Paranın İlk Adımları

A young athlete who earns a first paycheque has usually never been taught how to manage it. The same is true for any young person receiving a first scholarship, a first salary or a first freelance fee. Paranın İlk Adımları (“Money’s First Steps”) is a financial literacy programme I created to close that gap.

The starting point is simple: financial literacy is not a talent for mathematics but a matter of habits and decision discipline. So the programme covers not only what to do, but also why we find it hard to do.

What it covers

The programme has 16 chapters. It begins with mindset and core concepts, moves on to day-to-day money management, investing and the long term, and closes with the psychology of money, careers and a personal plan:

1. Why financial literacy?
2. The language of money: core concepts
3. Income, spending and budgeting
4. Saving and the emergency fund
5. Inflation and the time value of money
6. Banking, cards and digital payments
7. Managing debt and credit
8. An introduction to investing
9. Capital markets and investment instruments
10. Portfolio, risk and diversification
11. Crypto, speculation and get-rich-quick traps
12. Tax, law and financial responsibility
13. Insurance, private pensions and long-term security
14. Behavioural finance: the psychology of money
15. Career, income growth and human capital
16. A personal financial plan

Each chapter includes everyday and Turkish examples, short calculations, common mistakes, red flags, action steps and a ten-question quiz, 160 questions in all. The programme closes with fill-in templates for a budget, net worth, an emergency fund and debt repayment, and a 12-month financial development plan.

How it is used

• On your own: one chapter a week. After sixteen weeks you have a personal financial plan.
• In a group or classroom: each chapter corresponds to a 60–90 minute session.
• With a mentor or parent: it works best when the budget and debt templates are filled in together.

Who it is for

I created the programme for Max Potential athletes, and I also teach it to young people outside sport who ask for it. It was designed with university students, people starting their first job, young people with freelance or digital income, and those becoming financially independent in mind. The programme is free of charge. Young people, families, clubs and organisations who are interested can reach me through the contact page.

The programme is general financial education and does not include personalised investment, tax or legal advice.