Over the past several weeks, families at Euclid Middle School have been making smart financial decisions through the Money Moves Program, a collaborative initiative between Euclid Middle School, EDCOR (Euclid Development Corporation), and Dollar Bank. The program wrapped up its inaugural session earlier this week, bringing families together to learn practical financial skills that can support long-term success.
Designed specifically for middle schoolers and their families, the program introduces foundational money management concepts through hands-on activities, interactive discussions and family collaboration. Each session focused on a key aspect of financial literacy: from understanding the difference between needs and wants, to learning how banking and credit work, to creating budgets and recognizing smart spending habits.
Throughout the program, families worked together using guide worksheets and activities that helped them apply what they were learning in real time. Participants explored how to set both short-term and long-term financial goals, practiced building budgets using the 50/30/20 rule, and discussed how marketing, credit offers, and “buy now, pay later” programs can influence spending decisions.
One of the most engaging sessions focused on earning money and entrepreneurship, where students and their families were challenged to think like business owners. After watching a clip from Shark Tank featuring a young entrepreneur successfully pitching her business, families were given time to brainstorm their own business ideas and develop a pitch.
The room quickly filled with creativity as students presented ideas such as lawn care services, tutoring, art programs, pet care businesses, and small retail ventures. Students considered important elements of entrepreneurship, including identifying a problem to solve, setting fair pricing, estimating startup costs, and determining their target customers.
Representatives from EDCOR and Dollar Bank helped guide the activity, sharing real-world insights and encouraging students to think about how their ideas could grow. Lisa Krieger from EDCOR shared examples from her own entrepreneurial journey and reminded students that even small ideas can turn into meaningful opportunities.
Students presented their business ideas to a panel of judges, with “Clay’s Candy,” a creative snack business designed to provide affordable treats to classmates, earning top honors for its thoughtful pricing and clear understanding of its market.
In addition to pitching business ideas, every participating student worked with their family to create a Personal Income Plan, identifying their skills, potential services or products, pricing strategies, and first steps toward earning and saving money responsibly.
The program concluded this week with a celebration session that reviewed the concepts families learned and connected participants with additional financial resources through Dollar Bank. While the first session has wrapped up, organizers are already hopeful that Money Moves will return in the future, allowing more Euclid families to participate.
Programs like Money Moves highlight the power of collaboration within the Euclid community. By bringing together Euclid Middle School, EDCOR, and Dollar Bank, the initiative provided students and families with practical tools, real-world experiences, and the confidence to make smart financial decisions.
For the families who participated, the program was more than just a series of lessons—it was an opportunity to start important conversations about money, goals, and the possibilities that come from turning great ideas into action.
