Resources
Welcome to the MTC Library's Financial Literacy Month Guide! Whether you're a student tackling budgeting or an individual aiming to enhance financial skills, our curated resources have you covered. Explore websites, articles, podcasts, videos, and books on investing and budgeting. Access online courses and tools to make informed financial decisions and build a secure future.
Websites
- 360 Degrees of Financial LiteracyFree program by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) to help Americans understand their personal finances through every stage of life
- The Ascent from The Motley FoolBorn out of the financial expertise and trusted advice of The Motley Fool, The Ascent brings the same unbiased analysis to the world of daily personal finance decisions. All backed by the mission of making the world smarter, happier, and richer.
- FDIC Money Smart Financial Education ProgramComprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships.
- Investopedia: Personal FinanceTrusted investor education website
- Khan Academy: Financial LiteracyFree online course on personal finance, including topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit.
- Kiplinger Magazine OnlineGreat basic guide on family finances, credit and debt, saving and paying for college, insurance, taxes, and much more
- Living Wage Calculator: Richland County, SCMIT's Living Wage Calculator shows how much you need to make to live in your county
- Money Essentials from CNN MoneySetting priorities, making a budget, controlling debt, planning for retirement
- National Endowment for Financial EducationIndependent, nonprofit foundation committed to educating Americans on a broad range of financial topics and empowering them to make positive and sound decisions to reach their financial goals.
- Practical Money Skills: Financial CalculatorsExplore your financial information with more detail through the use of these powerful tools for forecasting and assessing your financial choices.
- U.S. Financial Literacy and Education CommissionU.S. government website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education
Personal Finance Videos from The College Investor
The Ramsey Show Podcast
Featured Books and E-books
Buffett's Tips by
What if you could learn financial literacy from Warren Buffett himself? Finance is a language like any other: the more fluently you speak it, the further--and more comfortably--you travel. And if you want to improve your financial literacy, what better teacher could you have than Warren Buffett? Often described as the greatest investor of all time, Warren Buffett started his investment firm with$100 in the late 1950s and went on to become the billionaire and sage we know today. Along the way he's reaped huge profits for fellow investors in Berkshire Hathaway and remains one of the most sought-after and closely watched figures in the business world. So how did he do it? In Buffett's Tips, award-winning professor and professional investor John M. Longo demonstrates just how by translating decades of Buffett's writings and media appearances into a 100 straightforward tips and strategies anyone can follow for enhanced financial literacy and independence, including: Essential concepts like the time value of money and compound interest Basic financial instruments, such as savings and checking accounts and certificates of deposit Approaches to valuing stock, including discounted cash flow and relative valuation How to build a portfolio in accordance with Buffett's two golden rules Whether you want to grow your personal finances, develop your business acumen, or improve softer career skills such as emotional intelligence, there's no one better to learn from than the most famous investor in the world--and no better way to do that than having a copy of Buffett's Tips close at hand.
Finance for the People by
An illustrated, practical guide to navigating your financial life, no matter your financial situation "a potent mix of deeply practical and wonderfully empathetic" --Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial "one of the most approachable financial books I've ever read." --Refinery 29 We are all weird about money. Whether you have a lot or a little, your feelings and beliefs about money have been shaped by a combination of silence (or even shame) around talking about money, personal experiences, family and societal expectations, and a whole big complex system rigged against many of us from the start. Begin with that baseline premise and it's no surprise so many of us find it so difficult to save enough money (but way too easy to get trapped in ballooning credit card debt), emotionally draining to deal with student loans, and nearly impossible to understand the esoteric world of investing. Unlike most personal finance books that focus on skills and behaviors, FINANCE FOR THE PEOPLE asks you to examine your beliefs and experiences around money--blending extremely practical exercises with mindfulness, and including more than 50 illustrations and diagrams to make the concepts accessible (and even fun). With deep insider expertise from years spent in many different corners of the financial industry, Paco de Leon is a friendly, approachable, and wise guide who invites readers to change their relationship with money. With her holistic approach you'll learn how to: * root out your unconscious beliefs about money * untangle the mental and emotional burden of student loans to pay them off * use a gratitude practice to help you think differently about spending * break out of the debt cycle and begin building wealth This book is for anyone who feels unseen, ignored, or bored to death by the way personal finances are approached and taught, and is ready to go on a journey of self-discovery and step into their financial power.
Get Good with Money by
NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, ANDUSA TODAY BESTSELLER. A ten-step plan for finding peace, safety, and harmony with your money-no matter how big or small your goals and no matter how rocky the market might be-by the inspiring and savvy "Budgetnista." "No matter where you stand in your money journey,Get Good with Moneyhas a lesson or two for you!"-Erin Lowry,bestselling author of theBroke Millennial series Tiffany Aliche was a successful pre-school teacher with a healthy nest egg when a recession and advice from a shady advisor put her out of a job and into a huge financial hole. As she began to chart the path to her own financial rescue, the outline of her ten-step formula for attaining both financial security and peace of mind began to take shape. These principles have now helped more than one million women worldwide save and pay off millions in debt, and begin planning for a richer life. Revealing this practical ten-step process for the first time in its entirety, Get Good with Money introduces the powerful concept of building wealth through financial wholeness- a realistic, achievable, and energizing alternative to get-rich-quick and over-complicated money management systems. With helpful checklists, worksheets, a tool kit of resources, and advanced advice from experts who Tiffany herself relies on (her "Budgetnista Boosters"), Get Good with Money gets crystal clear on the short-term actions that lead to long-term goals, including- .A simple technique to determine your baseline or "noodle budget," examine and systemize your expenses, and lay out a plan that allows you to say yes to your dreams. .An assessment tool that helps you understand whether you have a "don't make enough" problem or a "spend too much" issue-as well as ways to fix both. .Best practices for saving for a rainy day (aka job loss), a big-ticket item (a house, a trip, a car), and money that can be invested for your future. .Detailed advice and action steps for taking charge of your credit score, maximizing bill-paying automation, savings and investing, and calculating your life, disability, and property insurance needs. .Ways to protect your beneficiaries' future, and ensure that your financial wishes will stand the test of time. An invaluable guide to cultivating good financial habits and making your money work for you, Get Good with Money will help you build a solid foundation for your life (and legacy) that's rich in every way.
