34 Best Money Books for Teens and Young Adults

Discover the best finance books for young adults and equip teens with essential financial knowledge. From budgeting to investing, these handpicked books offer practical strategies for teens to navigate the complex world of money.

Learning about all money topics: budgeting, saving, working, investing, retirement, and much more begins at a young age. When kids are young, it is important to introduce them to money: how it works and what it is for. As kids grow older and become teenagers and young adults, it can be time to teach them more of the nitty-gritty of money.

Not all teens are interested in these topics, just like not all adults are interested in financial management. Some things are non-negotiable, in my opinion. Teaching a kid about budgeting and saving is a must, no matter the interest level. Teaching kids about the finer points of investing and entrepreneurship is for the kids who are most interested in these topics.

Are you going to change a teenager’s financial future today? If the answer is a resounding yes! (and it better be!) check out this list of financial literacy books to help your teen start off right!

Financial Literacy Books for High School Students

If you have a teen in your life who must learn about budgeting and saving, then some of these books can help them learn in a non-pressurized way. Reading a book is one of the best ways to teach someone something. It broadens the mind and introduces them to new ideas. Not all these books are perfect for every teen, and not every teen will appreciate a book like this as a gift.

However, many teens out there would love to learn more about these topics and would be thrilled to read some of these books. Most of these books are available at the library, and I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that if you are checking the book out for yourself, you should check the library first before spending money on a book.

Once you love the book, you can go out and buy it for your home. And, of course, you can buy one of these books as a gift to a teenager in your life.

Financial literacy for teens is important, and we, as adults, should be doing our best to help any teenager we can learn about finances and money management. Some of these books make great graduation presents and can be a great gift for any occasion. Sometimes a book can languish on a teen’s shelf for a while but then be there at the exact right moment that they need it.

Are you going to change a teenager’s financial future today? If the answer is a resounding yes! (and it better be!) check out this list of money books for teens.

This post contains affiliate links, so I will get a small percentage of the sale if you buy one of these books. You can read the full disclosure here. 

Best Financial Books for Young Adults

Budgeting for Teens

The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance - Basic concepts in personal finance that every teen should know

The Teen’s Guide to Personal Finance by Joshua Holmberg and David Bruzzese

This book covers the basics of personal finance and budgeting for teens. So many adults do not know the basics of budgeting, saving, and investing. When read as a teen, this book can help set you up for a life of success. This also has some good content about investing, although it is not the book’s main point. (HT: Libby Magliolo)

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My Money Matters: Money Management Workbook for Teens and Young Adults (Volume 1)

My Money Matters: Teens by LaKesha Womack

My Money Matters: Teen is a part of a family financial literacy series. There is an adult, teen, and kids version so that families can learn to budget, goal setting, save, and invest together. Each week the user creates a budget and learns a money management lesson.

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Money Doesn't Grow On Trees: A Parent's Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children by Neale S. Godfrey

Government Worker FI recommends this book: My mom used this to teach me money habits when I was a tween/teen. It helped me understand how to structure a budget, and I read the book as a teen and adult many times.

The book has children divide their allowance (or income for teens) up into jars: “taxes,” which go towards something fun for the whole family, “long term savings” which goes to the bank and is never touched, “short-term savings,” which goes towards a large purchase (like a video game system), and “crazy cash” which the children can spend however they choose.  The most powerful part to me was the “short-term savings” bucket. It showed me how working towards a goal over a long period of time can be worthwhile and really pay off.  I’d highly recommend this book.

