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Introduction to Personal Finance
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Introduction to Personal Finance
A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Freedom

First Edition
October 2024 | 440 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Introduction to Personal Finance invites students to reflect on their values and behaviors with money and to set goals to reach financial freedom and financial wellness. Author Kristen Carioti provides clear, step-by-step guidance on the essential building blocks, from setting up an emergency fund, to navigating student loans and investing for retirement. Students are encouraged to evaluate their personal relationship with money and mindfully assess their behavior so they can set and reach achievable financial goals.
 
Part I: Your Relationship with Money
 
Chapter 1: Your Money, Your Story
Your Money History

 
Money Scripts

 
Money Values

 
 
Chapter 2: Defining Financial Freedom
Your Money Future

 
Your Present-Self and Future-Self

 
Cash Flow Versus Net Worth

 
Paycheck to Paycheck

 
Inequities and Costs of Financial Hardship

 
Financial Freedom

 
Seven Steps to Financial Freedom

 
 
Appendix: Time Value of Money
 
Part II: The Basics
 
Chapter 3: Banks and Money
Types of Mainstream Banks

 
Types of Deposit Accounts

 
Setting Up a Basic Emergency Fund

 
Alternative Financial Services

 
Cryptocurrency

 
 
Chapter 4: Introduction to Credit and Credit Cards
Three Types of Credit

 
Types of Credit Cards

 
Credit Card Finance Charges

 
Paying a Credit Card Off

 
Alternative Uses of Credit Cards

 
Credit Card Statistics

 
Benefits and Costs of Credit Cards

 
 
Chapter 5: Credit History and Identity Theft
Credit History

 
Credit Report

 
Credit Score

 
Types and Signs of Identity Theft

 
Preventing and Reporting Identity Theft

 
 
Part III: Income and Expenses
 
Chapter 6: Income and Career Planning
Prioritizing Income

 
Research Yourself and Your Career

 
Test Drive Your Career

 
Navigating Job Offers and Promotions

 
Navigating Your Career

 
Self-Employment

 
 
Chapter 7: Expenses and Budgeting
Managing Expenses

 
Planning Large Expenses

 
Why You Need a Budget

 
Budgeting Tools

 
Creating Your Own Zero-Based Budget

 
Budgeting Examples

 
Assessing and Adjusting Your Budget

 
 
Part IV: Loans and Debt
 
Chapter 8: Consumer Loans
Consumer Loans

 
Monthly Payment and Total Cost of a Loan

 
Refinancing a Loan

 
Prepaying a Loan

 
Student Loans

 
Federal Student Loan Repayment

 
 
Chapter 9: Debt
Predatory Lending

 
Predatory Loans and Agreements

 
Paying Off Debt

 
Other Debt Payoff Strategies

 
Debt Relief

 
 
Part V: From College to Career
 
Chapter 10: Investing Fundamentals
Saving Versus Investing

 
Investment Securities

 
Alternative Investments

 
Understanding Your Risk Tolerance

 
Investment Portfolios

 
Exponential Growth

 
 
Chapter 11: Investing Applications
Investment Strategies

 
Investment Accounts

 
Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

 
Investing in a 401(k)

 
Individual Retirement Accounts

 
Investing in a Roth IRA

 
Investing Mistakes

 
 
Chapter 12: Taxes
Introduction to Income Taxes

 
Filing Your Tax Return

 
Calculating Your Federal Income Taxes

 
State, Local, and FICA Taxes

 
Filing Taxes When You're Self-Employed

 
Other Taxes

 
 
Chapter 13: Insurance
Health Insurance: How It Works

 
Health Insurance: Where to Get It

 
Life Insurance

 
Disability Insurance

 
Auto Insurance

 
Property Insurance

 
 
Chapter 14: Housing
Rental Housing

 
Rental Housing: Pros and Cons

 
Mortgages

 
Buying a Home

 
Home Ownership: Pros and Cons

 
Rental Property Ownership

 
 
Part VI: Pathways to Financial Freedom
 
Chapter 15: Your Money, Your Future
Retirement Planning

 
Estate Planning

 
Protecting Your Future

 
Money Mistakes and Stall Outs

 
Continuing Education

 

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

LMS cartridge included with this title for use in Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), and Moodle

The LMS cartridge makes it easy to import this title's instructor resources into your learning management system (LMS). These resources include:
  • Test banks
  • Editable chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides
  • Budget Template Spreadsheet
  • All tables and figures from the textbook
Don't use an LMS platform?

You can still access the online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.

This is an introductory personal finance text that integrates emotional and relationship well-being with financial well-being.

Axton Betz-Hamilton
South Dakota State University

"It really helps you wrap your head around what you're learning and come to a complete understanding of the course material."

Aubrey Akins
Student, St. Bonaventure University

I found this book to be more relevant to a college student today. It describes in depth how to avoid debt and what to do when you find yourself in that situation and to avoid getting in financial scams.

Cindy Moss
Reinhardt University

"With Vantage, I set up my course in under 10 minutes, which is unheard of...I love Vantage!"

Karin Machluf
Instructor, Penn State Scranton

It is more practical; more targeted for practical information needed by college age adults, who are more concerned with their financial future. [The book] has very good definitions up front in the chapter of the key concepts. These are clearly and simply defined. The chapters have some good step by step processes—renting for example.

Tom Collins
Schoolcraft College

"Extremely valuable! Interactive, engaging and simple to use."

Alyssa Salazar
Student, University of North Texas

Carioti's Personal Finance is interesting, concise...and is easy reading that keeps the reader's interest. It does not over discuss a topic, rather the main ideas are presented to make a point.

Jane Schappert
Lynn University

"I have used every other major digital platform that exists, and I can say that Vantage has no equal."

William Parent
Instructor, San Jacinto College

There is an emphasis on self-awareness not included in other texts.

Kimberlee Davis
Texas State University

"...Really going to deepen students' understanding and...boost their comprehension."

Daniel Okamura
Instructor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Key features
  • This text is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • The Seven Steps to Financial Freedom framework provides a clear, ordered checklist of financial goals.
  • Financial Wellness Q & A boxes address emotional challenges related to personal finance. Sample topics include managing family expectations, dealing with familial identity theft, addressing money addictions, dealing with medical debt, and recognizing financial abuse.
  • Integrated throughout the chapters, Mindful Money provides actionable strategies for achieving financial goals and avoiding pitfalls.
  • Check Your Social features discuss the impact of social media on personal finance. Sample topics include implicit money messages, lifestyle creep, multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes, and no-spend challenges.
  • Each chapter ends with a summary, reflective and actionable homework questions, and two case studies, encouraging readers to apply and consider their own financial situations.

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