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618-462-0677What is Financial Literacy?
Financial literacy is the ability to understand different financial issues and use the necessary skills to manage your finances and work toward financial goals. These can be as simple as creating a monthly budget or more complex, like overcoming debt or investing your money.
Financial literacy is an important foundation for financial wellness, or overall success in managing your financial life.
Resources for Getting Started
Whether you prefer to come to the library for tangible resources, like books and pamphlets, or take an online course from the comfort of home, we’ve put together this guide to help you start learning financial literacy skills or add new ones to your economic toolbelt.
Free Online Education
Illinois Financial Wellness Hub
- A personal finance program offered by the Illinois State Treasurer.
- Create an account to find your Money Personality, build a budget, track your student loans, plan for retirement and more. You’ll get recommended content in addition to daily and monthly tasks so you can keep working toward your goals.
- Your account also allows you to schedule appointments with a Certified Personal Financial Counselor at no cost!
- A large library of tutorials and resources on topics like Credit and Loans, Healthcare, Identity Theft and Fraud, Small Business, Military, Retirement, Investing, and more.
- A library of guides for consumers provided by the Federal Trade Commission
- Lessons cover money management, credit and loans, identity theft, and scams.
- Educational games for adults from the FDIC, based on their award-winning Money Smart program.
- Topics include Building Your Financial Future, Making Housing Decisions, Managing Debt, Using Credit Cards, and more. You can create an account if you’d like to earn certificates or save your progress. If you’re interested in the information but don’t want to play a game, you can browse the resources instead.
In-Library Resources
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Fact Sheets
- Short, easy to understand guides for handling a wide variety of financial needs, like using credit, buying a house, and becoming debt free.
- Print copies of these guides are available at the Downtown and Alton Square locations of The Hayner Public Library District, or you can access them for free at the link above. (Please note that not all of the guides offered by the CFPB may be available at either Hayner Library branch at any given time.)
Financial Literacy for Kids
- The same Hands On Banking mentioned above, but with course libraries tailored for Elementary, Middle School, and High School students.
Sesame Street Workshop – Financial Education
- Educational videos featuring Sesame Street characters, printable activities, an online Lemonade Stand game, articles for grown-ups, and the Bright Financial Futures webinar.
- Nine chapters from the FDIC’s Money Smart program.
- Questions are included at the end of each chapter to test your knowledge.
New and Recommended Personal Finance Books
Buy the Milk First: And Other Secrets to Financial Prosperity, Regardless of Your Income
Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships
It All Adds Up: Designing Your Game Plan for Financial Success by Devon Kennard
Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life
Money Magic: An Economist’s Secrets to More Money, Less Risk, and a Better Life by Laurence J. Kotlikoff
Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A Step-By-Step Guide to Achieving Wealth and Happiness
What to Do with Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide by Michelle Singletary
Credit Repair by Amy Loftsgordon
12 Ways to Retire on Less: Planning an Affordable Future by Harriet Edleson
Now what?
Feel empowered to take advantage of these free resources and work your way toward financial wellness!
If you have questions about any of these resources or you’re looking for something that isn’t listed here, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our Reference Librarian, Johanna, is here to help you find the information you need.
How to get in touch:
618-462-0677 ext. 2845
or in person at the Reference Desk at Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall.
Happy Financial Literacy Month!