Lesson 2: Preparing for Your Financial Future
As you take the next steps in life, new financial decisions come with new opportunities. This lesson focuses on preparing for the future by understanding your next steps after high school, managing money independently and building credit habits that can help support your goals.
Navigating the next chapter of your life
Everyone’s journey into adulthood can be different. Explore what paths may be right for you, including continuing education, joining the military and/or entering the workforce.
- Paying for Higher Education: Learn how to make confident decisions about education expenses.
- If you’re a parent planning to send a child to college, check out our tips to help you prepare. While parents may be a primary source for financing education, there are many other avenues that students can pursue to find additional funding. Learn more about these options. Also, be sure to check out financing options through Dollar Bank.
- Military Service: Explore financial considerations, benefits and opportunities available through military service.
- The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) was designed to financially protect individuals called to active military duty. Learn how the SCRA can help you.
- We know it’s important to work with military members to offer convenient accounts. Check out the benefits military members get at Dollar Bank.
- Joining the Workforce: Ready to get to work right out of high school?
- See our tips for how to ace an interview and get the job you want. Or, are you an aspiring entrepreneur looking for some guidance on how to get started? See our advice on how to start a small business.
Personal financial management
Learn how to manage income, expenses and financial priorities as you take greater control of your money.
- We can help you develop a plan with these helpful tips.
- Learn how My Cards can help you manage your debit card spending.
- Check out our Independence Checking account just for young adults, ages 18 to 24. Designed for convenience and flexibility.
Building credit
Establishing good credit habits early can open doors to future opportunities. Discover how credit works and how responsible habits can help build a strong financial foundation.
- Check out our beginners’ guide to credit score. Good credit is essential for maintaining solid financial footing
- For many beginning borrowers, a credit card is a common place to start. Learn about how credit cards work, along with answers to some common questions and tips for managing credit cards responsibly.
- Find out how you can build your credit or repair your credit with a Dollar Bank Secured Credit Card.
Extra Credit!
Looking for one-on-one education? Schedule a financial check up with one of our bankers before August 31 and you’ll be entered for a chance to win $500! *
Ready for your next lesson? Learn how e to build a solid financial foundation.
*NO PURCHASE OR TRANSACTION NECESSARY TO ENTER. Limit one entry per person during the sweepstakes. The sweepstakes is open to all individual legal residents of Dollar Bank’s market areas in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry. Minors must have parental permission to enter. Sweepstakes begins on 8/17/26 and will be in effect until the end of office hours on 8/31/26. Appointment must be scheduled and completed by 8/31/26. Complete rules and entry by mail instructions are available at any Dollar Bank office. By scheduling an appointment online and attending the appointment for a free Financial Check-Up with Dollar Bank, you are automatically entered for a chance to win the sweepstakes prize and agree to be bound by the official rules of the sweepstakes. Subject to change without notice.