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How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World
An essential resource for a high school graduate, college student, or any other young adult who needs to prepare for the financial realities of adulthood. Drawing on years of teaching personal finance in the high school classroom, as well as valuable life experience as a young professional, Cousineau introduces topics ranging from compound interest and mutual funds to Roth IRAs and insurance deductibles. Each chapter contains straightforward explanations, practical examples, revealing anecdotes, and hands-on tools that will help you to jump-start your personal financial journey.
In this book, you’ll
The foundational concepts of personal finance and building wealthHow to avoid costly financial misstepsHow to budget, save, and invest your money wiselyHow taxes and insurance workHow to prepare for life’s big expenses
Reviews
"This! This is what I needed when I was in high school. It is also what I needed when I was in college, and when I bought my first car, and when I bought my first house, and when I opened my first credit card. Every high school student in America should have to pass a class that uses this book. The real-world examples are relatable and make the reader feel like they are armed with the knowledge they need. It doesn't just make you book smart. It makes you street smart." -Stuart Draper
“In How to Adult, Jake Cousineau engages readers using a blend of storytelling, analogies, charts and research to deliver key financial lessons. Whether it's comparing index funds to sports teams or interest to pineapple on pizza, Jake has a gift in delivering financial advice in a way that will educate adults, you and old alike!” -NGPF Personal Finance
In this book, you’ll
The foundational concepts of personal finance and building wealthHow to avoid costly financial misstepsHow to budget, save, and invest your money wiselyHow taxes and insurance workHow to prepare for life’s big expenses
Reviews
"This! This is what I needed when I was in high school. It is also what I needed when I was in college, and when I bought my first car, and when I bought my first house, and when I opened my first credit card. Every high school student in America should have to pass a class that uses this book. The real-world examples are relatable and make the reader feel like they are armed with the knowledge they need. It doesn't just make you book smart. It makes you street smart." -Stuart Draper
“In How to Adult, Jake Cousineau engages readers using a blend of storytelling, analogies, charts and research to deliver key financial lessons. Whether it's comparing index funds to sports teams or interest to pineapple on pizza, Jake has a gift in delivering financial advice in a way that will educate adults, you and old alike!” -NGPF Personal Finance
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2021
79 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 13, 2025
Going in my late teenagers’ stockings. Perfect.
February 21, 2023
i hate learning about taxes.
the USA even had a little tea party and said “let’s fight the british monarchy and destroy taxes once and for all!”
yet here i am… learning about taxes.
the author did a nice job of having a light-hearted tone all while being informational. he’s quite a funny dude and taught me A LOT. i did blank out few times while reading, but that’s probably a me-problem because i hate learning about taxes. the cover is absolutely adorable as well.
the one docked star is because it is obvious that this book is targeted towards young adults, so i think a bit of simple imagery could have gotten certain points across more clearly. it could have just been cute stick figures like the one on the cover, but that’s just a personal preference!
did i mention i hate learning about taxes?
the USA even had a little tea party and said “let’s fight the british monarchy and destroy taxes once and for all!”
yet here i am… learning about taxes.
the author did a nice job of having a light-hearted tone all while being informational. he’s quite a funny dude and taught me A LOT. i did blank out few times while reading, but that’s probably a me-problem because i hate learning about taxes. the cover is absolutely adorable as well.
the one docked star is because it is obvious that this book is targeted towards young adults, so i think a bit of simple imagery could have gotten certain points across more clearly. it could have just been cute stick figures like the one on the cover, but that’s just a personal preference!
did i mention i hate learning about taxes?
August 20, 2025
My dad made me read this but I’m honestly glad I did. It was an informative, engaging, and easy-to-understand overview of personal finance. I learned the basics of things I really should’ve already known at this point, so now I feel better equipped to handle my financial future. This book isn’t necessarily mind-blowing but I like the author and his personal anecdotes, plus there was a very clear central message (be smart about your money as early as possible so that you can enjoy your life + have financial freedom), so I am giving it 5 stars. Now I feel like a more educated and financially savvy adult. Yay!
June 19, 2023
This book is a totally accurate, simple, easily understood breakdown of personal finance principles. I liked his similes and metaphors- the author is a high school teacher, and it’s obvious he’s good at his job because he makes the info very accessible and easy to connect to what I already know. The fact is, I already knew everything in this book, and I realized my financial problems are due to my impulsivity and lack of self-control. ;_;
December 5, 2021
Straightforward, easy-to-digest, organized, and important! Got this for my college-age daughter since I wish I'd had this knowledge in my twenties, while navigating first jobs and places to live. There was still stuff I learned from the author at this age--helpful in terms of the differences of retirement accounts! Definitely recommended!
July 6, 2023
i read this book in two sittings. for someone who went into this knowing nothing about finances it was very easy to follow with great examples and visuals that made it interesting and fun to learn. everyone needs to read this book!
November 1, 2022
Comforting read. Definitely took a lot of the stress out of planning my future financially. I liked the pacing and the real world examples.
