30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance (2024)

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  • Written by Mint
  • Published Jun 29, 2007 - [Updated Oct 19, 2021]
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30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance (1)

Personal finance is something that we care about here at Mint. Learn more with great personal-finance tips in our blog article index.

When you reach into a broad-ranging topic like personal finance, you find everyone and their cousin trying to reach across the Internet to give you advice. There’s so much information there that it can literally be overwhelming; there’s literally too much for the average person to sort through.

Luckily for you, at Mint we’re looking to quash that “intimidation” factor. There’s no reason that personal finance can’t be thoughtful, cohesive, and comprehensive, so we’ve probed through the web to find 30 free e-Books/booklets across the topics you’ll reference most.

We’ve sorted these e-Books into specific categories, along with a brief description we’ve written up on each of them. Everything is in PDF format, so if an e-Book strikes your fancy, consider downloading a copy by right-clicking on the link, then clicking “Save As.”

Just in case you don’t have time, the top e-Book in each category is our Minty Pick. Happy reading!

Basics of Personal Finance

    1. Building Wealth: A Beginner’s Guide to Securing Your Financial Future (1.2 MB 39 pg) – An excellent e-Book from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (putting all the other Feds to shame), this guide helps individuals and families develop a plan for building personal wealth. It presents an overview of personal wealth-building strategies that includes setting financial goals, seeking guidance, budgeting, saving and investing, and managing debt.
    2. Pathways to Getting Ahead (882 KB, 48 pg) – A very good booklet, this guide is targeted to young adults, and aims to spur thinking about the importance of asset building in their personal lives and about how larger policy decisions impact the choices they make.
    3. Money Matters: Your Guide for Financial Security (24 MB, 32 pg) – Get helpful tips on how to set financial goals, organize your financial files, find a financial professional, understand your investment options and responsibilities, and be a wise borrower.
    4. Banking Basics (721 KB, 44 pg) – From the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, this e-Book provides an introduction to banking for young people that answers many basic questions: What is a bank? What makes one type of account different from another? Why do banks fail and what happens when they do?
    5. Simple Strategies for Managing Your Money (7.5 MB, 12 pg) – From the FDIC. Use the helpful checklists to get financially fit, avoid bad deals and scams, insure all your deposits, and effectively resolve problems with financial institutions.
    6. Taking Control of Your Finances (1.3 MB, 12 pg) – Another handy guide from the FDIC that’s geared toward young adults — from those still in school to just starting a career or a family. Learn the right ways to save and manage money, and how to avoid some common mistakes people make with their cash flow.

Consumer Awareness

    1. Consumer Action Handbook (11 MB, 178 pg) – This is one of the most popular books published by the federal government (seriously). The 176 page e-Book is an easy-to-read guide offering general buying tips and ways to resolve marketplace problems (including sample complaint letters), as well as information on specific topics such as credit, cars, insurance, and travel. There are thousands of names, addresses, telephone numbers and websites for corporations, trade groups, state and local consumer protection offices and federal agencies.
    2. Consumer’s Almanac (562 KB, 32 pg) – Organize your expenses, save for the future, and manage your credit with monthly calendars and worksheets.
    3. Ten Questions to Ask When Choosing a Financial Planner (347 KB, 14 pg) – A straight-forward brochure from the Certified Financial Planners on 10 questions you should ask when you look for a financial planner — an important decision that should be accompanied by important questions.

Credit & Credit Cards

    1. Building a Better Credit Report (235 KB, 24 pg) – Learn how to legally improve your credit report, how to deal with debt, how to spot credit-related scams, and more.
    2. SHOP: The Credit Card You Pick Can Save You Money (213 KB, 13 pg) – This consumer awareness brochure provides tips on picking the right credit card that meets your spending and repayment habits. It focuses on key costs and terms to consider such as the annual percentage rate (APR), the cash advances, the annual fee, and the grace period, to name a few.
    3. Healthy Credit (1.2 MB, 12 pg) – Learn more about how your credit report and credit score affect your ability to borrow money and stay healthy financially.

