New Revisions Academy

Financial Literacy & Economic Stability

Program Overview

The Financial Literacy & Economic Stability Program is designed to help participants build practical money-management skills, strengthen financial decision-making, and create a foundation for long-term economic stability.

The program supports justice-impacted adults, veterans transitioning into civilian life, adults rebuilding after major financial disruption, and individuals seeking stronger financial knowledge and independence.

Participants will learn how to manage income, create realistic budgets, understand banking and credit, reduce debt, build savings, prepare for taxes, and develop a personal financial-stability plan.


Banking & Personal Financial Foundations

This course helps participants understand the basic financial systems they will use in everyday life and how to manage them responsibly.

Participants will learn how checking and savings accounts work, how to use debit cards safely, how to compare financial institutions, and how to avoid common banking fees and financial mistakes.

Course topics include:

  • Checking and savings accounts
  • Banks versus credit unions
  • Debit cards and ATM use
  • Direct deposit
  • Reading account statements
  • Avoiding overdraft and service fees
  • Online and mobile banking safety
  • Protecting personal financial information

Expected outcome:

Participants complete a Personal Banking Setup Plan identifying the type of accounts, banking services, and financial safeguards they need to manage money more effectively.

Building a Realistic Household Budget

This course helps participants create a practical budget based on actual income, required expenses, personal responsibilities, and financial goals.

Participants will learn how to separate needs from wants, track spending, prepare for irregular expenses, and make adjustments when income changes.

Course topics include:

  • Understanding monthly income
  • Identifying fixed and variable expenses
  • Needs versus wants
  • Tracking everyday spending
  • Planning for irregular expenses
  • Creating weekly and monthly spending limits
  • Adjusting a budget when income changes
  • Building financial goals into the budget

Expected outcome:

Participants complete a Personal Monthly Budget that reflects their current income, expenses, financial responsibilities, and short-term savings goals.

Understanding Credit Reports & Credit Scores

This course helps participants understand how credit works, what appears on a credit report, and how financial behavior can affect credit scores over time.

Participants will learn how to review credit information, identify common reporting issues, understand the factors that influence credit scores, and build healthier credit habits.

Course topics include:

  • What a credit report contains
  • How credit scores are calculated
  • Payment history and credit utilization
  • Credit inquiries and account age
  • Reading and reviewing a credit report
  • Identifying possible reporting errors
  • Understanding collections, charge-offs, and late payments
  • Building and maintaining positive credit habits

Expected outcome:

Participants complete a Personal Credit Action Plan identifying their current credit priorities, habits to improve, and specific steps for strengthening their financial profile over time.

Debt Management & Financial Recovery

This course helps participants understand different types of debt and create a practical strategy for improving their financial situation over time.

Participants will learn how to prioritize obligations, communicate with creditors, evaluate repayment options, avoid high-cost borrowing, and make informed decisions when rebuilding after financial setbacks.

Course topics include:

  • Understanding secured and unsecured debt
  • Prioritizing essential financial obligations
  • Minimum payments, interest, and repayment costs
  • Creating a debt repayment strategy
  • Communicating with creditors and collectors
  • Recognizing high-cost and predatory lending
  • Avoiding new unnecessary debt
  • Rebuilding after financial hardship

Expected outcome:

Participants complete a Personal Debt Management Plan identifying their financial obligations, repayment priorities, and realistic steps toward improved financial stability.

Saving, Emergency Funds & Financial Planning

This course helps participants build practical savings habits and prepare for unexpected expenses, future goals, and long-term financial stability.

Participants will learn how to start saving with limited income, create an emergency fund, set realistic financial goals, and make consistent progress over time.

Course topics include:

  • Why emergency savings matter
  • Setting short-term and long-term savings goals
  • Starting small with limited income
  • Creating automatic savings habits
  • Preparing for unexpected expenses
  • Planning for major purchases
  • Building financial cushions over time
  • Reviewing and adjusting financial goals

Expected outcome:

Participants complete a Personal Savings & Financial Goals Plan identifying emergency-fund targets, savings priorities, and specific steps for building greater financial security.

Taxes, Income & Financial Responsibility

This course helps participants understand basic income and tax responsibilities so they can make better financial decisions and avoid common problems.

Participants will learn the difference between gross and net income, basic payroll deductions, common tax documents, filing responsibilities, and the importance of keeping accurate financial records.

Course topics include:

  • Understanding gross pay and take-home pay
  • Payroll taxes and common deductions
  • W-2 and 1099 income
  • Basic federal income tax responsibilities
  • Keeping financial and employment records
  • Understanding tax filing deadlines
  • Avoiding common tax mistakes
  • Planning for taxes when self-employed or working contract jobs

Expected outcome:

Participants complete a Personal Income & Tax Readiness Checklist identifying their income sources, tax documents, filing responsibilities, and recordkeeping needs.

Program Completion & Delivery

Participants complete the program through narrated lessons, downloadable worksheets, practical exercises, quizzes, assessments, and individualized financial-planning activities.

Completion may include progress tracking, course assessments, required assignments, and a final financial-stability review.

Participants who successfully complete the required coursework may receive a New Revisions Academy Certificate of Completion.

 

Institutional Use & Partnerships

This program is designed for flexible use by nonprofit organizations, veteran-service organizations, workforce-development agencies, correctional and community-supervision programs, ministries, shelters, and other community-based organizations.

New Revisions Academy is developing institutional partnerships to support financial literacy, economic stability, reentry preparation, veteran transition, and workforce-development initiatives.

Program delivery may be adapted for online learning, group instruction, community-based programming, and grant-funded financial-education projects.