Americans saved just 4.4 percent of their disposable income in 2025, while countries like Sweden saved 16.3 percent. This gap is striking, especially because the United States ranks first in disposable income worldwide. If Americans earn more than anyone else, why are we saving so little?
A major cause is our lack of financial education. Money is treated as a taboo topic from a young age. Bankrate reports that 61 percent of U.S. adults feel uncomfortable discussing their bank account balances even with close friends or family. When most adults are uneasy talking about something as essential as money, it is no surprise that young people grow up without the tools to make responsible financial decisions.
California’s new law, AB 2927, requires a personal finance course for high school graduation starting with the graduating class of 2031, and many assume this solves the problem. However, as a student in FUSD, I see the gaps first hand.
One of my peers recently spent 600 dollars on a casual mall trip after completing a high school personal finance class. That is roughly 35 hours of minimum wage work, and it shows that a single course as an upperclassman cannot build lifelong financial habits.
Financial literacy must start earlier. Middle school is a critical period when habits form, yet most students receive no structured financial guidance until years later. Nonprofits try to fill the gap, but they cannot reach every student or reshape an entire generation’s mindset. Schools can. If we want financially stable adults, we must teach financial skills consistently throughout K to 12, not just at the finish line. Early education is the foundation of a financially responsible future.
Sincerely,
Baidehi Roy
A concerned FUSD student