Saving & Investing

    1. 66 Ways to Save Money (78 KB) – One of the classic publications with over two million copies distributed. It details practical ways to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, and more.
    2. Get the Facts on Saving and Investing (5.7 MB, 32 pg) – From the SEC. A road map to start you on a journey to financial security through saving and investing. Use this guide helpful tips and worksheets for calculating net worth, income, and expenses.
    3. How SIPC Protects You (3.3 MB, 10 pg) – If your brokerage firm closes due to bankruptcy or other financial difficulties, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) works to return your assets. Find out what SIPC does and does not cover.
    4. All About… The Foreign Exchange Market in the United States (assorted PDF) – Discusses in detail the operations, participants and instruments in the U.S. segment of the global foreign exchange market.
    5. Tools of the Trade: A Basic Guide to Financial Derivatives (2.1 MB, 15 pg) – This guide offers insight into when and how derivatives can be valuable tools for managing financial risk and focuses on pertinent questions to ask yourself and others before you or your company invests.

Mortgages

    1. Know Before You Go… To Get a Mortgage (684 KB, 16 pg) – The purpose of this guide is to provide general mortgage information to consumers and to shed some light on the risks associated with today’s more complex mortgage offerings. It is by no means meant to counsel consumers to avoid certain products, but rather to alert them to potential risks, and encourage them to make informed decisions and to be aware that certain products may be appropriate for some borrowers but not for others.
    2. Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARM’s: Are they for you? – Information to help you decide if an interest-only mortgage payment is right for you (Note: In Mint’s opinion, they’re likely not).

Retirement Planning

    1. Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future (3.2 MB, 16 pg) – Create your personal savings plan and prepare for retirement with this step-by-step guide.
    2. 401(k) Plans (41 KB, 7 pg) – Explains what these plans are, what happens when you change employers, and what to do if you need the money before retirement.
    3. Variable Annuities: What You Should Know (11.3 MB, 24 pg) – Explains what they are, how they work, what you have to pay, and questions to ask before you invest.

Estate Planning & Insurance

    1. Estate Planning (48 kb, 9 pg) – Covers why a will is important and how to prepare one; how to estimate the size of your estate and minimize taxes; and how to set up powers of attorney and advance medical directives.
    2. Living Trust Offers (132 KB, 4 pg) – From the Federal Trade Commission, a small pamphlet to find out if living trusts are right for you and how to protect yourself from scams when planning your estate.
    3. What You Should Know About Buying Life Insurance (312 KB, 28 pg) – A quick 28 page pamphlet that describes various types of life insurance, with tips on choosing a company, an agent, and a policy that meets your needs.

Privacy & Security

    1. ID Theft: What It’s All About (711 KB, 36 pg) – A small information pamphlet from the FTC that details how thieves can steal your personal information and use it to commit fraud for long periods without your knowledge. Here’s how to protect yourself, and what to do if you are a victim.
    2. Identity Theft (452 KB, 22 pg) – This booklet is designed to help you understand what identity theft is, how it happens, how to protect yourself, and what steps to take if your identity is stolen. There is a companion video along with the booklet, available here.
    3. Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information (77 KB, 6 pg) – A small booklet that explains your right to opt out of sharing some of your personal information and lists the types of information that financial companies can share about you.
    4. Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number (218 KB, 8 pg) – Someone illegally using your Social Security number can steal your financial identity and your money. Find out how to prevent identify theft, how to report it if you suspect it, and if you can get a new Social Security number if you are a victim.
    5. Phishing and Pharming: Helping Consumers Avoid Internet Fraud (387 KB, 8 pg) – The increase in online transactions has been accompanied by an increase in online identity theft. Fraudulent access to personal information over the Internet is increasingly prevalent and sophisticated. Two forms of identity theft are at the forefront of this Internet piracy: phishing and pharming.

Bonus e-Book from Awesome Readers:

  1. What Women Need to Know About Retirement (300 KB, 78 pg) – A project from the Heinz Family Philanthropies and The Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, this 78 page e-Book covers the why, where, and what of retirement (and it’s not just for women!). Topics include: stocks, bonds, social security, and health care. A very decent can’t miss e-Book!
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30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance (2)

30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance (3)

Written by Mint

Mint is passionate about helping you to achieve financial goals through education and with powerful tools, personalized insights, and much more. More from Mint

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As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the realm of personal finance, I've delved into a multitude of resources and platforms to gather a comprehensive understanding of the subject. My expertise spans various aspects, from the basics of building wealth to intricate topics like credit cards, mortgages, retirement planning, and privacy and security in financial matters.

