Course Goals
- Build a practical foundation in budgeting, banking, credit, taxes, and saving/investing.
- Understand how to interact with key agencies: IRS, SSA, HHS, and local Police/Fire/EMS.
- Practice adult workflows: healthcare navigation, legal basics, and home/auto upkeep.
- Use technology for adulthood: spreadsheets, secure documents, password management, and safe research.
- Create a final Life Binder (paper + digital) with checklists, contacts, templates, and personal plans.
Weekly Rhythm
- 15 min Warm-up & recap
- 60–75 min Lesson + demo
- 30–45 min Hands-on activity
- 15 min Reflection & assignables
Deliverables
- Life Binder (digital in Nextcloud + printable), including budget, résumé, emergency plan, agency cheatsheets.
- Spreadsheets: zero-based monthly budget, sinking funds, debt tracker, income log.
- Templates: job app, cover letter, landlord email, non-emergency script, insurance claim checklist.
Schedule (Every Other Friday)
| Date | Topic | Objectives | Artifacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2025 | Welcome to Adulthood — rights, responsibilities, expectations | Map life domains; set personal goals; define course norms. | Goal sheet |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Time & Systems — calendars, routines, checklists | Build weekly rhythm; use reminders; create maintenance lists. | Routine tracker |
| Oct 10, 2025 | Budgeting 101 — needs vs wants, 50/30/20, zero-based | Create a monthly budget; simulate bills; plan buffer. | Budget v1 |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Banking & Cards — checking, savings, credit | Open/compare accounts; understand interest & fees; credit score basics. | Account comparison |
| Nov 07, 2025 | Income, Paychecks & Withholding | Read a pay stub; W-4 setup; 1099 vs W-2. | Paystub mock |
| Nov 21, 2025 | Intro to Taxes (IRS) | Where taxes go; forms; filing overview; recordkeeping. | Tax flowchart |
| Dec 05, 2025 | Savings, Sinking Funds, & Emergency Fund | Build a $1k EF plan; plan sinking funds for known expenses. | Sinking fund sheet |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Investing Basics — compounding, risk, retirement | Understand index funds; Roth vs Traditional basics. | Investing primer |
| Jan 02, 2026 | Employment Skills — applications, interviews, etiquette | Build résumé; practice interview Q&A; workplace norms. | Résumé draft |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Entrepreneurship — KennowTech as a case study | Business models; invoices; customer service; basic P&L. | Mini P&L sheet |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Digital Tools @ Work — email, file hygiene, security | Professional email; folder structure; backups; passwords. | File plan |
| Feb 13, 2026 | SSA & Identity — SSN purpose, MySSA.gov, ID safety | When to share SSN; freeze credit; set up MySSA sandbox. | ID checklist |
| Feb 27, 2026 | HHS & Benefits — Medicaid, SNAP, local supports | Eligibility basics; how to research assistance ethically. | Benefits map |
| Mar 13, 2026 | Police / Fire / EMS — 911 vs non-emergency | When to call what; report writing; rights and responsibilities. | Call scripts |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Legal Basics — contracts, leases, citations | Read a lease; simple contracts; what to do if cited. | Lease checklist |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Healthcare Navigation — ER vs Urgent Care vs PCP | Insurance terms; choosing care; advocating for yourself. | Care decision tree |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Home & Utilities — bills, renter basics, safety | Set up utilities; read bills; tenant rights; fire safety. | Move-in checklist |
| May 08, 2026 | Auto Essentials — maintenance, insurance, roadside | Change a tire; insurance claim steps; accident kit. | Glovebox kit list |
| May 22, 2026 | Scams & Fraud — phishing, identity theft, recovery | Spot scams; recovery plan; password managers. | Security plan |
| Jun 05, 2026 | Finale — scenarios & Life Binder showcase | Run real-world scenarios; present binders; plan next steps. | Life Binder |
Note: Jan 2 is a holiday week — we can optionally shift if needed.
Lesson Blueprints (Lecture / Discussion Outlines)
Each session below will expand into slides, handouts, and OnlyOffice spreadsheets. Placeholders are ready so we can drop materials in as we create them.
1) Welcome to Adulthood — rights, responsibilities, expectations
Key Points
- Freedom ⇄ Responsibility; natural consequences; stewardship mindset.
- Life domains: Money, Work, Health, Home/Auto, Law, Tech, Community.
- How we'll learn: demos, roleplay, build assets, reflect.
Activities
- Personal goals worksheet (short & mid-term).
- "Where am I strong / weak?" self-audit.
Artifacts
- Goal sheet (PDF)
- Self-audit (PDF)
2) Time & Systems — calendars, routines, checklists
Key Points
- Calendar → routine → checklist → habit loop.
- Quarterly and weekly reviews.
Activities
- Build weekly template in OnlyOffice.
- Set reminders; chore rotation.
Artifacts
- Routine tracker (ODS/XLSX)
3) Budgeting 101 — needs vs wants, 50/30/20, zero-based
Key Points
- Cash flow vs net worth; pay yourself first; zero-based flow.
- Charity & savings targets.
