1. Money
About.com
Money in Your 20s

Discuss in my forum

"Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties"

About.com Rating 3.5 Star Rating
Be the first to write a review

By , About.com Guide

Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties by Beth Kobliner is a book that sets forth the basics for personal finance management. The advice is tailored for people just graduating from college and beginning their financial life. It covers the basics of everything from insurance and 401(k)s to buying a home and dealing with debt. This version is a revised version, and it talks about the changes that happened after the housing bubble popped and the additional loan crisis.

Pros:

  • This book covers the basics.
  • The format is similar to a reference manual, making it easy to find and access the information that you specifically need.
  • The information is easy to understand and apply to your life.

Cons:

  • This book covers the very most basic aspects of financial management.
  • It does not offer a solid plan on getting on a written budget or on how to get out of debt.
  • Overall, this is a good book for someone that is looking to better grasp the many financial choices that people in their twenties and thirties have to make. There are ten chapters in the book. The first chapter gives you a basic overview of the importance of getting your financial life under control and on setting financial goals. Each of the subsequent chapters is about a specific area you will need to handle in your financial life. They cover paying off debt, investing, your retirement, buying a home, choosing insurance, taxes and military benefits.
  • Each of the sections have subsections with questions and answers that allows you to easily find the answers you need to basic questions. These topics for the sections are broad enough that you could read several books on them and still not cover everything, but Kobliner does give you enough information that you will not go into the process blind, and you will know what questions to ask. It also gives you a good jumping off point for your research. There are several resources listed in each of the sections, which will make it easier to keep studying on a topic.
  • This is a good book to have on hand if you are thinking about taking one of the bigger financial steps, or if you want to get a handle on your finances. It is important that everyone understands the basics of money management, and Kobliner does a good job of explaining those to the common reader. The major drawback is that this book is really more of a jumping off point. If you are serious about getting out of debt or in learning about investing, you may want to read books that focus solely on those topics. However, this is a good starter, and it is easy to read and understand, even if you have no understanding of finances and how to start to get control your financial future. Some of her advice like dipping into your IRA to come up with the down payment on your home may not be the best idea for your long-term financial success.
  • If you are looking for a basic book that covers most questions and decisions faced when you are in your twenties or thirties this is a good place to start. It is easy to read and understand and full of additional resources and information you can use to learn more about the topics that she addresses. The information is fairly up to date with the recent economic crisis and should be helpful if you want to understand the basics on choosing the right insurance and deciding whether or not you are ready to buy a home.
    • About.com
    Money in Your 20s
    1. About.com
    2. Money
    3. Money in Your 20s
    4. Books, Tools & Resources
    5. Money Management Books
    6. A Review of "Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties"

    ©2013 About.com. All rights reserved.