September 18, 2023
giving this a three feels insane but it was educational and didn't bore me to tears so it hit the bare minimum
June 24, 2024
super quick and accessible read for people who know nothing about the basics of financial responsibility. it found it actually interesting to read… #adulting
April 16, 2025
Loved this and I recommend it. It explains personal finance in a digestible way that’s not condescending. I feel more confident in by ability to use my money to positively invest in my goals.
December 16, 2023
Very nice book about financial literacy
December 20, 2023
HEY! Stop being embarrassed if you’re like me and know nothing about personal finance—buy this book. Right now!
July 5, 2024
My dad bribed me to read this book (I don’t love non fiction or finance) with a new book that I wanted, but as soon as I started this one I honestly loved it. I typically only give five stars to my favorite books of all time, but this one really deserves the rating for how helpful it is. As someone who struggles to understand finances and numbers, this book kept me engaged and passionate about taking control over my life finances. It’s a quick, simple, easy to understand read that goes over the basics of personal finance, particularly for high school/college aged students (like me!) There were bold words, tables and explanations of the tables, personal anecdotes, humor, and exercises to practice. Cousineau kept it real and fun. And since reading, I’ve been talking more about my finances and planning for my future, all without stress. For someone who is anxious about the future, this book helped make me look forward to what comes next!!
May 21, 2023
I purchased an e-book version of this book. This is my personal review.
Book Notes:
Format: kindle
Title: How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World - I like it
Cover: a bluish-green color, with chalkboard lettering and a concerned stick figure - I like it
About the Book:
The book was written by a teacher, Jake Cousineau, who created a course for his students to learn financial literacy. Since the course was well liked, and taught numerous times, the author was able to pinpoint the questions students may not have even known they had. He then turned it into a guide, or book, for those who may not have the advantage of such a class.
My Review:
This is the first book I’ve read in a very long time that I thoroughly enjoyed. Each section was informative and the way the author wrote made it easy to understand, it wasn’t condescending like other financial books can be. It was kind and sincere. Each section was broken up by explaining the subject, giving examples and testing your knowledge on it and even providing personal stories, so you could learn what the author experienced. Though this book is aimed for seniors in high school, I read it as a later 20-something who wanted to understand things I was never really taught. Other books kind of expect you to know a little something about the subject, but this one was about teaching you from the start and explaining the basics. With that in mind, it allows me to do further research on such topics with confidence. A section of the book I really enjoyed was the one about taxes, as I’ve ALWAYS had trouble understanding it, they explained it in a way that actually made sense. This was a great, short, read and worth it.
If you’re looking to learn the basics of adulthood (no matter what age) then this is the perfect book to start with. I liked it so much I plan on buying a physical copy for my collection.
Quote that Best Sums up the Book:
“As you can see in this table, the highest score Americans received in this simple survey was an F. You are not going to be one of these people”. (Cousineau, 161)
Book Notes:
Format: kindle
Title: How to Adult: Personal Finance for the Real World - I like it
Cover: a bluish-green color, with chalkboard lettering and a concerned stick figure - I like it
About the Book:
The book was written by a teacher, Jake Cousineau, who created a course for his students to learn financial literacy. Since the course was well liked, and taught numerous times, the author was able to pinpoint the questions students may not have even known they had. He then turned it into a guide, or book, for those who may not have the advantage of such a class.
My Review:
This is the first book I’ve read in a very long time that I thoroughly enjoyed. Each section was informative and the way the author wrote made it easy to understand, it wasn’t condescending like other financial books can be. It was kind and sincere. Each section was broken up by explaining the subject, giving examples and testing your knowledge on it and even providing personal stories, so you could learn what the author experienced. Though this book is aimed for seniors in high school, I read it as a later 20-something who wanted to understand things I was never really taught. Other books kind of expect you to know a little something about the subject, but this one was about teaching you from the start and explaining the basics. With that in mind, it allows me to do further research on such topics with confidence. A section of the book I really enjoyed was the one about taxes, as I’ve ALWAYS had trouble understanding it, they explained it in a way that actually made sense. This was a great, short, read and worth it.
If you’re looking to learn the basics of adulthood (no matter what age) then this is the perfect book to start with. I liked it so much I plan on buying a physical copy for my collection.
Quote that Best Sums up the Book:
“As you can see in this table, the highest score Americans received in this simple survey was an F. You are not going to be one of these people”. (Cousineau, 161)
November 17, 2025
I normally wouldn’t log/rate a book like this on Goodreads but it was actually phenomenal. I was looking for a book that covered the basics of personal finance, “what they didn’t teach us in school,” before starting my first actual job, so that I could handle my finances as best as I could from the beginning. I am so grateful I read this book because I learned so so much, making me now feel much more comfortable and like I have the knowledge to handle my first paycheck, budget, & financial plan. It even made me aware of financial concepts that could have ruined me financially if I didn’t otherwise know (and thus would have learned the hard way), and made me aware of saving goals that would be best to start now, even when I previously thought I would only think about those goals in the far future. The author’s writing is clear, understandable, and to the point, and his examples and metaphors helped make many points click for me. I will be gifting this book to any of my family members graduating high school or college and would recommend it to anyone.
