Financial Literacy: How to Pretend You Have Your Life Together

A Life Skill You Didn’t Ask For… but Definitely Need

Financial literacy isn’t about being rich — it’s about not being blindsided by life every five minutes. Somewhere out there, responsible adults are budgeting, saving, investing, and tracking every dollar like financial ninjas… while you’re debating whether a $6 Starbucks counts as “self-care.”

If words like budgeting, credit score, or retirement make you want to crawl under a blanket and hide, relax — most people are faking it anyway. Here’s a tightened, NATV-sharpened guide to understanding your money… or at least pretending you do.

Budgeting — A Fancy Word for “Tell Yourself No”

In theory, budgeting is simple: you track your money, create categories, and behave like a functioning adult.

In reality:

• You build a beautiful budget spreadsheet

• Label everything neatly

• And abandon it the moment you see something shiny on Amazon.

Coaching Insight: Rename categories to reflect reality:

• Rent — “Goodbye, Half My Income”

• Food — “Mostly Snacks”

• Self-Care — “Impulse Purchases I Will Justify Later”

Budgeting isn’t about perfection — it’s about knowing where the chaos is happening.

Saving Money — For a Future You Who Doesn’t Exist Yet

Saving money is a psychological battle between:

• Present You (impulsive, emotional, wants sushi)

• Future You (theoretical, responsible, probably boring)

You’re supposed to sacrifice now so Future You can have “financial security,” but Future You isn’t here today and has contributed nothing to the group project.

Coaching Insight:

Automate your savings. If you don’t see it, you can’t spend it. Treat savings like a bill you owe yourself.

Credit Scores — The Mysterious Number That Judges You

Your credit score is basically a report card for how well you pretend to be an adult. No one actually understands how it’s calculated, but it reacts to everything:

• Pay on time? +10 points.

• Use too much credit? –50 points.

• Blink too aggressively near your credit card? –12 points, probably.

Coaching Insight:

Pay bills on time. Keep balances low. Space out credit applications.

It’s not hard — just annoying.

Investing — Giving Your Money to Strangers and Hoping It Grows

Investing is where financial literacy turns into high-stakes guesswork.

If you understand it:

• You talk about index funds, compounding, and diversification.

If you don’t:

• You download an app

• Buy stocks you heard about on Reddit

• And refresh the chart every five minutes hoping you’re suddenly rich.

Coaching Insight:

Start small. Invest consistently. Avoid YOLO’ing your life savings into “the next big thing.”

Retirement Planning — Because Apparently You Can’t Work Forever

Retirement planning feels ridiculous when you’re still figuring out next week’s groceries. But that magical phrase compound interest means the earlier you start, the better.

Even a small contribution grows over time — which is great, because that’s all you can afford anyway.

Coaching Insight:

Treat retirement like future rent: unavoidable, annoying, and absolutely necessary.

Emergency Fund — Your Official “Oh Sh*t” Money

Financial experts say you need 3–6 months of expenses saved. Cute. Adorable. Hilarious.

Most people are lucky to save 3–6 minutes before life hits them with:

• a dead car battery

• a surprise medical bill

• or a dog who suddenly needs emergency surgery at 3AM

Coaching Insight:

Start with whatever you can. Even $200 set aside can turn a crisis into an inconvenience.

Final Thought: Fake It ‘Til You Make It (Financial Edition)

Financial literacy isn’t about perfection. It’s about making slightly fewer disastrous choices than last month. Budget a little better. Save a little more. Make smarter decisions one paycheck at a time.

And if you mess up?

Don’t worry — the bills will remind you.