"Financial education programs benefit 100% of students, compare this to only 19% who need high school level algebra in their jobs." - National Financial Educators Council
This class is required if you have been living at Katie’s House Foundation™ for more than 6 months.
Our suggested length of stay is six to 24 months because our overarching goal is to help residents get on their feet, earn money, save money, establish credit (driver’s license, vehicle, credit card), and pair off to purchase their first home around the 24-month mark. Typical leasing agents and mortgage lenders will look for two years of stability and have low down payment options. This might seem overwhelming and far into the future, and that is okay. However, you will be in a better place to think about this six months from now.
Join our program and give yourself time to break the cycle for a brighter life!
The Normalize Money Project™ curriculum is leased to Katie’s House Foundation™. Outside students may also join the classes. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for one hour and will eventually be recorded for flex attendance. If you sign up, a zoom link will be emailed before each class. There are 24 classes and a graduation networking dinner. Contact us to enroll.
Module 1. What is Financial Literacy?
Tuesday
- Course Survey: Log your knowledge and confidence in specified areas
- Introduction, website, donors, cost of the class
- Rules, grading, the format of class, cookies and cupcakes game
- Audiobooks: Rich Dad Poor Dad 20th An. and The Laws of Human Nature
- Textbook and FIRE Calculator
- Life goals and financial goals
- Learning tips and styles - learning through a firehose, being prepared
- Languages assessment (HW)
- StrengthsFinder assessment (HW)
Thursday
- Language assessment (HW)
- Review of student assessments (HW)
- Fear of money and the lifelong learner mindset
- The Cashflow Game
- Saving money is essential, let’s see who can save the most during this class.
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 2. Credit Scores and Why They Matter
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad, Audible code handout and Chapter 8 due following Tuesday
- What is a credit score?
- The importance of social security numbers and tax IDs
- The impact of credit score on interest rates for loans
- Where to get a free credit report
- How to read a credit report (HW)
- The rules of maintaining a good credit score
Thursday
- Review of student credit reports (HW)
- How to dispute items on credit
- How to put freeze on your credit
- How to contact creditors
- Who would like to intern for The Normalize Money Project?
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 3. Building a Budget and Staying Organized
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- Typical budget
- Build your own budget + a food budget (HW)
- Using envelopes and good credit vs bad credit
- Allocating time each week to review mail (class action postcards) and finances
- Items that add up (subscriptions and food)
- Profit first
- The importance of focus, identifying a goal and timeframe
Thursday
- Budget, micro budget (food) and items that add up (HW) open discussion
- Staying organized with paperwork
- Using your phone for purpose, and making sure everyone has access to their audible app
- Business email and voicemail etiquette
- Password security (website) and keeping a safe log
- Locking devices
- Social media and reputational risk
- NPI
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 4. Bank accounts, Checkbooks and Introduction to Loans
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- Bank accounts
- Checks and checkbooks
- Writing a check
- Bank statements
- Reviewing assets statements for fraudulent activity (HW)
Thursday
- Reviewing assets statements for fraudulent activity (HW)
- Student loans and calculating interest
- Good debt vs. bad debt
- Auto loans
- Gap insurance
- Credit cards
- What is the process of obtaining and maintaining these trade-lines?
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 5. Introduction into Insurance and Resumes
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- Auto insurance
- Renters insurance
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance and other types of insurances
Thursday
- What does a resume look like
- Where to find jobs
- Gap year
- What is retirement, really (being work optional)
- Passion projects
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 6. Interview Skills with Alicia and Being a Renter vs Being a Homeowner
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- Getting your resume through the online auto-bots
- What hiring managers usually look for
- Best practices for applying and interviewing
- Student resumes (HW)
- Remote work and the status quo
Thursday
- Student resumes (HW)
- How much does it cost to rent a home in San Diego?
- How much does it cost to buy a home in San Diego?
- What are the benefits of being a renter?
