Students learn the power of simple but important questions when making consumer decisions (e.g. How much sales tax and shipping can add to the cost of a seemingly small online purchase, or what both the return policy and warranty are for more expensive purchases such as expensive running shoes). They learn how to prioritize longer-lasting purchases (such as a new phone or laptop) over the smaller ones (like constant trips to the local pizza or ice-cream spot) that can prevent them from saving up for more meaningful items or experiences in the future. 

I am a Mother and retired Economist who has been teaching kids how to think before they buy for over 8 years. I believe that thinking before buying is the cornerstone of personal financial peace of mind. I have developed a way to keep this essential (but sometimes dry) topic lively and relevant for young people. I can't tell you how many times kids have said "We never thought of it like that" at the end of a workshop. Here's to early financial education, and all that it can accomplish!

Homework Offered
Learners will be asked to calculate the DIMS - Does It Make Sense? Score for every item or experience on their back-to-school / holiday or birthday gift wish-list in between the first and second class. They will learn how to do this in the first class. Calculating the DIMS SCORE only takes about three minutes per possible purchase, and generates a number between 1 and 10 that helps a young person understand if a possible purchase makes sense for them and their family, at a moment in time. 

In the second class, we will force-rank wish-list items from highest (DIMS SCORE of 10) to lowest (DIMS SCORE of 1) and then discuss the newly-ordered list, along with how best to work towards paying for the items and or experiences on it - as children are not yet adult income earners themselves.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
In every class learners will be asked if they are surprised to discover that in addition to saving money, thinking before buying:
1) Helps them avoid disappointment;
2) Helps their parents avoid spending time and effort buying clothes or supplies that may never be used or appreciated;
3) Thereby improving family harmony;
4) And protecting the planet - because when we only ask for or buy items or experiences that we actually use and appreciate, we are automatically reducing our carbon footprint, as well as the number of items that could eventually end up in a landfill.
Grades Offered

We will be using the DIMS SCORE calculator from Gifting Sense (.org) to calculate the Does It Make Sense? Score for each and every possible purchase on a learner's back-to-school/ holiday or birthday wish list. 

Gifting Sense was recognized at both the 2022 and 2023 Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards, as one of the best non-profit school-aged financial education programs, and for the SKBI Sustainable Finance Prize.