National Credit Union Youth Month

April is National Credit Union Youth Month—a great time to focus on how teens start learning money skills, often with their very first paycheck. That first job is exciting, but it also brings new questions: How much should I save? What should I spend?

Those early paychecks teach important lessons. Teens begin to understand that budgeting matters, even with small amounts, and that every dollar reflects their time and effort.

Opening a first account is another big step. With tools like TVFCU’s YOUR$ app, teens can easily:

• Track spending
• Monitor balances
• Set savings goals

These habits help build confidence and smarter decision-making early on.

A Local Example:

Victoria, a 16-year-old student at Dalton Academy, gained hands-on experience through the JA 3DE program, sponsored by TVFCU. As part of the program, she helped run a student business selling Hispanic-style desserts to classmates, teachers, and the community during JA’s Market Day event.

What began as a simple idea quickly turned into a valuable financial lesson. Victoria tracked expenses, priced products, and monitored profits—learning firsthand about cash flow and the importance of every dollar.

Many students in the program, including Victoria, used apps like Venmo and Cash App to collect payments. While these platforms are popular for quickly sending and receiving money, some teens don’t realize the benefits of having a traditional savings account.

As teens begin earning and saving, a credit union account offers added benefits like account insurance and interest-bearing savings. It provides similar payment convenience (yes, features very similar to Venmo and Cash App!) while helping build strong financial habits for the future.

Why It Matters

Learning financial skills early helps teens:

• Build strong, beneficial habits often in a low-stakes environment
• Avoid future mistakes
• Work toward goals like college or a car

At TVFCU, we’re proud to support programs like JA 3DE and provide tools that make managing money simple and accessible.

Get Started

This National Credit Union Youth Month, take the first step:

• Open a checking account
• Explore the YOUR$ app
• Set a savings goal

Ready to learn more?

Visit our financial education resources page for tips to help build smart money habits for life, and contact us with any questions.