Here Are The Best Books About Finance to Start the Year Off Right
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I’ve been working on this Best Books About Finance list for a while. Truth be told, I’ve probably read close to 30 personal finance books through my adult life.
(If you couldn’t already tell, I’m one of THOSE annoying readers. If someone asks me for a gift recommendation it’s usually some new book.)
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I’ve pared my collection down to the 6 absolute best books on personal finance. This list has something for everyone, whether you:
Just need a nudge in the right direction, or
Need some serious, step-by-step hand-holding. Nothin’ wrong with that.
The books’ descriptions are a bit “wordier” than other articles of this type I’ve seen on the internet. But that’s because I actually read EVERY BOOK so I have more to say. This list of the best books for finance is something I’m seriously excited to recommend!
Before we start, once you are ready to start your financial journey, head over to my budgeting post, it includes a Free Budget Binder Printables Bundle!
I seriously don’t care if it’s the middle of the year, or you’re staring down the first week in January. It is not too late to get our acts together and make our money work for us.
Let’s Get Reading!
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Best New Book on Personal Finance:
I Will Teach You to Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi (2nd Edition, 2019)
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Ramit Sethi made a 6-week program to get the entirety of your finances under control, for good. Debt, savings, big-ticket life purchases, tips on increasing income, investments & retirement, all practically on autopilot.
Some may think Ramit’s “spend on what you love” idea of frugality as a far too laid-back approach. But the book delivers, in that financial freedom doesn’t necessarily have to come at the cost of constantly punishing yourself for past money mistakes.
Instead, this book offers a severe mindset shift, if you’re ready for it:
Get out of debt – not because you hate the debt. Get out because you love yourself, and you love your life.
It’s going to be a bit of work and you’re going to feel it. But when you tell your money to obliterate your credit card balances, you ARE spending on what you love. Your money is going to yourself, your life energy, your sanity and your freedom.
I highly suggest you also check out Ramit’s blog along with purchasing the book, available on Amazon here.
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Best Book on Personal Finance Overall:
The Index Card, by Helaine Olen & Harold Pollack (2017)
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The backstory of this book is pretty cool – Harold Pollack mentioned in passing how decent financial advice that most people can follow, can easily fit on a 3” x 5” index card.
Well, that statement went viral and people everywhere were begging him for the card! So, he wrote one out, with 9 common-sense rules. Eventually he made this book to help explain how each rule works and why these simple steps are so effective.
You know, a lot of people ignore getting their financial security in order. The biggest reason is because not everyone understands how investing works. They are paralyzed by stock market horror stories, or I-got-rich-quick misinformation all around us.
The Index Card is common-sense financial advice that will help put you in far better shape than everyone else. It’s one of the best books about finance for beginners. Available on Amazon here.
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Tried & True Best Book to Get Out of Debt:
The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsay (2013)
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I’m not going to sugarcoat it – The Total Money Makeover is a no-holds-barred, scorched-earth, claw-out-of-debt-to-save-your-life book.
The Total Money Makeover is for people in serious enough debt to warrant a complete lifestyle change. Ramsay is tough-love. His YouTube videos are incredibly inspiring & will get you in the right mindset.
No vacations. Say goodbye to restaurants. Rice & beans for dinner. Still not enough money? You’re getting a second job.
Don’t be scared, though. You aren’t going to need to live the lifestyle this book demands from you forever. You will eventually grow out of needing the baby steps, and be on to a level of financial security and flexibility you probably only dreamed of.
If you want out of debt, and you want out NOW, and you will do what it takes to get there, this book is totally for you. Available on Amazon here. Good luck and God-speed.
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Best Finance Book About Budgeting:
You Need A Budget, by Jesse Mecham (2017)
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YNAB focuses on exactly what you would expect: how to budget properly. It contains 4 rules to set yourself up to get your money where it needs to go, no excuses.
It’s a short read for sure, and strictly to the point: We all NEED A BUDGET.
For any new budgeter who works best with step-by-step instructions, this book is for you. Available on Amazon here.
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Best Finance Book About Budgeting (Runner Up):
Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez & Mr. Money Mustache (Revised for 2018)
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More on the philosophical side than YNAB, Your Money or Your Life delves into what it means to get sucked into money = fulfillment. It forces you to take a cold, hard look at the fact that we trade our life’s time for money.
The truth is, time is something we can never, ever get back. The book has a thorough 9-step action plan to get you to trade that time for what is truly important and beneficial for you.
Yes, it is a budgeting book. It’s packed with formulas, instructions and charts to force you to see, and improve, your true financial picture.
Vicki takes it a necessary step further, to interpret those numbers, align your spending with your values and treat your life’s energy with the respect it deserves. Basically, you’re going to stop buying crap after reading this one. Available on Amazon here.
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Best Book to Motivate you to Start Taking Your Finances Seriously:
Money: Master the Game, 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom, by Tony Robbins (2014)
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There’s no doubt you’re going to come away from this book super-motivated to start your dream financial life. Tony Robbins is THE life coach, a household name if there ever was one.
This book is a monster at 688 pages, but it does not disappoint. Nearly every page has the kind of guidance that gets you pepped up & actually excited about something as complex and polarizing as money.
The absolute best part of this book is Section 6, interviews on investing strategies with 12 massively successful financial moguls. It’s worth a read if only to jot down the names from this section.
That section also got me hooked on Ray Dalio, he wrote a book called Principles: Life & Work. It is transformative to say the least, especially if you are a business owner.
Here’s a quick disclaimer, the thing Tony hypes up as the absolute best financial investment for you to have (fixed indexed annuities) is not readily available in my home state of NY. I’m not sure that kind of annuity is as regulated as it needs to be to pass NY standards.
I also wouldn’t recommend calling up the financial planning company he references throughout the book. Seems to be a business venture that didn’t pan out.
Aside from those two negatives, this book is huge and packed with enough info and momentum to get anybody to hit the ground running. Available at Amazon Here.
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But I’m Not a Reader…..
My own mom said this too me once.
You know what’s even better than trying to remember where I left my awesome books? The fact that my phone and laptop are usually about an arm’s length away from me at all times.
If you haven’t tried Audible, let me be the first to tell you it comes in crazy handy when you are waiting at the bus stop, or in line to pick up the kids from school.
You can turn it on when you’re driving, when you’re showering/bathing, making dinner, you name it.
It is THE BEST subscription service I have, it’s pennies a day, and it has every book you can think of, ESPECIALLY self-improvement and finance books like the ones on this list.
It even has podcasts now! Sign up for a TOTALLY FREE 30-day trial with this link, I’m telling you, you will not regret it.
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Happy Reading!!
Have you read any of these books? What’s your favorite personal finance book? Leave a comment below, so we can all learn from each other!
XO,
-Mina
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Here are some more posts that might be helpful:
–How I Meal Prep Lunch, Snacks & Dinner Working From Home + 3 Days of Recipes!
–Free Budget Printables Binder Bundle!
–How to Plan Your Work Week for Maximum Productivity + Free Weekly Planner Template!
–How to Simplify Life & Actually Stop Wasting Time
–The Simple, Best Monthly Bill Organizer that Works!
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