Financial literacy: Course introduction

Welcome to Financial Literacy!

This video introduces the course Financial Literacy, a practical and structured course designed to help you build the knowledge and habits needed to make informed financial decisions throughout your life.

Financial literacy is not about becoming wealthy overnight. It is about understanding money well enough to avoid costly mistakes, reduce financial stress, and create long-term financial security. The concepts covered in this course apply directly to everyday decisions involving spending, saving, borrowing, investing, and planning for the future.

In this course, you will learn how money decisions compound over time and why small choices today can have a major impact on your financial well-being tomorrow. The course is designed for students with no prior finance background and emphasizes real-world applications rather than theory alone.

What this course covers:
- What financial literacy is and why it matters
- Needs vs. wants and everyday financial decision making
- Budgeting, saving, and emergency funds
- Fixed and variable expenses
- Banking basics and avoiding common fees
- Credit cards, loans, and interest rates
- Credit scores and credit reports
- Investing basics, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs
- Risk, return, interest, and compounding
- Student loans and borrowing for education
- Paychecks, taxes, and tax planning
- Retirement savings, insurance, and long-term financial planning

By the end of this course, you should feel more confident managing your money, understanding financial products, and making informed decisions that support your short-term needs and long-term goals.

This video serves as an overview of the course structure, expectations, and learning objectives. Please watch it carefully before beginning the first module.