Learning personal finance: A guide to resources

MUW Team

// July 6, 2023

Financial education, General

Introduction

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best resources to learn about personal finance. We’ve broken them down into four categories: courses and books, podcasts, blogs, and workshops.

We also have a list of professional associations, non-profit organizations, and community-based programs that offer financial education services in your area.

Learn about personal finance in person

In-person learning is the best way to learn about personal finance.

You can ask questions and get feedback from your peers.
You can interact with the instructor, who will be able to answer any questions you have about the material or help you understand concepts that are confusing for you.
The entire class will benefit from having a diverse group of people who have different points of view and experiences, which makes it easier for everyone to learn together in an atmosphere that feels safe and constructive rather than competitive or judgmental (as online courses often feel).

Learn about personal finance online

Online courses
Online forums and communities
Financial literacy programs and resources online (for example, the FDIC has an excellent site that offers financial literacy tips)
Personal finance books and publications

Financial literacy programs at schools and in the workplace Financial institutions should offer financial education services to their customers. Financial literacy programs in high schools and middle schools.

Learn personal finance through podcasts and blogs

Podcasts are a great way to learn about personal finance. You can listen to them on the go, and they’re often more engaging than reading an article or watching a video. Blogs are also very useful for learning about personal finance, especially if you prefer reading over listening. If you want to read some articles that are specifically about personal finance, I recommend checking out [this website](https://www.bankrate.com/finance/savings-investing/best-online-personal-finance-tools) for some recommendations.

Learn personal finance at a workshop or seminar.

If you want to learn about personal finance, workshops and seminars are a great way to go. Workshops provide an opportunity for you to meet other people with similar interests, learn new skills, and get advice from experts in the field.

Workshops can be held at your local library or community center as well as online through websites like Udemy or Lynda (which also offer online courses). The best part about these types of events is that they’re usually free.

Take a course at your workplace or local community center.

If you have the time to take a class, check out your local community center or workplace. These courses are often taught by qualified instructors and can cover a wide range of topics that could be useful to you. However, there are some things you should look out for when considering these options:

Make sure the course is taught by a qualified instructor. The instructor needs to have knowledge of personal finance and should be able to teach it effectively so that students gain knowledge from his or her instruction.
Make sure the course is relevant to your needs (and interests). If you’ve already learned everything there is about personal finance through other means, then taking this class may not be worth your time or money. You also want something that will help improve upon what other classes have taught before so as not to waste any more time than necessary on boring material!
Check out how convenient attending would be; if there aren’t any locations near where I live/work then maybe try another option instead. My employer has offered some great courses, but none were convenient enough for me since they required driving over an hour away every weeknight before work started early Monday morning.

Take a certificate program or formal course at a university.

If you’re interested in learning about personal finance and want a formalized program, consider taking classes at a university. Many universities offer certificate programs or courses that can help you develop your knowledge base. The best part? These courses often count towards credits towards your degree, so they will help you graduate faster.

The downside of taking these courses is that they probably won’t be taught by someone who has been working in the field for years (i.e., an expert). Most of the time, professors who teach these types of classes are excellent teachers but haven’t necessarily worked as financial advisors themselves–and sometimes don’t even have any experience beyond teaching at their own school. So while they might be able to teach you some things about money management techniques and general principles behind each topic covered during class time–they aren’t likely to provide hands-on guidance regarding how best to practice those ideas when applying them in real-life situations where there’s no teacher available for questions/advice!

Join a professional association focused on financial education

Professional associations are organizations that promote the interests of their members. They often provide educational opportunities, such as conferences and webinars, as well as certifications for professionals in the industry.

Membership in these organizations can help you stay up-to-date on industry trends, which can be useful if you’re thinking about entering the field or changing careers. You might also benefit from networking opportunities and professional development resources like mentorship programs or scholarships that help pay for continuing education courses (like those offered by our partner institution).

Participate in community-based programs promoting financial literacy.

Community-based programs for financial literacy are another way to learn about personal finance. Community colleges, universities, and even some high schools offer courses in personal finance or financial education that you can take. These classes can be useful because they offer opportunities to network with other students who are interested in the same things you are.

Some organizations provide professional development for financial educators; others focus on providing resources that help people learn more about their money (like this site). Non-profits may also be able to help you find out how your local community center is teaching its members about money matters.

Work with non-profit organizations dedicated to financial literacy initiatives. Take part in community-based programs promoting financial literacy.

Provide financial literacy training to staff and volunteers. -Promote financial literacy in your workplace or organization by holding seminars, workshops, and classes on the topic.

Organize a fundraiser to benefit a financial literacy program in your community. -Become an advocate for financial literacy by contacting local schools, businesses, government offices, and other organizations to promote the benefits of financial literacy.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different ways to learn about personal finance. You can take a formal course at your local university, join a professional association that focuses on financial literacy initiatives, or simply listen to podcasts while doing chores around the house. The key is choosing something that works for you and sticking with it.