San Diego teen wins national finance challenge with YouTube and AI
Four San Diego teenagers used YouTube and AI as teachers to win the 2025 National Personal Finance Challenge across the nation. Could you please match it?
- Recent research shows that many Gen Zers lack basic financial literacy, with some not even knowing about inflation or how many cents are in a dollar.
- In response to this knowledge gap, 30 states now require high school students to take a personal finance course.
- Companies like Capital One and Intuit offer programs that give teens real-world financial experience and job skills.
According to a study by writing platform EduBirdie, Gen Z may know how to use TikTok with ease, but they’re totally lacking when it comes to finances.
The study found that of the 2,000 Americans surveyed between the ages of 18 and 27, 46% do not understand cryptocurrencies and 33% are unsure about inflation and interest rates. According to the survey, 8% don’t know how many cents there are on the dollar, 2% believe it’s 10 cents, 3% believe it’s 50 cents, and 3% believe the number is related to inflation.
With costs rising and the risk of losing out on programs like Social Security, Gen Z needs to become financially literate, and the sooner the better, experts say. Thirty states already require high school students to take at least one semester of independent personal finance courses before graduation, up from 17 in 2022, according to the nonprofit Next Gen Personal Finance. Companies are now building on real money experience based on classroom education.
Mindy Bingham, author of Lifestyle Math, said, “Every teen has the right to know not just how money works, but how money works for them.” “That’s what changes behavior. It’s not just vocabulary and worksheets, it’s actual numbers that are connected to your life.”
Opportunities for capital (1)
Calique Barnes was a high school senior when she applied for a paid internship as a Capital One Café Ambassador. Internships for high school students from underserved communities teach teens how to find jobs, work, and budget.
Selected students will work at some Capital One banks and some cafes during their senior year, where they will learn financial literacy and work with other employees to help customers with banking questions, said Jennifer Windbeck, director of retail banking channels and operations at Capital One. Also, network and present your knowledge at cafes and school events.
“Glory to God, they chose me,” Burns said. “It’s been a great work experience. Money management didn’t exist in my family or community. We didn’t know about credit or debt. I learned all about it. I also get to teach my children, family, and friends how to manage money and think long-term.”
Burns, now a freshman at Morehouse College, even gives advice to her mother, whether she asks or not. “When my mom made a financial decision that I didn’t agree with, I told her why. She was surprised. She said, ‘Oh, you’re a financial advisor now,'” he said.
But Burns said he practices what he preaches. He tweaked the 50/30/20 rule, which says people should put 50% of their money toward paying for necessities, 30% toward needs like entertainment and entertainment, and 20% toward savings and debt repayments. “I went 50/20/30 so I could save a little more for college,” he said.
Get “In-tu-it”
Similarly, financial software company Intuit launched Intuit for Education to reach 50 million students with financial literacy by 2030. High school and college students have access to free online curriculum and tools to learn about finance, and high school students in career and technical education from underserved communities can apply to the Intuit food truck program.
The Food Truck Program provides students with food trucks and mobile carts, financial and business management tools, culinary training, and start-up grants to help students operate their own food trucks. Since its launch in 2023, nearly 10,000 students have taken the program in nine metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Lynchburg, Nashville, Reno and San Diego. Dave Zasada, vice president of Intuit for Education, said 10,000 more students will participate this year, with plans to expand to areas near Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Milwaukee.
“Students not only get to cook, but they get hands-on experience running a business,” Zasada said. “They use QuickBooks to manage sales and track costs, create budgets, price products, manage inventory, and even develop branding and promotional strategies. They also build important soft skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, all in real time while running a functioning food truck.”
Students also learn to contribute to the community. This holiday season, students will see first-hand how they can use their business skills to make a positive impact as each kitchen truck helps provide free meals to those in need. It plans to serve about 400 people at each stop and help more than 3,500 people nationwide, he said.
“As students create budgets, manage inventory, and make business decisions that directly impact their success, they see firsthand how financial literacy can enhance their chances,” Zasada said. “It’s not just about learning how to balance a budget, it’s about building the confidence to turn your ideas into reality.”
Medora Lee is USA TODAY’s money, markets and personal finance reporter. Please contact us at mjlee@usatoday.com. Subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.
