Toms River East & Got Mortgages Cares Collaboration · October 14, 2026 · Toms River, New Jersey

Financial education can begin long before someone is ready to buy a home. On October 14, 2026, Abdel Khawatmi and Got Mortgages Cares brought a student education session to Toms River East High School in Toms River, New Jersey.

The session connected career possibilities with everyday money decisions: understanding a paycheck, building a budget, saving toward a goal and asking better questions about future housing choices. The focus was financial confidence and life skills students could begin developing now.

Start with the future you want to build

A career conversation is also a conversation about priorities. Students were introduced to college, trades, career training and entrepreneurship as paths worth exploring. Each path brings different questions about skills, cost, time and opportunity.

The educational roadmap began with a practical action: choose one career to investigate. Learn about its training requirements, the skills it uses and the questions you would want to ask someone doing that work. A clearer picture helps connect today’s decisions with future options.

Understand the paycheck before planning the spending

The materials distinguished the amount someone earns before deductions from the take-home amount available for a budget. That distinction helps make a first paycheck more understandable and makes a spending plan more realistic.

Budgeting was framed around needs, wants and goals. The point was to make intentional choices and build a habit of paying attention to where money goes. A savings goal becomes more useful when it includes an amount and a realistic routine.

Use tradeoffs to make the discussion real

The presentation included five “Would you rather?” discussions. Students could compare a higher-paying weekend job with one that offers mentoring, saving for a new phone with building an emergency cushion, and a college pathway with a paid apprenticeship.

Other examples considered renting with a roommate versus living with family while saving, and spending now versus waiting for a larger goal. These questions give learners a way to discuss priorities, responsibilities and longer-term consequences. Different situations can lead to different reasonable choices.

Build credit and housing awareness early

The session introduced responsible borrowing habits and encouraged learners to consider the full cost of a decision. Future housing choices involve more than a headline price. The materials prompted questions about ongoing expenses, upkeep and how a choice fits a person’s goals.

Students did not need to be ready for a mortgage to benefit. The educational purpose was to build the vocabulary and confidence to ask questions before making larger commitments.

Keep learning after the classroom

Abdel’s FirstHome IQ resources connect students and families with additional financial and homeownership education. Educators can find the classroom presentation and companion materials on the Toms River East event page.

Explore Abdel’s FirstHome IQ learning resources and learn more about the community mission at Got Mortgages Cares. For schools and community organizations, this collaboration offers a practical example of bringing career exploration and money conversations together.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Toms River East financial literacy session?

The Toms River East and Got Mortgages Cares collaboration took place on October 14, 2026, in Toms River, New Jersey.

What topics did the student materials cover?

Career paths, paychecks, budgeting, saving, credit and future housing choices, supported by interactive tradeoff discussions and knowledge checks.

Do students need to be ready to buy a home?

No. The session focuses on financial confidence and life skills. Homeownership is a future possibility to understand, rather than a requirement.

Connect with PRMG Got Mortgages

Have a question about the session or want to explore a partner education opportunity? Connect with our team or call 201-679-0422.

Abdel Khawatmi · PRMG Got Mortgages · NMLS #1712023

Historical event recap. Added to the archive October 20, 2026; the date shown above reflects the event. Event details and resources.