Basic Personal Finance: A Practical Guide to Financial Wellbeing

Recent history demonstrates the importance of building financial freedom. Unless you inherit great wealth, that freedom comes from a lifetime of good financial decisions. This book methodically takes you through the basics (compensation, taxes, budgeting, banking, credit) and emphasizes the importance of starting financial planning early to protect and grow your wealth while avoiding financial scams. There is also a chapter on making big decisions about college, career, housing, and transportation. There's an appendix on military compensation for new and potential military members and a financial math appendix for homeschoolers.

The authors combine practical advice, serious academic research, and 25 years of classroom experience to help young adults follow a successful path to financial well-being. There are no subscription fees for continued advice and no "must have" stock tips. There is no promotion of magic bank accounts, credit cards, or investment "tricks" to make financial independence simple and easy. This book just provides the basics for understanding personal finance and provides the tried and true reality that the safest, most proven way to accumulate wealth is through disciplined saving and long-term investing.

The 2023 edition updates the figures from the 2019 edition (e.g., more current interest rates, stock quotes, pay tables, etc.) and includes the latest tax laws. It also addresses adjusting for inflation when using outdated information. There is a new "Final Thoughts" section to encourage readers to plan for financial freedom as early as possible, rather than thinking of investments solely for retirement.

A must read for every high school and college student!

“Absolute must read. This book can easily be studied within a week... and heeding the advice contained in this guide will provide greater returns than any other college course or curriculum.”
- J Mintzmyer, Founder of Value Investor's Edge

"This book is full of financial lessons that every adult wishes they'd known coming out of high school. A must read for anyone under 30."
-Peter Stark, author, The Only Negotiating Guide You'll Ever Need