Managing money is hard for most people, especially if you didn’t learn financial literacy skills growing up.
But there are so many classes out there that can easily teach you the basics without breaking the bank.
Our quick list will review the top 8 financial literacy classes in 2024, helping you confidently save, spend, and invest your money!
1. SoFi’s Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization
Price: Free for 7 days, then $49/month until you finish
SoFi offers a comprehensive specialization course that gives you everything you need to know about starting your personal finance journey. This 5-course specialization covers debt management, risk management, and investing. If you’re a beginner, SoFi will give you a solid understanding of how money works and practical tips you can apply to the real world.
2. Khan Academy’s Financial Literacy
Price: Free
Khan Academy has an extensive library of free educational content, and its financial literacy courses are no joke. Each part covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Budgeting and saving
- Investments and retirement
- Insurance
- Housing
- Scams and fraud
- Careers and education
The best part about Khan Academy is that it’s 100% self-paced. Whether you do it in one night or a few months, this course will become a priceless tool in your finance journey.
3. Udemy’s Personal Finance 101 Course
Price: Free
Udemy offers hundreds of personal finance courses.
However, the platform’s Personal Finance 101: Everything You Need To Know course has one of the lowest barriers to entry if you want to get started immediately. It’s completely free to use, and MoneyCoach.io designed it for beginners who want to learn everything from estate planning to building excellent credit.
This course is among the most popular on the platform, with roughly 80,000 students, and has a 4.7 rating.
4. FINRA Smart Investing Courses
Price: Free
If you want to dabble in investing, FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, has a handful of free courses to help you understand the risks and strategies involved when creating your portfolio. These courses cover the basics plus more advanced topics like diversification.
Overall, it’s a great starting point for any new investor who wants to take the first steps.
5. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Financial Planning for Young Adults
Price: Free for 7 days, then $49/month until you finish
Offered through Coursera, UoI’s course is perfect if you’re just starting your financial journey. Managing post-school finances is hard at first, so this course has you covered with relevant skills to begin planning your finances, including goal setting, understanding the time value of money, and saving strategies.
6. H&R Block’s Income Tax Course
Price: Free
Are you sick of paying someone to do your taxes each year?
H&R Block’s income tax course teaches the basics of tax preparation so you can file the paperwork yourself and even create your own side hustle as a tax preparer. The class is free to sign up, includes both online and in-person options, and will help make the filing process look like a walk in the park.
7. Udemy’s 5-Week Personal Finance Transformation Course
Price: Free
Sometimes, a short walkthrough is all you need to get the results you’re looking for.
That said, Ivy Brooks’s Udemy course gives you actionable steps to change your financial situation in just five short weeks. After you’re finished, you’ll learn how to:
- Create a budget
- Change your mindset around money
- Track your spending
- And learn practical saving strategies
Each month, you can create a new “Financial Snapshot” to track your progress in real-time, making it one of the most practical personal finance courses you can find on the market.
8. Marginal Revolution University’s Money Skills Course
Price: Free
Created by two economics professors from George Mason University, Marginal Revolution University’s Money Skills is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to learn financial literacy.
The course covers the four big financial topics: saving, real estate, career, and investing. Honing in on a few main issues makes it much easier to get through the material without becoming overwhelmed.
Overall, it’s a great option to quickly explore personal finance essentials without spending a dime.
The Bottom Line
Not learning about financial literacy makes it hard for many Americans to manage their money.
But with these low-cost or free courses, you can take control of your financial journey and start building a better future!
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