May 9, 2024
I read this to see if it would be a good basic personal finance book for someone just starting out. Ultimately, yes. I would recommend it!
Good: Written in 2021, it was more recent than many personal finance books. It had charts and graphics explaining specific math outcomes of different decisions made or situations in the book. Exceptionally easy to read, personable, and covers most of the important stuff.
Would like to see: Renters insurance, identity theft, tips on saving or spending choices.
Good: Written in 2021, it was more recent than many personal finance books. It had charts and graphics explaining specific math outcomes of different decisions made or situations in the book. Exceptionally easy to read, personable, and covers most of the important stuff.
Would like to see: Renters insurance, identity theft, tips on saving or spending choices.
August 10, 2021
As someone who just graduated college, this was a very nice introduction to personal finance and I believe it will make a big difference to how I manage my money in the future. There were some topics, such as 401(k)s and taxes, where I wish he got a bit more into the nuances, but at the same time I understand that he was trying to keep it compact.
Overall, this book is perfect for any young adult who wants to understand basic personal finance.
Overall, this book is perfect for any young adult who wants to understand basic personal finance.
July 13, 2022
I had no idea about literally anything finance related, my brother told me which credit card to get, i haven't had to fill out taxes yet, and i'm not old enough to buy a house or worry about insurance. But this book was so easy to understand and broke down things in very simple terms and gave phenomenal and easy to follow examples and i will forever keep this book to reference back to for the future
May 1, 2023
Fantastic book! Great for those who are just beginning to take the leap to financial independence or for those who want a fun refresher. This books goes over the essentials of personal finance in a comprehensive, thorough and engaging way. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic, gives an example and a personal story from the author before giving some scenarios for you to work through yourself. Highly recommend!
July 9, 2023
I think I’d say it’s a 5/5 for the target audience (older teens or young 20’s). Easy to understand language around some complex topics. Definitely would have been useful to read when I was first starting out.
If you’re already knowledgeable about things like taxes, insurance, budgeting, investing etc. you likely won’t get much out of this. Highly recommend for teens or adults without much knowledge around those topics as an intro to the topics and some of the key vocab and concepts
If you’re already knowledgeable about things like taxes, insurance, budgeting, investing etc. you likely won’t get much out of this. Highly recommend for teens or adults without much knowledge around those topics as an intro to the topics and some of the key vocab and concepts
October 20, 2024
I was definitely not the target audience for this. I work in banking and have been out of college for several years at this point, but I was hoping for some advice on choosing a credit card and investment options. The book covers very basic concepts, but I 100% agree that they are things you should know before you graduate high school.
November 3, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book because it felt like I was in school again being taught about something. The author really did a great job dividing the books into easy to understand chunks and questions at the end of each chapter to make sure you retain what you learned. I was familiar with a lot of the terms but the author does a great job at simplifying them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
straight to the point and very well laid out finance book for all
Read this if you want to navigate the complex world of personal finance. Explains, illustrates with great example. Also, unlike most other finance book, it is not boring. Congratulations to the author.
Read this if you want to navigate the complex world of personal finance. Explains, illustrates with great example. Also, unlike most other finance book, it is not boring. Congratulations to the author.
March 5, 2023
Probably 3.5/5⭐️, the first couple of chapters were a little too elementary and simplistic, but I’m not the target audience for the book so that’s more my own fault than the authors. The 2nd 50% or so was a good, informative overview of some common finance concepts
July 6, 2023
Though this book is geared toward high school/college grads, I read it at 27… which at some points, the book makes seem old (compared to the audience). However, this book has a lot of insightful info that any young adult would find helpful!
February 3, 2024
Loved it. Simple but straightforward steps, good and easy-to-comprehend examples, advice applicable to both US and non-US citizens. It is just a simple reminder that it is up to us now to spend our old age without having to care for the financial burden later.
March 20, 2024
Great Intro not just for young people
As an immigrant to the U.S., this book has been particularly encouraging and enlightening. Highly recommend!! I’ll be talking about it for a while :)
As an immigrant to the U.S., this book has been particularly encouraging and enlightening. Highly recommend!! I’ll be talking about it for a while :)
August 13, 2024
i felt this book had a lot of really sound advice. for a book about finances, it wasn’t super boring and was easy to read. i took a financial course in college, and most of the stuff aligned with what was in this book. overall i highly recommend giving this book a read, it’s really helpful.
January 27, 2025
A great book for basic understanding of the world of personal finance. Chapters are well organized, straight forward, easy to understand language, and have good examples to show how concepts are applied. Definitely recommend to anyone at any age!
February 3, 2025
Excellent!! I’ve been successfully adulting for a decade or two or almost three, yet I still learned a few things. It’s the perfect amount of information on all the topics my emerging adults need to understand. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews