"Personal Finance was written with two simple goals in mind: to help students develop a strong sense of financial literacy and provide a wide range of pedagogical aids to keep them engaged and on track. This book is a practical introduction that covers all of the fundamentals and introduces conceptual frameworks, such as the life cycle of financial decisions and basic market dynamics, in a way that students can easily grasp and readily use in their personal lives." --Provided by publisher.

A user-friendly presentation of the essential concepts and tools for calculating real costs and profits in personal finance Understanding the Mathematics of Personal Finance explains how mathematics, a simple calculator, and basic computer spreadsheets can be used to break down and understand even the most complex loan structures. In an easy-to-follow style, the book clearly explains the workings of basic financial calculations, captures the concepts behind loans and interest in a step-by-step manner, and details how these steps can be implemented for practical purposes. Rather than simply providing investment and borrowing strategies, the author successfully equips readers with the skills needed to make accurate and effective decisions in all aspects of personal finance ventures, including mortgages, annuities, life insurance, and credit card debt. The book begins with a primer on mathematics, covering the basics of arithmetic operations and notations, and proceeds to explore the concepts of interest, simple interest, and compound interest. Subsequent chapters illustrate the application of these concepts to common types of personal finance exchanges, including: Loan amortization and savings Mortgages, reverse mortgages, and viatical settlements Prepayment penalties Credit cards The book provides readers with the tools needed to calculate real costs and profits using various financial instruments. Mathematically inclined readers will enjoy the inclusion of mathematical derivations, but these sections are visually distinct from the text and can be skipped without the loss of content or complete understanding of the material. In addition, references to online calculators and instructions for building the calculations involved in a spreadsheet are provided. Furthermore, a related Web site features additional problem sets, the spreadsheet calculators that are referenced and used throughout the book, and links to various other financial calculators. Understanding the Mathematics of Personal Finance is an excellent book for finance courses at the undergraduate level. It is also an essential reference for individuals who are interested in learning how to make effective financial decisions in their everyday lives.

This groundbreaking personal finance resource shows you how to manage thinking, feelings, and behavior so that you can handle your money to get what you want—not what someone else thinks you ought to have to be happy. Financial planning and money management are hot topics, but most books don't help you figure out what you truly want your money to provide for you. Exploring links between money and happiness, this guide is based on sound theory and on the latest research in psychology, behavioral economics, happiness, and neuroscience. It will give people at any stage of life—especially those of you in college or starting careers—the tools to plot your own course through the financial world and, ultimately, use money as a gateway to a happy and fulfilling life. Stephenson and Hutchins introduce core concepts that support strong, sound decision making around money, based on personal values, attitudes and beliefs, and goals. Practical, information-gathering questions and exercises help you uncover your true financial needs. The final two chapters show you how to integrate the relevant information with your goals and develop a plan for success. Along the way, you will learn such things as how to plan for your long-term goals, how to delay certain types of gratification for another type of instant gratification (peace of mind), how to think about credit, and how to make decisions on such issues as renting or buying, investing or saving, and borrowing a lot, a little, or not at all. Finally, you will come away with new ideas for how to have fun on a budget.

The bestselling mother/daughter coauthors of "The Two-Income Trap" now pen an essential guide to the five simple keys to lasting financial peace.

Every financial decision we make impacts our lives. Introduction to Personal Finance: Beginning Your Financial Journey is designed to help students avoid early financial mistakes and provide tools needed to secure a strong foundation for the future. Using engaging visuals and a modular approach, instructors can easily customize their course to topics that matter most to their students. This course empowers students to define their personal values and make smart financial decisions that help them achieve their goals.

Get your financial life in order—from saving and investing to taxes and loans—with this comprehensive, accessible guide to everything you need to know about finance. Managing your finances can be overwhelming at times. But it doesn’t have to be! Personal Finance 101 will provide you with all the skills you need to make good financial decisions and grow your personal wealth. Full of must-have advice and organized in an easy-to-read format, this book provides a wealth of knowledge on personal finance basics including: -Choosing your bank (and why it matters) -Building an emergency fund -Salary and benefit packages -Where your money is going (and how to keep more of it) -Refinancing or consolidating student loans -Health and property insurance -Building credit responsibly -How to get a mortgage Use this guide and make the most of the money you have, plan for future purchases like a house or a vacation, save for retirement, or simply become more financially responsible. Perfect for finance beginners or those looking to refresh their knowledge, Personal Finance 101 is the one-stop shop for all of your personal finance questions!

This text is not about filling in income tax forms-it provides students with strategies for building a successful personal financial plan. This hands-on approach equips students with the expertise they need to make informed financial decisions. The most recent coverage of rules and regulations that govern and affect financial planning have been integrated throughout this new edition, as well as coverage of recent events such as the financial crisis. Note: If you are purchasing an electronic version, MyFinanceLab does not come automatically packaged with it. To purchase MyFinanceLab, please visit www.MyFinanceLab.com or you can purchase a package of the physical text and MyFinanceLab by searching for ISBN 10: 0321751159 / ISBN 13: 9780321751157.