Unveiling Money March: Navigating Financial Literacy with the Shire Bonsai Network

Discovering Principles and Stories for Financial Empowerment and Growth

Apr 15, 2024

Exploring the Roots of Money March

In 2022, my best friend and I established a unique March tradition: Money March! Yes, it's a bit cheesy, but it embodies our quest for financial literacy. The idea originated from two Zillennials navigating adulthood, realizing that the financial lessons from high school—like exponential growth and decay in algebra—were insufficient for life's financial complexities.

Now in our twenties, we're grappling with student loans, credit cards, investing, and yes, contemplating retirement (though the consensus on that seems elusive). Financial matters can seem daunting, especially with conflicting advice bombarding us. Did you know the 401(k) is younger than most of our parents, and IRAs came out after some of us graduated high school? No wonder figuring it all out feels like uncharted territory.

But therein lies the beauty—without a predefined path, we rely on principles. Money March is about exploring books that not only explain financial products and concepts but also impart theories and habits to make our financial and personal goals achievable.

I encourage everyone, regardless of age, to delve into financial literature. Every chapter we read shapes the future version of ourselves we aspire to become, not only for our sake but for the next generation looking to us for guidance on wealth, contentment, and financial well-being.

Below are some of the books I've enjoyed during Money March:

Shire Bonsai Network’s Money March Recommendations

Story-Based

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Calson

Financial Health & Wealth Building

The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of Your Dreams by Paris Wood
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry
Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness (one of my top reads of 2024!!)
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

Principled Learning

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey

This list is just the beginning of my financial literary journey. I look forward to exploring more finance books in the years to come. Do you have any recommendations? Feel free to share them in the comments below!