What is a 401k?
Do I need to have a budget?
Should I pay off my student loans or start contributing to retirement?
When I’ve heard from 20-somethings about adulting topics Post-Grad Compass should cover, personal finance is often at the top of the list. I’m planning on sharing in-depth looks at finance topics, from saving money on happy hour to planning for retirement. But in the meantime, I wanted to share some resources to get you started quickly.
Whether you’re facing a mountain of debt or already saving for the future, there are many excellent resources available to help you improve your finances. There’s also a lot of bad personal finance advice floating around. It’s important to learn the basics so you can tell the good advice from the bad
Here are just some of the great books, podcasts, blogs, and TikTokers sharing great personal finance info. I’ve picked the ones below because they give clear explanations of sometimes complex topics and provide action steps to help get you on your way quickly.
Related post: Six Powerful Moves to Level Up Your Personal Finances After College
[Note: The list below is based on my opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.]
[This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links and make a purchase. There is no additional cost to you.]
Table of Contents
Erin Lowry, Broke Millennial
Broke Millennial is the number one book that I recommend to young adults looking to handle their finances. Erin uses her own post-college experience as a frame for discussing everything from budgeting to credit cards to retirement savings to student loans. It’s a great introduction to finance topics, written in an accessible manner. The Broke Millennial website is also full of great tips and short videos discussing money topics. Once you’ve tackled the basics, Erin has also written Broke Millennial Takes on Investing.
Tiffany Aliche, the Budgetnista
Tiffany’s book, Get Good with Money, is brand new this year, but she has been a force on the personal finance scene for a while now, and she offers a number of other ebooks and resources on her website, The Budgetnista. Tiffany’s knowledge is on point, and her positivity is infectious. She also presents topics along with homework, or “challenges” that prompt you into taking action.
Tori Dunlap, Her First 100K, and Financial Feminist
Tori Dunlap is a force. When she graduated college in 2016, Tori set a goal of saving $100,000 by age 25. She blew past that goal and then dedicated efforts to teaching other women how to “make more, spend less, and feel confident.” You can access Tori’s content on her website, Her First 100K, through her popular TikTok, and or on her new podcast, Financial Feminist.
ChooseFI
If you’re intrigued by the Financial Independence (or FIRE) movement, there are many great resources out there to get you started learning more. Choose FI is the podcast that got me interested, and they have now cranked out well over 300 episodes. Episodes range from actionable tips for improving your financial habits to interviews with experts in finance and other fields. They have also compiled many of the foundational principles of financial independence into a book, available on their website.
Additional Resources:
These are just the beginning of the financial education resources out there, and there are many more I could have included in this list. In fact, here are a few more:
- Money Girl podcast (recommended by my friend Sofia)
- Afford Anything– podcast by Paula Pant, featuring topics including financial independence and earning money through rental properties
- Clever Girl Finance – features a podcast, books, and more than 30 free courses on everything from budgeting to credit scores to setting financial goals.
- 20-Day Money Challenge – if you have a subscription to the New York Times, this 20-day challenge can help you nail down some of the basics.
- How to Automate Your Finances – this 12-minute video from Ramit Sethi helped me to upgrade my finances. Ramit’s book, I Will Teach You to Be Rich, has some other decent resources, but I didn’t love his overall tone. I recommend the video wholeheartedly, though, and it can give you a sense of whether you might like his other work.
I’m looking forward to sharing more resources and tips on Post-Grad Compass in the future. Is there a finance writer or podcaster that you like or find helpful? Tell me about it in the comments!
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