Log in
← All lessons

Money & How It Works · Lesson 5

Compound Interest & the Time Value of Money

Money invested early grows exponentially, and understanding why is one of the most powerful financial advantages a young person can have.

Ages9–1213–1718–25Runtime to be confirmed

About this lesson

Compounding always looks broken at the beginning. A kid who saves for a month, sees almost nothing, and quits has behaved reasonably given what they could see. This lesson compresses the curve until they can feel it: money can earn money, and then the earnings earn money too. Time is the ingredient they have more of than anyone in the house.

What you’ll learn

  • Doubling looks tiny at the start. That is its disguise.
  • Divide 72 by the growth rate and you get the years money takes to double.
  • The same curve runs backwards on debt, and it is merciless.
  • Ten early years can beat decades of catching up later.

Skills your family will build

PatiencePlanningSelf-disciplineForesight

More in Money & How It Works