Introduction
With over 25 years of experience in the financial literacy education space, our work consistently shows that teaching kids about money is most effective when lessons focus on habits, time, and behavior—not quick wins or unrealistic promises. This page highlights how the song “Anyone Can Be Rich” aligns with national and state financial literacy standards for grades K–8, helping children understand that wealth-building is accessible, inclusive, and rooted in consistent saving over time.
The idea behind Anyone Can Be Rich is simple and empowering: building wealth isn’t about where you start—it’s about starting early, saving consistently, and making smart choices over time.
Song Overview
Song: Anyone Can Be Rich
Primary Financial Concept:
Building wealth is possible for anyone through early saving, consistent habits, patience, and smart money decisions.
Primary Category:
Save
Building the saving habit
Save First
Delayed Gratification
Compound mindset (money grows over time)
Key Message:
Anyone—no matter who they are or how they start—can build wealth by starting early, saving consistently, and following simple money rules.
National Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE)
National Standards for Personal Financial Education
Standard 1: Decision Making
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
Effective decision making requires comparing costs and benefits.
How the song aligns:
Encourages choosing to save now instead of delaying
Reinforces cause-and-effect thinking (“The sooner you start, the less it takes”)
Supports long-term decision-making over short-term impulses
Standard 2: Money Management
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
How the song aligns:
Frames saving as a repeated habit, not a one-time action
Encourages planning and consistency
Reinforces “play it smart” and “do your part” language tied to responsibility
Jump$tart Coalition
National Standards in K–12 Personal Finance Education
Saving & Financial Decision Making
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
How the song aligns:
Reinforces the importance of saving early
Encourages delayed gratification
Helps students understand that time and habits matter more than starting amount
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC)
Core Financial Literacy Framework
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
How the song aligns:
Builds financial responsibility and confidence
Encourages belief in long-term positive outcomes
Reinforces behavioral habits over luck or privilege
Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Competencies:
Responsible Decision-Making · Self-Management · Social Awareness
How the song aligns:
Promotes equity and inclusion (“anyone at all”)
Builds confidence and agency
Encourages patience, persistence, and self-control
Standards Alignment by Grade Band
K–2 (Ages 5–7): Saving Early & Belonging
Big idea: Anyone can save, including me.
Reinforces inclusive language and self-belief
Introduces saving as something everyone can do
Encourages starting early with small actions
Grades 3–5 (Ages 8–10): Habits & Time
Big idea: Saving early makes things easier later.
Introduces the power of time
Reinforces consistency (“inch by inch, pinch by pinch”)
Encourages patience and regular saving habits
Grades 6–8 (Ages 11–13): Wealth-Building Mindset
Big idea: Wealth is built through habits, not shortcuts.
Reinforces long-term thinking
Encourages responsibility and planning
Connects saving behavior to future outcomes
State-Level Standards Alignment (Selected States)
The song Anyone Can Be Rich aligns with financial literacy standards across multiple states:
California (CA): Saving, choices, and long-term outcomes
Texas (TX): Saving habits and financial responsibility
New York (NY): Decision-making and money management
Washington (WA): Saving, planning, and future outcomes
Ohio (OH): Financial responsibility and habit-building
Iowa (IA): Life skills and long-term planning
Utah (UT): Saving early and goal-setting
Wisconsin (WI): Habit-based financial decisions
Massachusetts (MA): Responsible money use and planning
Why This Song Works in the Classroom
Inclusive and empowering message
Reinforces saving as a habit anyone can practice
Aligns with financial literacy and SEL standards
Helps students understand time, patience, and consistency
Bottom line:
Anyone Can Be Rich teaches kids that wealth-building isn’t about luck or labels—it’s about starting early, saving consistently, and making smart choices over time.
Download the Standards Alignment PDF
If you’d like a downloadable PDF version of this standards alignment for classroom use, curriculum review, or district adoption, please contact us. We’re happy to provide a printable version that makes it easy to share and integrate into lessons.
More Resources Supporting the Song
Additional Songs and Fun Resources
Keep:
kids listening, learning, singing and growing with a FREE or PREMIUM Money School Memberships.
parents, teachers, and community leaders learning and growing their financial literacy teaching skills by reading Sam X Renick's series of articles: Money Lessons Parents Should Teach Kids!
delivering financial education at home, in school, and other venues with Sammy's Dream Big Financial Education curriculum!
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