Sell Us Your Book: How 'Napkin Finance' Explains Money with Art
Tina Hay, founder of Napkin Finance, discovered that sketches could simplify complex financial concepts while she was a business student. These sketches inspired her to start Napkin Finance, a website dedicated to breaking down difficult money topics with engaging and easily digestible drawings. Now, Hay has published her illustrated financial guide as a book: Napkin Finance: Build Your Wealth in 30 Seconds or Less. We spoke with Hay about why people should buy the book and how art can make finance more accessible.
How Do You Simplify Complex Topics Like Insurance?
"We cover a wide range of topics, both evergreen subjects like insurance and timely ones, such as how Kylie Jenner became the youngest self-made billionaire," Hay explains. "Our approach always involves our creative team working alongside financial experts to brainstorm ways to bring content to life."
The process begins with an article, followed by a collaborative effort between the creative and financial teams to come up with visual concepts. "It’s a very interactive process," says Hay. "We test ideas, refine them with our developers and illustrators, and iterate until we find ways to make these ideas more visual, engaging, and digestible."
Why Use Humor in a Finance Book?
"Finance is a very dry and intimidating topic," Hay admits. "Most financial content is traditionally quite generic, so we constantly look for ways to make it more fun and accessible. Humor is a great tool to achieve that."
The book is filled with jokes and light-hearted illustrations, which help demystify financial jargon and make the content more relatable.
Who Is This Book For?
Napkin Finance’s audience spans a broad demographic, according to Hay. "We've seen interest from millennials, young professionals, and even K-12 students, as well as older adults who may have never had to understand their finances before."
The book begins with basic personal finance concepts but also delves into more complex subjects like hedge funds. "Whether the topic is simple or complex, it's crucial to distill it down to the most important points while keeping it visually appealing," Hay explains.
What Makes Napkin Finance Different?
Hay’s unique perspective comes from her background as an outsider to the finance world. "I went to business school with a liberal arts background, and I had never taken a finance class," she recalls. "I started doing these sketches to help myself understand, and it turned out they resonated with a lot of people."
Hay and her team provide a fresh approach to finance, making it accessible to anyone. "Everyone should take control of their finances, even if it’s one step at a time," Hay says. "We help people do that by breaking down the basics into understandable and engaging visuals."
Why Should You Buy This Book?
The book is priced at $25.99, the same as a Fortnite hoodie. So why should you choose the book? "The book will last you a lifetime," Hay says. "It empowers you to understand important financial concepts that can impact every aspect of your life — from wellness to work to personal relationships. What could be more important than that?"
Want more insights into finance made simple? Check out our finance blogs.
Description: The cover of Tina Hay's book "Napkin Finance," featuring illustrated financial concepts designed to simplify money management.
