What does consumer education help students understand?

Consumer education focuses on teaching individuals, including students, about financial literacy, which encompasses understanding how to effectively manage their finances and make informed decisions about their spending. By fostering knowledge about budgeting, evaluating products and services, comparing prices, and recognizing advertising tactics, consumer education equips students with the skills to spend their money wisely. This foundational knowledge enables them to prioritize their needs, make prudent purchases, and ensure their financial well-being.

While aspects such as negotiating salaries, maximizing savings, and investing in stocks are certainly important financial skills, they fall under broader categories that consumer education may touch upon but do not primarily intend to teach. The central goal of consumer education is promoting responsible spending habits, thus making the understanding of how to effectively spend their money the most relevant choice.