• The Open University

Managing My Money for Young Adults

Learn how to make the most of your money and learn the skills you need to navigate the complex world of personal finance.

6,146 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    8 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Take control of your financial future by learning how to manage your money

Despite the introduction of mandatory personal finance education in UK secondary schools, those aged 18-24 are one of the age groups most likely to be in debt – representing over a fifth of the UK’s debt-burdened population.

In this course you’ll learn to budget effectively, taking into account changes like getting older and leaving the family home. You’ll understand how to choose and manage savings accounts, and you’ll discover how to borrow sensibly and manage debts effectively. Ultimately, you’ll gain the ability to plan ahead and make your goals financially achievable.

What topics will you cover?

This course will not run again on FutureLearn; however, a version of the course is available on OpenLearn.

  • Week 1 - Savings accounts, bank accounts, and credit cards.
  • Week 2 - The world of work, pay and taxation.
  • Week 3 - How young adults spend their money, possible risks of shopping online, and simple budgeting for young adults living in the family home.
  • Week 4 - Options after secondary education, financial consequences of higher education, and budgeting and financial management when living away from home.
  • Week 5 - Living in a shared rental with other young adults.
  • Week 6 - Effective management of personal debt.
  • Week 7 - Credit ratings: how to attain and maintain an excellent credit score.
  • Week 8 - Property and pensions.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate how to budget effectively, taking into account changes such as getting older and leaving the family home
  • Explore and understand how to choose and manage bank and savings accounts
  • Assess and understand how to finance further and higher education studies
  • Evaluate lending and how to borrow sensibly and manage debts effectively
  • Calculate and plan ahead to make life's goals financially achievable

Who is the course for?

16-18 year olds preparing for life after school or college. It is also relevant to those in their early 20s, preparing to leave higher education - or who have just recently left. This course is aimed at learners in the UK, however many of the subjects covered are relevant to learners in other countries.

This course has been generously funded by The Chartered Accountants’ Livery Company Charity.

Who will you learn with?

I am Director of the True Potential Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance (PUFin) at the OU Business School. Previously I was Treasurer of Nationwide Building Society.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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