What Schools Don’t Teach About Money (But Really Should)

Alex Koupal • May 7, 2025

The Money Guide We All Needed at 18—But Had to Learn the Hard Way

Simple Budgeting and Saving Tips for Young Adults, Moms, and Anyone Figuring It Out

You graduate, get your diploma, and suddenly—boom—you’re expected to budget, build credit, pay bills, and somehow still have a social life.

Whether you’re a mom stretching every dollar or a young professional just trying to stay afloat, you’re not alone.

Most of us were launched into adulthood with a debit card, a student loan, and a whole lot of guesswork.

Let’s start fresh with a better approach:

1. Know Where Your Money’s Going

Budgeting 101: If you’ve ever looked at your account and thought, “Where did it all go?”—you’re not alone. You’re also not broken. You just need a plan.

Try the 50/30/20 rule:

50% to needs (bills, food, rent)
30% to fun (because life is too short to skip the iced coffee every time)
20% to savings or debt

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be clear.

2. "I’ll Save Later" Is a Trap

You don’t need to start with hundreds. Even $25 a week adds up over time.

The goal isn’t to build an emergency fund overnight—it’s to prove to yourself that you can save.

Quick saving hacks:

Set up auto-transfers
Use round-up apps that save your spare change
Make saving so easy you forget it’s happening

3. Credit Cards Aren’t Free Money (But They’re Not Evil, Either)

No one told us how credit actually works until we messed it up, right?

Here’s the credit card crash course:

Only spend what you already have
Keep your balances low, shoot for 20% of your available credit
Always, always pay more than your minimum payment
Pay off your credit card every month

Why it matters: your credit score affects your ability to rent, get a car, buy a home—or even get hired. Start building it the right way, now.

4. Stop Whispering About Money

We all grew up thinking money talk was rude. But silence keeps people stuck.

Start the conversation:

Ask your friends how they budget
Watch money TikTok's and listen to podcasts
Talk to your family about what they wish they knew sooner

Financial literacy grows faster when we learn out loud.

5. Even If You Don’t Know What You’re Doing, Just Start

No one expects you to have it all figured out. The most powerful move you can make? Start somewhere.

Start here:

Cancel a subscription you forgot about
Check your credit score
Put $20 into a savings account, or better yet, an IRA

Small moves create momentum. And momentum creates change.

You’re Not Behind—You’re Just Getting Started

Money can feel messy—but you don’t have to figure it out alone.

If you’re ready for support that’s judgment-free, jargon-free, and all about you, book a free consultation and get one step closer to financial freedom.

Because understanding your money is the first step to owning your future.

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How to Figure Out What You Want in Life (Without the Overwhelm)

By Alex Koupal • April 16, 2025

Let’s be real—figuring out what you actually want in life can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. If you’re a busy mom juggling a million things or a twenty-something stuck in “what’s next?” mode, the pressure to have it all figured out is exhausting . But here’s the thing: You don’t need a five-year plan. You just need a starting point. 1. Stop Stressing About Having the "Right" Answer No one wakes up one day with a perfectly clear vision of their future. Life is messy, careers change, and passions evolve. Give yourself permission to explore instead of forcing yourself to commit to one path forever. Take the pressure off—it’s not that serious. 2. Follow What Feels Good What are you naturally drawn to? What do you find yourself Googling or watching a TikTok at 2 AM? Pay attention to the things that spark your interest—that’s where the magic starts. 3. Try Before You Decide You don’t have to quit your job or go back to school tomorrow. Test things out! Take a class, volunteer, start a side hustle—get a feel for what excites you before making big moves. 4. Talk to Real People I know, I know… talking to people can be awkward, but real opportunities don’t just knock on your door. Reach out to people who are doing something that interests you. Ask them how they got there. You’d be surprised how many are willing to share advice—and how much clarity you’ll gain just by listening. 5. Just Take the First Step The biggest thing holding people back? Overthinking. (Yep, shocking, I know.) Stop waiting for the perfect plan and just start —sign up for that workshop, send that email, go to that event. Clarity comes from doing , not from obsessing over every little detail. You don’t need all the answers today. Just take one small step and trust that you're figuring it out as you go. 6. Don’t Do It Alone Big decisions feel less overwhelming when you have someone in your corner. A mentor, coach, or even just a trusted friend can help you see things from a different perspective. If you’re feeling stuck, let’s talk! Book a clarity session —sometimes, all you need is a little guidance to get moving in the right direction.

Tiktok, Social Media & Teens: How to guide without just saying, "Get off your phone!"

By Alex Koupal • April 9, 2025

Let’s be real: telling teens to “get off your phone!” doesn’t work. Social media is part of their world. For our teens, social media is how they connect, learn, and express themselves. So how can we help them use it wisely without sounding and being the villain? There’s a way to help them navigate social media mindfully, and no, it doesn’t involve a complete ban. 1. Start the Conversation, Not the Battle Instead of becoming the enemy and banning social media out of the blue, talk to your teen about what they’re doing on it. Is it for learning, creativity, or just entertainment? Understanding their “why” helps guide them to use it more purposefully. 2. Set Healthy Boundaries Together Instead of enforcing rules, involve your teen in setting healthy screen-time limits. It gives them ownership and responsibility over their habits. For example, “I’ll spend 30 minutes scrolling up on TikTok after school, and then I’ll switch to doing homework” can be a much better strategy than enforcing a rigid rule that feels like punishment. When your teen has a say in the boundaries, they’re more likely to stick to them. 3. Be a Role Model What adults do, Teens do! If we’re glued to our phones, constantly checking social media, it sends the message that it’s okay to get lost in the digital world. Model healthy habits, like setting phone-free times, taking social media breaks, or just being present during family time. Show them how to use social media in a balanced way by setting phone-free times and modeling healthy habits. 4. Encourage Real-Life Activities Social media is great for staying in touch, but it can never replace real-life experiences. Encourage hobbies, sports, or family time to keep them grounded. This way, they can create a well-rounded life that isn’t centered solely around the screen. Plus, those real-world experiences will give them something to post about on their feed! 5. Be Their Guide, Not Their Warden At the end of the day, we can’t control everything teens do online. But we can provide guidance, support, and resources to help them use social media in a positive and mindful way. Keep the lines of communication open and encourage them to have trusted mentors—whether it’s a teacher, coach, older cousin, or life coach—who can provide advice beyond just Mom or Dad. If you’re worried about your teen’s social media habits, let’s talk! Book a free parent support session.