Considering learning bookkeeping but not sure if it's even relevant

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Topic summary

A user is questioning whether bookkeeping remains a relevant skill in today’s business landscape, noting they haven’t encountered the term recently. They’re uncertain if traditional bookkeeping concepts have been absorbed into other disciplines like ecommerce courses.

Their specific goals include:

  • Making better purchasing decisions
  • Preparing for business taxes
  • Improving overall money management

The core uncertainty centers on whether these financial management skills are still formally taught as “bookkeeping” or if the terminology and training methods have evolved. The discussion remains open with no responses yet addressing whether bookkeeping education is still valuable or if alternative learning paths would better serve these objectives.

Summarized with AI on October 30. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Is bookkeeping still a relevant skill? Or would I get the same understanding from an ecommerce class or something else? I feel like I haven’t heard that word in a long time lol.

I get that the skills are probably important but I don’t know if they’re wrapped into that phrase anymore. Some of the things I’d be interested in are making better purchasing decisions, being better prepped for business taxes, in general managing money better. But I’m not sure if that’s even called bookkeeping at this point.

2

That’s a really good question. Bookkeeping is still super relevant, even if people don’t use the word as much anymore. The main skills, keeping track of income, expenses, and staying ready for taxes, are still really valuable. An e-commerce or finance class might cover similar stuff but in a more modern way, especially around using software and data to manage money.