Managing your money is one of the most important things you can do. It doesn’t matter if you’re personally wealthy and trying to figure out how to invest or flat broke living paycheck to paycheck. Proper management techniques can save you money, make you money, and keep things in order. Here are some personal finance books that can help you do just that.
1. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J Stanley, Ph.D.
First up is a delightful read called The Millionaire Next Door by Dr. Thomas J Stanely. This is a great book for people in their 20’s. It takes years of research and boils it down in solid, easy-to-understand rules that people can use to manage their finances and become more financially stable. Some of the lessons are pretty well known such as “spend less than you make.” It’s a great read and definitely worth your time.
2. The Investment Answer by Gordon Murray and Daniel C. Goldie
For young people, reading about finance is boring. I’m writing this article and even I shudder at the thought of learning about it. It’s complex and full of rules, regulations, risks, and rewards. The Investment Answer comes recommended by Business Insider as very approachable and easy to understand which makes it great for investment beginners. That said, it may be a bit weak for those who are already familiar with investments.
3. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? by Cary Siegel
As the name implies, this book is about all of the basic personal finance lessons that they probably should’ve taught us in school and didn’t. There are 99 tips, tricks, and lessons for personal finance that pretty much everyone should know and reviewers have called it a “great gift idea for high school and college graduates.” We happen to agree.
4. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke by Suze Orman
Being broke can be a horrible thing. You have rising debt, you’re stuck in a hole, and you don’t know what to do. This book can help you figure out what to do. It doesn’t matter if it’s credit card debt, student loans, or some other financial malady, Suze Orman has advice to help you get rid of it for good.
5. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Hary Eker
In this book, you’ll learn exactly what separates rich people from everyone else on a subconscious level. According to Eker, millionaires are millionaires because of how they approach money, and it has little (if anything) to do with skill, talent, or knowledge in their business. It’s an interesting read and one that may help you change your tune financially.
6. How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free by Ernie J Zelinski
Why do we work? So we can take care of ourselves. However, the second reason we work is so that one day, we don’t have to work anymore. In this book. Zelinski not only shows you how to retire well financially but also how you can enjoy life even if you don’t retire with a million bucks. It’s lighthearted, fun, and for people of all ages.
7. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
If you’re looking for something less philosophical and more direct, this is a great book to read. Here you’ll find a six week course that’ll help you set your financial life straight. It’s not an end-all-be-all solution but after the six weeks you should be on a much better track financially. It’s very highly rated on Amazon and word is that it’s also humorous and personable which is a change of pace for personal finance.
8. Your Money: The Missing Manual by J.D. Roth
J.D. Roth is truly an inspiration when it comes to personal finance. He started out dirt poor, did the research, and found out the missing links that was preventing him from being successful. He started a blog and eventually wrote this book. If you’re not doing well financially and want to turn it around, this is a great place to start.
9. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
The first thing you should know about Daniel Kahneman is that he’s so good at economics, they gave him a Nobel Prize for it. That means his opinion is probably one that should be respected. In this book, Kahneman explores the way we think about money and has determined that we either make decisions quickly or slowly. He explains the pros and cons of each and when we should use each one to make financial decisions. It’s a little complex but it’s definitely worth a read.
10. You’re So Money: Live Rich, Even When You’re Not by Farnoosh Torabi
Last on our list is a book that shows you how to have fun even when you don’t make enough money to have fun. This book is a great way to get the things that you want without going broke or going into debt. It preaches making sacrifices in some areas so you can have fun for others. One cited example is taking out your significant other on an expensive date, but eating PB&J for several days to make up for it. If you want nice things but don’t make that kind of money, check this book out.
Featured photo credit: Swingers via groupthink.jezebel.com