Why Didn't They Teach Me This in School?: 99 Personal Money Management Principles to Live By

Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? by Cary Siegel

Cary Siegel wrote this book to help his kids with personal finances when they grew up. However, one question became obvious in the process – the topic Siegel covered was incredibly important for all teens, yet schools never taught them anything on this matter. As a response, Siegel simplified all of the money concepts and put them in a rather engaging book that explains eight takeaways from 99 personal finance principles. The book is easy to read, which explains why it became incredibly popular among teens and adults. (HT: Mikkel, Dixa)

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Money for Beginners
Money for Beginners by Reynolds, Oldham, and Bryan
This richly illustrated book delves into many financial subjects. The authors cover everything from the origins of money, to budgeting, to investing. Each subject is covered in an age-appropriate level of detail while using illustrations and infographics to explore each subject fully. (HT: Intrepid Eagle Finance)
The FinancialVerse: A Common Sense Approach For Your Money
The FinancialVerse – A Common Sense Approach for Your Money by Harry N. Stout
The FinancialVerse – A Common Sense Approach for Your Money is targeted at young adults and teenagers.  The book was written to provide an overview of an individual’s financial journey through life.  It addresses all the major building blocks for creating a solid foundation of financial knowledge.  Please visit financialverse.com to find out more about this book.
Official Money Guide for Teenagers
O.M.G.: Official Money Guide for Teenagers by Susan and Michael Beacham

A personal finance book for teens isn’t going to do any good if it isn’t read. Sadly, most personal finance books target adults and are boring and dry.

A personal finance book that breaks the mold is: “O.M.G.: Official Money Guide for Teenagers” by Susan and Michael Beacham. This book presents practical money advice to teens in a way that is engaging and easy to understand. It’s a book that many teenagers will actually read. (HT: Frugal Budgeter)
The Money Club: A teenage guide to financial literacy
The Money Club: A Teenage Guide to Financial Literacy by Jasmine Brown

This Teenage Guide to Financial Literacy switches up even the most daunting topics with entertaining stories and real-life inspired classroom scenarios. Ms. Brown’s user-friendly guide offers practical advice and open conversation on every aspect of money and money management, covering critical topics such as bank accounts, living on a budget, credit cards, and how to manage money after high school.

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The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner's Guide to Getting Good with Money

The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner’s Guide to Getting Good with Money by Chelsea Fagan

This book is a good place for teens to start learning about personal finance. It offers a basic overview of personal finance that’s quick and readable. It does not give an in-depth view of any particular topic, but it can help steer teens away from silly mistakes and give them a perspective for what fiscal responsibility looks like in the real world. I was so impressed with the book that I gave it to my niece as a high school graduation present. (HT: James Major, Insurancepanda)

Be like James and do the same: Buy this book as a gift for a teenager in your life!

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Financial Planning Books for Beginners

Suppose you have the basics of finances and money covered, then it’s time to move on to financial planning. Planning for your future properly can help you live the life you want to lead. Books about financial freedom and wealth are great for teens who already have the basics covered and want a little more. These books can inspire a teen who is looking to plan their future.

Financial Freedom: Breaking the Chains to Independence and Creating Massive Wealth
Financial Freedom: Breaking the Chains to Independence and Creating Massive Wealth  by Chase Lawson
This book is geared towards teenagers and young adults and deals with many basic personal finance concepts, such as compound interest, investing, renting vs. owning a home, budgeting, etc. This is a helpful playbook of sorts that someone can follow throughout various life stages and is a great book to help get a teenager to start learning about financial planning.
Financial Planning Revolutionized: Money Doesn't Exist Until You Spend It

Financial Planning Revolutionized: Money Doesn’t Exist Until You Spend It  by James Laham

This book follows the “live for today but bet on tomorrow” mantra, offering savvy advice that allows readers of all ages to make the most of their day-to-day life while adopting strategies that ensure they have a comfortable nest egg for later down the road.

From managing lifestyle burn rate and paying off a mortgage to funding college and taking social security as early as possible, Laham covers how to approach life’s milestones in a painless and financially viable manner.

He also lends his investment experience, choosing a financial advisor, and the best approaches to building a portfolio suited to personal financial goals and risk tolerance. Ultimately, “Financial Planning Revolutionized” offers a fresh, fun way of thinking about financial and retirement planning.

