The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (2024)

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The 3 Best Books About Money for High Schoolers

To be honest, there are MANY personal finance books for high schoolers that could have made this list.

If there was one hobby that I wish all people had, it would be the love the read.

Years ago, I learned about “Self-Help” books. I remember actually poking fun of friends who read this genre. I began reading and fell in love. Truly, I wish more people would find interest in these books.

So, as a person who was new to money management/budgeting/saving/investing, I discovered 3 books that were transformative in my life (and have been imperative to other’s financial journeys as well).

In this article you will discover the top personal finance books for high school students. They are written for the beginner in mind and are both transformative and easy to understand!

The 3 best personal finance books for high school students include:

  1. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley
  2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
  3. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (1)

#1.The Millionaire Next Door

The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (2)The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (3)

The Millionaire Next Door is an absolute classic that wants to learn about getting wealthy! This is also great for all who think that they have no chance to being rich.

You will gain huge insight on how the rich think and quickly learn that it actually is simpler than you think to gain wealth.

The Millionaire Next Door is actually based on a huge study that was performed years back, analyzing every aspect of how millionaires spend, act, and live. It gives real examples like how a janitor saved his money to have a larger net worth than a highly paid doctor. You’ll discover the ultimate secrets of how some middle-class earners save to have much larger retirements than top earners. It’s truly a fascinating read!!

And, if you’re at all like me and love to read evidence-based information, then I highly recommend this book.

Find The Millionaire Next DoorHERE!

This book will teach you:

  • How to not spend more than you make
  • Principles of investing the rich live by
  • How growing up in a poor or wealthy household will affect your outlook on money and potential for success
  • Statistical evidence on how the wealthy think, and how to adjust your view of money

#2. Rich Dad Poor Dad

The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (4)The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (5)

If there is ANY finance books to read, whether you are interested in getting out of debt, interested in changing your mindset on money, or wanting to learn more about investing, you must read this book.

There is a reason why Rich Dad Poor Dad is amongst the most highly recommended books for everyone to read.

What I love about this book is how it is written for the beginner audience. It is truly developed for all to be able to understand and relate. It incorporates a memorable story of the author’s life, and how he learned about how different parents teach their children about money.

If you pick up a copy of this book, you’ll not want to put it down. I actually had this book as an audiobook, and I ended up buying it as a physical copy so I could highlight and mark so many of the good points that the author made!

Also, if you have any interest in being a business owner one day, or getting out of the corporate world, this book will be a very helpful to you. Most importantly, it is a critical tool for if you have kids or plan to have children in the future. It really is that good!

Find Rich Dad Poor DadHERE!

This book will teach you:

  • How parents of different educational levels teach their kids about money
  • The vast differences in mindset between business owners and employees
  • How to get your money to work for you, rather than having to work for your money
  • How to properly introduce your money and work to your children

#3. The Total Money Makeover

The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (6)The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (7)

I recommend Dave for EVERYONE who has never learned about personal finance. His methods are an incredible resource for all who need step-by-step guidance to going to college without debt and retiring wealthy!

Years ago, I took Dave’s Financial Peace course, and have also read two of his books. I have listened to many of his podcasts, used his budgeting iPhone app, and have implemented many of his methods.

Having experienced quite a bit of Dave, I recommend this book of all his books.I have posted a review of his book, The Complete Guide to Money, if you’re interested in reading what makes that book unique from his other products.

What I love about Total Money Makeover is that it has straightforward advice for everything from learning about debt, understanding spending behavior, credit cards, and understanding the basics of investing. It’s a great tool to have, no matter your stage in life!

FindTotal Money MakeoverHERE!

This book will teach you:

  • How to control your behavior around spending
  • The exact steps to paying off all your debt
  • How to introduce a budget to your family and children
  • How to truly become financially free

Discover why I recommend Dave Ramsey inthis article!

Let’s Summarize!

  • Although there are plenty more books I could recommend for you, I believe these are the most established and trusted resources that have impacted my life.
  • It is important to have multiple opinions and viewpoints to reference when taking this journey to understanding your money. Each of these books give thought-provoking ideas and really are a fun read.

