Independent educational pages hosted on an ITU web space

Money skills they don't teach in class

Campus Money Basics is a free, plain-language guide for students, interns, and first-time workers who want to make smarter financial decisions — without the jargon, the sales pitch, or the hype.

Most degree programmes teach you how to analyse systems, write code, design structures, or solve equations. Very few teach you what to do when your first paycheck arrives, how compound interest actually affects your savings, or why ignoring inflation is a slow-moving financial mistake. This site covers that gap.

Each guide focuses on one topic, explained completely and practically. You can read them in order or go straight to whatever is most relevant right now.

Core financial literacy guides

Budgeting for College & First JobsBuild a spending plan that works on a student or entry-level income. Emergency Fund Starter GuideWhy you need one, how much, and where to keep it. Compound Interest for BeginnersThe concept that makes starting early worth more than investing more later. Inflation & Cost of LivingWhat inflation really does to your purchasing power over decades. Paying for College & Student DebtHow to compare loan options and build a repayment strategy. Debt vs InvestingWhen to pay down debt first, when to invest first, and when to do both. First-Job Retirement BasicsEmployer accounts, tax advantages, and why starting at 22 beats starting at 32. Daily Spending HabitsHow small recurring costs compound into large long-term outcomes. Dividend Investing BasicsWhat dividends are, how reinvestment works, and what DRIP means for long-term growth. Understanding Crypto BasicsA sober, educational look at what crypto assets are and where they fit in a financial plan. Scams & Identity TheftThe schemes most likely to target students and what to do if you're hit. Resources & CalculatorsVetted free tools and official sources for going further.

About this site

Campus Money Basics is produced as a free open educational resource (OER). All content is written to be accurate, impartial, and useful to a general student audience. Pages do not carry affiliate links or paid placements. External tools are linked sparingly and only where they add clear educational value.

How to use these guides

Every page is self-contained. If you only have a few minutes, read the key takeaway box at the top of any page. Links to free calculators appear in-context — only where a tool genuinely extends the concept being taught.

Where to start

If you are not sure where to begin, start with budgeting. It is the foundation everything else builds on. Once you have a realistic spending plan, build an emergency fund before investing anything. Then learn how compound interest works — because that one concept changes how most people think about the value of time in a financial plan.