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The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life

The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life by JL Collins

 JL Collins, a straightforward normal guy, writes a book for his daughter about avoiding the biggest money mistakes and making money investing in index funds. The simplicity of his language and approach show that he’s, in reality, much more than an average guy. (HT: Daniel Penzing, Maze of our Lives)

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Napkin Finance: Build Your Wealth in 30 Seconds or Less

Napkin Finance: Build Your Wealth in 30 Seconds or Less by Tina Hay
If you want to become financially literate while not getting bored or stuffed with technical jargon, then Tina Hay’s book is a must-read for everyone. It comes with visually appealing illustrations that are highly educational at the same time. After all, it wouldn’t be called “a visual guide for money” for nothing. Hay’s financial literacy approach takes a jab at the usual boring personal finance publications marketed in the industry today. I’ve never read anything less intimidating yet very informative when it comes to managing my money. (HT: Michael Hamelburger, Cost Reduction Consultants)
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together (Broke Millennial Series)
Broke Millenial by Erin Lowry
Sam from How To Fire says: If you’re in your 20s and describe yourself as ‘broke,’ this book is for you. Even if you can’t rub two nickels together, Lowry helps you go from broke to wealthy with the simple steps in this book. The author combines true stories with important tips to help you get a grasp on your finances. Even if you think you know nothing about finances, this book will make you feel like an expert in no time. (HT: HowToFire)

Money Management for College Students

College, student loans, and being a student is all part of being a young adult today. These money books are geared specifically towards students. Any of these can make a great present for a high school student who is preparing to go onto college.

Cash, Cars and College

Cash, Cars, and College: A Young Person’s Guide to Money by Janine Bolon
Money! Always need it, never have it, right? So, are your finally tired of begging for loans from the First Local Bank of Mom or Dad?  It’s time to grow up with a new financial plan that is all your own. One that will help you manage your money better today and tomorrow and get you started toward true financial freedom. This book gives you that plan. This book will show you a step-by-step system for moving money into your life, spending and keeping it to your best advantage.
Financial Basics: A Money-Management Guide for Students, 2nd Edition

Financial Basics: A Money-Management Guide for Students by Susan Knox

This book is just the right choice for incoming students who face University Life away from home. It teaches you how to be prudent, saving up money, and tips on successfully navigating the world. (HT: Jill Sandy, Constant Delights)

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The Complete Guide to Personal Finance For Teenagers and College Students Revised 2nd Edition with Workbook on Companion CD

The Complete Guide to Personal Finance For Teenagers and College Students by Tamsen Butler

This is a great and handy book covering many ground regarding investing and saving. It even has a chapter on dealing with creditors when going into college since young college students are particularly vulnerable to getting into debt. (HT: Justin Nabity, Physicians Thrive)

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Investing and Saving Books for Teens

The Automatic Millionaire, Expanded and Updated: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich

The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach

This fascinating read provides a deep dive into automating various parts of your financial decisions, including bill payments, savings, and more using easy-to-follow strategies. David Bach teaches teens the fundamentals of positive financial decision-making with a focus on long-term growth. (HT: Sara Bernier, Born For Pets)

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Smart is the New Rich: Money Guide for Millennials
Smart is the New Rich by Christine Romans

Learn what you should ask yourself before spending any money, revisit some old money rules that are actually good habits, see simple rules for managing student debt. Learn how to talk about money with friends, dates, and parents all in this book.

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MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom

