The Complete Guide to Personal Finance: For Teenagers

by Tamsen Butler

Personal financial planning is the process of establishing your own financial goals and finding a way to reach them. It is an ongoing process that involves examining all existing resources, developing a plan to use them, and systematically implementing the plan to achieve your goals. While teenagers yield immense spending power, many lack the financial knowledge necessary to manage their money wisely. The Complete Guide to Personal Finance: For Teenagers is a reliable and relevant source of financial information in which teenagers will find a wealth of useful information.
In this new book, you will learn how to get and manage credit, how to make and stick to a budget, how to save for college, how to determine your needs versus your wants, how to pay for a car, how to finance college, how to manage risk, how to open a bank account, how to write a check, how to balance a checkbook, how to avoid the pressures of consumerism, and how to avoid financial mistakes.
You will also learn about investment options, taxes, checks, debit cards, credit cards, and basic budget tips. This book is filled with helpful suggestions from financial and family counselors, and you will discover creative ways to get a jumpstart on your financial future and use money responsibly. Even if you have had a few missteps along the way, you will be able to learn from your mistakes and get on the path to financial well-being.
Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president's garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.
"This Atlantic Publishing eBook was professionally written, edited, fact checked, proofed and designed. The print version of this book is 288 pages and you receive exactly the same content. Over the years our books have won dozens of book awards for content, cover design and interior design including the prestigious Benjamin Franklin award for excellence in publishing. We are proud of the high quality of our books and hope you will enjoy this eBook version. "

Genres: Finance

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Stephanie Froebel · Rating 2 out of 5]

No thank you.

This book was a gift, so I decided to read it. I mean despite the highly outdated cover art, I thought, it couldn't hurt to read. Well, I essentially knew everything the book discussed. It is just common sense. Maybe for someone with no intellectual capacity at all, that needs constant direction and cannot think for themselves, this book is a good idea. That was a little harsh, but it's the truth. Some information was good to hear again from another source, but this book does not give students the prospective outlook on how to gain financial freedom or success. It merely touches on investments and encourages people to shy away from those while promoting the save save save motif which is deemed unsuccessful unless you want the average middle-class life in a basic suburban neighborhood.

This book is highly outdated too. It mentions the 2008 recession like it was yesterday and brings up iPods. Yes. The mp3 device with a spin wheel from the early 2000s. Maybe this book is beneficial to some, but for me who is looking to have a highly successful and high-achieving life, this book isn't it. I would much rather read from millionaire Robert Kyosaki.

The basics are covered well and thoroughly though, so if you have no knowledge on the topic or very little, it's worth reading about the options.

Lastly, the problem I have with these financial books "for teens" is they write as if we are intellectually incapable. If you want the next generation to be successful, teach us. Don't just tell us how to keep our savings in the positives and out of debt. Teach us how to grow our incomes through investment in real estate and the stock market.

[Katharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book provided basic case studies of people in this age group and their decisions, but it lacked substance.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read; I read it for school. In the copy that I have, there is a CD in the back that has some worksheets you can print off. "The Complete Guide" is really helpful and has great tips.

[Maxwell Musoke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

We constantly hear of teenagers or college students, once of out of school, getting themselves in to desperate financial situations because of their lack of discipline or knowledge. Once on their own it seems like every credit card company gets their address and bombards them with enticing advertising. As well, student loans are easy to get and just as easy to spend not anticipating they will have to be repaid with a high interest attached.
This book is a very important component of the teen or young adult's reading material before embarking on their own. Much of the information isn't taught at school and in many cases never discussed with parents. Also, in many cases the parents themselves aren't well versed in financial matters.
I believe Tamsen Butler covers all the necessary aspects of providing information so as not to get into debt or succumb to easy loans or credit cards. She also covers spending, saving, and budgeting. I specifically like her explanation about creditors and the "games they play." As well, Tamsen covers areas such as different kinds of debt, responsibility, and credit reports. From what I can see nothing was missed to give the young person the basics of sound financial management.
I do recommend this book be given to every teen before they leave home and embark on their own. It may the best investment in their lives.

[Reading4Fun · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Complete Guide to Personal Finance for Teenagers and College Students by Tamsen Butler is really geared towards high schoolers. I would say it could be beneficial to college freshmen/sophomore students, but to those with more life experience it may not be beneficial. I read the book because I don't have a good grasp of finance, and it was a little too basic even for me. It was not altogether pointless. I did learn somethings from it, but because this book is geared towards high schoolers and not really towards young adults, the information was not pertinent to me. However, it is a book I would recommend to teenagers or parents of teenagers.

[Fermin Quant · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has good basic advice, as the title says for teens. Throughout my adult life, I have learned this, and thinking back, it would have helped me knowing this when I was 15.
I have a few friends and co workers who have not yet, or have just begun noticing what this books suggests, and many are spending years to get out of the trouble they got in for not knowing the basics taught here.
Overall, a good starting point, but don't expect anything ground breaking because the title is called "The Complete Guide...". It is most definitely not complete, but it is a starting point for everyone.

[Northern Credit Union · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning about money can be both boring and challenging for any teenager or young adult. This book attempts to derail teenagers from bad habits with borrowing money and credit cards, and is told in a fun and easy to understand manner. It is funny and logical, sprinkled with real life stories and advice that are relatable to young people.
Shelley O'Connor
Branch Manager, Long Lake Road, Sudbury

[Cosmé · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It made a lot of sense, it was easy to read and it explained things very well. I skimmed through the section on debt a little just because there was so much information, but it was all very interesting. Plus I think it helped with my Econ homework a little! :)

[Marvelyne]

Great book to teach my children the importance of saving and living on a budget especially since this age they are taking on more financial responsibility.

[Jhawn]

Gave to Leigh