Foundations in Personal Finance is Dave Ramsey's high school curriculum teaching budgeting, saving, debt avoidance, and money management through video lessons, workbooks, and practical activities.
What is Foundations in Personal Finance?
Foundations in Personal Finance is a comprehensive financial literacy curriculum for high school students created by Ramsey Solutions. Through 12+ hours of video instruction featuring Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze, and Chris Hogan, students learn practical money management skills including budgeting, saving, understanding credit, career preparation, and investing. The homeschool edition adds Scripture references and biblical perspectives on stewardship, making it particularly popular among Christian homeschooling families. Over 45% of U.S. schools use some version of this curriculum.
Key Takeaways
- 13 comprehensive modules covering personal finance from budgeting to investing
- Video-based instruction with student workbook and auto-graded assessments
- Homeschool edition includes Scripture integration and biblical money principles
- Flexible pacing: 45-day, 90-day, or 180-day completion options
- One-year streaming access with print workbook costs approximately $89.99
What the Curriculum Covers
What Makes It Different
Foundations in Personal Finance prioritizes practical application over economic theory. Students won't learn about monetary policy or supply-demand curves—they'll learn how to write a budget, why debt is risky, and how compound interest works for (or against) them. The video format features high-energy presentation and real-life scenarios that engage reluctant learners. For parents without financial expertise, the curriculum provides everything needed—no prior knowledge required. Students can work independently or with parent guidance, and the platform includes auto-graded quizzes that reduce parent workload.
Considerations for Homeschoolers
This curriculum reflects Dave Ramsey's specific financial philosophy, which emphasizes debt avoidance and emergency savings before investing. While many families find this approach valuable, some may want to supplement with alternative perspectives on topics like mortgage strategies or credit card usage. The Christian homeschool edition explicitly teaches that "money should always be handled God's way," which appeals to many families but won't suit secular homeschoolers. For those families, the standard high school edition removes Scripture references while maintaining the practical content.
The Bottom Line
For homeschool families wanting to prepare teens for financial independence, Foundations in Personal Finance delivers practical skills that traditional academics often neglect. The video-based format works well for independent learners, and the curriculum's "one philosophy" approach—while potentially limiting—provides clear, actionable guidance teenagers can actually implement. At roughly $90 for one year of access, it's affordable compared to college prep courses covering similar ground.
