Consumer Math

Consumer Math is the one class I wish I had taken in high school but never did. I'm thrilled to be taking it now through Master Books and look forward to when my kids take it as well.
The Biblical perspective, as always for Master Books, is on point. This isn't just a book on how to manage finances. It's a book on how God would have us manage the resources He gives us. This is taught through Scripture passages, case studies (stories of when real people trusted God), and sound explanations.
As for the math part, I really appreciate that she discussed mental math strategies. Even in the era of cell phones, to be able to estimate in your head within a few seconds instead of pulling out your phone really does help in a busy grocery store. I feel like there is plenty of practice without it being overkill. And the solution manual is a blessing for busy or not mathematically minded parents. All in all, maybe it's a good thing I didn't take consumer math in high school because then I wouldn't be doing it with Master Books now.

Our primary goal in education is that our children would know and love God, and be equipped with the skills they need to effectively serve Him wherever He leads. We loved how Katherine Loop Hannon presented math from a biblical worldview and built that into her prior math courses, so naturally, we are delighted that she has now produced a consumer math course that teaches very practical skills while emphasizing (with Scripture woven throughout) wise, God-honoring stewardship of the resources He entrusts to us.

Colorful and well-designed, this textbook and teacher guide are as simple to jump into as any other Master Books course, with the ready-to-use schedule and a writing style designed for the student to be able to use independently. The Master Books Academy video supplements have been a helpful resource for use with other math courses, so I am glad that is available with this one along with an optional downloadable solutions manual and case studies.

I have been hoping that Master Books would come out with a Consumer Math and this does not disappoint! Written by Katherine Hannon, who author’s MB’s Principles of Mathematics books, Consumer Math takes the student through all the necessary skills needed for financial success in life. From giving, saving, and budgeting, to taxes, careers, living expenses, business math and more. I appreciate Mrs. Hannon’s ability to teach mathematics in a simple to understand way while also bringing it back to God and what He says about it. Her desire for others to know and understand more about Jesus, even while studying mathematics, is apparent.

This book is a blend of practical financial instruction and biblical principles offering students a solid foundation for managing personal finances responsibly. The curriculum's real-world applications and engaging format make it a recommended choice for preparing teens for financial independence. Students learn to create budgets, compare costs, calculate interest, understand credit, evaluate housing and career choices, and more. Real-life case studies and examples make the content relatable and applicable. I love the way this incorporates Scripture, teaching students to view financial decisions through a Christian lens. Lessons on generosity, stewardship, and ethical financial practices are woven throughout. I found this to be an exceptional curriculum that combines essential financial literacy with biblical stewardship, equipping students for real-life financial decision-making.
The Teacher Guide includes the schedule, student worksheets, tips for grading, and answer key.
The Student Book is broken down by concept and includes: explanations, charts, images, examples, and review sections.

I prefer buying my curriculum as pdfs and printing them off. This course printed off so beautifully.
I wish I had been given the option to take Consumer Math when I was in High School. This course goes through practical math and math-life problems that we adults encounter on a regular basis. From budgeting bills to learning how to plan for buying a home this course does a thorough job of preparing the student for real life. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was the section on budgeting a medical expenses as well as the section on taxes. That is something I definitely did not learn in school and learned the hard way. I am thankful for a well rounded course that I know will adequately prepare my kids for life on their own.

I frequently hear people say that they wish they had learned budgeting, taxes, or other life math skills instead of calculus or geometry proofs. Consumer Math from Master Books is a great solution. It provides a year of high school math that covers a wide variety of real life math skills. Store purchases, budgeting, taxes (even self-employment taxes), saving, investing, housing expenses, and so much more. It is presented in an easy to read format that includes many real life examples. The accompanying teachers manual has worksheets and exercises for students to complete to make sure they master the concepts. This is a great real world math class for any high school student.

Consumer Math Student Book/Textbook only, will need teacher guide to make it a full curriculum.
As a homeschooling parent, finding a math curriculum that not only equips our children with real-world skills but also aligns with our family’s values is a top priority. A high school Consumer Math course is an essential part of that journey—one that bridges the gap between academic learning and adult responsibility.
This curriculum does a commendable job of teaching students the core concepts they’ll need in everyday life: budgeting, taxes, interest rates, credit, insurance, savings, and comparison shopping. These are vital skills that every young adult should understand before stepping into the real world. In fact, I would argue that Consumer Math is one of the most practical and empowering subjects we can teach in high school. It builds financial literacy, decision-making confidence, and stewardship—all tools for long-term independence.
One of the things that drew me to this particular program was its biblical worldview, which is beautifully woven into the overall philosophy of financial stewardship. It encourages students to view money as a resource to be managed wisely, ethically, and with gratitude. The emphasis on honesty, generosity, and responsibility is much needed in today’s world, and I appreciate how the curriculum brings these values to the forefront.
That said, I do believe there is a delicate balance to strike. While incorporating scripture can help reinforce values and offer spiritual insight into financial decision-making, I found that this curriculum leans a little too heavily on scripture references, occasionally at the expense of clear, focused instruction. Math, by nature, is a subject that requires clarity and logic. When a lesson becomes overly theological, it can dilute the practical application of the concept being taught and potentially confuse students who are trying to grasp new financial principles.
In short, I recommend this curriculum for families seeking a real-life, values-based approach to math. It will prepare your high schooler to face the financial aspects of adulthood with confidence and integrity. Just be mindful that you may need to occasionally supplement or streamline lessons to keep the focus on the math itself.
Overall, it’s a worthy investment in your child’s education—and their future.

Consumer Math is geared for a high school student and is packed full of real-life, necessary information. Each concept points directly back to scripture. Quarter one begins with more basic math skills as they relate to giving, living expenses, interest, debt, and taxes. Quarter two goes on to discuss the concepts of budgeting for groceries, medical expenses, and other large expenses. Quarters three and four discuss important financial decisions such as buying a vehicle, career prep, buying a home, savings, and applying math skills to daily life. The teacher guide contains the supply list, schedule, and all worksheets, quizzes, and tests required for the course. It is very easy to follow and laid out with the super convenient schedule which make all Master Books courses a breeze to use and stay on track with assignments.

There is a lot of decisions to make as an adult & many of them are financial. This book is a fantastic resource to help learn the basics of money management, insurance, taxes, large financial decisions such as housing & cars as well as investing. Math doesn’t get more relevant to real life than this curriculum! This is definitely information that everyone should know. I wish I had this knowledge when I was just starting out on my own.

Consumer Math is a very practical, Biblically based and pretty easy to understand course. Katherine Hannon did a beautiful job presenting valuable information in an easy to understand language and with many examples.

It teaches children to do mental math, calculate taxes, make good choices about giving, spending, and saving, and planning the future such as college, career path, and retirement. It even talks about medical insurance and other forms of medical plans. It teaches students proper budgeting. The chosen topics are so well needed for High schoolers to learn even for some adults as well. The course is to the point and always returns the attention to God and the idea that we are not our own and are stewards of what God entrusted us with.

I would highly recommend this course to teenagers and adults alike. There is some information I never had a chance to properly learn, and I was glad to learn it while reading this course. Thank you for this wonderful course.