How can you tell they’ve got it: Borrowing & Debt?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Explain what a loan is and that borrowed money must be paid back with extra (interest); Give an example of when borrowing might be sensible (buying a house) versus risky (buying luxuries you can't afford); Describe what happens if someone borrows too much money and can't repay it. Or just try it together: Could your child explain why borrowing money costs more than the amount you borrow, and why that matters?

Life Skills Money & Finance Ages 9–11

Borrowing & Debt

Your child knows borrowed money must be paid back with extra, called interest. So borrowing costs more than you take, and too much debt is risky.

In curriculum terms

What borrowing money means; that loans must be repaid with interest; what credit is; why too much debt can be risky; responsible borrowing

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Explain what a loan is and that borrowed money must be paid back with extra (interest)
Give an example of when borrowing might be sensible (buying a house) versus risky (buying luxuries you can't afford)
Describe what happens if someone borrows too much money and can't repay it

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Try this together

Could your child explain why borrowing money costs more than the amount you borrow, and why that matters?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Banks & Savingages 7–9Must understand banks and interest before learning about loans and debt

Budgeting Pocket Moneyages 7–9Budgeting awareness helps understand why overspending leads to borrowing

Borrowing & Debtthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Nothing on the map depends on this yet.

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Financial Planningages 9–11 Global Tradeages 9–11 How the Economy Worksages 9–11 Scams & Online Safetyages 9–11

All Money & Finance skills →