What is TeensGotCents?
TeensGotCents is one of the largest personal finance websites entirely devoted to teenagers. We help thousands of readers from around the globe learn how to manage their money well now, have fun doing so, and (hopefully!) not make those big money mistakes that will haunt them for years to come.
We have been recognized with two national blogging awards from The Plutus Awards including “Best Blog for Teens, College Students, Young Adults” in 2014 and “Best Generational Personal Finance Blog” in 2016.
Our goal is to help teens and college students improve their lives by helping them understand how to budget their money, go to college debt free, get a great part time job, shop smart, and do fun DIY projects that will save them money. We are accomplishing this goal, not through slick marketing or perfect instagram accounts, but by being authentic about the wins we have with our own money as well as the mistakes we’ve made.
Welcome! We are so glad you are here!
Please direct all media inquiries, interview requests, questions, criticism,
or outrage to (904) 383-9552 or eva at teensgotcents dot com. Thank you!
Eva Baker
Founder & CEO
Hi! I’m Eva. When I was sixteen years old I started TeensGotCents as a high school project. It was supposed to last for two years, but here I am, five years later! Thanks to 121 Financial Credit Union, FinCon, The Plutus Awards, and help from so many (the list is long!) TeensGotCents is now my full time job and passion in life.
Originally, my goal was to create a website that would be a help to me and other teens as we learn how to manage our money well and reach our financial goals. Since that time I’ve been blessed with growth I didn’t imagine possible and an amazing team of teen writers who are transparent and totally honest about their successes and failures with money.
The teens who reach out to me to share their stories, ask questions, and who aren’t waiting around to start living their life well inspire me to keep TeensGotCents going. Teens everywhere are changing their lives and their future in meaningful ways by taking charge of their money now.
The TeensGotCents Team
Maeghan Teel is a 17 year old college student who loves to paint, draw, write, and read classic literature. In her free time she enjoys shopping clearance racks and looking at different ways to save money. As a college student she knows firsthand how tight money can be. She plans to pursue writing as a career when she graduates college. She would love to use her writing to help others get their amazing stories out there for others to read.
Anna Willis is a chocolate enthusiast, freelance writer, and homeschool student. Three of her siblings are authors, and she hopes to publish her own novel soon. Anna currently serves as publicist for a group of author friends which involves social media marketing and newsletters. She is also interested in going to college for journalism, communications, film directing, acting, voice, graphic design, or writing. Part of a ministry family of nine, she believes in being a good example to her peers of how to manage money well. Anna’s number one goal in life is to truly live and to spread the joy and hope of Jesus with everyone she meets!
Victoria Jerde is 15 years old. She has a passion for writing, and hopes to pursue that passion by becoming a journalist after college. She also loves taking walks to new places, camping, swimming, and just being herself. Her friends would best describe her as witty and fun. Victoria always loves to make people laugh no matter what they’re feeling, and is always open to meeting new people. One thing that is very interesting about her is that she enjoys school, unlike many who don’t. She enjoys being able to learn new things. Another activity she enjoys is traveling and road trips. Victoria plans to travel when she gets older (on budget of course).
Joe Gromlowicz lives in Eastern PA with his family and dog. He enjoys building things, whether it be with Legos or two-by-fours. He also loves the outdoors, and hikes and bikes his local state parks. He runs cross country, and plays basketball too. Other than that, he like writing, and he takes a lot of inspiration from material he reads.
Karina Rovey is a high school student from Tennessee and loves writing for TeensGotCents! Since being added to the team, she has loved bringing practical tips and relatable experiences to other teens. She also loves acting in her school’s musicals and plays, and her most recent roles include Tinkerbell and a London socialite. Besides the theater, Karina’s favorite place to be is out enjoying mother nature! There’s nothing she loves more than hiking, swimming, or just laying in a hammock and taking in the scenery. She is planning on studying international affairs in college.
Lexi Baumgardner is a 16 year old junior in high school. In her free time, she’s a national title-holding ballroom dancer and a member of her school’s tennis team. When she isn’t dancing or playing tennis, you can find her helping with her school’s newspaper, or listening to music. Lexi hopes to go to college debt free, and plans to do that while earning a career in the ballroom dance industry.
Ashley Davis is almost a senior in high school in NC. She loves to read, write and play in the band. Currently, she is working at Viva Chicken and is an active member of marching band and her school’s chapter of the NHS. In her free time, she enjoys reading contemporary novels and nerding out over the latest superhero movies. Ashley also really enjoys spending money on makeup and fashion. She is working towards going to a university to major in Political Science and minoring in Economics and French. Her goal is to work in national politics someday.
Charisma Maddox is a 15 year old and a Sophomore in high school. She absolutely loves the art of science, technology and engineering. When she is not at school you can find her in the gym, in the kitchen cooking, listing to music or simply just relaxing playing video games. Her favorite subject in school is English. Her favorite sport is track and field and her ultimate goal for the future is to participate in track at the collegiate level.
Olivia Green is a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who is studying Communications. Whenever she isn’t reading, writing, or taking a long drive through the country, she’s watching Top Gear and reading up on the latest news within the automotive industry. She aspires to combine her love for cars and writing and become an automotive journalist. In a world that encourages nonstop, ignorant spending, she strives to maintain a level head to cultivate a prosperous financial life and express the importance of being financially responsible to her generation and the generations to come.
Michael Horton is a sports fanatic and a closet Trekkie. When he isn’t perusing through hundreds of sports articles you can find him on the basketball court or in the local Best Buy searching for a good deal on the latest piece of tech. Whenever he has a free moment he loves to lounge around jamming to his Beats by Dr. Dre (which doesn’t happen nearly often enough in his opinion). Mike will be writing about the best way to find tech deals along with product reviews and other ways to save money that generally doesn’t involve Pinterest or any other girly type stuff…
Sarah Fechtel is a twenty-one year old fashion queen and opera diva. When she isn’t busy with college classes or digging through the half price bin at her local thrift shop you may find her bouncing around the Outback on her latest mission trip. She will be sharing her best tips on fashion and frugality here at the ShoppingCents tab! Although Sarah is no longer writing every month you can still find all of her fabulous ‘Shopping With Sarah’ posts here on TeensGotCents. Thanks so much Sarah!