In the article "How To Read the Article," published by Mint on June 29, 2007, and updated on Oct 19, 2021, the author provides readers with a curated list of 30 free e-books and booklets covering a diverse range of personal finance topics. Here's a breakdown of the concepts mentioned in the article:

Basics of Personal Finance

  1. Building Wealth: A Beginner’s Guide to Securing Your Financial Future

    • Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
    • Overview: Strategies for personal wealth-building, including goal-setting, budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management.
  2. Pathways to Getting Ahead

    • Targeted towards young adults, focusing on asset building and the impact of policy decisions on personal choices.
  3. Money Matters: Your Guide for Financial Security

    • Tips on setting financial goals, organizing files, finding financial professionals, understanding investment options, and being a wise borrower.
  4. Banking Basics

    • Introduction to banking for young people, covering basic questions about banks, account types, and the functioning of banks.
  5. Simple Strategies for Managing Your Money

    • Provided by the FDIC, offering checklists for financial fitness, avoiding scams, insuring deposits, and resolving issues with financial institutions.

Consumer Awareness

  1. Consumer Action Handbook

    • Extensive guide offering buying tips, ways to resolve marketplace problems, and information on specific topics like credit, cars, insurance, and travel.
  2. Consumer’s Almanac

    • Helps organize expenses, save for the future, and manage credit through monthly calendars and worksheets.
  3. Ten Questions to Ask When Choosing a Financial Planner

    • A brochure from Certified Financial Planners, outlining important questions to ask when selecting a financial planner.

Credit & Credit Cards

  1. Building a Better Credit Report

    • Legal ways to improve credit reports, dealing with debt, spotting credit-related scams, and more.
  2. SHOP: The Credit Card You Pick Can Save You Money

    • Consumer awareness brochure providing tips on choosing the right credit card based on spending and repayment habits.
  3. Healthy Credit

    • Understanding how credit reports and scores affect borrowing ability and financial health.

Saving & Investing

  1. 66 Ways to Save Money

    • Practical tips to cut everyday costs on transportation, insurance, banking, credit, housing, utilities, food, etc.
  2. Get the Facts on Saving and Investing

    • SEC guide offering tips and worksheets for calculating net worth, income, and expenses.
  3. How SIPC Protects You

    • Understanding the role of Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) in protecting assets in case of brokerage firm closure.
  4. All About… The Foreign Exchange Market in the United States

    • Detailed discussion on operations, participants, and instruments in the U.S. segment of the global foreign exchange market.
  5. Tools of the Trade: A Basic Guide to Financial Derivatives

    • Insight into when and how derivatives can be valuable tools for managing financial risk.

Mortgages

  1. Know Before You Go… To Get a Mortgage

    • General mortgage information, shedding light on risks associated with complex mortgage offerings.
  2. Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARM’s: Are they for you?

    • Information to help decide if interest-only mortgage payments are suitable.

Retirement Planning

  1. Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future

    • Step-by-step guide to creating a personal savings plan and preparing for retirement.
  2. 401(k) Plans

    • Explanation of 401(k) plans, what happens when changing employers, and actions to take if needing money before retirement.
  3. Variable Annuities: What You Should Know

    • Understanding variable annuities, how they work, associated costs, and questions to ask before investing.

Estate Planning & Insurance

  1. Estate Planning

    • Importance of a will, estimating estate size, minimizing taxes, and setting up powers of attorney and advance medical directives.
  2. Living Trust Offers

    • Information on living trusts, helping to determine if they are suitable and protecting against scams during estate planning.
  3. What You Should Know About Buying Life Insurance

    • Describes various types of life insurance, with tips on choosing a company, an agent, and a policy.

Privacy & Security

  1. ID Theft: What It’s All About

    • FTC pamphlet detailing how thieves steal personal information, providing protection measures, and steps to take if victimized.
  2. Identity Theft

    • Guide to understanding identity theft, protecting oneself, and actions to take if identity is stolen.
  3. Privacy Choices for Your Personal Financial Information

    • Booklet explaining the right to opt out of sharing personal information and listing types of information financial companies can share.
  4. Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number

    • Preventing identity theft involving Social Security numbers and actions to take if victimized.
  5. Phishing and Pharming: Helping Consumers Avoid Internet Fraud

    • Awareness on phishing and pharming, two prevalent forms of online identity theft.

Bonus e-Book

  1. What Women Need to Know About Retirement
    • A project covering retirement topics including stocks, bonds, social security, and health care, not exclusively for women.

By meticulously exploring these resources, readers can gain a robust foundation in personal finance and navigate the intricacies of managing their financial well-being effectively.

30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance (2024)

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