Financial empowerment is the ability and confidence of individuals and communities to make positive financial decisions that promote their long-term financial stability and financial well-being.
With this in mind, the HFEC created this resource for all Hawai’i families to use: Education A College Prep Savings Guide for Families with Students in Grades 7-12.
Use this Financial Literacy Toolkit with your ʻohana to create a savings plan for your ʻohana’s college education goals. You’ll find helpful cost information about the ACT and SAT, learn about how Federal Financial Aid can help you pay for college, and different money savings strategies you can use.
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Resources for Families
- Khan Academy provides a life skills course in Personal Finance. Learn about saving and budgeting, interest and debt, investments/retirement and how to support yourself financially in all aspects of life. They provide short lessons on paying for college, housing, car expense and saving/ budgeting for the future.
- Get a copy of this FREE book on managing your money.
- Use this interactive Reality Check to find out how much money you will need to earn to cover your expenses.
- Money Matters resource for families. provides an amazing Use this to understand how to talk about spending, saving, and budgeting your money with your family and learn more about Financial Literacy for the Family.
- Teach Your Teen Financial Literacy– Why is this important?? Read this article to find out the benefits and importance of teaching financial literacy to students and their families. Learn More
- INPEACE– the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, provides workshops, videos and resources for empowering economic stability. Programs they offer include the Ho’oulu Waiwai an economic stability program for individuals and ‘ohana. Learn More
- The Hawaii State Public Library has amazing financial literacy resources. Whether you are starting your first job or ready to retire, knowing how to manage your money is an essential life skill. Teach your kids about money.
College & Career Readiness Resources
- Take a look at the planning for college resources and information for parents. They provide everything you need to know to support your child in the college process from where to get started, applications, finding scholarships and resources for families. Learn More
- These days, paying for college is no easy feat. These handouts will make the process of affording higher education a little less stressful and a lot less overwhelming. Learn More
- Student Aid is available for you and your family! Do You Need Money for College or Career School? Student Aid updates their website every September. For information on how to apply for Federal Financial Aid, Types of Aid, and helpful resources. Learn More
Resources for Youth
- MyMoney.gov has many games, fun activities, websites, video games and information about money for kids and youth. You will find links to information on how to save money, what to think about when shopping and buying, and how to make a spending plan (budget) so you’ll have enough money when you need it. Learn More
- The Hawaii State Public Library has amazing financial literacy resources. Whether you are starting your first job or ready to retire, knowing how to manage your money is an essential life skill. They provide links, tools, and classes to help you become financially literate. Topics include: Begin Saving, Manage your Money, Pay for Education, Prevent Fraud and Scams, Teach your Kids about Money and many more! Learn More;
- Teach your kids about money
Your Money Your Goals Toolkits
These toolkits will help you and your families with realistic money-saving habits and strategies. The toolkits are short and provide useful tips and interactive worksheets (also available en Español).
Resources for Educators
- MyMoney.gov provides information and links to a collection of federal guides and curricula for teaching financial capability concepts. This collection is designed specifically for teachers and educators including those who work with children as well as teach adults. Learn More
- Check out this Nearpod library of interactive lessons about useful skills for financial literacy, math, life skills and more! Learn More
- Reality Check– This is a fun and interactive way to gain a reality check on how affordable life is, according to your preferences and options available. Use this to teach high school students that after you finish school, you will need to work to pay for housing, food, clothes, transportation, and other items. Find out how much money you will need to earn to cover your expenses. Then find out which occupations will support this lifestyle. Learn More
- You for Youth provides resources and curricula on Financial Literacy for All! Provided by government, professional and nonprofit groups that want to support families and children building financial literacy. Materials can be used to guide students and their families. Learn More
- For ideas on how to fit financial literacy into out-of-school time activities, see the downloadable Quick Guide to Financial Literacy.
