Have you ever taken one of those quizzes online or in a magazine that told you more about your personality? It was probably very simple and maybe (depending upon the publication) made up! There are actual test that you can take though, that really show things about your personality. Many have scientific research and years of use behind them. One such test was created by Carl Jung and it has 16 personality types. You can use your personality type to explore many aspects of your personality and possible careers. There’s a website where you can take the test, the Jungian Typology Test,  for free at http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp 

For the purposes of our class please do the following. Go to the website and take the test. Screenshot your 4 letter result and then Google the four letter type and the word careers. You will find a plethora of articles and explanations regarding who you are and possible careers that match your personality.  Post your type and whether you agree or disagree with the results in the comments! Happy testing!

Taxes. The word strikes fear and even anger in the minds of many adults. As a teen with your first job you may not have thought very much about them before, but when you get your first paycheck you’ll never forget what they are! That’s because the $10 an hour multiplied by the 10 hours you worked won’t actually get your $100 in your pocket. Taxes are something that many adults don’t fully understand but here are a few links to get you started on your journey to know what it means to be a responsible citizen of our country.

This site is a great introductory page that will help you understand the why, what and the how of taxes.
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-you-have-to-pay-taxes/

This is an interesting site so you can look at research to see who really pays what in taxes.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/13/high-income-americans-pay-most-income-taxes-but-enough-to-be-fair/

Here is a site where you can see what comes out of your paycheck!
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/Why-Is-My-Check-So-Small-After-Taxes-/INF19169.html

Finally, here’s a link to the actual Internal Revenue Service site where you can fins out more about filing your taxes, credits and deductions, different forms and how to pay if you owe taxes.
https://www.irs.gov/filing

A budget is simply a plan for where your money will go. Unfortunately, as simple as budgeting is – very few people take the time to think about a budget, much less follow one, and because of this at the end of the month they are often times short of the funds they still need.

There are many good budgeting sites and apps out there. Dave Ramsey has some nice budgeting sheets that are available for free online. We’ll use a version of those in our class, but there are also some really cool apps to help you with the process.

Take the poll and then do a search through your favorite app store for budgeting apps. Comment on some of the features they offer and which ones you think you would download if you were going to use a budgeting app.

Since we’re talking about careers and interviewing for jobs, one thing that comes to mind that students want to be aware of is their online reputation or presence. In today’s world to think that potential employers won’t run a google search of you and your social media accounts is naive.

Your parents and teachers have probably been on you to keep your accounts private and to think before you post. Maybe you have changed your name on your accounts to just your first name or a pseudonym. That likely won’t be enough to stop human resources employees that have grown up using and searching social media apps.

The best advice is to NEVER post anything that could come back to haunt you. That includes being proactive about photos and videos you are tagged in as well. In some cases, keeping family like parents, aunts, and uncles as friends on your account will help keep you from posting some things you normally wouldn’t think twice about but you have to always remember that what ends up out in the world through the internet never really goes away.

Below you will find a video I made for one of my grad classes at Boise State University about online reputation. While my audience for this was an “older crowd”, students can still learn a lot from these tips!

So you’ve found a place you want to work and you have an interview scheduled soon, but you’re a little nervous about the whole process.

While those nerves are understandable, there are lots of things you can do to prepare to ensure your success. First of all, think about the first impression you will be making. What you choose to wear says a lot about you. It’s important to take your cue from the people that already work there, but when in doubt always look nicer than you think you need to. Don’t look overly casual or sexy. Don’t wear flip flops, jeans, or shorts, and go very light on the make-up or cologne.

You should also work on your body language. How is your handshake? Do you sit up straight and keep an open expression on your face that shows you’re listening. You always want to smile and should try to avoid nervous habits like chewing gum, biting your nails, or tapping your feet.

It’s always a good idea to practice before you go. If you have a resume, make sure you are ready to answer questions about it and where you have worked before. Think about how you would answer questions like, “Why should we hire you?” or “What strengths do you bring to our workplace?”. Being prepared to ask questions or show you have learned about the business is always impressive.

If you haven’t yet made it to the interview stage, don’t worry. You’ll get there, and if you haven’t even found a place to apply yet – listen to the mp3 file below for some ideas.

