Nobody expects students to show up knowing everything about money.
But at some point, the game changes. Rent, groceries, travel, tuition, equipment… The costs add up fast.
And unlike sports and classes, money isn’t something most students are ever formally trained for.
This guide starts at ground zero.
We’ll be covering the basics every student should understand, both in and out of the classroom.
1. Understanding Money: More Than Just What’s in Your Account
Money isn’t just about how much you have. It’s about how you use, save, and plan with it.
At a basic level, every student should know:
What money comes in (income)
What money goes out (expenses)
What’s left over (or not)
Put simply, that’s the starting line.
If you don’t know those three numbers, think of it like training without counting your reps. You can’t expect to grow based on luck alone (and without a plan).
2. Part-Time Work: What Jobs Actually Teach You
For many students, part-time work isn’t optional, it’s fully part of the grind.
But jobs teach more than just how to earn money:
Time management
Showing up consistently
Balancing effort and recovery
Understanding the value of your time
Work ethic transfers over to everything in your life.The habits you build earning your first paycheque often stick longer than the money itself.
3. Planning Ahead: The Skill That Reduces Stress
Surprisingly enough, most financial stress doesn’t actually come from “not enough money”, it comes from not knowing what’s coming next.
Planning doesn’t mean predicting the future. It simply means just having a basic game plan.
That can be as easy as:
Knowing when bills are due
Setting aside money for known expenses
Leaving room for the unexpected
Students plan their semesters and money deserves the same respect.
4. Investing: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)
Investing can sound intimidating, especially online.
Here’s the simple version:
Investing means putting money aside to grow over time
It’s about making informed decisions on the long-term value of companies- not gambling.
And it’s something everyone (especially young adults) will want to learn about early rather than later
It’s important to remember that understanding how investing works matters first, the actual leg work to do it matters second.
Think long-term. Just like studying, results come from patience and consistency.
5. Focus: Why Financial Skills Matter After Sport for Student Athletes
It’s the case that not every athletic career lasts forever. But financial skills do.
Learning how to manage money early builds:
Independence
Confidence
Flexibility after graduation
Options beyond sport
Don’t worry, you don’t need to have everything figured out right now. But you should be starting to ask questions, get curious, and poke around at what it means to be financially literate. Resources exist to help you (this one included). It’s all here, you just need to start paying attention.
Quick Check: Are You Building the Basics?
Ask yourself:
Do I know what comes in and goes out each month?
Do I understand how work, effort, and income connect?
Do I know what investing actually means?
Do I have any kind of financial plan, even a simple one?
If not, don’t sweat it.
This is where learning starts.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice.
