U L D R E S E AR CH ANY O R G ANI ZAT I O N BE FO R E G I V I NG T H E M MO NE Y
I S H O U L D G E T ANY FI NANCI AL T R ANS ACT I O NS AND PR O MI S E S I N WR I T I NG
WH AT R E CE I PT S I S H O U L D KE E P AND FO R H O W L O NG
WH AT FI NANCI AL D O CU ME NT S T O KE E P AND FO R H O W L O NG

C MONEY PRODIGY, 2019 | WWW.MONEYPRODIGY.COM