Small financial habits can lead to long-term security
In May 2026, Senior Economic Education Specialist Andrea Cáceres-Santamaria, left, and Regional Executive Matuschka Lindo Briggs of the Federal Reserve Little Rock branch, led a financial resource training in Springdale.
(Photo courtesy of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis)
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Financial education should begin long before adulthood. Teaching children and young adults how to manage money, set realistic goals and develop healthy financial habits can help them make informed decisions throughout their lives.
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, regional executive for the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and Andrea Cáceres-Santamaría, senior economic education specialist, say financial planning is not about how much money a person earns, but how they manage what they have.
“I don’t think it's about how much you make; it’s about the choices you make with what you have,” Lindo Briggs says. “Anybody can budget, anybody can save.”
Both experts encourage families to start with simple habits such as creating a budget, understanding where money is being spent and setting achievable savings goals. Rather than trying to save a large amount immediately, they recommend beginning with small, consistent steps that become long-term habits.
Cáceres-Santamaría says building an emergency fund, a savings reserve set aside to cover unexpected expenses such as medical bills, car repairs or a temporary loss of income, should also be approached with realistic expectations. Instead of feeling discouraged by a large savings goal, families should focus on steady progress and celebrate small milestones along the way.
“That three-month emergency fund doesn’t have to be built in three months,” Cáceres-Santamaría says. “As long as you’re moving toward that goal, you’re building the discipline that will help you succeed.”
Lindo Briggs and Cáceres-Santamaría encourage parents to introduce financial concepts at an early age, helping children understand the value of saving and allowing their money to grow over time. They believe developing those habits early can make future financial decisions less overwhelming and better prepare young adults for unexpected expenses.
Families, educators and community organizations looking to strengthen their financial knowledge can access free educational resources from the Federal Reserve. Materials are available for children as young as 3 years through adulthood and include lesson plans, activities, videos and financial literacy tools on budgeting, saving, credit, investing and the economy. Some resources are also available in Spanish, with a new toolkit in development to empower Spanish-speaking families with practical financial knowledge.
More information is available at FederalReserveEducation.org or FRE.org.
Editor’s note: The financial guidance shared in this article reflects the interviewees' personal views and does not represent the official position of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Looking for trusted financial education?
Visit FederalReserveEducation.org (FRE.org), a free online resource offering personal finance and economic materials for students, educators, families and communities