The start of the school year is the perfect time to teach your students about the psychology behind their spending habits! We've got the perfect instructional resource for you to do just that. The latest episode of the "Financially Inclined" podcast from Marketplace dives deep into the behavioral science powering our choices with money, whether we notice it or not! Season 3, Episode 2, "How Our Brains Mess with Our Money," features Financial Therapist, Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, who unpacks why our financial choices aren't always as logical as we'd like them to be. Whether it's the impulse to buy something to feel better in the moment or the pressure to spend in order to fit in with the cool crowd, our emotions often drive our spending choices in ways that can sabotage our financial well-being in the long run! Check it out below:

This episode is perfect for sparking classroom discussions or even as a thought-provoking homework assignment. Your students will gain a better understanding of why they make certain financial choices and learn strategies to manage their money a bit more mindfully. 

Lindsay provides a unique blend of psychology and financial literacy, helping students understand the 'why' behind their spending behaviors. This episode pairs well with content from NGPF's Behavioral Economics Unit.

Whether as an in-class activity or homework assignment, students can listen to the podcast on their own time, making it easy to integrate into your instruction!

Use the Podcast in Your Classroom:

1. Access the teacher presentation slides that pair with this episode
2. Print copies of the student listening guide for your students or share the file digitally
3. Play the YouTube video from a big screen for the whole class, or give students the choice to watch or listen at their own devices (earplugs needed)
4. Use questions from the listening guide to facilitate a classroom conversation about how students can apply the tips from the episode to their own lives.

Catch all episodes of "Financially Inclined" on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, and empower your students to take control of their financial choices by understanding the psychological forces at play. Enjoy!

About the Author

Yanely Espinal

Born and raised by Dominican, immigrant parents in Brooklyn, Yanely is a proud product of NYC public schools. She graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in 2007 before going on to receive her bachelor's degree at Brown University in 2011. As a Teach For America corps member, Yanely taught third and fourth grade in Canarsie, Brooklyn. She received her master's degree from Relay Graduate School of Education in 2013. She spends her spare time making YouTube videos about personal finance on her channel, MissBeHelpful. Yanely also loves to dance, sew, paint, listen to podcasts, and babysit her 10 nieces and nephews!