Nearly three out of four Americans carry a financial regret, according to a Bankrate survey, which makes recovering from a money mistake the skill students are most likely to need and least likely to be taught.

In this MarketWatch article, How to Move Past Your Biggest Money Mistakes, Genna Contino turns real reader confessions into four lessons, covering FOMO investing, lending to a friend without a written agreement, waiting too long to start investing, and taking a car loan with bad credit.

[Image credit: MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphoto]

Click these links to access the article, student guide, and answer key

MarketWatch Article | NGPF Student Reading Guide + Answer Key

Reading time: ~8 minutes (1,458 words)

Discussion Questions

Use these to spark conversation after students read:

1. The article says “Failure is just an outcome. It’s not the end game.” What would help someone bounce back from a costly money mistake?
2. Experts say it’s best to avoid lending money to friends and family, if possible. Do you agree or disagree?

This reading pairs well with NGPF’s Behavioral Economics Unit.

This resource was created through NGPF’s partnership with Dow Jones, bringing high quality financial journalism into personal finance classrooms across the country for free.

Every WSJ Wednesday, NGPF will highlight a classroom-ready article, video, or data crunch resource from the Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, or Barron’s, including a student guide, discussion questions, and an answer key.

About the Author

Yonathan Tadesse

Yonathan is a Dallas-based Curriculum Designer at NGPF with 12 years of experience as a high school math, college transition, and financial literacy teacher. An award-winning educator, he has a track record of launching innovative programs at the high school level that expand access and opportunity for students. He is a graduate of Emory University and is passionate about advancing financial education for all students. Outside of work, Yonathan loves spending time with his wife and two kids, working out, playing chess and poker, and learning new things.