Financial education is the key to a better future. That’s why it’s incredibly unfortunate that few Americans really understand how to manage their finances. More than 50% of Americans do not have basic knowledge of financial education; This simply means that people are missing vital information that should help them budget, save, and invest their money properly.

Without financial literacy, people will simply bounce from one paycheck to another, unable to save for a rainy day or plan ahead for retirement. It is a totally unfortunate scenario that can only be changed if financial education becomes a crucial part of the country’s educational system.

For adults who want to catch up, self-education is always an option. In addition to reading books and articles, the Internet now also offers a lot of very useful information and could help you improve your financial knowledge at your own pace. These websites are regularly updated, have expert writers, and offer relevant information that could definitely support your financial education.

Here are five online resources to help you increase your financial knowledge:

Graduate

For students and recent graduates, there is simply no better online resource than iGrad. While the other resources are informational and range from practical to academic, iGrad was specifically designed by financial aid professionals to help college students trying to understand their financial independence and responsibilities for the first time. The website covers not only personal finance, but also helps students make sense of their student loans (they offer loan entry and exit counseling), find scholarships, manage credit, and find jobs.

Yahoo Finance Experts

yahoo! Finance offers a wide range of articles on personal finance, investing, and financial news. The articles are interesting, easy to read and very informative. More importantly, the articles contain practical advice that can be easily applied by even the most inexperienced financial novice. Also, the website has so many articles that you can find multiple opinions and perspectives no matter what topic you choose to read about.

Morningstar Investing Classroom

What is the difference between investing in stocks and investing in mutual funds? There is a difference? Morningstar’s Investment Classroom will teach you about this and more. It covers all investment-related topics in short, ten-minute courses that you can study at your own pace. For experienced investors, it is possible to go directly to the advanced topics for advice; novices can start from the first and most basic course before moving on.

CNN money 101

The great thing about CNN Money 101 is that it really is a carefully planned class that takes its “students” from easy to advanced financial lessons. The website focuses on the practical application of financial knowledge. Although it does not delve into theoretical or academic discussions of investing and personal finance, the lessons are very useful and can definitely help readers increase their financial knowledge as well as apply these lessons in real life.

Investopedia University

The website is a valuable resource; it works for both newcomers and advanced investors alike. For those who already have a working understanding of investing, you can go ahead and take advantage of the more advanced tutorials on Investopedia University. The site covers detailed topics like trading stocks, bonds, Forex, and more. The site also has very helpful and easy to understand tutorials for newcomers. In fact, one of the most valuable tutorials on Investopedia would be its introduction to financial education for kids and teens.