Are you looking for personal finance books for young adults?
As I finished reading a book on this list of financial literacy for young adults books, I decided to create a book list post from suggestions in a couple of Facebook groups that talk about finance. I also asked some of our NPP friends what is a favorite financial guide for young adults, and so… Here are the best personal finance books for young adults that I came up with from these sources.
I included a list of “money” movies at the bottom because over the years, we have had such great conversations with our sons over a bowl of popcorn and an interesting movie to discuss!
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Best Personal Finance Books for Young Adults
One great thing about the midlife season is that we can look back and see what has worked for us. We can try to impart some wisdom to our younger people, whether it’s our own teenagers or young adults or even our grandchildren. A fun thing we have done is have a book club both with my teenage son and some of his friends and their moms, and also with our grown kids on Zoom about certain topics.
**We have a brand new book tracker for you in our store! 40 pages of ways to track your reading!
Here are the best personal finance books for young adults!
These are in no particular order because I have not read them all. They were all recommended by either a good friend, a NPP reader or from one of the financial Facebook groups that I follow…
Best Personal Finance Books for Young Adults: Basic Financial Literacy Books
Money Skills For Teens by Sterling
I was given an advance copy of this one, and I am here to say that I shared many a nugget along the way with my final teen at home who is becoming more and more interested in his financial future!
This book was written specifically for teenage girls or boys and uses a simple and understandable approach to explain essential money concepts. She uses relatable scenarios with engaging content and includes an interactive workbook exercises that speak directly to teens. Their curiosity will turn into capability, and personal finance will become a topic they’re eager to explore.
Napkin Finance by Tina Hay
Simple and skimmable images for complicated financial terms. This makes the learning fun and understandable.
I’m Not Your ATM: A Practical Plan For Teaching Your Teen To Manage Money by Rachel Murphy
Become a team with your teen to help build their financial future together!
How To Adult: Personal Finance For The Real World by Cousineau
Straightforward explanations for financial terms, short stories, and a whole lot of how-tos for a young person as they get started on their financial journey.
Sheppard wrote another book called A Growth Mindset for Teens, and he returns to write about money and mindset. There are 31 activities covering the fundamentals of personal finances. This will help young adults be able to set their priorities straight and start taking care of their hard-earned money in no time.
Dave Ramsay’s Complete Guide to Money
This book covers the A to Z on how to budget, save, dump debt and invest. It is from Ramsay’s Financial Peace class -which if you have the chance to take through your church or other organization, it it a great framework to start with.
The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Cannot Afford To Make in College by Oneal and Cruze
Begin healthy financial habits in college by avoiding 5 mistakes often made by young people in college.
The Opposite of Spoiled by Lieberman
Practical guide and value-based philosophy. Written by Lieberman as a dad for all the other parents out there in order to be able to handle things from the tooth fairy all the way up to building a budget, and everything in between.
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Napkin Finance: Build Your Wealth in 30 Seconds or Less
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I Am Not Your ATM: A Practical Plan For Teaching Your Teen To Manage Money
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How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World
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Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide To Money: The Handbook of Financial Peace University
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The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can’t Afford To Make In College
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The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money
Buy Now →Best Personal Finance Books for Young Adults: Budgeting and Saving
The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
One-step system to automate savings. This is the way to go -set it and forget it -unless you decide to increase your savings amount.
Discipline is Destiny by Holiday
This book is about the concept of discipline which can be applied to saving money. Stoicism has four simple virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. With self discipline, this book teaches readers the power of self-discipline and balance, and cautions against the perils of extravagance.
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Lowry
This book helps young adults figure out how to deal with real life situations that can occur when they don’t have enough money. It also gives real world advice for getting a handle on figuring out money problems.
You Need a Budget by Mecham
The author has four basic rules for money management, but the main one is to give each dollar a job. By doing this, the reader can decide for him or herself what are the important things. Because this will be different for every reader. This really breaks down how to “do” finances for anyone!
But First Save 10 by Gutierrez
Create your own sustainable routine, adaptable for any income at any life point-a system that offers the power to design your future and define your destiny. I love that the plan laid out is simple, easy to follow, and gives great advice for paying oneself first.
The Automatic Millionaire, Expanded and Updated: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich
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Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control
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Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together
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But First, Save 10: The One Simple Money Move That Will Change Your Life
Buy Now →Best Personal Finance Books for Young Adults: Investing and Wealth Building
The Simple Path To Wealth by JL Collins
This book was born from letters Collins wrote to his daughter about finances. She remarked to him that although he cared very much about all of this, she did not and what was the easiest route for her to take? Here are the simple tasks for wealth building for even the most beginner.
F.I.R.E. For Dummies by Koski
F.I.R.E. stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. This has become a movement among a lot of people that were fed up with living paycheck to paycheck. My husband and I came across the this while listening to the ChooseFI podcast. Just even doing a few of these strategies will help young people so much!
Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence by Chris Mamula, Brad Barrett, and Jonathan Mendonsa
A different mindset for saving money. Simple, common sense strategies for managing money. The main thing is to get started now! The younger the better… The thing I like about this one is that they point out that retirement does not have to be 65 or older. If you live below your means and save more than the typical amount of 20%, you can reach retirement much earlier with some planning.
Think and Grow Rich by Hill (Updated now by Pell)
Uses the real life stories of famous millionaires to illustrate principles of success.
A Teenager’s Guide to Investing in the Stock Market by Villermin
Most people don’t start investing until at least the age of 31. This puts them way behind! This book gives real life advice about investing small amounts at a young age regularly. Beginning young is the key!
The Latte Factor by Bach and Mann
A modern day parable whereby a young woman befriends an older gentleman who imparts his wisdom to her. She learns that by making a few small changes in her lifestyle she will be able to secure her financial future.
Retire Before Mom And Dad by Berger
This book is written by Forbes’ deputy editor, and is full of life wisdom around finances. If you are not familiar with the concept of FIRE, Berger will help you out!
Best Movies To Watch About Finance
These show the good and the bad and the lessons about finances that we can learn from both.
Minimalism: A Documentary about the Important Things
Best Personal Finance Books for Young Adults: Reading tools
Have you upgraded to a Kindle or Ipad? There are always sales going on, so put one or the other on your wish list! I love a printed book, but I love my Kindle for travel!
What about a travel light for reading in bed and not waking your other person?? This one is rechargeable.
Tiny, fold-up readers that come in a tiny case for your keychain. You can choose the color and the strength.
A reading journal to track your books: progress, books to read, etc. (There is also a free app called Bookmory that does this digitally. I have struggled to keep up with this, but I love the idea of tracking all my book reading.)
Does your student have Student Prime at Amazon? There are so many advantages to this including the price! Discounts on the following: flights, tutoring, the Calm app, GrubHub, Prime videos and gaming, textbook purchases, Amazon photos, fashion Prime “try before you buy”, early access to Amazon lightening deals, and Whole Foods, and so much more!! Sign up for a 6-month trial here! **This is good for 18-24 year olds, even if they aren’t a student!
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Have you read Mel’s book? College Bound: The Ultimate List of Conversations to Help Your Teen Through High School It’s super helpful when it comes to strategies to keep your teen in conversation. Here is the link to the blog post about the book.
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