Where to find a job

Unit Two of our Personal Finance Course focuses on careers and taxes. Careers are more than just a job. Careers involve work that you invest in, that give your a growth trajectory in your life.  Since the students in this class are juniors and seniors, careers are something you are beginning to think about – especially as you think about college. I thought it would be interesting to have a class discussion about what some of your earliest career goals were and if they have changed as you have matured. For instance, when I was five I wanted to be an actress, artist, nun, and teacher. Obviously – I became a teacher, but elements of art, acting and spirituality are still evident in my life. In the comments below, post what you wanted to be when you were little and if that is different now! Anyone else (not in our class) that feels like sharing is also welcome!

In the sixteen years that I have been teaching, the idea of my students being digital natives and that I am not, has been brought to my attention several times. The thing is that when it’s brought up it seems to make a lot of sense. Only when I look more closely at the lack of evidence to support changes in students brains or the actual way they learn, do I start to think that maybe I’m using anecdotal “evidence” to support a belief I am predisposed to. I mean, kids today are different right?

In the classroom, one of the things that has stood out to me as I have taught more technology, is that just because children are born with technology in their hands these days, it doesn’t mean they know how to use it or learn from it. Teaching kids how to use different apps or even how to actually find what they need on Google (high school students!) has shown me that the skills required for these “digital natives” to navigate today’s world are the same ones I needed to navigate 1991. Critical Thinking, communication, collaboration – 21^st century skills are what they need and while some of the delivery methods have changed, the need for them has not.

We do not live in a black and white world and we don’t need to teach in black and white ways – tech vs. no tech. We need to take the things that have always been important to education and use technology to enhance the learning of today’s students. Sometimes that may mean using games like Minecraft to help students with history, literacy, and writing (http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/09/28/for-the-hesitant-teacher-leveraging-the-power-of-minecraft/), but at other times it means using an online dictionary, a thesaurus, or other classic tools that haven’t really changed but are just available in different forms.

In his blog for the Boise State Edtech 537 class, Michael K. Barbour summarizes some readings on this topic (https://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/edtech537-examining-generational-differences-3/). This summary ends with the idea that, “the only thing that can be said about today’s student, based upon reliable and valid research, is that they are more narcissistic than any previous generation.” With that in mind it’s even more important to help ours students learn to use technology in a way that helps them critically think about the world around them. They need to know and understand that there is truth that exists outside of their own experience. Kids who have grown up in this tech filled world may know how to work the tech and push the buttons but they still have the same learning needs as the generations before them. They need to think critically, be able to communicate, and collaborate with others. As a teacher, I hope I’m teaching them how to use tech to do that.

So you got a job! Good for you. Maybe you’re making $10 an hour at a pizza place or maybe you’re running your own babysitting business and making a lot more than that. Either way, you have an influx of cash that you probably want to spend on everything your parents said you’d have to buy for yourself! But, should you? Really? Is that the best thing that you can choose to do with that money? The pleasure you get from having things is temporary. What if you took $20 out of what you make in a week and invested it instead?

Notice I said invested, not saved. There’s a difference between putting your money in a savings account and investing your money in something that can really grow for your future. (Things like stocks, money market accounts, and IRA’s) That can happen because of the magic of compound interest. Look at this page that shows how compound interest works. It actually says that a $20 a week investment could earn you over a million dollars in 50 years.

Now, investing isn’t simple or easy. It’s something you need to get advice about and do your own research on, but as a teenager you have something that we older people don’t. TIME. You have time on your side and starting with small investments every month as a teen can add up to an early retirement or other advantages when you’re older.

There are lots of places on the web that discuss compound interest and investing. Our textbook for class and Dave Ramsey also have a lot to say on the matter. Ultimately though, it’s a decision you should make with your parents after looking at all the information you can absorb. It’s definitely something to think about, especially if you just got a job.

Guest Blogger: Natalie L. Kaelin

(Sacred Heart Academy alumna and Alumnae Board member)

Working in the financial industry, I hear a lot of misconceptions about credit. I thought I would take the time to clear some of those up. (None of the following should be considered financial advising.)

Misconception #1: I can use my debit card like a credit card; it doesn’t matter if I have the money in my account.