Activities
- Build starter budget in OnlyOffice; simulate bills & income variability.
Artifacts
- Budget v1 (ODS/XLSX)
4) Banking & Cards — accounts, fees, credit
Key Points
- Checking vs savings; interest; overdrafts; how credit works.
Activities
- Compare accounts (local CU vs online bank).
Artifacts
- Account comparison sheet
5) Income, Paychecks & Withholding — W‑4, paystubs
Key Points
- Gross vs net; FICA; 1099 vs W‑2; side gigs.
Activities
- Deconstruct a paystub; set W‑4 examples.
Artifacts
- Paystub mock (PDF)
6) Intro to Taxes (IRS) — forms, filing, recordkeeping
Key Points
- W‑2, 1099‑NEC, 1099‑K, 1040; why taxes exist; audit triggers 101.
Activities
- Build a receipts folder structure; mock 1040 walk‑through.
Artifacts
- Tax flowchart (PDF)
7) Savings & Sinking Funds — building buffers
Key Points
- Emergency fund tiers; sinking funds for tires, gifts, repairs.
Activities
- Create sinking fund schedule in OnlyOffice.
Artifacts
- Sinking fund sheet (ODS/XLSX)
8) Investing Basics — compound growth & risk
Key Points
- Compounding; diversification; index funds; fees matter.
Activities
- Run growth scenarios in spreadsheet.
Artifacts
- Investing primer (PDF)
9) Employment Skills — résumé & interviews
Key Points
- Résumés that show value; STAR answers; first‑day etiquette.
Activities
- Draft résumés; mock interviews (record + feedback).
Artifacts
- Résumé draft (DOCX/ODT)
10) Entrepreneurship — KennowTech case study
Key Points
- LLC vs sole prop; pricing; customer service; simple P&L.
Activities
- Create a one‑page business canvas.
Artifacts
- Mini P&L sheet (ODS/XLSX)
11) Digital Tools @ Work — hygiene & security
Key Points
- Email etiquette; file naming; backups; password managers; 2FA.
Activities
- Set up folder structure in Nextcloud; create backup routine.
Artifacts
- File plan (PDF)
12) SSA & Identity — MySSA, freezes, privacy
Key Points
- Purpose of SSN; how/when to share; credit freezes & pulls.
Activities
- Create an identity‑safety checklist; practice scripts for refusing unsafe requests.
Artifacts
- ID checklist (PDF)
13) HHS & Benefits — eligibility & research
Key Points
- Medicaid/SNAP basics; researching local programs without gaming the system.
Activities
- Map Fox Valley resources; capture phone/email & docs needed.
Artifacts
- Benefits map (PDF)
14) Police / Fire / EMS — calling the right line
Key Points
- 911 vs non‑emergency; what to say; citizen responsibilities and rights.
Activities
- Write + practice call scripts; review local agency pages.
Artifacts
- Call scripts (PDF)
15) Legal Basics — contracts, leases, citations
Key Points
- Reading clauses; what "binding" means; dispute resolution 101.
Activities
- Lease markup exercise; write a polite dispute email.
Artifacts
- Lease checklist (PDF)
16) Healthcare Navigation — ER vs Urgent Care vs PCP
Key Points
- Insurance terms: deductible, copay, coinsurance, network; advocacy at the desk.
Activities
- Care decision tree; prepare a meds & history card.
Artifacts
- Decision tree (PDF)
17) Home & Utilities — set‑up, safety, tenant basics
Key Points
- Utility setup; bill anatomy; renter insurance; fire safety basics.
Activities
- Move‑in checklist; smoke/CO plan; breaker panel labeling.
Artifacts
- Move‑in checklist (PDF)
18) Auto Essentials — maintenance & insurance
Key Points
- Fluids & tire care; insurance coverages; roadside steps.
Activities
- Change‑a‑tire lab (driveway); glovebox kit assembly.
Artifacts
- Glovebox kit list (PDF)
19) Scams & Fraud — prevention & recovery
Key Points
- Phishing tells; fake invoices; identity theft triage; password managers.
Activities
- Spot‑the‑phish game; create a recovery playbook.
Artifacts
- Security plan (PDF)
20) Finale — scenarios & Life Binder showcase
Activities
- Scenario circuits (accident, bill late, job change, minor injury).
- Binder presentations & feedback.
Artifacts
- Life Binder (print + digital)
Materials & Downloads (Live Links)
Materials & Downloads (Live Links)
📂 Spreadsheets
📂 PDF Handouts
📝 Goal Sheet (PDF)
🏥 Fox Valley Resources (PDF)
💵 Paystub Mock + W-4 (PDF)
🗂️ W-4 Guided Worksheet (PDF)
🗂️ IRS Form W-4 (Official PDF)
📞 Call Scripts (PDF)
📃 Lease Checklist (PDF)
🩺 Decision Tree (PDF)
New materials will be added here as they’re created.
Notes
- We can shift dates around holidays (e.g., Jan 2).
- Localize agency resources for the Fox Valley / Greenville area as needed.
- All templates will be maintained in Nextcloud › KennowAcademy.