The New Money Rules: The Gen Z Guide to Personal Finance
What if you could feel confident with money, even if you’re starting from scratch? The rules of personal finance have changed. Now more than ever, Gen Z needs a fresh, empowering approach to earning, saving, and investing with confidence—written for Gen Z, by Gen Z. As seen in CNBC Make It, Bustle, and UC Berkeley Haas News.
order now at your favorite online retailer. Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
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Perfect for corporate events, employee resource groups, school clubs, libraries, and more!
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The new rules to save, invest, & grow your money
The rules of personal finance have changed. Now more than ever, Gen Z needs a fresh, empowering approach to earning, saving, and investing with confidence. In this beginner-friendly guide, money educator Lillian Zhang shows you how to use today's tools to level up your budget, blast through debt, and supercharge your savings.
Learn how to build habits that stick, create a five-step savings plan, navigate digital finance, and invest in the stock market—even if you're starting with just $5. Forget the old-school advice about skipping your latte runs, The New Money Rules teaches you tools that actually work.
A fellow Gen Zer who grew up in an immigrant home, side-hustled through college, and built a thriving career, Lillian shares the no-BS advice she wishes she had from the get-go. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by money or felt like financial success is only for "other people," here's the beginner-friendly guide to create a future you'll love.
Stop getting by and start getting ahead with:
The New Money Rules: The Gen Z Guide to Personal Finance
Simple money rules for everyone
Forget old-school advice about skipping your latte run—get judgment-free advice on savings accounts, credit cards, and student loans.
Change your money story
No matter what you were—or weren't—taught about money growing up, learn how to conquer financial fears and grow wealth from the ground up.
Digital finance made easy
Automate your savings, experiment with micro-investing, and explore modern tools like budgeting apps, while staying smart around cryptocurrency, “Buy Now, Pay Later,” and 1-click shopping.
For Gen Z, by Gen Z
Lillian Zhang helps young people, including hundreds of thousands of online followers, transform their finances with the clarity and empathy this generation deserves.
Give the gift of financial literacy
Equip teens finishing high school, college students nearing graduation, and young adults stepping into independence with money skills for life.
order now at your favorite online retailer. Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
International
About
The Author
Lillian Zhang helps Gen Z and millennials navigate their finances through practical, relatable education that reaches and inspires hundreds of thousands across social media. A Silicon Valley professional and a Haas School of Business graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, she combines real-world experience with actionable financial guidance. She’s been featured on CNBC’s Make It, Business Insider, Bloomberg, ABC’s Good Morning America, and Yahoo Finance. When not at her day job or creating content for her thriving TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube communities, Lillian enjoys exploring new cities, doing YouTube Pilates workouts, and hunting down the best local eats in the Bay Area.
Endorsements
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"Lillian’s the money friend we all wish we had sooner. No fluff, no judgment, just real tactical stuff that’ll help you take control and feel good about money."
- Sho Dewan, CEO & Founder of Workhap and Host of the Work Happier Podcast
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"'Finances' can feel lofty and overwhelming—but 'The New Money Rules' breaks it down in a way that's simple, fun, and totally approachable. Lillian Zhang talks about savings, debt, and investing in a way that feels less like a lecture and more like a casual chat with a friend. What I particularly enjoyed is how her practical advice is interspersed with candid anecdotes from her own life—what she’s tried, what’s worked, and what hasn’t. It’s a reminder that you’re not getting advice from someone in an ivory tower, but from someone who’s still navigating life, learning, and generously sharing the lessons so you can thrive too. The interactive bits pulled me right in and made me feel like I was actually building my own plan as I read. Practical, empowering, and relatable, this book is a game-changer for anyone who wants to take control of their financial future without the overwhelm."
- Kyla Zhao, award-winning author of The Fraud Squad and Valley Verified
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"Lillian has correctly identified why the rules for Gen Z are and need to be different, and she puts these insights right up front! The rest of the book offers great strategies, tips and examples that will take readers to a much better place in terms of managing their money."
- Bill Fanning, Continuing Lecturer, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
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"This empowering guide makes taking charge of your money and the future less intimidating. A must-read for Gen Z!"
