Jean Bowen, left, coordinator of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at the Center for Community Resources, and certified tax preparer Joe Parker helped a client prepare for a previous tax season. Bowen said it appeared many taxpayers may have delayed filing this year.

The reviving grass isn't the only green on people's minds right now. With the annual April 15 federal income tax filing deadline arriving Monday and April being National Financial Literacy Month, money is at the head of the list.

But it appears that even if we're thinking about money, we're not thinking about it correctly.

The free credit score website WalletHub recently released its report on 2019's Most And Least Financially Literate States.

The study uses 17 measurements, varying from high-school financial literacy grades to the share of adults with a rainy-day fund.

Pennsylvania comes in 36th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Pennsylvanians ranked ninth in wallet literacy, but in the middle of the pack — 27th — in financial planning and habits and a dismal 46th in financial knowledge and education.

WalletHub defines Wallet Literacy as building an excellent credit score, not overpaying for financial products, minimizing debt and having adequate insurance coverage.

After the Great Recession of 2008, it was clear more Americans needed to learn more about their finances.

The housing market collapse was a sharp reminder and the following financial crisis alerted Americans of our obsession with debt and the dangers of quick access to finances for under-informed consumers.

But 11 years on, it appears we haven't educated ourselves enough, according to WalletHub's survey.

Americans ended 2018 racking up $67 billion in new credit-card debt. That's not surprising, considering only two in five adults actually have a budget, according to WalletHub.

Total American credit card debt passed $1 trillion for the first time ever last year, so it's clear that better financial education is necessary to turn this trend around.

Why is it so hard for individuals to understand personal finances?

This is an excerpt — pick up Sunday's Butler Eagle or subscribe online to find out the answer as to why understanding personal finance is hard, according to local financial experts.