Books & Resources To Help Teens Learn Good Money Habits
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.
Budgeting 101: From Getting Out of Debt and Tracking Expenses to Setting Financial Goals and Building Your Savings
by Michele Cagan
This clear and simple guide provides tons of practical advice for keeping track of your finances. With useful tips on setting financial goals, reducing debt, finding ways to save money, and creating and following a budget plan, you'll have your dollars and cents under control in no time.
I Want More Pizza: Real World Money Skills for High School, College, and Beyond
by Steve Burkholder
This book, specifically for young adults, shows you that personal finance does not take a lot of time, allows you to live similar as you do today and have more money, has a ton of real world examples, and provides you with options to choose from, leaving you in complete control. You will be able to take what you have learned and put your plan into action in your real life, starting today.
Girls Who Run the World: 31 CEOs Who Mean Business
by Diana Kapp
An empowering collection of short biographies introduces 31 leading businesswomen in a range of companies. This collection gives girls of all ages the tools they need to follow their passions, turn ideas into reality and break barriers in the business world.
Cyberspies: Inside the World of Hacking, Online Privacy, and Cyberterrorism
by Michael Miller
As the digital world grows, teens must be aware of threats to their online privacy and security. This book details forms of cyberspying, explores careers in cyberintelligence, and looks at various online threats.
Be You, Only better: Real Life Self-Care for Young Adults (And Everyone Else)
by Kristi Hugstad
Outlines daily practices that promote physical, mental, and emotional health for young people making the transition to adulthood. The author covers practices such as journaling, exercise, healthy sleep habits, time management, and mindfulness, with brief discussions of scientific research showing the proven benefits of each practice.
Money Matters for Teens: Advice on Spending and Saving, Managing Income, and Paying for College
edited by Virginia Vitzthum
This collection of essays written by young writers who share their financial fears and the ways they overcame them will help teens learn how to manage their money, save for the future and pay for college.
Living on a Budget
by Emma Huddleston
Balancing spending and earnings may sound simple, but it can be a difficult process for many people. Building a responsible budget can help secure a safe financial future. Living on a Budget looks at why a budget is important, discusses ways to think about income and expenses, and provides budgeting tips.
Saving and Investing
by Martha London
Keeping your money safe is always a good idea. So is making it grow over time. Saving and Investing discusses reasons to save and invest, examines how people can save their money wisely, and looks at ways to invest.Credit Cards and Loans
by Tammy Gagne
From buying a candy bar with a credit card to signing a mortgage on a house, at some point everyone will need to deal with credit and debt. Learning how to make smart choices now can help people save lots of money down the road. This book explains how these financial tools work and how to use them responsibly.
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.