Personal Finance Classes?

[Radiance]

Hi

I am working on my 2012-2013 financial plan and everywhere I see an overall recommendation of taking a local personal finance class.

I like formal classes, I do well on academic environments, so I tried to look for one, but not much luck. Besides I sadly I find the subject to be extremelly boring. I do what I do with my finances because I have to.

Do you by any chance know of any online personal finance class that is fun to do?
Or a book that is fun to read on the subject?

Thanks!

[artwest]

A very entertaining and informative class is Financial Peace University. You can go to a class in person or do one online. Personally, I recommend going to one in person. Go to daveramsey.com and you can find a class in your area or do one online.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey is kind of the FPU class in book form.

Another good book that I just finished reading a couple of weeks ago is The Wealthy Barber. In my opinion, it was more entertaining than The Total Money Makeover.

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by Radiance

Hi

I am working on my 2012-2013 financial plan and everywhere I see an overall recommendation of taking a local personal finance class.

I like formal classes, I do well on academic environments, so I tried to look for one, but not much luck. Besides I sadly I find the subject to be extremelly boring. I do what I do with my finances because I have to.

Do you by any chance know of any online personal finance class that is fun to do?
Or a book that is fun to read on the subject?

Thanks!

My local community college offers several personal finance classes. Both in class form and as an online format. You should check your local community college to see if they offer something similar.

As far as books, anything by Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey are good places to start. If you go to half.com and type in personal finance you will get literally thousands of hits. Some of the books are only a few dollars.

[kv968]

Originally Posted by Radiance

Hi

I am working on my 2012-2013 financial plan and everywhere I see an overall recommendation of taking a local personal finance class.

I like formal classes, I do well on academic environments, so I tried to look for one, but not much luck. Besides I sadly I find the subject to be extremelly boring. I do what I do with my finances because I have to.

AS bjl said, check out your local community college. Many of them offer non-credit courses on a lot of different subjects and they'll usually offer a personal finance one.

As far as finding it boring, you might not with a PERSONAL finance class since it should cover topics you are familiar, or somewhat familiar with in everday life. Now if you took something like an Intro to Finance class, that you might find boring since it might be too indepth for you. More academic and less personable. However, if its a non-credit course it would most likely be the former.

[mkjohn]

You can try "The Millionaire Next Door" to learn personal finance. This is the best books of personal finance.

[BMEPhDinCO]

I know that You Need a Budget offers online classes for free, you could check them out.

Also, the library might have a whole section dedicated to it, you can browse there.

[PetMom]

I would go to the library and just start going through books.

Some are easy to understand and readable and user friendly.

Charts, lists and easily understood text help. Silly cartoons of perplexed people also make it fun.

Some are just pages of more advanced advice with math forumlas and pure text.

Also, investing or printing up (free from computer) a really good vocabulary
list of financial definitions would help.

Finance and personal finance and investing are fascinating once you get interested
in them. Then you might enjoy CNBC which has a lot of investment advice. I use it
keeping up with how the oil/cotton/commodities are going to know what is going on
with prices.

For example Hostess is talking bankrutpcy. I rarely touch a twinky
now but was a childhood fixture. Would wonder how the price is going in the store
but part of their blame is on the rising cost of flour and sugar.

It all ties in together.

[YLTL_Dan]

I think Dave Ramsey is the best place to learn about personal finance. Another supplement to taking FPU or reading TMM is to listen to his daily radio show. You can listen to his live show daily on daveramsey.com from 1-4pm CST for free.

You can also subscribe to blogs to get new a new perspective... I personally like The Simple Dollar, and you can check mine out as well (Your Life, Their Life).

As far as college courses, I was a Finance major at a state university, and I really don't think they do a good job of teaching practical personal finance. Much of what you learn is theoretical and hard to put to use in the real world.

[Petunia 100]

Here is a great place to learn about investing:

Investment Education, Investing 101, Investment Basics, Investment Classroom, Learn to Invest | Morningstar

[jpg7n16]

Where did you look for the formal classes?

I'd try here: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. - List of CFP Board-Registered Programs

The CFP website has links to several programs at Universities that train you in all aspects of personal finance: ie. more than just investments.

They even have distance learning options if you aren't in the area.

Also see:
CFA, CFP, CPA, CAIA, FRM Exam Prep and Review Solutions - Schweser.com
CFP® Course, Certified Financial Planner® Course, Financial Planning - The American College

You don't have to sit for the exam to take the classes. You don't have to want to be a financial planner for a living. You can just want to learn more about finances across several areas of finance.


If you're going the lower cost option, I'd 2nd the Dave Ramsey FPU classes at a local church. you'd still have classes to attend and homework to do. Plus pretty entertaining DVDs to watch. But keep in mind, it's Dave's view on finances. If you love/hate him, you'll love/hate the classes.