The Lazy Person's Guide to Personal Finance

If you learned anything about personal finance, chances are that you have learned it on your own.

It's not really being taught in schools; last year, only seven states required a personal finance class as a requirement for high school graduation, according to the National Council on Economic Education.

It's not being taught by parents, if the amount of debt they are carrying is any indication. (Don't miss: "Pay Down Your Consumer Debt.")

That means that there are a lot of people out there who need to take the time to learn the basics of personal finance.

The basics are not difficult. You can learn them easily by reading one of the many personal finance books that are out there. Simply head down to your local library, check out one or two of the books available (such as Smart and Simple Finances for Busy People by Jane Bryant Quinn, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey or The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton), and spend a few days reading them to help lay a foundation of personal financial knowledge.

Unfortunately, many people never take this step, because they believe personal finance is going to be too difficult to learn. (Don't miss "Six Awful Truths of Personal Finance.") If you happen to be one of those people, here is a quick and easy "lazy person's guide to personal finance."

Budgeting

Version 1: Spend less than you make.

Version 2: Make more than you spend.

Advanced version: Have all your bills automatically paid (including irregular bills such as real estate taxes and insurance premiums) and all long-term savings (such as an emergency fund, college fund and retirement) automatically deducted when your paycheck is deposited. Whatever is left over is what you may spend, and if you don't have enough money for something, you simply can't afford it.