Your Paycheck is a financial education class specifically designed for working teens. The two-hour class is interactive and helps teens to understand their paycheck, manage a checking account or other payment options, shop wisely, budget and save. 

Your Paycheck is unique because local employers encourage teen participation.  The sponsors of Your Paycheck remember the work and life lessons that came with any first job.   They understand the critical need for teens to learn how to manage money.  And they believe encouraging teens to attend the class sends an important message about being an educated consumer, saving early, and planning ahead.

The program is managed by the Paycheck Partnership -- employers from Quincy, Illinois, the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce, the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, the Office of the Mayor and local colleges.  Specially trained college students teach the class, which is currently offered at various sites in Western Illinois and Northeastern Missouri. View Our Calendar.

The Paycheck Partnership has established three goals for the program:

• To increase teens’ understanding of their paycheck, how to spend and save wisely, and how to set and reach financial goals;
• To enroll college students as volunteers teachers and provide them with educational and mentoring opportunities; and
• To inspire conversations among teens, their parents, educators and the business community about personal financial management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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1)  How did the Paycheck Partnership originate?

In 2004, the Mayor's Office in Quincy, IL joined the "Dollar Wi$e" initiative by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to promote financial education in the nation's cities. The mayor asked a small group of Quincy citizens to consider ways to increase teen financial management skills. The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank offered assistance in developing a program reflecting the input received from the community, and the Chamber of Commerce offered to administer the program. Interestingly, the idea of involving teens' first employer in promoting financial education came from a Quincy Herald-Whig columnist who remembered the lessons of his first job as a paper carrier. 

2) Who is paying for the program?

The costs for the program are modest and they are being shared by the partners.

3) Can anyone attend the classes?

The classes are currently offered only to Quincy-area teens, who are sponsored by their employer.  As the program develops it may be possible to increase participation. 

4) What does "sponsor" mean?

 The Paycheck Partnership offers various ways for businesses to encourage teen employee participation, including options such as providing gift certificates, Chamber Bucks," or two hours of pay for attending.

5) Is two hours enough time to be worthwhile? 

Yes, a two-hour program allows time to provide key information to a newly employed teen.  Participants will receive additional resources (websites, brochures, etc) for further study. The Partnership hopes that participation in the program will inspire teens, employers, parents and educators to talk more about how to build personal finance skills.

6) How can I start Your Paycheck classes in my community?

The Paycheck Partnership and U.S. Conference of Mayors are glad you are interested!  Please fill out this form and someone will contact you shortly.