How can I teach myself personal finance?

You can teach yourself personal finance by reading books, news articles, and finance blogs. Podcasts, YouTube videos, and finance apps can also help you learn personal finance. Make sure to look for resources from authoritative sources, such as certified financial professionals. NAPFA and the Finance Literacy Resource Directory from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are good places to start.

What are the five basics of personal finance?

The five basics of personal finance are income, budgeting, saving, debt management, and protection. Mastering these basics allows you to spend less than you make, save for emergencies, minimize debt, and protect your financial assets.

How do I learn finance as a beginner?

Free resources are the best way to learn finance as a beginner, so you can build foundational knowledge that will help you decide what you want to learn next and what your financial goals are. Check out beginner finance books from the library, listen to money management podcasts, and read news articles to stay on top of economic developments. You can also take finance classes to build foundational knowledge.

Is it too late to learn about finance?

It's never too late to learn about finance. "But personal finance is a skill made up of smaller skill sets — like budgeting, saving, and investing — and like any skill, it takes practice to learn. And, since it's a lifelong skill, it's important to play the long game," Weiss said. Studying up on personal finance can alleviate stress and lead to financial independence.

How to learn personal finance

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By: Genevieve Carlton, Edited by: Rebecca Munday, Reviewed by: R.J Weiss

Published: June 5, 2025

A woman in her forties sits at her kitchen counter and checks her monthly budget via online banking, using a digital tablet and credit card.

Finances create anxiety for 80% of Americans, according to a 2024 Discover survey. Learning personal finance skills like budgeting and saving can alleviate that stress.

Discover how you can learn personal finance. Learn more about the best resources to expand your financial literacy and achieve financial independence.

Study financial topics

Blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels are a great way to learn the basics of finance, such as budgeting, paying off debt, and saving for college. These multimedia sources fit many learning styles, and you'll find resources targeted at every learning level, from beginners to experts.

Many of these resources also offer a community, so you can get involved with like-minded individuals working to manage their money and make better financial decisions.

I've found it's not only easier to learn this way but also easier to make better financial decisions when you see yourself as part of a community, R.J. Weiss, a certified financial planner, said. The key is finding one that promotes long-term financial well-being and strong values. When you're surrounded by people making smart decisions, it becomes easier to do the same.

Consult reputable magazines and newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and the Economist, or financial advisors and experts to stay current on market trends, regulatory changes, and the global financial landscape. Brokerage firms also offer educational resources on finance, often aimed at specific goals such as saving for retirement or managing risk when investing.

Starting with these free resources can help you build foundational financial knowledge before you invest in more expensive and time-consuming options, such as taking a personal finance course or hiring a financial advisor.

Read financial books

Books are a popular way to learn personal finance, whether you're a beginner or leveling up your skills. You can move at your own pace and choose books geared toward your personal goals.

Finance books may focus on specific saving and investment topics. You can also find books geared toward your specific stage of life, whether you're saving for college, to buy a house, to pay for a wedding, or to retire.

Narrow your search to books written by experienced financial professionals. Recommendations and reviews can help you identify books that connect with readers, provide valuable insights, and address the questions you need answered to further your financial goals.

While you can buy new finance books, consider visiting your local library to check out books for free. Many libraries also offer ebooks or audiobooks.

Take an online course

Black male college student working on his laptop at home. He has a calculator next to his laptop and is typing on the keyboard.

Studying independently is a great way to start learning personal finance. Taking finance classes provides structure and expert insights.

You can take classes on personal finance or financial literacy to learn more about investing and master budgeting.

Specialized courses can help you:

Develop a budget
Build and use credit
Plan for retirement
Build an investment portfolio

More advanced courses can keep you current on emerging financial topics like blockchain and decentralized finance.

Online courses prioritize flexibility. Courses may require as little as a few hours a week of your time for a month.

In a class, you can benefit from the expertise of your instructors. Courses are also a great way to identify valuable sources to continue learning on your own because instructors often refer students to other resources to increase their understanding.

Hire a financial professional

Financial professionals offer individualized advice based on your goals and financial circumstances. They can also be a great resource for learning personal finance. For example, CPAs do more than prepare taxes — they can help you with tax planning and business financial planning.

First, consider what kind of professional you need. Common titles include financial planner, financial advisor, wealth manager, and investment advisor. Financial coaches can help build your financial literacy.

Next, evaluate potential professionals. When choosing a CPA, for example, research the services they provide. Review their qualifications and certifications, including testimonials.

Finally, make sure you understand how any professional you work with is compensated. Some advisors charge an hourly or flat fee. Others take a percentage of the assets they manage, and some earn commissions from selling financial products. Knowing how an advisor is paid can help you spot potential conflicts of interest, something that's not uncommon in the industry.

Resources like the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) can help you find someone to help you. It's also a good idea to ask for personal recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues.

How should you start learning personal finance?

When it comes to learning personal finance, you have a wealth of options. The best option depends on your learning style, schedule, goals, and budget.

Free or low-cost resources like blogs, books, and podcasts can be great starting points that don't require much time. If you have the time and resources to take a class or hire a financial professional, you'll get more personalized content that better matches your financial needs and knowledge gaps.

When just starting out, it's important to begin by envisioning a future and setting financial goals that excite you. Goals that give you more of what you want in life and less of what you don't, Weiss said.

It's also important to consider your prior knowledge when choosing a learning option. Many resources offer financial literacy tools for beginners, and specialized courses or books can help you level up in a specific area.

You grow your skill in personal finance little by little, block by block. The best way to approach it is by developing your own personal finance system. Try to automate your system as much as possible. Bit by bit, think of yourself as building a system that works for you, Weiss said.

As you continue to learn about personal finance, you'll also learn which resources work best for you, and you can tailor your learning to achieve your financial goals.

Frequently asked questions about learning personal finance

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