Start Winning with Money Before the Game Even Starts
Level Up Your Life!
Cheat Code: How to Win with Money Before Adulting Hits Hard, flips the script on how teens learn about money. Instead of dry lectures and outdated advice, it turns financial literacy into a quest with real-world "cheat codes" for earning, saving, spending, and investing smarter. From dodging debt traps to stacking real wealth early, it breaks down how to play the money game better with no guilt trips, no jargon, just strategies that actually work. Through relatable stories, sharp insights, and a sense of humor, Cheat Code shows how the right moves today can change the whole game tomorrow.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower people from all walks of life to feel confident with money. Through real stories and practical tools, our goal is to make financial literacy something everyone can relate to because understanding money should open doors, not build walls.
Who we are
Lindsey Baker, MAT
Lindsey Baker, MAT, is a licensed educator and writer passionate about helping young people build strong foundations for their future. She has spent over a decade teaching in Arkansas, California, the West Bank, Turkey, and Germany, making complex topics engaging and empowering for her students.
When she’s not writing or in the classroom, Lindsey loves exploring new places, trying local coffee spots, and cheering on her students as they chase their own goals around the world.
Joey
Baker, MBA
Joe Baker, MBA, is a nationally recognized educator and advocate for financial literacy. For over 26 years, he has taught personal finance at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, helping students and professionals make smarter money decisions. Known for his mix of humor, real-world wisdom, and understanding, Joe makes finance approachable and practical.
He co-authored the bestselling Baker’s Dirty Dozen Principles for Financial Independence with his daughter, Lindsey Baker—a book named by GoBankingRates.com as one of “10 Financial Books That Will Change Your Life.” Their updated edition, Start Smart, Finish Rich! was released in November 2025.
Joe also gives back through scholarships for students from his hometown of Emerson, Arkansas, and for pharmacy students at UAMS.
Explore Our Practical Finance Books
Baker's Dirty Dozen Testimonials
"Smart, clear, and surprisingly fun... I just wish I'd had this book when I was younger."
Harry Thomason,
Hollywood Director & Producer,
Designing Women, Hearts Afire
"If every student about to graduate could just understand these 13 principles... this is your financial cheat code."
Sarah Catherine Gutierrez,
CFP, Founder of Aptus Financial
"Reading this book will change your life... a masterful page-turner brimming with practical advice."
Dr. Beth Ann Rankin Baker,
Coauthor of The Economics of Freedom
