I haven’t always been a reader. In my early years, I read anything and everything I could get my hands on! Then came middle school and high school, where I felt completely overwhelmed and unable to comprehend the sheer amounts of reading my brain was digesting each day. Lately, I’ve been getting back on track with reading for fun (well, fun to me!). I’m setting manageable goals for some fun financial reading. A few books lately have got me thinking so much I even buckled down and purchased them. This way, I can refer to them over and over, rather than just getting them from the library per usual. Here are a few of my favorites:
Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier
This book took a lot of things I already knew to the next level. He really hones in on how to invest so that work becomes optional and not a necessary part of life until age 65. The term FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) was coined in 1992 by Vicki Robin (who wrote the foreword to this book) and Joe Dominguez, but this book was my first introduction to some of the concepts and the terminology. I really appreciate how simply he lays things out. It put a fire under me to rethink some of our investing strategies and think about what freedom means to our family. I appreciated some of the exercises of evaluating where we are now and developing habits that can pave the way to financial independence.
You can purchase your own copy here. [Please note: If you choose to purchase the book through this link, I may receive a commission. In which case, thank you!]
Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
This book was the book that influenced Grant Sabatier and his book, Financial Freedom. This book, originally written in 1992, is the precursor for the FIRE movement. I need to re-read this book again because there is a lot of digest. There are 9 steps presented in this book and at the end of each chapter are some “Money Talks Questions.” These alone would be huge to talk or process through as you think about your relationship with money. This book may be a post for another day once I digest more of what I read, but this is a MUST READ (and for me was a must buy!).
You can purchase your own copy here. [Please note: If you choose to purchase the book through this link, I may receive a commission. In which case, thank you!]
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
I generally avoid reading books if the author puts his picture on the front of the book! However, this book along with the Financial Peace University class offered by Ramsey solutions was the OG for my husband and I. This book and FPU changed our worlds for the better when we first got married. We’re both naturally frugal people so we weren’t in tons of debt. But this book laid a foundation for money talks in our family, helped us budget and save, helped us set goals financially and talked about things we had yet to discuss, like different kinds of insurance. If you’ve never read it, it’s a quick read and I would highly suggest thing to anyone beginning or wanting to know more about basic personal finance.
You can purchase your own copy here. [Please note: If you choose to purchase the book through this link, I may receive a commission. In which case, thank you!]
The Simple Path to Wealth by J. L. Collins
This is a great book if you’re looking to get into investing and don’t know much. Even if you think you know a lot, I would guess there is much to be learned from this book! I think investors want you to think investing is difficult and requires lots of knowledge so you’ll pay them a hefty fee for their knowledge. But this book makes it clear anyone can invest and shows you just how to do that. I appreciated how simple this book makes being financially independent.
You can purchase your own copy here. [Please note: If you choose to purchase the book through this link, I may receive a commission. In which case, thank you!]
The Year of Less by Cait Flanders
I like to think of myself as a closet minimalist. I have a lot more work to do, but I love the process of de-cluttering to make space for things that truly matter. This book was such a good book on Cait’s journey to find more fulfillment with less stuff. If you struggle with retail therapy, this book will open your eyes to how freeing life is without it. Also, this post takes me back to a previous post on the problem of waste.
You can purchase your own copy here. [Please note: If you choose to purchase the book through this link, I may receive a commission. In which case, thank you!]
Conclusion
There are so many great resources and books on finance. It was hard to narrow down my top 5 book list. I’m sure as I continue to read, there will be some changes over the years.
What books would you add? Have there been any resources that have dramatically changed your relationship with money?
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