Ever feel like there’s too much to understand when it comes to finance? Do you find yourself saying, “I’ll never be able to understand these complex financial concepts”? Or perhaps even a “WTF is this sh!$”? If that sounds familiar, don’t worry, you’re not alone — we’ve all been there. 

In fact, the secret to tackling these intimidating notions might be simpler than you think. Clinging to the belief that financial complexities are beyond your comprehension can limit your potential to achieve financial freedom. 

Let’s swap that mindset for one that says, “I can and will understand.” Trust me, with the right attitude and carefully chosen baby steps, you’ll gradually conquer this giant elephant named ‘Financial Literacy’. But it will require determination and persistence, and it can’t be done overnight. Sorry – no getting rich quick schemes over here. 

Breaking Down Financial Literacy into Baby Steps

How do you eat an elephant? Bite by bite. The same goes for conquering financial literacy — it must be done little by little. Financial jargon is vast, sometimes overwhelmingly so. However, the first step to navigating this world is realizing you don’t need to know it all. 

Commodities, stocks, derivatives, bonds, real estate, cryptocurrencies, taxes, insurance… the list could go on forever. Not everyone needs or wants to be a walking encyclopedia of finance. More importantly, it’s not a race to cram all of this information. 

While each of these might have its benefits, you certainly don’t need to tackle all this at once. So, let’s take a deep breath, and we can start breaking this down.

Finding Your Financial Interest

The next step is identifying where your interests lie. This doesn’t necessarily mean pinpointing what will make you rich quickly – that’s not how it works. Unless you win the lottery or inherit a fortune, wealth is built over time. 

Your interest could be as broad as wanting to know the basics of how credit works or as detailed as understanding how the stock market works. Do you want to learn about budgeting to manage your day-to-day finances? Or perhaps you’re drawn to the world of investments? 

Figure out what resonates with you, where you can devote your time and what you’re naturally drawn towards. This will make learning about finances more enjoyable and less of a chore. Remember, there is a vast amount of content out there you will consume, so this can also be looked as as setting yourself up for success. So remember, If you’re interested in the topic, you won’t give up as easily. 

Starting with the Fundamentals

Feeling overwhelmed or unsure about where to start is normal, don’t let that deter you from beginning your journey. Start with the very basics of financial literacy—understanding the concepts of savings, budgets, credit, interest rates, and simple investments like index funds. 

Search online for the fundamentals of financial literacy and browse articles that simplify these concepts. Take your time reading through these resources. Remember, it’s not a race. The goal here is to grasp these core concepts before moving to other aspects of finances. 

Try to find several experts that share your values, instead of solely relying on one. Myself included, it helps broaden our perspective and sometimes one expert might just explain a concept that helps you better understand. Do what works for you! 

Developing a Learning Plan

Once you have an area of interest, the next step is to create a learning plan. A structured approach can help you break down the learning process into manageable chunks, helping you interpret and apply the information effectively.

Exploring Terms and Terminologies

In your learning journey, you’ll come across many new financial terms. Don’t let the unfamiliar terms scare you. Consider this as an opportunity to expand your finance vocabulary. 

When you encounter a new term, take a moment to look it up or drop it on your “terms to learn” list. Decode its meaning and how it fits into the broader world of finance. 

This will help your understanding grow organically, and eventually, you’ll be surprised by how much you’ve learned!

Self-Love and Encouragement

Don’t underestimate the power of being your own cheerleader. Life often has us in roles where we are supporting and motivating others—like being a parent, a friend, or an encouraging colleague. It’s time to extend the same cheerleading efforts to yourself.

Learning new concepts, especially something as extensive and continuously evolving as finance, is a challenging task. There will be moments of frustration and doubt. During these times, it’s important to remind yourself of the progress you’ve made, however small it might be.

Keep the self-talk positive. Celebrate the small victories, be patient with your learning pace, and remember—it’s okay to pause, breathe, and then continue.

Building a Support System

A strong support system is essential in the learning journey. This system could be a mentor, a learning group, or even a reliable financial blog. Having someone to turn to for guidance can ease the process of learning complex financial concepts.

It could be beneficial to join online groups or forums where you can discuss financial concepts, ask questions, clarify doubts, and learn from others’ experiences. Remember to make sure to do your own due diligence and take things other people say with a grain of salt, their situation might not be the same as yours. 

Personal finance is personal and someone else’s definition of “a lot of money” might very well differ from your own. The internet is flooded with plenty of financial advisors offering advice through blogs, videos, and podcasts. Find reliable sources and bookmark them for regular reading or listening.

Applying the Learned Concepts

Learning financial concepts isn’t a one-time task. It’s essentially a lifelong journey accompanied by the ongoing application of the learned concepts precisely because the financial landscape constantly changes. 

As you mature and go through different stages of life, your financial status, obligations, and goals will change and grow. For instance, as a fresh graduate, your primary financial concern could learning how to use a credit card. 

As you advance in your career, your focus can shift towards saving for a house, setting up a retirement fund, or perhaps investing in the stock market to grow your wealth. Each of these stages will require the application of different financial concepts and skillsets.

Accountability and Action

Understanding the theory isn’t enough. To see real change, you have to apply your financial knowledge to real-world situations. It may begin by setting a monthly budget, opening a retirement account, or even making your first investment.

Remember, it’s not about making grand gestures. Small, consistent actions are just as important. It can be as simple as tracking your daily expenses, reducing extravagant expenses, or even deciding to invest a small amount regularly. 

The key is accountability—taking deliberate, conscious actions to manage your finances better.

Key Takeaways: Unleashing Your Financial Learning Potential

Essentially, grappling with complex financial concepts can be boiled down to three things—breaking it down into manageable steps, showing yourself kindness and encouragement, and finding or creating ways to apply the learned concepts.

Start today! Make the first move. Let go of the limiting belief that financial literacy is unattainable—it’s not. With the right attitude, guidance, and perseverance, you’ll be speaking the financial language fluently sooner than you think!