Mastery of Money for Students by
The knowledge and ability to make, manage, save, and invest money is critical to your overall success in life. "Mastery of Money For Students" is an easy-to-read, story-filled journey through the fundamental building blocks of pursuing Mastery. Your financial future is entirely up to one person--YOU. The earlier you start on the path to understanding money, the faster you'll experience your own version of success. "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." -- Ben Franklin
Millionaire Teacher by
Adopt the investment strategy that turned a school teacher into a millionaire Millionaire Teacher shows you how to achieve financial independence through smart investing -- without being a financial wizard. Author Andrew Hallam was a high school English teacher. He became a debt-free millionaire by following a few simple rules. In this book, he teaches you the financial fundamentals you need to follow in his tracks. You can spend just an hour per year on your investments, never think about the stock market's direction -- and still beat most professional investors. It's not about get-rich-quick schemes or trendy investment products peddled by an ever-widening, self-serving industry; it's about your money and your future. This new second edition features updated discussion on passive investing, studies on dollar cost averaging versus lump sum investing, and a detailed segment on RoboAdvisors for Americans, Canadians, Australians, Singaporeans and British investors. Financial literacy is rarely taught in schools. Were you shortchanged by your education system? This book is your solution, teaching you the ABCs of finance to help you build wealth. Gain the financial literacy to make smart investment decisions Learn why you should invest in index funds Find out how to find the right kind of financial advisor Avoid scams and flash-in-the-pan trends Millionaire Teacher shows how to build a strong financial future today.
Money for the Rest of Us: 10 Questions to Master Successful Investing by
Grow your wealth and invest with confidence and know-how using this simple, ten-question framework from investing guru and podcast host David Stein You understand the basics of investing. Now it's time to invest like a professional for greater profits. Money for the Rest of Us offers a ten-question template that helps you decide which asset classes and investment vehicles you should pursue in greater depth in order to improve investment performance and avoid costly mistakes. Providing a templated framework based on ten basic questions, it guides you through the process of: *Determining expected return *Understanding the difference between investing, speculating, and gambling *Building a diversified portfolio without getting bogged down in the minutiae of Modern Portfolio Theory *Deciding when to invest in ETFs or other investment vehicles *Determining whether gold, cryptocurrencies, rental real estate, or other types of investments make sense *And much more
Money Like You Mean It by
"The first personal finance book for the 2020s: expensive housing, BNPL, side hustles, negotiating a raise, and much more. Erica Alini is one of Canada's top personal finance pros, and this book shows it." --ROB CARRICK Wrestle debt to the ground. Figure out whether you should rent or buy. And determine if a side hustle is really worth the hassle. Get a job, buy a house, spend less than you make, and retire at sixty-five. That's advice for a world that has largely disappeared. Even good jobs today often have no guarantee of stability. Home prices have reached the stratosphere. Meanwhile, student debt drags you down just as you're trying to take off in life. To survive and thrive in today's reality, you need a whole new personal finance tool kit. Personal finance reporter Erica Alini blends the big picture with practical advice to give you a deeper understanding of the economic forces that are shaping your financial struggles and how to overcome them. Packed with concrete tips, Money Like You Mean It covers all the bases: from debt to investing and retirement, plus renting versus buying, and even how to tell whether a side gig is really worth the effort. It's the essential road map you need to make it in the current economy.
Women with Money by
Get paid what you're worth, build secure relationships, and make your money last with this valuable guide from a Today show financial editor and bestselling author. Ask successful women what they want from their money and they'll tell you: independence, security, choices, a better world, and--oh yes--way less stress, not just for themselves but for their kids, partners, parents, and friends. Through a series of HerMoney Happy Hour discussions (when money is the topic, wine helps) and one-on-one conversations, Jean Chatzky gets women to open up about the one topic we still never talk about. Then she flips the script and charts a pathway to this joyful, purpose-filled life that today's women not only want but also, finally, have the resources to afford. Through Chatzky's candid three-part plan--formed through detailed reporting with the world's top economists, psychiatrists, behaviorists, financial planners, and attorneys, as well as her own two decades of experience in the field--readers will learn to: 1. Explore their relationships with money, 2. Take control of their money, and 3. Use their money to create the life they want. Women With Money shows readers how to wrap their hands around tactical solutions to get paid what they deserve, become inspired to start businesses, invest for tomorrow, make their money last, and then use that money to foster secure relationships, raise independent and confident children, send those kids to college, care for their aging parents, leave a legacy, and--best of all--bring them joy!
Explore Library Resources: Articles & More
- Business Source PremierProvides access to articles from personal finance magazines and journals. Titles include Money, Kiplinger Personal Finance, Bloomberg.com, Journal of Financial Planning, Forbes, and more.
- The NY Times: Your MoneyPersonal finance news and advice from our NY Times columnists and reporters, covering everything from retirement savings to taxes. Create account using MTC email for full access.