Free Lessons

Learn about money at your own pace

Free lessons based on the FDIC's Money Smart for Adults curriculum. Use them on your own or with our free classes. Each lesson ends with a short quiz so you can check what you learned.

Free. No sign-up. Works on your phone.

Start with the first lesson Find a free class

How it works

Read a short lesson Plain language, real examples, and new words explained.
Check what you learned Answer a few questions and see why each answer is right.
Keep going Follow the path topic by topic, or start with what you need today.

Your learning path

We suggest going in order, but you can start with any topic.

Topic 1

Money Foundations: Plan, Track, and Save

Build a spending plan that works for real DC-area households, including uneven income and money sent to family, and start an emergency fund from zero.

Lessons: 2 About 29 min
1. Build a Spending Plan That Fits Your Real Life
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Start an Emergency Fund from Zero
  About 14 min Quiz questions: 6
Topic 2

Banking Basics: Accounts That Work for You

How to open an account (even without an SSN), compare banks, credit unions, apps, and check cashers, and send money abroad safely and cheaply.

Lessons: 3 About 46 min
1. Opening a Bank Account, Even Without an SSN
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Banks, Credit Unions, Apps, and Check Cashers: What Is Protected and What It Costs
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
3. Sending Money Home: Compare Costs and Know Your Rights
  About 16 min Quiz questions: 5
Topic 3

Paychecks and Personal Income Taxes

Understand your pay stub and withholding, handle taxes on gig and cash income, and file for free while claiming every credit you earned. Money Smart has no tax module, so this topic is mostly a Dollar Scholars extension.

Lessons: 3 About 48 min
1. Read Your Pay Stub and Fill Out Your W-4
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Taxes on Gig, Cash, and Self-Employment Income
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
3. File for Free and Claim the Credits You Earned
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 6
Topic 4

Credit Reports and Credit Scores

Read your credit report and fix mistakes, build credit from nothing (including as a newcomer or ITIN holder), and learn what really moves your score.

Lessons: 3 About 51 min
1. Read Your Credit Report and Fix Mistakes
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Build Credit from Zero
  About 16 min Quiz questions: 5
3. What Moves Your Credit Score (and What Does Not)
  About 17 min Quiz questions: 6
Topic 5

Borrowing Wisely and Avoiding Predatory Loans

See the real price of a loan, recognize payday, title, rent-to-own, and other high-cost products, find safer options, and get a fair deal when you finance a car.

Lessons: 2 About 36 min
1. The Real Price of a Loan: High-Cost Traps and Safer Options
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 6
2. Buying a Car: Get a Fair Loan and Avoid Dealer Traps
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 5
Topic 6

Credit Cards and Managing Debt

Use a credit card without paying interest, build a payoff plan that works, and deal with debt collectors, court papers, and medical bills with confidence.

Lessons: 3 About 49 min
1. Use a Credit Card Without Paying Interest
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Make a Plan to Pay Off Debt
  About 16 min Quiz questions: 5
3. Dealing with Debt Collectors and Collection Lawsuits
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 5
Topic 7

Scam Awareness and Identity Protection

Recognize today's scams, especially those aimed at immigrants, renters, and job seekers. Protect your identity for free, and recover if it is stolen.

Lessons: 3 About 49 min
1. Spot Today's Scams: Impostors, Texts, and Payment Apps
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Scams That Target Immigrants, Renters, and Job Seekers
  About 16 min Quiz questions: 5
3. Protect Your Identity and Recover If It's Stolen
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 5
Topic 8

Renting and Housing Choices

Rent with confidence in the DC area, and compare the real costs of renting and buying before you start the path to owning a home.

Lessons: 2 About 34 min
1. Renting in the DC Area: Leases, Deposits, and Your Rights
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 6
2. Rent or Buy? Compare the Real Costs
  About 16 min Quiz questions: 5
Topic 9

Buying a Home and Getting a Mortgage

Prepare over 12 months, use local down payment help, compare loan offers, close safely, and know where to turn if you fall behind.

Lessons: 3 About 52 min
1. Get Mortgage-Ready: A 12-Month Plan
  About 16 min Quiz questions: 5
2. Down Payment Help and Loan Types in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 6
3. From Loan Estimate to Closing Day (and Keeping Your Home)
  About 18 min Quiz questions: 6
Topic 10

Preparing for and Recovering from Financial Shocks

What to do in the first 30 days after income stops, and a family emergency plan for disasters, illness, and sudden changes.

Lessons: 2 About 30 min
1. When Income Stops: Your First 30 Days
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 6
2. Your Family's Financial Emergency Plan
  About 15 min Quiz questions: 6

Prefer learning with a teacher?

Dollar Scholars classes are free. Bring your questions and learn with others.

See the class schedule

Want to test what you already know? Try our financial literacy quiz (a separate website)

About these lessons

These lessons are written by Dollar Scholars. They build on Money Smart for Adults, a free curriculum from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Dollar Scholars is not part of the FDIC, and the FDIC has not reviewed or endorsed these lessons.

The lessons are general financial education. They are not legal, tax, or financial advice for your situation.

Welcome back

How it works

Your learning path

Prefer learning with a teacher?

About these lessons