Books & Resources To Help Teens Learn Good Money Habits

By Dhariyah Luqman, School Outreach Librarian
April 28, 2022

April is Financial Literacy Month and it's the perfect time to focus on the importance of saving, earning, borrowing, investing, and protecting your money. Financial education should begin at a young age to establish good money habits that will flow smoothly into adulthood. Reading and practical application is a surefire way to hone your financial literacy skills. This also includes navigating the real world, learning helpful life hacks, and preparing for adulthood. As a teen, being financially literate is not a challenge when you know where to start. Below are books and resources to learn more about taking care of the money you have now and in the future.

Resources & Databases

Career Cruising: a bilingual (English and Spanish), interactive, multimedia source which features profiles and information on hundreds of occupations, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, and financial aid, including scholarship opportunities.

LinkedIn Learning - Lynda: formerly known as Lynda.com, this online educational site features thousands of courses and video tutorials where you can discover, complete, and track courses related to your field and interests.

College & Career Pathways Videos: Whether you're looking for college guidance, career readiness, or adulting skills, The New York Public Library's College and Career Pathways program is here to help! Check out these informational videos to give you guidance on different topics that will help you prepare for what comes after high school.

Brainfuse JobNow: a free, online career development tool providing job search support, resume building, career coaching, interview preparation, and more.

Khan Academy: Personal Finance: a video course covering topics such as creating a budget, saving for college, debt repayment, and more.

TED Talks: Finance: a playlist of popular TED Talks related to personal finance.

Financial Literacy Games

ShadySam: Do you have what it takes to swim with the sharks? When lenders make money, borrowers lose. Shady Sam is designed to demonstrate how loan terms can hurt you if you don't pay attention.

Lights, Camera, Budget!: Lights, Camera, Budget! is an online game designed to help middle and high school students learn, study, and review financial literacy topics while also practicing their budgeting skills

Money Magic: Money Magic is an indie video game that teaches students how to create and keep up with a personal budget. 

Spent: Spent is an interactive game that challenges you to manage your money, raise a child, and make it through the month getting paid minimum wage.