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Why does everything feel so expensive?
An exploration of inflation, wages, and why teenagers feel financially stuck.
— a field journal of modern money —
Finance, Business, & Economics for Teenagers
Schools teach us equations, essays, and exams — but rarely teach us how money actually works.
This project is a mixed-media platform exploring financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the economic forces shaping our everyday lives.
three chapters, one question
The Chapters
This project unfolds across three interconnected chapters — each exploring a different facet of how money shapes our lives.
[01] Financial Literacy 101
TikTok & Instagram short-form financial education for teens.
→ Budgeting
→ Investing
→ Taxes
→ Independence
[02] Local Legends
YouTube documentaries of local small business stories and takeaways.
→ Interviews
→ Behind-the-Scenes
→ Storytelling & Immersion
→ Lessons Learned
[03] The Economic Lens
Research blogs exploring the systems behind money and opportunity.
→ Inflation
→ Inequality
→ Cost of Living
→ Economic Change
Research Question #001
“How do you become financially independent before real life forces you to?“
FIELD NOTES
Started: July 2026
Researcher: Giada Gatti
Status: IN PROGRESS
FINANCIAL LITERACY 101
Output: 2 per week
0/24
videos posted
and
LOCAL LEGENDS
Output: 1 per month
0/3
episodes posted
and
THE ECONOMIC LENS
Output: 1 per week
0/12
articles posted
Next volume: a new question to be introduced…
from the desk
Latest entries
Research Reports / 2026