About LifeSmarts

The Nation’s Premier
Consumer Program for Teens

LifeSmarts, the nation’s premier consumer program, has never been more relevant. Entering its 30th year, LifeSmarts provides real-world education for students who learn about core consumer topics and develop critical thinking skills. Participants focus on five key topic areas: consumer rights and responsibilities, the environment, health and safety, personal finance, and technology. The goal of LifeSmarts is to create consumer savvy young people who will be well equipped for adult life in today’s complex, global marketplace.
Find out more!

It’s Free

This comprehensive consumer education
program is free to middle school and high
school students and educators.

Free Educational Resources

Educational resources include lessons, team activities, presentations, videos, content vocabulary, question-of-the-day calendars, and much more.

LifeSmarts stays current — expanding its content, competitions, and consumer knowledge. LifeSmarts complements the curriculum already in place in middle school and high school, and can be used as an activity for classes, groups, clubs, and community organizations. LifeSmarts also aligns with national education standards.

Competition Makes LifeSmarts Unique

Competition includes online and live competitions. Students who participate in the program begin competition online. The highest scoring teams are invited to in-person live state championships. State-wide competitions are locally coordinated by state partnering organizations and agencies. In states without a state coordinator, NCL hosts a virtual state championship. State winners and qualifying Wild Card teams are invited to the National LifeSmarts Championship held in a different city every April.

View all the Past Winners

Leadership and Giving Back

LifeSmarts provides opportunities for student leaders to shine. Students engage in active learning
in the classroom and the community. Service projects enhance learning and give students the
chance to show how they are applying LifeSmarts lessons by giving back.

Scholarship Opportunities for Students

LifeSmarts provides scholarship opportunities and other awards to students who use LifeSmarts-sponsored community service projects to make a positive impact in their communities.

Our Supportive Community

LifeSmarts Engagement Advisory Panel (LEAP)

The LifeSmarts Engagement Advisory Panel serves in an advisory capacity as the student voice of the LifeSmarts program. The Board is an opportunity for student leadership and action to promote the LifeSmarts Program. Interested students and their adult coaches are invited to join!

LifeSmarts Advisory Board

The LifeSmarts Advisory Board is comprised of LifeSmarts alumni, corporate sponsors, educators, and community activists who support the broad consumer education mission of the LifeSmarts program. Board members provide program guidance and financial, in-kind, and volunteer support. To learn more, click here.

LifeSmarts Alumni

In 2014, as we celebrated 20 years of LifeSmarts, we launched the LifeSmarts Alumni Association. In addition to former LifeSmarts participants, LifeSmarts alumni include all those positively impacted by the program including volunteers, community leaders, current and former state coordinators, and current and former coaches. Join us!

A Program of the National Consumers League

A Program of the National Consumers League

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League, the nation’s pioneering consumer organization.

The National Consumers League is America’s oldest consumer organization, representing consumers and workers on marketplace and workplace issues since our founding in 1899. NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information. NCL is home to the LifeSmarts program, Child Labor Coalition, NCL’s Fraud Center, and Script Your Future medication adherence campaign. NCL is a private 501(c)(3) membership organization.

Ready to get started
with LifeSmarts?