26Nov2019

I’ve always wanted to get into investing but have never had the money or the know-how to get started. It seems like some of those things they should’ve taught in school were how to balance a budget and money management. Unfortunately, having gone to my Catholic High School, they didn’t teach any of that stuff. It was expected that you’d learn it on your own and since attending college, no one there offered any classes on those subjects despite my being a business major for two of my four years.

I’ve taken matters into my own hands. I bought a few finance books including The Intelligent Investor, The Four Pillars of Investing, and The Complete MBA for Dummies. I started reading MBA for Dummies and focusing on the chapters that would apply to me like accounting, finance, and statements. I listen to The Intelligent Investor on Kindle audiobook while I drive and have been working my way through that. I plan to read The Four Pillars of Investing when it arrives in the mail. I’ve come to the conclusion that there isn’t much a motivated person can learn at a university that they couldn’t learn from reading books for much cheaper. Universities give you a credential yet, I’ve run into numerous so-called “educated” people who I was surprised knew how to tie their shoes. I think reading as much as you can about a topic will give you better insight into the subjects you’re studying and especially when you’re motivated, you tend to learn and retain the knowledge better. Plus, it’ll save you boatloads of money.

Is there any advice you’d give to someone just learning about money management? Which books did you read? Do you think you could learn just as much if not more from being a motivated, self-taught scholar on a subject or do you feel you need to go to college?