Financial Literacy Month is the perfect time to talk dollars and sense—and we loved kicking it off with our “Cashflow 101: Mastering Money In and Out of the Classroom” webinar. If you joined us live, you got to hear from Courtney Cuppernell, a former teacher turned financial pro, as she broke down the essentials of cash flow in a way that felt real, relatable, and ready to use. Whether you were looking to sharpen your own financial habits or bring powerful money lessons into your classroom, Courtney delivered tools, templates, and teacher-ready resources to make it happen.
In this post we’re recapping the key takeaways, sharing a few bonus tips, and giving you quick access to everything you need to keep the momentum going.
Missed the webinar or want to rewatch it? Click to watch here!
As Courtney introduced, cashflow is simply the movement of money in and out—what you earn and what you spend. It’s not just about budgeting; it’s about understanding your financial rhythm. When you know what’s coming in and going out, you can make smarter decisions, avoid surprises, and feel more in control of your money. Whether you're managing a classroom budget or your personal finances, cashflow is your foundation.
Understanding your cashflow does more than just show you where your money is going—it gives you the confidence to take control of your finances. It helps you break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, prepare for unexpected expenses, and plan ahead for long-term goals like a summer vacation or building an emergency fund.
For educators, understanding personal cashflow is especially important. Factors like payment schedules (are you paid over 12 months or just 10?), classroom-related expenses, and school district salary structures all play a role in your monthly budgeting. Being aware of how and when money flows in and out helps you make smarter decisions year-round.
During the webinar, Courtney emphasized that while aiming for positive cashflow—bringing in more than you spend—is the first step, maintaining a healthy balance in where your money goes is just as critical. One helpful framework she shared is the 20/60/20 rule:
For educators, mastering cashflow isn’t just a personal win—it’s a chance to model healthy financial habits for students and create a culture of financial wellness that reaches beyond the classroom.
While cashflow is essential to build your own financial health, it is also a necessary component in building students’ financial literacy skills! Courtney highlighted how easy it is to bring the concept of cashflow to life in the classroom using ClassBank. By giving students hands-on experience with earning, saving, and spending digital dollars, you're not just reinforcing positive behavior—you’re equipping them with real-world financial skills.
ClassBank’s built-in salary and bills features make it easy to simulate the ebb and flow of money. You can assign classroom jobs with weekly, biweekly, or monthly pay, giving students a steady income stream. Then, add in expenses like rent-a-desk, utilities, or even taxes to model the outflow side of cashflow. As students manage their income, cover their bills, and make spending choices in your digital school store, they begin to understand the importance of budgeting, saving, and finding balance. It’s financial literacy in action—and it sticks.
Ready to dive deeper? Here’s what we shared in the webinar (and a few extras!):
For you:
(Need personalized advice? Reach out to Courtney at courtney.cuppernell@nm.com)
For your students:
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