Smart & Safe with Money

Be a SAVVY, SAFE consumer — compare prices, see through ads, and spot scams (if it's too good to be true, it probably is!).

🚩Spot the Scam: Red Flags on Your Phone

🚩 4 warning signs of a scam

🎁Too good to be true: a free prize you never entered to win. Real life doesn't give away iPhones to strangers.

⏰Rushing you: "Act NOW!" pressure stops you from thinking. Real offers can wait.

🔑Asking for secrets or money: a stranger wants your password or cash. Never send either.

🔗Sketchy links & senders: odd web addresses and misspelled names. Don't tap — delete it.

When in doubt, stop and ask a trusted adult before you click, reply, or pay. Slowing down beats getting tricked.

💳Credit: Borrow Now, Pay Back Later — Check What It Costs

Credit can help in a pinch — but check the terms, because the cost depends on them. Many loans add interest, and the longer they go unpaid the more piles on. A credit card that gives you a grace period usually charges no interest on purchases if you pay the whole balance by the due date — but issuers are not required to offer one, so read the terms. Many "buy now, pay later" plans charge no interest but do charge late fees.

💳 Borrow = a promise

Using credit means you're borrowing. You must pay it all back, and the terms decide whether interest or fees are added on top. Money you still owe is called debt.

🏷️ Smart spending

Whether you pay cash or credit, compare prices first so you don't overpay — and only buy what you actually need.

🛒In Real Life: Compare Before You Buy

Don't grab the first price you see. Comparison shopping means checking a few stores (and reading the ad's fine print) to find the real best deal.

🔑Key Terms

💳Credit Borrowing money — or the right to borrow it — to buy now and pay back later, often with interest or fees depending on the terms. It doesn't mean you have no money of your own.

📉Debt Money you have borrowed and still owe. The more you owe, the more you must pay back.

💸Interest (Cost of Borrowing) The extra money a lender charges you for using credit — the price of borrowing.

🛒Comparison Shopping Checking prices at different stores for the same item to find the best deal.

🎣Scam A trick that tries to take your money or secrets by lying — often a fake prize or urgent demand.

🛡️Online Safety Protecting yourself online — never share passwords, don't click sketchy links, and ask an adult.

⭐ Remember: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is — slow down, compare prices, and never hand a stranger your password or money!

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