Comment by naming_the_user

As someone who grew up in a poor area (not in US, but not really relevant, I think), the main lesson that something like home economics/financial literacy classes need to teach is basically the role model / "this is actually possible" thing.

Basically, some of the following:

For poor kids;

Don't train or focus on a career that doesn't pay well; don't even consider it, you can't afford it. That's someone else's problem. Maybe you can do it later when you 'make it'.

(for example - low end - nursing, teaching, etc, high end - fashion, art, photography. do these after you make money)

Yes, you can make it, just because your neighbours are poor doesn't mean that you have to be

You will lose friends if you are ambitious, this is normal

etc.

Some people seem to intuitively have this understanding (personality traits that are a bit more individual, I guess), others don't.

The problem of course is that the state school system basically can't do this, because there's a conflict of interest, someone needs to do the jobs that don't make sense for an individual to pursue.