- Karen Lin, UC Berkeley Career Engagement
"Zhang’s reader-friendly personal finance book provides a fresh take on managing finances from a Generation Z perspective. An ideal book for new college graduates or self-starters and a great way to explore a path to possible financial security."
–Library Journal
What readers are saying
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"Lillian Zhang's book intuits and responds to the very real questions and concerns today's students have about becoming financially literate adults. Her style is accessible and relatable even as her grasp of the often-intimidating topic of finance is formidable (especially for young people). I have been teaching in California public high schools for 20+ years and I am excited to recommend this book to all my students to introduce them early on to financial literacy through the writing voice of a cool, sensible, and trusted friend!"
- Jenny Padgett
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"Lillian understands the money-related realities and challenges faced by Gen Z. She's able to speak to Gen Z directly as a Gen Z herself and makes complex financial topics easy to follow. She covers everything from the basics of saving, budgeting, and banking - to modern tools like digital investment accounts and micro-investing for the new generation. Her book is a must-read."
- Kelly A.
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"Lillian’s approach to personal finance is refreshing, accessible, and free of judgment. She’s deeply attuned to the financial realities of Gen Z, offering practical, modern-day tips that actually resonate. What stands out most is how Lillian prompts you with thoughtful, reflective questions and exercises to help you better understand your financial goals and relationship with money. She recognizes that everyone comes from a different financial background and level of education, yet she manages to empower and support readers from all walks of life."
- Peggy X.
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"Lillian’s book is the personal finance guide I wish I had years ago. It’s real, relatable, and written exactly how Gen Z actually talks and thinks about money. She blends her experience growing up in an immigrant household, side-hustling through college, and building her own career into honest, no-fluff advice which I can relate to myself. Whether you’re just figuring out budgeting or trying to understand investing apps, she breaks it all down in a way that feels doable and never overwhelming. It’s like getting money advice from your smart, cool friend who just gets it."
- Allen T.
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"In 'The New Money Rules,' Lillian introduces topics like credit cards, budgeting, and investing in the stock market. Each chapter is interspersed with quotes from real people in their early 20s offering their own perspective on the financial issues affecting Gen Z. Lillian blends information and education with a conversational tone, anecdotes from her own life, and situational examples of what these financial principles look like in day-to-day use."
- Shivana A.
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"The New Money Rules is the personal finance book I wish I knew sooner. As a Gen Z navigating the uncertainty of COVID, economic instability, and the overwhelming pressure to somehow "figure things out," I often felt lost about what I should be doing with my money. Most finance books out in the market right now were helpful to some extent, but they never felt fully relatable. They seemed like they were written for a different generation that didn’t experience what we’ve gone through. That’s why Lillian’s voice feels so refreshing. She totally understands how most of us feel. She shares what she’s learned from growing up in an immigrant household, side hustling through school, and building a successful career in tech while creating financial content that actually speaks to our generation. Even with all her knowledge, her writing feels very empowering, honest, and judgment-free. Her book feels like a friend who genuinely wants you to succeed and live a financially free life. Highly recommend!"
- Brian C.
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"Most personal finance books feel outdated, shame-filled, and disconnected from the realities of today’s economy. Lillian’s no-BS, judgment-free approach is exactly what Gen Z needs: relatable, realistic, and grounded in real-life experience. From career tips to budgeting to taxes, Lillian breaks down what used to work and what actually works now. The built-in prompts for personal reflection make the book feel interactive and empowering. It's not just money advice, it's like having a conversation from your smart, supportive bestie who wants you to rewrite your financial journey in the best way possible."
- Natalie F.
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"I’ve been following Lillian for YEARS as my go-to influencer for financial advice that actually makes sense for Gen Z, and this book is the ultimate extension of everything she does best. She breaks down complex topics like budgeting, investing, and building wealth in a way that’s genuinely relatable and empowering. But what makes her perspective even more powerful is her story — as a first-gen immigrant who didn’t grow up with a financial safety net, Lillian isn’t speaking from a place of inherited privilege. She built her financial knowledge from the ground up, and it shows in how thoughtfully she communicates with her audience. She is truly inspiring and gives incredible advice."
- Lucy C.
Order “The New Money Rules: The Gen Z Guide to Personal Finance”
order now at your favorite online retailer. Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
Buy In Bulk
Perfect for corporate events, employee resource groups, school clubs, libraries, and more!