For many people, learning about money is anything but interesting. People of all ages have difficulty learning about anything to do with finances. This is especially true for children. Because of this, they miss out on knowing how to make important life decisions on money.
Financial literacy games offer individuals of all ages a chance to learn how to make decisions concerning money.
What kind of games are Financial Literacy Games?
Financial literacy games are monetary applications or platforms that teaches players how to make smart financial decisions. They are fun and easy to use. These platforms offer students and kids a chance to learn about money in an interesting way. Children and teenagers enjoy the benefit of gaining financial knowledge more practically.
Many popular financial literacy games have been around for many years. The knowledge they offer is still applicable in today’s financial world. This is because their makers continually revise them every year to keep them relevant.
There are many financial literacy games available today that can teach kids and students about money. These game range from Payback and Spent to Shady Sam
Financial Literacy Games For High School
Payback
This financial literacy game helps children make better financial decisions in college. They are able to learn how to go through college without accumulating huge student debts.
It offers students advice on how they can balance every aspect of their life while maintaining a healthy debt.
Spent
The goal of this game is to teach students how they can manage their finances even with low income.
McKinney created the game. He made the game to earn money for Urban Ministries of Durham. Today, the game is a popular financial literacy game.
Students can learn how to deal with the many challenges of living from paycheck to paycheck. It does this by creating scenarios and guiding students through them.
Financial football/financial soccer
This is an interactive sports styled financial game that uses quizzes to teach students. Students have to answer some financial questions to move up the field.
The creator of the game recently updated it with new questions and graphics. It has different levels of difficulty. This makes it easier for teachers to use the game in the classroom. Teachers can separate the class into groups depending on the level of difficulty. Then students can choose to play against each other or the computer.
Shady Sam
This game shows students the consequences of not paying attention to the terms attached to loans. The financial world has many loan terms, and not paying attention to them can lead to life-changing consequences.
In the Shady Sam game, the players are loan sharks. They get higher scores when borrowers pay more interest. This teaches students to pay attention to every detail when applying for loans.
Stax
This is an extremely interactive game. It teaches students how to make long time investments. They get to learn the benefits of making smart investments, even during financial struggles. Students can either play against each other or the computer.
Online Games for Young Kids
The following are the online games for your young kids that you would like to check.
Peter Pigs Money Counter
This is a fun and interactive game. Kids can quickly learn about some basic knowledge of money. It educates them on how to identify, count, and save money. Also, kids get to learn about many facts concerning the currency of the United States of America.
At the end of the game, the players get a reward. Kids that finish the game can buy some accessories from a virtual store.
Wise Pockets
Kids can learn how to manage money with this interactive game. Parents and teachers receive resource guides to teach their kids and students.
Fruit Shoot Coins
To play this game, kids simply add coins. Then they shoot the coins to the fruit having the corresponding number of coins.
Pros And Cons In Real Life
Pros
Financial literacy games teach kids how to deal with real-life financial situations. They are taught how to make decisions early on concerning their future.
These games prepare them for life as an adult when their financial life is their responsibility.
Cons
The biggest con of financial literacy games is that some of them can be addictive. Kids
Questions and Answers
What are the three main components of financial literacy?
People who are not financially literate have difficulty making money decisions. They have trouble deciding on the right bank accounts and making retirement plans.
For one to become completely financially literate, he/she have to be aware of certain components. There are five in number, according to the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.
The five financial literacy components include.
Earn: understanding your paycheck
You need to understand how much you make each month before you can make any financial decisions. This is the first thing to know before you can save, spend, or invest. Take account of the following:
Does your monthly income the same every month?
What is your net income?
Record any deductions from your income, such as tasks, and take note of other expenses sponsored by your employer.
Knowing your net income can be difficult if your monthly income is different every month. However, you can still calculate your net-income based on your earning history. You can begin to spend when you determine your net income each month.
Spend: Creating a personal budget
Everyone needs a personal budget. Having one makes it easy to achieve your financial goals. A budget is simply a guide for how you spend money. To make one, monitor and track your expenditure for a month.
Save: Determining your financial goals.
Having financial goals helps in directing how you spend your money. If you want to spend less than you earn, then you need to have financial goals. Your goals depend on your situation. Your situation could include anyone of the following.
Saving in case of emergency
Separating some money from your salary each month for emergencies is important. People do this to have peace of mind. It can save you in times of financial crisis.
Saving for retirement
It is better to begin saving for your retirement early. Set aside a certain percentage of your monthly income for retirement.
Saving for a big buy
If you plan to buy a house, a car, or anything at all, then you have to start saving early for it.
Paying off debts
Some people have one form of personal debt or another. Pay off your loan interests early to avoid any extra debt due to interest.
Borrow: loans your credit score and Credit cards
At some point, you may have to borrow to take care of large expenses. People may have to borrow money for college or for student loans. It isn’t a bad thing to borrow. What’s important is keeping a healthy credit card score. You also have to understand the process of comparing loans.
If you have a healthy credit score, then your interest rate for Loans won’t be high. Having a healthy credit score is essential if you want to become financially literate.
Finally, you also have to use your credit card responsibly to avoid having an unhealthy credit card score.
Protect: Preventing fraud and buying insurance
It is not enough to make the right budget and investment if you don’t protect your money. Check your credit card statements as well as your bank account to make sure everything is fine. Look for any strange activity. Make sure your passwords are secure.
Finally, buy insurance that will keep you safe in case of an event.
Why do students and teenagers need financial literacy?
Kids and teenagers will become an adult one day and manage their own finances. It is better they become financially literate as early as possible. This prevents them from running into financial problems in the future.
For instance, with the help of financial literacy games, kids can learn to save money for retirement early. Financially literate kids grow up to become financially literate adults. In adulthood, they can make responsible financial decisions. Smart financial decisions can keep you safe from running into debt and financial ruin.
What are the benefits of financial literacy?
Financially literate students are better equipped to be independent adults. They are taught earlier how to manage debt and survive through a financial crisis.
The cost of living is increasing. And most times, many adults don’t earn enough.
Many people are left with little after taking care of necessary expenses like rent. This means they have to depend on their credit cards. Using a credit card only adds to their expenses. This creates an endless loop of debt that makes it hard for young adults to plan for their future.
Financially literate adults are aware of the importance of keeping a healthy credit score. With a good credit score, they stand a chance of getting better interest rates for loans.
Also, financially literate young adults are able to save more and have something for retirement.
Conclusion
Financial literacy games give kids and students a chance to learn about real-life financial situations. This way, they are already experts at managing their financial life before adulthood. As they learn about the consequences of their decisions, they learn how to manage debt. Good debt management in adulthood means more financial success in life.
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