Unit
Consumer Choices
Students learn to set goals, weigh quality against cost, see through marketing tactics, and shop as smart consumers.
Lessons
A goal without a plan is just a wish, and most wishes don't come with price tags. This lesson introduces the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework and connects it to real savings strategies so students can turn vague financial intentions into actionable plans.
Marketing influences impact spending whether you realize it or not. Students learn to identify marketing influences, such as urgency, social proof, scarcity, freebies, and more.
That "honest" unboxing video is usually a paid ad your algorithm chose for you. This lesson exposes how social media and hidden dark patterns nudge middle schoolers into spending money they didn't plan to spend.
The cheapest option isn't always the smartest one—and the most expensive rarely wins either. Explore consumer skills, comparison shopping, and the non-price factors that quietly drive every purchase.
Most adults can't explain every line on their own receipts—and that ignorance quietly costs them money. This lesson decodes receipts and explains sales tax and the hidden fees that inflate a final total.
A fraudulent charge isn't your loss to absorb—federal law puts the timeline on your side. This lesson teaches students how to spot bad charges and dispute them before the clock runs out.
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