Money Lessons for Teens from Movies: 4 Insights The Big Short Can Teach Teen About Money

Money Lessons for Teens from Movies

Hi! I’m Elhadj Toure, an incoming freshman at the University of Washington and a proud Sammy Rabbit Be the Change Financial Literacy Ambassador. Welcome to my second installment in the blog series on money lessons from popular films.

In my first post, I shared four essential financial takeaways every teen should learn from The Pursuit of Happyness. Today, I’m turning my attention to a very different kind of movie — The Big Short.

Let’s dive in and discover what this eye-opening film can teach us about money, risk, and financial literacy!

Can You Trust the People in Charge of Your Money?

That is the big question behind The Big Short, a movie based on the true story of a few outsiders who predicted the 2008 financial crisis. While most people were blindly investing in the housing market, these individuals did the research, saw the warning signs, and took action.

This film is not just about Wall Street or economics. It is about the dangers of not understanding where your money goes, and how staying informed can protect you from serious financial mistakes.

Whether you are a high school student saving for college or a college student balancing work and classes, the lessons in this movie apply to you right now.

Here are four key money lessons from The Big Short that every teen and student should know.

1. Understand What You Are Investing In

Millions of people lost their savings in the 2008 crash because they put money into things they did not fully understand. Even many of the banks did not realize the risks in the products they were selling.

Student Tip:

Before you invest in anything, make sure you know exactly what it is and how it works. This includes stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate, and even student loans. Use free websites like Investopedia or finance videos on YouTube to learn the basics. Always ask yourself this question: Can I explain this to someone else clearly? If not, keep learning before putting money in.

2. Just Because Something Is Popular Does Not Mean It Is Smart

In the movie, everyone believed the housing market would keep growing forever. That belief turned out to be wrong. Just because something is trending does not mean it is a good financial decision. It also shows the danger of blindly following the crowd and highlights the importance of doing your own research before making major financial choices.

Student Tip:
Think for yourself. If everyone around you is spending money on something or investing in a hot new trend, take a step back. Ask questions. Make sure your financial decisions match your own goals and situation, not someone else’s.

3. Ask Questions and Look Deeper

The people who saw the crash coming were not financial insiders. They were regular people who asked hard questions and dug into the facts. They were not afraid to be curious.

Student Tip:
Always do your homework. If someone offers you a deal that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Whether it is a loan, job offer, or business idea, ask the right questions. What could go wrong? What do the terms really mean? Reading the fine print can save you money and stress in the future. Use AI language models to craft better questions.

4. Protect Yourself from Hidden Risks

When the economy crashed, a lot of people were affected who had no idea they were even at risk. This includes families, students, renters, and workers.

Student Tip:
Start building your financial foundation now. Create an emergency fund. Track your spending with free budgeting apps that you determine are effective. Learn how interest works and why credit scores matter. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to avoid financial traps in the future.

Final Thoughts

One of the most inspiring parts of The Big Short is that the main characters were not experts in fancy suits. They were regular people who paid attention, asked questions, and took control of their financial future.

That is something anyone can do, including you.

Do not wait until you have a job or bills to start thinking about money. The habits, including money habits, you build today will shape your future. Stay curious. Keep learning. Trust yourself to make smart choices.

Take One Action Today

Here are three small steps you can take right now to grow your financial knowledge:

Watch The Big Short with subtitles and pause when you hear something confusing
Look up the meaning of financial terms like subprime loan or adjustable rate mortgage
Join a financial literacy group like The Economic Literacy Initiative or the Young Investors Society

Understanding money is not about being perfect. It is about being prepared.

Connect with our Featured Guest Blogger

Learn more about Elhadj, connect with him on LinkedIn: Elhadj Toure

More Thinking from Elhadj

Supporting Youth Entrepreneurs: ET’s Featured Affiliate Relationships

At Sammy Rabbit, we believe in empowering young leaders and entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact. That’s why we’re proud to support and spotlight the entrepreneurial journey of Elhadj Toure, a Sammy Rabbit Be the Change Financial Literacy Ambassador.

As part of his growth as a youth entrepreneur, Elhadj has developed several affiliate relationships with products and services he personally finds valuable and relevant. These partnerships reflect his individual interests, experiences, and financial goals.

Here are two: (1) Acorns $40 Bonus (2) Self: Improve Credit Score

We want to be clear: these are Elhadj’s affiliate relationships, not SammyRabbit.com’s. We’re simply sharing them to support his entrepreneurial journey and to provide you, our readers, with the opportunity to explore additional tools and resources.

As always, we encourage you to do your own research and make informed decisions about whether any product or service aligns with your goals, values, needs, and interests.

Stay tuned as we continue to cheer on Elhadj and other young leaders making a difference!

Attention Young Leaders

We welcome and invite you to participate in Sammy's 'Be the Change' financial literacy initiative for college and high school students.

(1) Join peers advancing awareness on the importance of early age, youth, and family financial education by having your journey into financial literacy featured as a Sammy Rabbit Guest Blogger.

Index of Student Blogs (Click and scroll down)

(2) Then volunteer as a Sammy Rabbit Ambassador or Intern championing financial literacy in your community and around the globe! Learn more in these blogs or by CONTACTING Team Sammy today! We welcome your questions and suggestions on Sammy Rabbit and his mission to get kids, families & communities financially literate.

Opportunities for Impact with Sammy Rabbit

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