Financial literacy education (FLE) continues to gain momentum globally with a view to combating the reported financial illiteracy experienced around the globe with the aim of delivering significant economic and social benefits as well. With this in mind, when educating individuals about personal finances through FLE, an understanding that not everyone has a focus on wealth accumulation is required to educate in ways that are socially just, responsible and sustainable. We argue that moving towards a more holistic and sustainable approach to FLE is timely and put forward an alternative approach to the often narrow and information provision approach that focus on ‘technical’ issues such as budgeting. FLE is so much more than learning how to budget and it is time to move on from this over prescribed approach.