Money/personal finance

What I lacked at home when it came to learning about money, however, was made up for by friends who were more financially literate than myself and by teachers throughout school who taught classes on topics such as finance management and consumerism. They provided valuable insight into concepts such as budgeting effectively, creating a savings plan that works best for one's individual needs and goals (short-term vs long-term), understanding different types of credit cards/loans/investment options available out there (e.g., secured vs unsecured loans), how interest rates work through compounding interest over time etc., which are all invaluable skillsets when preparing oneself for adulthood especially during college years where student loan debt can quickly accumulate without proper guidance/planning ahead . In addition to these formalized sources of knowledge around financial matters though perhaps what has served me best over the years is simply being mindful with how I spend my money; tracking expenses using various apps so that at any given time I know what exactly where my funds are going towards each month helps keep unnecessary purchases under control while also helping build better habits overall; setting SMART goals when it comes longterm planning like retirement or buying a house; shopping around online before making larger purchases so as to ensure getting the most bang out dollar spent; talking openly & honestly with family members regarding finances so everyone involved is always aware of their responsibilities etc.. In other words - understanding that wise fiscal decisions today ultimately leads towards success tomorrow!