About the book

Intro to Personal Finance: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Freedom is a contemporary textbook for personal finance courses in higher education. Written in a modern voice with an inclusive tone, the book walks readers through the 7 Steps to Financial Freedom, a universal step-by-step guide to break away from the all-too-common paycheck to paycheck lifestyle.

While current texts ignore the human aspect of personal finance, this book acknowledges the lived experiences of college students today, helping them sort out their money history and money values before learning the fundamentals of personal finance. Unique features include Defend Your Dough, Check Your Social, and Financial Wellness Q & A, an interview feature with our three resident financial therapists, Ashley Agnew, Preston Cherry, and Erika Wassermann.

This project blends my enthusiasm for personal finance with my personal mission to meet the immediate needs of students who have little to no personal finance education. At my institution, that’s nearly every student – women, students of color, and first-generation college students from diverse and underprivileged backgrounds. This textbook is accessible and inclusive to all students, regardless of their money education to date and money history.