When I first sat down and realized that I needed to take my financial situation more seriously, I also realized I wasn’t going to be able to do it by myself. I really had no clue what I was doing or how to go about doing it. So, I looked into different resources as a guide to help me figure myself out. None of these are in any particular order, by the way.

# 1 – Your local bank or credit union

This was a huge resource for me starting out because I didn’t know where else to turn. It also helped that I was working at the bank, but the reality is, they are paid to help you.

You’ll want to make sure you’re speaking to someone knowledgeable about what you are trying to accomplish. Feel free to ask them questions about their job, what they help people with, and their experience. Remember, no one knows everything, but having someone that’s had some experience in what you’re going through is a good start.

# 2 – Your library

Personal finance books are many these days and if you’re going to figure out how to save money so you can reduce debt, why not start with checking those books out rather then buying them? There are a ton out there, so to help you sort through them, check out Get Rich Slowly’s post on the top 25 essential personal finance books. My personal favorites are “Your Money or Your Life,” “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” and “The Automatic Millionaire.”

# 3 – Your Parents

I know this sounds weird if you’re in this position because they never taught you about finances, but they’re probably good with their finances, they just didn’t know how to pass along the knowledge. Sit down with your parents and ask them what they do, what mistakes they’ve made over the years, and how they’ve overcome it. Find out what works for them and what doesn’t. Afterwards, sit down and see if any of their tricks are things you can incorporate into your plan.

# 4 – Bankrate.com

If you haven’t checked out this site, you absolutely need to. It’s got great information, tips and tricks, and it compares savings rates amongst the top banks. What I found most beneficial about this site was its wide array of calculators. Those calculators can certainly help you in determining your course of action.

# 5 – Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey, or a little of both

I think we all know I’m not a huge fan of Dave’s, but I concede that his program works for some people. While I still think in 99.99% of cases people pay more doing things his way, at least he gets people out of debt. So, when I started on my venture, I went the Suze Orman route. I watched her shows, read her books, anything I could cheaply get my hands on. If the Dave Ramsey method works for you, then use that resource. Or, if you’re not completely sold on either ideology, mesh them together and create your own!

# 6 – Mint.com, or any other site your prefer

My biggest challenge when I decided to get out of debt was making a budget. I had no clue what I was doing or how to go about it, so there was no way I could make my own budget sheet. Well, I probably could of, but I’m of the mentality to work smarter, not harder. So, I went to Mint.com. I like that it sends me reminders, I can change and alter the categories, and it’s user-friendly enough that I was able to get through it with no problems.

If you decide to use software to help with your budgeting, be sure to go with something that’s free. No sense in paying someone else to create a budget sheet for yourself when there are so many options for free one’s out there.

# 7 – Financial magazines

Most magazines geared towards personal finance are loaded with good tips for beginners. Again, since you’re trying to reduce your spending, I don’t recommend getting a subscription, but your library probably has an excellent selection of magazines available for your peruse.

# 8 – Internet

The internet is a great source of information and it’s usually the most convenient way to find what you’re looking for. Not only can you find news articles related to personal finance, but a lot of the magazines I mentioned before can be viewed online as well. In addition to those things, there are also personal finance blogs which offer a wealth of information…one of which you’re reading now! ;)

I must inject a little caution when looking at material from the internet, though. As I mentioned earlier, no one knows everything. And they certainly don’t know what’s best for your situation. So, when considering what you’ve read online, be sure it fits with your goals and what you can readily achieve. This is especially true of investment advice…your results may not be comparable with someone else’s.

Have I missed any other resources you think would be good for someone just starting out? What was your first step when you decided to take control of your finances?

Related posts:

1. Financial Maxims: In Your 40s
2. 7 Habits of Financial Success…Part VI
3. The 2009 Financial Road-Map
4. Weekly Round Up
5. Financial Maxims: In Your 20s