Since embarking on my journey to financial literacy last month, I’ve learned that being good with money is a literal skill – something you have to learn, apply, and practice to improve. As with any skill I want to develop, when it came to financial literacy, I turned to the four major avenues I rely on for information. 

1) YOUTUBE 

If you search “learn to be good with money” on YouTube, you’ll pull up a vast array of results. Be mindful, a lot of these videos can be clickbait and may not necessarily be helpful. For me to find a video helpful, I need to feel that the source is trustworthy in their knowledge, that they understand my situation, and that they provide actionable steps they themselves have taken to attain that knowledge. Essentially, someone who can speak from experience. 

A YouTube channel that spearheaded my journey to financial literacy (and called me out on my bad money habits) was Christina Mychas. An ex-shopaholic who paid off $120K of student loan debt in real time, her content resonated with me because she, like me, is a female millennial living in Toronto who, throughout her 20s, spent hard-earned money on frivolous things with no real thought to her future finances or current debt. I appreciated her transparency in sharing her entire journey to reaching her goal of being debt-free, everything she learned along the way, what worked and what didn’t for her and her lifestyle, and the mindset shifts she needed to make to find success. 

What I appreciated most about her content was that it showed me it’s never too late to change your money situation. I also appreciated the soft dose of tough love whenever she would reiterate that you can’t bullshit your way to being debt-free. You get there by holding yourself accountable and remembering your “why.” 

2) PODCASTS 

Another resource I turn to for learning is podcasts. If you’ve ever had an interest in finances, you’ll know there’s a multitude of podcast content on how to build wealth. One I’ve appreciated is Money Mindset by the School of Greatness. While I found the content inspiring, it wasn’t necessarily helpful because I didn’t feel it applied to me – yet. Yes, I’m interested in being wealthy one day and would love to start building a foundation for growing my wealth and finances. 

But right now, my goal is to become debt-free and build an emergency savings fund before I can even consider how I’m going to multiply my money. 

A podcast I’ve found genuinely helpful for where I am now is Financial Coaching for Women, hosted by the “Budget Besties,” Vanessa and Shana. I’ve realized that I appreciate women-made content because it feels more relatable to my lifestyle and spending habits. What I like about the Budget Besties is that they help you start, wherever you are with your finances, even if they’re non-existent. They’ve curated a “budget system” you can apply to your current financial situation that’s practical, doesn’t require tedious thought, and helps you build savings and manage your money gradually. 

This feels more realistic and grounded to me because, though we all love the “get rich quick” approach and find it inspiring to see someone go from broke to wealthy in six months, that’s not a realistic path for most people. I also appreciate that the Budget Besties encourage you to set aside money for yourself, so you don’t feel like you have to live on beans and rice or deprive yourself of the things you love – within reason. 

3) BOOKS 

If I’m going to be honest, I haven’t read any books yet on how to manage my finances, mostly because what I’ve learned so far has already been helping me. Both Christina Mychas and the Budget Besties studied finance with Dave Ramsey and they often mention helpful habits they’ve adopted from their financial education. 

However, if you’re interested in diving deeper into financial literacy to support your personal finance goals, here are a few books that are frequently recommended in the types of financial content I’ve absorbed: 

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

• I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

• Get Rich, Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas

• Atomic Habits by James Clear (not specifically a money-literacy book, but the habits it teaches can help you build better financial routines that support long-term success, both in life and money)

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

If you’re not big on reading or don’t have time to set aside for it, you can also find audiobook versions of these titles on Audible or Spotify Premium that you can listen to while running errands or during your regular commute. Note that Spotify has a limit on audiobook listening hours each month, but if you’re already paying for a premium membership, you might as well use it to its full potential.

4) COACHING / COMMUNITIES 

Lastly, another avenue that can be helpful for anyone on a journey to financial literacy and improving their finances is through coaching or courses. 

I personally haven’t embarked on this step yet, but based on the content I consume, it’s a valuable path for those who benefit from real-time guidance and accountability. The Budget Besties, for example, offer coaching as well as a community that helps members stay accountable and share tips with one another. Sometimes, the most effective way to reach your goals is with the help of others. 

If you’re someone who would appreciate this kind of support in your journey, here are some coaching programs and communities I’ve found that aim to improve financial literacy and overall well-being. Please note that these suggestions are based on the type of content I absorb, which tends to be geared toward women: 

• Budget Besties with Vanessa and Shanna 

• Bookclub Bitches with Francesca Amber (not specifically focused on money, but centered on general life wellness and includes content around money books)

Remember to be cautious with financial coaching you find online. Some of it can be clickbait – or worse, a money grab. Do your research before signing up for anything, especially if it sounds too good to be true or promises shortcuts to financial success. 

Honourable Mention: There are also online courses available through financial institutions and learning platforms like Udemy or Coursera. If you’re interested in a free course and reside in Canada, McGill University offers one that comes highly recommended here.

Lastly, if you’re open to a tough-love approach to financial literacy, it’s worth exploring content by Dave Ramsey and any coaching or courses he offers. He’s a mogul in the financial literacy space, and nearly all the content I absorb tends to reference him. His methods may not be for everyone, but they could be worth looking into. 

Now that it’s been a month, I already feel a lot more confident and competent in my money choices than I did when I first started this journey. I’ve developed good money habits, learned some tricks that work for me, and even managed to start putting aside savings. 

I’ll go over some of the things I’ve learned and what’s been working for me in my next post. Until then, I’m wishing you the best of luck on your journey to financial literacy. Please keep in mind: anything worth doing will be difficult. You have to pick your hard. I’d rather live with the challenge of enforcing good money habits that will eventually become second nature than live with the stress of not knowing if I’ll be able to pay all my bills on time, or have student debt continue to follow me throughout adulthood. 

If you find yourself struggling with motivation, just remember why you started this journey. Start thanking yourself for the effort you’re making – your future self is already grateful for it. Hang in there. 

Always,  

Antonette