As a low-income, first-generation American from Mexico, I did not develop financial literacy at home. It is now being developed out of necessity. As my parents are getting older, they are starting to set expectations for me to dig them out of the hole they dug for not only themselves but our whole family as well. I come from a household in which we live nearly day-to-day. Rent and bills get paid in what my mom calls the "smart way"; paying half or owing utility bills for a couple of months to be able to use extensions to also extend our money. As for credit, my dad does not pay for things on time and has maxed out multiple credit cards. A current example of this in my life is how my parents have been looking for a new place to live, but my dad does not have a good enough credit score to get accepted anywhere. His credit score is so bad he can't even apply. He has tried to convince me to let him build my credit for the family, but based off how his is, I could not let him do this. This created tension between us, to him I am selfish and acting like I am better than him, but in reality I am being cautious by trying to learn more before I do anything I might regret. Although they do the best they can, it is not an example I would like to follow. My parents have followed by example the example of their parents and are not heading somewhere good. My grandpa went bankrupt over 10 years ago, and my dad could too if he doesn't do something about his financial problems. My goal is to break that cycle to prove to myself and others that financial literacy is not about the amount of money you have but what you do with it. My teachers have taught me that rather than saving, I should invest so my money makes money for me and that having credit cards is okay as long as I pay it off monthly. What I have learned is not to spend on things I don't require to impress others. The saying "live beneath your means" is something I wish to apply and everyone should too. Even if you are well off financially, if you spend more or exactly as much as you earn, your money isn't getting its worth.