Money: Master The Game by Tony Robbins

This book is great. It breaks down investment options into straightforward terms, and they do brief interviews with very successful investors to share their strategies that have worked. It’s good for a newbie investor or a seasoned investor looking to sharpen their skills. (HT: Luke Smith)
What All Kids (and adults too) Should Know About . . . Savings and Investing: Covering saving, budgeting and investing, a must-read for all young ... with fun facts and interesting takeaways.
What All Kids (And Adults Too) Should Know About Savings and Investing by Rob Pivnick
This is a fun, highly engaging book that teaches teens the different money concepts they need to grasp and how to manage their finances, save, and invest. (HT: Carol Tompkins, Business Development Consultant at AccountsPortal)
I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Anna Barker from LogicalDollar recommended this book. She says that although this book isn’t strictly written for teens, the book’s main messages definitely resonate with that age group and young adults.
Instead, Sethi advocates for “conscious spending” in that you decide how you want to spend your money and frame your budget around that, rather than depriving yourself of any enjoyment at all.
This book will make sure teens and young adults really start to think about how they want their financial future to look and what to do to get there. As they start to approach an age where temptations like credit cards suddenly become available, following a plan like Sethi’s and keeping in mind the idea of using their money intentionally will give them a great foundation for starting their adult lives on the right financial track.

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Books About Entrepreneurship

Career Books for Teens

You don’t need to be an adult to start working or dreaming of the future. The hustle can start young. I worked throughout high school to save money for college and pay for my own expenses. Many other teenagers need to work to pay their own way or contribute to the family finances.

Teenagers who are prepared for the adult and working world are more likely to be successful. Having an idea of how to work and how to make the best out of your career, starting from a teenager, can be extremely beneficial to anyone who wants to secure a financial future. Even if these ideas are not applicable right now, I believe in learning ideas and techniques before you need them. Let the ideas percolate until you are ready to use them. These books can also be a great gift for the young hustler in your life (we all know a teenager like that!).

These books can also be helpful in helping a teenager figure out what they want to do with their lives, career-wise, and help them figure out which type of schooling, or training they require to be successful.

The Simple StartUp: Student Workbook
The Simple StartUp: A Beginner’s Guide To Starting Your Own Business by Rob Phelan
This book is a step-by-step guide to the reader in coming up with a business idea, starting it for free to low cost, and running it at a profit. I believe it belongs on the list of personal finance classics and the need to increase income as part of personal finance. It’s not all about reducing costs and investing better. Learning how to take control of your income stream or add in diversified streams is a great personal finance move for anyone. This book is written for teens, which makes it the perfect accompaniment to the others listed above.
The 50 Laws of Freelancing by Stefan Palios 
It’s not feasible for teens to work full-time jobs, but they can become freelancers and make quite a bit in their spare time. That’s where The 50 Laws of Freelancing comes in. This book shows the road-tested laws of building a freelance business that applies to any industry and any person. If any young adult or college student is thinking of their career path, this can be a great book to help them know their options.
How to Win Friends & Influence People
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This is one of the best-selling books of all time for a reason. The book shows you how to approach situations differently, be more confident, and get people to like you. This is one of the best money books for young adults (and anyone else) because it’s all about living a happier and more successful life at any age. You don’t need to wait until you have a job to start using the book’s tools and ideas. It is a great book for anyone of any age. (HT: Hosea Chang, CEO, Hayden Los Angeles)

Set for Life: Dominate Life, Money, and the American Dream

Set for Life: Dominate Life, Money, and the American Dream by Scott Trench

Daniel Carter from Zippy Electrics recommended this book: “I first read Set for Life two years ago, just when my online business was starting to take off. It was bringing in five figures a month, and I wanted to make sure that I was making the right investments and didn’t get overwhelmed.

I like how Scott Trench emphasizes figuring out your values and how you should use your time and money in a way consistent with those values.

(HT: Daniel Carter, Zippy Electrics)

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Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

This book is essentially about how even in today’s more technologically specialized world, generalists can still triumph, particularly in fast-changing and non-responsive (i.e., doesn’t immediately tell you whether you succeeded or not) environments. This book can help give perspective to young students trying to figure out where they are going in the world. (HT: No B.S. Advising)
The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris
This one is a practical and entertaining guide on setting up financial, business and personal systems to get more money and time in the process and how to change your perspective when looking at everything. Some of the salient points I took were why the idea of a deferred retirement is faulty, waiting until you are old to enjoy life when in reality, you could’ve started so much earlier, and how in general, traveling and living the dream can be even cheaper to sustain than the life you hate!
Many adults find this book later in life and love it- imagine knowing these things at a young age! (HT: No B.S. Advising)
The Art of Money Getting

The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum

Phineas Taylor “P. T.” Barnum (1810-91) is best known for forming the circus that came to be known as The Greatest Show on Earth. A brash, larger-than-life entrepreneur, he transformed the nature of commercial entertainment in the nineteenth century, from his private museum of curiosities to his big-top extravaganzas. Towards the end of his illustrious career, the renowned showman shared the secrets to his success.

