Reddit reviews The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

Has anyone read The Index Card? I just listened to the Freakonomics podcast featuring the author and it seems like it might be a better primer to give away as gifts to my nieces/nephews compared to Dave Ramsey (I like most of his concepts, not the evangelizing).

From a local viewpoint, Martin Hawes's books I find pretty solid. Very much a get rich slow approach that gels with my money personality though.


The Millionaire Next Door is quite America-centric with some of their specific advice, but it's a good one to read to get into the FIRE headspace

The Index Card I would also recommend

I'd suggest this book as an easy starting place. https://www.amazon.com/Index-Card-Personal-Finance-Complicated/dp/1591847680

Congrats of taking responsibility for learning about finances? As you get older you'll realize that many adults have awful finances, know next to nothing about money, and just hide it very well. The fact that you're asking means you're already ahead of a lot of people.

Try this: The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

And here's a podcast/interview on the book.

Try to target 6-12 months of living expenses. Call this your emergency fund.

Do you have any debt? Pay that off next.

Third, try to invest money in tax advantaged spaces, (IRA, Roth IRA, 401k).

Plenty of good books out there on investing and personal finance. I favor the book below:

The Index Card

Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
https://www.amazon.com/Index-Card-Personal-Finance-Complicated/dp/1591847680

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The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Common-Sense-Investing/dp/1119404509

Or an index card

Doing that job well is not very hard. All the investment advice you'll need fits on a postcard.

>Max your 401k or equivalent employee contribution.
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>Buy inexpensive, well diversified mutual funds such as Vanguard Target 20XX funds.
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>Never buy or sell an individual security. The person on the other side of the table knows more than you do about this stuff.
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>Save 20% of your money.
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>Pay your credit card balance in full every month.
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>Maximize tax-advantages savings vehicles like Roth, SEP and 529 accounts.
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>Pay attention to fees. Avoid actively managed funds.
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>Make financial advisor commit to a fiduciary standard.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Index-Card-Personal-Complicated/dp/1591847680

I like this book. It's short, simple, quick read and lines up well with the /r/personalfinance principles.

Maybe get her something fun though too, as useful as that book is, it's still a book about finance haha.

My own advice would be to start early (you're doing that) and to go with no/low fee investments. This will make a huge difference over time.

You might also check out the personal finance book "The index card," and the video "How to Win the Losers Game."