5 Books Everyone Should Read to Organize Their Finances
If you’re like most of us, you desperately want (and know) that you need to get your finances in order, but have no idea where to begin. In fact, maybe you’re even getting a little anxious reading this article. I totally get it. While it can be inspiring to read about girl bosses that are millionaires by age 30, it can also make the rest of us feel like we’re so behind in life! The good news is that in the big picture, you’re still incredibly young, have so much time, and by starting right now, you’re actually way ahead of most people!
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or just want to brush up on your personal finance knowledge, here are 5 books everyone should read to organize their finances.
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together
By Erin Lowry
If you’re just dabbling in the personal finance genre for the first time, this is the ideal read to get you started. Written for a millennial perspective you’ll find helpful tips on things like going deep on your relationship with money, how to manage your student loans without losing your mind, and getting “financially naked” with your partner about the dreaded “d” word, debt. Overall, you will find this book packed with simple but practical advice and you’re sure to resonate with the true stories and examples throughout.
You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth
By Jen Sincero
For those that have read Jen Sincero’s signature book, “You are a Badass”, you’ll love this follow up specifically focused on making money and money mindset. You’ll be forced to go deep and look at your ideas about money and change how you relate to money. Without realizing it, most of us have beliefs about money that leave us underearning and limited in our thinking. And if you’re a woman, this is even more true! But instead of blaming society or culture, our best payback is to correct our limiting beliefs and take control of our finances.
By Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
This book is a classic in the personal finance space, and was even updated in 2018 to make it more relevant to today, especially for millennials. Plus, it even has the seal of approval from Oprah herself, which means it has to be great, right? You’ll find topics such as, developing your savings, saving money with good habits rather than just harsh budgeting, creating wealth, and saving the planet while saving money at the same time. This book will give you a chance to really look at your life holistically to see how you’re currently spending, and where you want to go in the future, and seeing money as a tool to help you get there.
By Kristin Wong
If the idea of managing your money feels boring or overwhelming, look at it from this perspective, as you manage your money you are setting yourself up to build your dream life. As Kristin says, “Learn how to live the life you want, not just the life you can afford!” With “Get Money'', you’ll dig deep into topics like, building a budget that actually works for you, starting an investment portfolio, and using side hustling to make fast progress towards your big money goals.
By Rachel Rodgers
Last but not least, this book is packed with equal parts motivation and information. You’ll learn about how women have historically been at a disadvantage when it comes to making money and what we can do about it today to make strides in the right direction. And if you’re sick of “financial experts” telling you to skip your morning coffee run, Rachel refers to advice like this as, “patriarchal nonsense.” You’ll also learn strategies for earning more and setting your sights much higher.
As you start reading these books, you might find it difficult to organize everything that you’re learning and keep track of your goals and the changes you want to implement in your life. I’d suggest keeping two things close at hand when you’re reading. First, use a notes app or doc to capture quotes, ideas, or to brainstorm as you’re reading. Second, use a money planner to keep track of your goals and plans. Remember, you can read hundreds of personal finance or personal development books but it’s what you retain and implement in your life that truly matters and will change your life.