Personal Finance: The Basics

Personal Finance: The Basics provides students with an approachable, comprehensive guide for developing critical skills related to finance and money management. Students learn how to establish a budget that will help them accomplish their financial goals. Chapters address filing taxes, accessing financial services, applying for and using credit, and the consideration of large purchases, including a car or home. Students learn the basics of health and disability insurance, home and auto insurance, and investing wisely. They grow to understand the importance of planning ahead through retirement and estate planning, as well as the purchase of life insurance. The final chapter focuses on career planning for financial success. Appendices provide useful charts and equations to help students determine the present and future values of lump sums and annuity. A personal balance sheet guides students through the process of assessing their net worth and personal financial condition. Sixteen guide sheets help students compare salaries within two different cities, develop a personal cash-flow statement, create a budget for non-monthly expenses, learn how to write a check, and more. The second edition includes refreshed case studies, dates, and numbers to reflect the most up-to-date information. Additionally, assignments and wording throughout the book have been updated based on class-testing. Personal Finance is an ideal resource for courses related to business and finance. It is also a fantastic text for any individual interested in honing skills related to personal finance and money management.