Like most folks I learned consumer finance the hard way. I learned for example, the best way to purchase a car is to arrange a loan with your own bank or credit union...email a bunch of car dealers until you get the price you want... when you come into the dealership to get your car just say "no" to everything and be prepared for the hard sell for hours until they agree to the deal they agreed to. My parent's way of dealing with car salesmen were a lot of shouting and anger.

I guess what I am saying is there is always a textbook/spreadsheet component of consumer finance. How else can you explain the effects of interest compounding on your credit card if you never pay off the balance? But you can also try to role place scenarios to show why you want to know this stuff. e.g., if you are low income but working there is a good chance that when you file your tax return you will get cash back due to the earned income tax credit.