If you are someone who is trying to improve their finances, you know there are a plethora of online courses you can take. Each one of them claims to be able to help you fix your money situation overnight or “give you the tools you need to reach financial freedom.” With all of the free information out there today, it is hard to believe they are providing anything that a Google search can’t. So, do you really need an online course to improve your finances?
Popular Online Finance Courses
We recently talked about Dave Ramsey vs. the rest of the personal finance influencer community. However, despite him not being super popular with a select group of people, his “Financial Peace University” course is one of the best-selling online finance classes out there today. It is also one of the most straight-forward courses available. He provides pretty basic PF advice and then helps you implement those changes in your life.
That being said, Dave isn’t the only one out there hocking personal finance courses. Many of your favorite influencers are doing it too. Here are a few worth a mention:
- Inspired Budget (Allison Baggerly) offers a FREE budgeting class. Check it out in her Instagram bio.
- The Budgetnista (Tiffany Aliche) owns “Get Richer Academy,” which is a paid money mentor program. Only a small number of people are admitted to this exclusive club at once though.
- Clever Girl Finance also has some fantastic free courses featured at the top of her Instagram page.
- Udemy is also a great place to find affordable finance courses!
Depending on what you are looking for help with, there are plenty of resources available to you online. When should you consider a paid program over something free?
The Perks of Buying an Online Course
One of the biggest perks of purchasing an online personal finance course is that you typically get hands-on help and advice. Usually, these programs provide you with a counselor or mentor to help you with your money habits. Then you are assigned “homework” to look over and take action with your own finances.
Having someone to check-in with who knows what they are doing can be extremely helpful, especially if you struggle with the basics (budgeting, tracking spending, saving money, etc.). At the same time, you will be getting the knowledge and tools you need to be able to manage things on your own.
Do You Need One?
Anyone considering a paid course should take a few things into consideration before moving forward.
- Can you truly afford the class? Putting yourself in a bad spot financially to purchase an online class isn’t the best idea.
- Is the person selling the course reputable? You don’t want to give someone money for an online course when they don’t have any credentials to back up the information they are providing. Look for testimonials and read about the course’s history.
- Have you tried looking for free information? Search for the info you are looking for online before spending money on a course.
Lastly, remember that your financial journey may not look like someone else’s. There is no “one size fits all” financial plan. Any course selling that should be avoided.
Readers, have you taken any financial courses that you have benefited from? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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Amanda is an editor and writer. She has a passion for sharing information that helps people and communities to better themselves in some way. In addition to writing online, she also freelances for local newspapers in her hometown of Charlotte, NC.