How it all started

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                                                        Dia Hemanth

                                   Founder, Cents for Teens

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My name is Dia Hemanth. I am a student at Los Altos High School and the Founder of Cents for Teens. The idea for Cents for Teens came from my own experience handling money. My mom first introduced me to Personal Finance when I started $240 a month as an online math tutor during the pandemic. I then went on to take a Financial Algebra class where I designed a financial plan for my life from college to retirement.

 

During my research, I learned that approximately 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, leaving them only one emergency expense away from debt. I saw this statistic come to life at Hope's Corner, a nonprofit that serves the unhoused community in Mountain View, CA. While leading the Shower and Laundry program at the center, I heard countless stories of guests becoming homeless due to predatory loans and overwhelming credit card debt.

 

I also learnt that research has proven that early exposure to personal finance helps start young adults on a better financial path and leads to better outcomes. However, half of the states in the United States, do not offer any personal finance education in middle or high school.

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To address this issue, I founded Cents for Teens with the mission to build financial literacy among teens and set them up for a better future. Cents for Teens offers engaging personal finance workshops with hands on activities and social media content to prepare teens to make practical day to day financial choices.​