Thanks for reading! If there is anything you could do at this stage of your learning, it is to learn the important topics presented in these books.

The 3 Best Personal Finance Books For High School Students (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 keys to financial literacy? ›

Three Key Components of Financial Literacy
  • An Up-to-Date Budget. Some tend to look at the word “budget” as tantamount to the word “diet,” but at its most basic, a budget is just a spending plan. ...
  • Dedicated Savings (and Saving to Spend) ...
  • ID Theft Prevention.

Which financial book should I read first? ›

1. The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, by Andrew Tobias. If you are truly just starting out in your investing journey, this book is a great place to start. You'll learn tips on how to save and invest for your future and get excellent advice on what to avoid in the financial world.

What is the best book for financial literacy? ›

10 Financial Literacy Books to Learn From
  • Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry.
  • Bye Student Loan Debt: Learn How to Empower Yourself by Eliminating Your Student Loans by Daniel J. ...
  • 365 Ways to Live Cheap: Your Everyday Guide to Saving Money by Trent Hamm.
Nov 3, 2023

Should high school students learn personal finance? ›

But there are basic fundamental financial skills that make a strong foundation for most people's money journeys. Incorporating personal finance in schools would be one way to help set young people up for future success. By teaching them basic money concepts from an early age, they can build that literacy as they grow.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the golden rule of financial literacy? ›

Spend less than you make

This may seem obvious, and boring, but spending less than you make is by far the biggest key to financial success. If you struggle with spending, focus on this one rule until you're at a point where you have positive cash flow at the end of the month.

What is the most sold financial book in the world? ›

Which is the most sold finance book in the world? Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki is the best-selling finance book in the world. It has been translated into several languages and sold in many countries.

What is the most financially successful book series? ›

Having sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling is the best-selling book series in history.

What is the best way to learn finance for beginners? ›

The Bottom Line

Listening to podcasts and reading books about specific areas of finance that interest you help break down more complex financial topics and speed up the learning process. There are also many paid and free courses out there that offer courses in different areas of finance and investing.

How to learn about personal finance? ›

How to Start Learning About Personal Finance
  1. Talk to a professional: Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) have a fiduciary responsibility, meaning they have to act in the best interests of their clients.
  2. Try a robo-advisor: For low-cost access to investing advice, try a robo-advisor.
Jun 28, 2023

What are the 4 main financial literacy? ›

Financial literacy is having a basic grasp of money matters and its four fundamental pillars: debt, budgeting, saving, and investing. It's understanding how to build wealth throughout one's life by leveraging the power of these pillars.

What is the best age to learn financial literacy? ›

Teaching Ages 6 and 8 About Money

Help your child open a savings account, and encourage them to make regular deposits. As the balance grows, you can discuss the concept of interest and how the bank pays people back for saving their money.

Why is financial literacy not taught in high school? ›

High schools might avoid teaching personal finance due to several reasons, including the perceived lack of relevance to students' current lives, the gap between financial literacy and financial responsibility, and the practical constraints of traditional teaching methods.

What percent of high schools teach financial literacy? ›

Only 27 percent of California high school students attend schools that offer personal finance classes. Ensuring that all young Californians have exposure to financial literacy is a vital step in closing inequality gaps and providing the skills and resources to improve their lives overall.”

Does high school teach financial literacy? ›

Right now, more than half the states require schools to offer personal finance in high school. But not all of those states require students to actually take a personal finance course to graduate.

What are the 4 rules of being financially literate? ›

Financial literacy is having a basic grasp of money matters and its four fundamental pillars: debt, budgeting, saving, and investing. It's understanding how to build wealth throughout one's life by leveraging the power of these pillars.

What are the three 3 elements of financial management? ›

Most financial management plans will break them down into four elements commonly recognised in financial management. These four elements are planning, controlling, organising & directing, and decision making. With a structure and plan that follows this, a business may find that it isn't as overwhelming as it seems.

What are the 5 principles of financial literacy? ›

This article will explore the five basic principles of financial literacy: earn, save & invest, protect, spend, and borrow, providing you with actionable insights to enhance your financial knowledge and make the most of your resources.

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