No, No, No, NO! Did I say “No” enough times. There is a huge difference between a debit card and a credit card, but you may be surprised how many people don’t understand how these cards work.

A debit card is actually an “access card” which allows a banking account owner to “access” his or her checking or savings account. The debit card typically has a “VISA” or “MASTERCARD” logo on it as well.  This does NOT mean it is a credit card. This means that the bank has contracted with VISA or MASTERCARD to allow their account owners to use the “access” card at POS or “Point of Sale” locations in addition to the bank’s ATMs. POS locations are anywhere that VISA or MASTERCARD would be accepted. A debit card does not have a credit limit because it is not a credit card. When a person uses his or her debit card, the money is deducted from the checking or savings account automatically – no matter where the person uses the card!

Some people will ask — well why does the store allow me to choose credit or debit when I use my debit card? The answer is that stores receive an interchange fee based on how a customer uses their card. If a customer uses his or her PIN Number associated with the debit card, the store gets a higher fee than if the customer uses the card by signing his or her signature. It does not matter whether the customer clicks credit or debit on the card machine — the fact that it is a debit card means that the amount WILL be deducted from the person’s checking or savings account.

Credit Cards on the other hand, can be issued by a bank, a store, or similar business. Credit cards require approval and a set limit based upon the credit history of the individual applying for the card. Credit cards have interest rates associated with balances. If a person charges to their credit card and pays off the balance each month, the interest will never be charged. However, if that person allows a balance to accrue, then the interest rate will be charged to the balance. Monthly payments must be made to keep the credit card account in good standing.

It is so important to understand the difference between these different cards in your wallet!

Misconception #2: Credit cards are necessary for students as they enter college.

Credit cards CAN be a good way to build your credit as you enter college, but only IF you pay the balance! In college, you do not want to end up with a large credit card balance that you are now responsible for paying.  You should not put items on a credit card that you really cannot afford to pay off at the end of each month.

Misconception #3: My credit score doesn’t matter if I am debt free.

Unfortunately, this really is not true. Banks and other companies like insurance companies utilize individual’s credit scores to determine the creditworthiness of a person. Truthfully, someone with no credit history (i.e. no debt) is a black flag just as much as someone who filed bankruptcy. No credit history and no debt signals that the person may not know how to manage debt and is a risky prospective client.

Misconception #4: A low credit score is good.

Credit Scores range from 300 to 850. The higher the score the better.

Misconception #5: Each person only has one credit score.

Fico gives its formula to calculate the credit score to three different credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each credit bureau pulls its own credit report from slightly different networks of lenders, which means that each credit bureau may end up with a slightly different credit score for the individual. Credit scores can vary by as many as 50 points.

Misconception #6: Credit Scores and Credit Reports are always correct.

No, No, No. Just because it may be an official record does not mean that the information is always correct. Everyone makes mistakes! You should get your free credit report from each bureau once per year and check the information for accuracy.

So what else can you do to build your credit and help your credit score?

1. Make your monthly payments on your loans and credit cards on time.
2. Don’t default on any debts.
3. Ensure that your bank account is in good standing and prevent any debts to accrue from the account which may eventually be reported as a charge-off.
4. Keep the oldest credit cards active.
5. Try not to apply for or open multiple credit accounts simultaneously.
6. Credit cards from banks carry more weight than department store credit cards.
7. Do not waste your money on credit monitoring services or on promises by companies to improve your score! You can do that yourself!

Chances are that when most students think of cars and buying one, they have very unrealistic expectations. Most don’t even know what to consider beyond what the vehicle looks like. In our Personal Finance class we do a project that is intended to get students thinking about how they will one day go about the car buying experience. Will they pick cars that they think look cool or cars that meet the needs of their families? Hopefully, after this project they will see they can do both, while also considering things like reliability and affordability. Our PBL leads students through the experience of buying a car from gathering personal experience information from family and friends, searching the internet, evaluating needs vs. wants, affordability and financing, while giving them access to resources, both human and technological, to help them in their quest. (Introduction adapted from my PBL site on this project)

What advice would you give to a young person looking to purchase a vehicle? New or Used? Gas mileage or other criteria to look for? What makes a good car purchase these days?