Budgeting Books You NEED to Read

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Budgeting Books You NEED to Read – Ready for some reading that will change your entire life? I’ve got the best books for you here!

Every once in a while, we all need a good dose of motivation that only a great book can deliver. Whether it’s about cooking, organizing, diet changes, becoming a minimalist, or finance, finding the right book to really speak to you can be all the kick you need.

True story: I never liked reading. (I have dyslexia so reading can be tedious, to say the least!) I’m much more of an audio book person. But, man, when one of those books speaks to you… the moment of “somebody gets me! I’m not alone!” is the best feeling in the world.

So naturally, being a cheapskate, most of the books that I read are about finances in some way. So I’ve found all of the best budgeting books you need to read to get a jump start on your finances.

I promise that none of them keep trying to drill into your head that you suck with money and that’s that. Each one of these books has left me feeling refreshed, refueled, and really motivated to stay on track with my money.

The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey

As far as I’m concerned, anything at all from Dave Ramsey needs to be a part of your budgeting reading.

Dave Ramsey also has an amazing podcast that will whip your finances into shape and get you really pumped while doing it!

His plan for getting your finances in order will be one that you will read over and over again. Even if you’ve always felt like you’re just no good at money or budgeting, you’ll learn the baby steps that you need to take to get control of your money.

Related post: How to Live on One Low Income

I Will Teach You To Be Rich – Ramit Sethi

Sethi covers how to save time by not wasting it managing money; the guns and cars myth of credit cards; how to negotiate like an Indian—the conversation begins with “no”; why “Budgeting Doesn’t Have to Suck!”; how to get things rolling—for real—with only $20; what most people don’t understand about taxes; how to get a CEO to take you out to lunch; how to avoid the Super Mario Brothers trap by making your savings work harder than you do; the difference between cheap and frugal; the hidden relationship between money and food. Not to mention his first key lesson: Getting started is more important than being the smartest person in the room.

At last, for a generation that’s materially ambitious yet financially clueless comes I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Ramit Sethi’s 6-week personal finance program for 20-to-35-year-olds. A completely practical approach delivered with a nonjudgmental style that makes readers want to do what Sethi says, it is based around the four pillars of personal finance— banking, saving, budgeting, and investing—and the wealth-building ideas of personal entrepreneurship.

Related post: How to Save Money When You’re Broke

Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook – Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins has a step-by-step playbook, taking you on a journey to transform your financial life and accelerate your path to financial freedom.

No matter your salary, your stage of life, or when you started, this book will provide the tools to help you achieve your financial goals more rapidly than you ever thought possible.

He’ll teach you how to become unshakeable—someone who can not only maintain true peace of mind in a world of immense uncertainty, economic volatility, and unprecedented change, but who can profit from the fear that immobilizes so many.

Love Your Life, Not Theirs: 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want – Rachel Cruz

Rachel Cruze speaks the hard truth about the most damaging money habit we have: comparing ourselves to others. Then she unpacks seven essential money habits for living the life we really want – a life in line with our values, where we can afford the things we want to buy without being buried under debt, stress, and worry.

I love this line from the book: “The Joneses are broke.” Life looks good but hidden beneath that glossy exterior are credit card bills, student loans, car payments, and an out-of-control mortgage. Their money situation is a mess, and they’re trying to live a life they simply can’t afford.

Are we really living the lives we want, or are we chasing someone else’s dream, just trying to keep up appearances on social media, at church, and in our community? Why are we letting other people set the pace for our own family’s finances?

Stop comparing yourself and start living with this great book!

The Minimalist Budget

A minimalist budget is a particular approach to abundance and fulfillment that may seem counter-intuitive to most.

You will explore shopping and spending habits, identify problem areas, think about debt and make achievable goals for home, work and more. Look at concrete ways to put some of these principles into action, and look at resources that will keep you focused and motivated.

Having less is really more in a minimalist budget. You don’t need to be thrifty to benefit from this book. It will help you to narrow down your budget to the bare bones in your “needs” and “wants.”

Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together – Erin Lowry

This is a brand new book that just came out from my blogging friend, Erin Lowry! Stop living paycheck to paycheck and get your financial life together!

If you’re a cash-strapped 20- or 30-something, it’s easy to get freaked out by finances. But you’re not doomed to spend your life drowning in debt or mystified by money. It’s time to stop scraping by and take control of your money and your life with this savvy and smart guide. Broke Millennial shows step-by-step how to go from flat-broke to financial badass.

Financial expert Erin Lowry goes beyond the basics to tackle tricky money matters and situations most of us face in real life. Understanding your relationship with money: do you treat it like a Tinder date or marriage material. Managing student loans without having a full-on panic attack. What to do when you’re out with your crew and can’t afford to split the bill evenly. How to get “financially naked” with your partner and find out his or her “number” (debt number, of course) . . . and much more.

Related post: 10 Reasons Why You Need An Emergency Fund

Real Life on a Budget: 17 Practical Challenges to Live and Thrive on a Budget – Jessi Fearon

Another book by my dear blogging friend, Jessi. Jessi is working on paying off her house in less than 5 years after she bought it. Her financial advice is incredible!

Real Life on a Budget is a practical guide to helping you navigate the waters of money management. It features real life budget advice, practical challenges, actionable steps that will help you map out your journey to living and thriving on a budget.

If you have been struggling with developing, maintaining, and living on a budget, Real Life on a Budget will help you create a system to better manage your finances and will challenge you to stick to your real life budget.

Jessi’s real-world budget advice and exercises for every area of managing your household budget. Real Life on a Budget is a powerful tool to help you start living and thriving on a budget.

The Broke and Beautiful Life: Small Town Budget, Big City Dreams – Stefanie O’Connell

After moving to New York City to become a Broadway actress, Stefanie O’Connell faced one of two inevitabilities when faced with unemployment–spiral into debt or learn how to effectively manage her money. Punctuated with humor, insight, and essential money management lessons, The Broke and Beautiful Life offers practical strategies to make smarter financial decisions today as a means to fulfill the goals and dreams of tomorrow.

Specializing in personal finance (with an emphasis on personal), Stefanie engages those who shy away from the word “investing,” scoff at the word “budget,” and equate interest rates with “snooze fest.” She encourages readers to redefine their relationship with money and approach budgeting as an exciting and sexy tool to transform from broke to beautiful while enjoying every step along the way.

Related post: How to Save for the Newly Frugal

Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life – Ruth Soukup

Living Well, Spending Less was written to bring hope and encouragement to every woman who currently feels overwhelmed or stressed with a life–and budget–that feels out of control.

It speaks to the mom trying to juggle all the demands of a busy life with the pressure to keep up with those around her. It’s a practical guide for those of us who often long to pull ourselves together but don’t always know how. It is real, honest, packed with practical tips, and speaks to the heart of the matter–how can we live the life we’ve always wanted?

Ruth is just a master at everything that she touches. She’s a financial guru, a blogging master, and so much more. But she does it all in such a down to earth manner. You’re going to feel like she’s talking directly to you on each page.

Just because a book is about personal finances doesn’t mean that it has to be boring or leave you feeling like you hate your life. These are the budgeting books you need to read if you ever want to get started changing your financial world.

Remember, even if it’s a small step, it’s still progress!