P.T. Barnum may not have been a very good person, but he certainly knew how to make some money!

It’s not only a short book, making it less of a drag for those who may not be keen on reading a thick book, but it’s also full of a lot of great advice that’s written in an interesting and attention-grabbing way.  (HT: Jacob Dayan, Community Tax)

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Best Economics Books for Beginners

These books about economics won’t help you or your teenager learn how to manage money, but they are interesting! These books are great for any teen, young adult, or old adult who wants to know more about money, economics, fiscal policy, or money psychology. This list is not only for teenagers; any beginner who wants to learn more should also check out any of these best economic books for beginners.

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? A Fast, Clear, and Fun Explanation of the Economics You Need For Success in Your Career, Business, and Investments (An Uncle Eric Book)

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard J Maybury 

This is a great book for teenagers focused on economics but in a practical and accessible way. Maybury weaves in other subjects into his explanations, like history and geography, to help a young reader understand a concept with little to no prior exposure to the subject. Each chapter is written in the format of “Uncle Eric,” writing to his nephew in a friendly voice to delve into individual topics, making it easy to digest a chapter at a time. (HT: Intrepid Eagle Finance)
Working Economics: How to Create, Use, and Preserve Wealth
Working Economics by  Jeremy PS
A fresh perspective on economics and personal finance. This does not repeat all the other stuff already taught and shared but covers many fresh ideas. It could be of value for young adults to have some different views before getting locked in on traditional methods.
The Wealth of Nations (Bantam Classics)

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

This is the book that instituted economics as a separate discipline of its own. For its time, it is an astonishing analysis of how an economy operates and includes excellent models of abstract concepts of what value is. The most shocking thing, though, you will notice that despite the caricature drawn that Smith was an enthusiastic supporter of “free markets” (through his analogy of the invisible hand), it is a false claim. Smith argues that markets themselves can become overdrawn and stop doing their work in the division of money and services. In those times, the government is responsible for intervening and fixing the malfeasance. (HT: Julian Goldie, CEO of Goldie Agency)

 

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Basic Economics

Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell

Basic Economics is an economics book for those who want to understand economics but have no interest in developing mathematical formulas or complicated equations. In his pages, the economist Thomas Sowell sets out the general principles on which any economic policy, whether capitalist, socialist, or feudal, is based. With an enjoyable and easy-to-read style, it allows any type of reader, regardless of their academic background or degree of knowledge of economic science, to understand how economics work (HT: Peter Schoeman, Founder/CEO of The Dog Adventure)
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness

 The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

A large majority of books out there on investing and personal finance tell you what to do and how to optimize this or that. Few books highlight the psychological aspect of money. Humans have tendencies and biases that can affect our decision-making and behaviors. I believe it’s essential that people learn this at a young age. This book can be eye-opening for young adults to help them navigate their finances while minimizing the negative impact of their thoughts and emotions. (HT:  Brandon Hill, Bizness Professionals)

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Best Financial Books for Young Adults

There you have it! You can read a whole list of books as a teenager to help you get started on your financial journey and a list of books that an adult can gift to their teenager or young adult. Are you going to be purchasing any of these books for yourself or someone else? Let me know which ones you love and if there are any others you recommend!

Hi! I am a millennial mom with a passion for personal finance. I have always been “into” personal finance but got inspired to start my blog after a period of extended unemployment. That experience really changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and the importance of accessible personal finance education.

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