Financial Literacy Tools That Help You Learn by Investing

*This is a collaborative post on financial literacy tools

Becoming financially literate doesn’t mean you need to sit through endless lectures or read dense textbooks. One of the most effective ways to build your financial knowledge is to learn by doing — and that includes investing. Thanks to a growing number of user-friendly tools, you can now learn how to manage your money more confidently while actively participating in the markets.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or have already dipped your toes into the world of investing, these financial literacy tools can help you grow your skills, make better decisions, and feel more empowered with your money.

TradingView: Learn with live charts and community insights

TradingView is a popular platform for both new and experienced traders. It combines advanced charting tools with an incredibly supportive community, making it ideal for learning through observation and interaction.

You can:

• View real-time price data and interactive charts.
  
• Follow ideas shared by other traders and see what strategies they use.
  
• Use paper trading features to practice without risking real money.

TradingView gives you access to technical indicators, trend analysis tools, and even beginner-friendly tutorials that help you understand how financial markets work.

Moneybox: Investment and savings in one app

If you’re new to investing and want something a bit more beginner-friendly, Moneybox is a fantastic option. This UK-based app lets you round up your everyday purchases and invest the spare change into stocks, ETFs, or savings accounts.

Why it’s a great learning tool:

• You start small, so the risk feels manageable.
  
• You get clear explanations about where your money is going.
  
• It introduces you to diversified investing without the overwhelm.

Moneybox also includes educational content, goal-setting features, and regular updates on how your investments are performing.

Investopedia simulator: A safe space to experiment

Prefer to learn the theory before diving in? The Investopedia Stock Simulator gives you £100,000 of virtual cash to build and manage your own stock portfolio. It’s a great way to learn:

• How to interpret stock trends and financial news.
  
• How different sectors perform over time.
  
• What it feels like to lose (or gain!) money without any actual risk.

This is a great way to quickly build your knowledge base while helping you apply what you learn.

Financial literacy tools: Other stock market games

MarketWatch is a free online platform which lets you create your own investing games with friends or join public leagues. You can practise building a portfolio, set your own rules (e.g. day trading vs long-term investing), and track performance—all in a safe, risk-free environment.

And BestBrokers is a stock market game app with real-time data and a fun, competitive edge. You can practise buying and selling stocks, follow trends, and even compete with friends to see who’s got the savviest investing skills.

Methods to learn by doing: The paper portfolio method

It’s not just about apps—it’s about how you approach learning, too. If you’re more of a planner than a player, here are a few self-driven methods that give you hands-on experience without real financial risk.

The paper portfolio method is an old-school technique which is still one of the best. Choose a set of stocks or ETFs you’re interested in, “invest” a pretend amount of money, and track how your portfolio performs over time. You can use a spreadsheet or even a notebook. It’s a great way to practise decision-making and see how different strategies play out.

Why learning by investing matters and how financial literacy tools can help

Financial literacy isn’t just about saving money — it’s about making informed choices that support your long-term goals. 

Investing doesn’t have to be intimidating. These tools—whether they’re games, apps, or self-made methods—make it easier to learn the basics, experiment safely, and build confidence along the way.

The most important step? Just getting started. Whether you’re competing in a fantasy stock league or tracking your paper trades, every small action helps you become more financially empowered.

Have you tried any financial literacy tools such as investing simulators or games?