Need book suggestions: Personal finance for recent college grads

Parent Cafe
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<p>DD will graduate in May and has accepted a job offer to begin next summer. (no complaints here and feeling very fortunate!) It will be time to let her go and make her own financial mistakes. DH and I were discussing this recently as we will need to move her towards complete financial independence. Fortunately she will have a good salary and great benefits, but as we discussed the job offer with her it was very apparent we have failed to teach her the personal finance kinds of things she needs to know-ie 401 K’s, various health plans, etc. etc. </p>

<p>When this first came about, I found a book I wanted to give her about budgeting and personal finance for recent college grads. Now, of course, I can’t locate it. It contained the kind of personal finance information and budgeting basics few college graduates know (unless DH and I are terrible parents in this respect.) I know she can find this information online, and I am creating a “master list” of websites, but I am old! I like books! Any suggestions? </p>

<p>Because we need to figure out what to do with some remaining college account money very quickly, we need to have a conversation with her about the budgeting over Thanksgiving. </p>

<p>BTW-I realize this is a “good” problem to have right now. No complaints here. We just want to help prepare her for another part of her journey to adulthood.</p>

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<p>[Amazon.com:</a> The Wall Street Journal. Guide to Starting Your Financial Life (9780307407085): Karen Blumenthal: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030740708X/ref=oh_o05_s00_i00_details]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030740708X/ref=oh_o05_s00_i00_details)
I bought this one for my son a couple of years ago. It was a pretty good introduction to personal finance - easy to read, interesting and accurate.</p>

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<p>I bought the Suze Orman books for my D’s … no luck getting them to read the books however. So we went with the “show 'n tell” method. For exampe, show 'em how to get a credit card and have them tell us about any ambiguous charges that appear on monthly statements. It’s not the best approach surely, but better than viewing finances as something “old people” do.</p>