- What is the process of renting a room, or a home?
- What are the benefits of being a homeowner?
- Taxes and homeowners’ insurance
- Earthquake insurance and mortgage insurance
- Down payments
- Years of planning, time is on your side
- What is a good rate of return or ROI
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 7. Introduction to Investment Types and Mortgage Documentation with David
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- Types and benefits of Investments - 401k, IRA, SDIRA, Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Royalties, Yahoo Finance, Real Estate (primary vs investment vs commercial). Anticipated ROI with these investment types?
- How does someone set up these investment types?
- Time value of money / Rule of 72
- Appreciation in San Diego real estate
- Credit score, mortgage rates and payments
- Mortgage calculator
- Mathematical examples based on rate
- Debt to income ratio
- Reserves
- Qualifying vs. not qualifying due to rate
- What is the process of buying a home?
- David - In your experience, what do employers want in their employees when they have hired you or given you a promotion? Or when you have hired someone.
Thursday
- Real estate markets, and investment market knowledge
- City-Data.com
- What is a home equity line of credit?
- Why do people buy investment properties?
- Flip worksheet
- What is the difference between cash flow and appreciation?
- How much is required to purchase an investment property
- Inflation
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 8: Reading Contracts and Mid-Term
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- The 7 principles of The Richest Man in Babylon
- Reading a purchase contract and contracts in general
- Reading a lease agreement
- Mid Term Prep
Thursday
- TD Ameritrade UTMA
- Stock analysis $50 + $10 per month over 20 years = ?
- Mid-Term: The A team earns $50 each to be invested
Module 9. Starting a Business
Tuesday
- Rich Dad Poor Dad (Wrap Up) and Intro to The Laws of Human Nature
- Kids start businesses every day
- If you could have any type of business, what would it be
- Working inside your business vs on your business
- ROI on a business, for exit or cash flow
- Investments as a business - Capital gains
- The first step for a new business: passion + a problem
- People, process, product
- Business insurances
- Validating your business with Google
Thursday
- Resale value and acquisitions
- Business planning
- Human resources
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 10. Introduction to Income Taxes and Trusts
Tuesday
- The Laws of Human Nature
- Who has to file income taxes?
- When are they due?
- What are tax credits
- What are tax rebates
- What does a 1040 look like?
- W2 and 1099
Thursday
- What is a last will?
- What is an advanced health care directive?
- What is a trust
- What is an irrevocable trust?
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 11. Grit in Life and Business with Kristen Doro & Introduction to Business Formations
Tuesday
- The Laws of Human Nature
- Kristen’s story after HS at SDSU
- How to start your own business
- What work will make you happy
- Circle back to assessments
- Being self-employed and how it relates to physical health and mental health
- Remember to mind your business (your investments)
- Kristen - In your experience, what do employers want in their employees when they have hired you or given you a promotion? Or when you have hired someone.
Thursday
- Personal Introduction to be written in class
- Consumerism
- Sales tax
- Cash flow
- The cash flow model vs debt model
- Intro to business formations and tax savings
- Reading Financial Statements: P&L and Balance Sheet
- Business synergy, available internships and employment opportunities
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 12. The Power of Money
Tuesday
- The Laws of Human Nature Chapter 3 should be complete.
- The actual cost of children in dollars
- The financial benefits of marriage
- The potential costs of divorce
- The potential costs of habits
- Giving back
- Military
- Trade school
- College
- Course Final: Life Plan including 10-year chapters
- Course Survey: Rate your increased knowledge and confidence
- How much did each student save or invest during this class?
Thursday
- Review each life plan including 10-year chapters
- What is business attire
- Best practices for your first networking event
- Q&A from previous modules
- Mock interviews - personal Introduction pop quiz
- Deal or No Deal $
Module 13. Dinner Celebration - Dress to Impress and Learn from the Attendees
- Class graduation networking dinner at a local upscale restaurant.