Finance · Understanding financial basics
Financial literacy course: personal finance for beginners
A financial literacy course in six short lessons: the six areas of personal finance, reading a payslip, working out your net worth, setting goals you can measure, the key ideas in borrowing, protecting and investing, and where to learn next. Country panels for Australia, the UK and the US.
About this course
personal finance for beginners.
Starter · About 1 hour of learning · 6 lessons · 13 quick checks · 1 download
Who it's for
Adults in Australia, the UK, the US and elsewhere who want a plain-English map of personal finance and a clear place to start.
How it works
6 guided lessons in your browser, with worked examples, exercises and a quick check after each lesson. Progress is saved in this browser only, and you can restart at any time.
Sources we rely on
26 published sources, mostly regulators and official bodies, listed below so you can check the original guidance yourself.
By the end you can
- Name the six areas of personal finance and find where to start
- Read a payslip and explain gross and net pay
- Calculate net worth and track it over time
- Write specific money goals with an amount, date and monthly figure
- Choose a learning path and find official guidance and licensed advice
Downloads
- Money map, net worth and goals worksheet .xlsxRate yourself across the six areas, check a payslip, work out your net worth today and in 12 months, and turn goals into monthly amounts.
Rules by country
Learning time
About 1 hour of learning. May count towards your CPD or professional development; check your professional body's rules. Estimated from reading time, exercises, quick checks and downloads.
Sources
Check the originals.
Drafted with AI assistance and run through automated quality and source checks. How these courses are made. Spotted an error or out-of-date rule? Send a correction.
General information only, not financial advice. We don't recommend financial products.
- Federal financial literacy resources (MyMoney.gov home) · MyMoney.gov (US Financial Literacy and Education Commission)
- The MyMoney Five · MyMoney.gov (US Financial Literacy and Education Commission)
- Steps to get your money sorted · Moneysmart (ASIC, Australia)
- Payslips: employee rights · GOV.UK
- National Insurance · GOV.UK
- Pay slips · Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia)
- About Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate · Internal Revenue Service (US)
- About Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement · Internal Revenue Service (US)
- Figure out your finances (net worth statement) · Investor.gov (US Securities and Exchange Commission)
- Net worth calculator · Moneysmart (ASIC, Australia)
- Define your goals · Investor.gov (US Securities and Exchange Commission)
- Savings goals calculator (assumptions) · Moneysmart (ASIC, Australia)
- Compound interest calculator · Investor.gov (US Securities and Exchange Commission)
- Budget planner · MoneyHelper (UK, Money and Pensions Service)
- AI and money decisions · Moneysmart (ASIC, Australia)
- Save for an emergency fund · Moneysmart (ASIC, Australia)
- An essential guide to building an emergency fund · Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (US)
- Financial advisers register · Moneysmart (ASIC, Australia)
- TPB Register: check if your tax or BAS agent is registered · Tax Practitioners Board (Australia)
- National Debt Helpline · National Debt Helpline (Australia)
- Australian Financial Complaints Authority · AFCA (Australia)
- How to check a firm or individual is authorised · Financial Conduct Authority (UK)
- Get free debt advice · GOV.UK
- Working with an investment professional · Investor.gov (US Securities and Exchange Commission)
- Choosing a tax professional · Internal Revenue Service (US)
- What is credit counseling? · Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (US)
Publisher
Who publishes this course.
Published by trainyourself.org, a trading name of Combine TRS Pty Ltd (ABN 42 112 983 678), Brisbane, Australia.
How it's made: drafted with AI assistance from published regulator, government and official money guidance, then run through automated quality checks against our course depth standard and automated source checks that match each rule to its official source, listed above. The course guide is an AI presenter and is labelled as one. Read how these courses are made.
Last updated:
General information only, not financial, credit, tax or legal advice. Spotted an error or an out-of-date rule? Send us a correction.
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