I recently released a post with a list, compiled by money nerds like myself from FinCon ’18, of 26 personal finance books that (unlike many in the category) are fun and enjoyable reads. In other words, they won’t bore you to death.
There were a few members of the FinCon community that suggested books that they had personally authored. Although I wanted to restrict my last post to only books that were recommended by others, I felt I would be remiss if I didn’t dedicate a separate post to all of the other awesome titles.
Perhaps you and I can help a future bestselling author get his or her start by being one of the first ones to read and review their book. I can’t wait to get ahold a few of them myself.
Once again, I’ll be listing the books alphabetically and will provide a snippet of the book’s Amazon summary.
1. Banish Your Bookkeeping Nightmares: The Go-To Guide for the Self-Employed to Save Money, Reduce Frustration, and Satisfy the IRS by Lisa London
Thousands of people are self-employed, but do they understand what that means for their taxes? Lisa London, CPA gives step-by-step instructions in setting up your accounting system, explains how to keep on top of the paperwork, how to file quarterly employment taxes, and shows the detail behind deductions on Schedule C. Let London BANISH Your Bookkeeping Nightmares.
Author of the top-selling The Accountant Beside You series and CPA Lisa London gives entrepreneurs step-by-step instruction in setting up your accounting systems explains how to keep on top of the paperwork, how to file quarterly employment taxes, and details what is deductible and what isn’t. London wants you to focus on growing your businesses, not on becoming accountants.
2. Beyond Money: Timeless Wisdom for Financial Wellness by Brad Rosley
“Everyone Deserves a Financial Plan” Unfortunately, most people don’t believe a financial plan is possible—or necessary. For many people, the idea of stocks, bonds, insurance and all the variations is simply too confusing to plan out. When we combine health care, emergencies, and a growing family, financial wellness often takes a back seat.
In Beyond Money: Timeless Wisdom for Financial Wellness, Certified Financial planner and author, Brad Rosley weaves easy-to-follow and practical advice with a fictional story about Steve Taylor; who is facing the premature end of his life. When Steve meets another, older gentleman in the same situation, timeless wisdom for financial wellness appears and completely reshapes the beliefs and destiny of Steve and his family.
3. Building My Yellow Brick Road: Life Lessons from Pursuing a Dream by Melissa Thomas
What started out as a collection of concert stories for Melissa’s boys evolved into a memoir of the many life lessons she learned from pursuing her dream. The book, however, isn’t just a collection of stories. In this book, Melissa will help you discover: *guidance to discover your God-given purpose *practical applications to overcoming obstacles of pursuing a dream *the encouragement to believe in what is possible
4. Clocking Out Early: The Ultimate Guide to Early Retirement by Codi Boorman and Georgi Boorman
What if you could invest a big chunk of your income every month, and ten years from now, you’d have enough money to generate a passive income you could live on for the rest of your life?
What if you worked because you wanted to, not because you had to?
It’s not multi-level marketing or playing the real estate market. It’s just smart money management, simple investment strategies, and the power of compounding interest.
Packed full of practical advice and paradigm-melting wisdom, Clocking Out Early is the essential guide to financial independence for Americans from all walks of life.
5. Debt Free or Die Trying: How I Buried Myself in Over $30,000 in Debt and Dug My Way Out by Marcus A Garrett
Debt Free or Die Trying is the sometimes serious, most-times amusing story of how I buried myself in over $30,000 in debt. This book will help you stop living the lifestyle of the fast and the financially frivolous and develop a sustainable plan based on proven tools that allowed me to become debt free. I believe you can become debt free, too. This book will show you: •How I buried myself in over $30,000 in debt before age 30 •How and why I reached “rock bottom” and decided to become debt free •The four Debt Free or Die Trying keys to success and the four payment strategies I used to pay off all of my debts For more information and other helpful tips, visit DebtFreeOrDieTrying.com.
6. The Feminist Financial Handbook: A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Wealthy Life by Brynne Conroy
Live your wealthiest life: Sometimes the best way to stick it to the man is by doing well for yourself. There’s just one problem: it’s hard to do well for yourself when systemic oppression has placed innumerable hurdles between you and your aspirations. The Feminist Financial Handbook provides real motivation and resources for real women who may be struggling―not only those who have already accumulated wealth.
The Feminist Financial Handbook presents a feminist view on finances relevant to a post-Recession economy. This book will walk you through how to:
- Decide what wealth and success means for you
- Learn how to earn more and negotiate effectively
- Master manageable money-saving methods
7. Finance Action Hero – Part 1: Basic Training by Peita Diamantidis
Is the world of money and finance a mystery to you… in fact a foreign film without any subtitles? Do you want to stop procrastinating about getting your finances sorted, and start attacking financial decisions with a rocket launcher and your own common sense? Then this is the book for you! With the tongue in cheek analogies using the best adventure stories, Finance Action Hero will get you out of your perpetual state of money worry and give you an arsenal to attack any finance mission you choose to accept. As Part 1 in the Finance Action Hero series, Basic Training takes you through the 10 Secrets of the Money Universe to ensure you are battle ready before letting you loose on your first financial mission in Part 2 – Mission Possible.
8. 5 Easy Steps To Take Control of Your Money 1 Step at a Time by Del Shawn Renee Hayes
5 Easy Steps To Take Control of Your Money 1 Step at a Time is filled with Hayes’ real-life financial experiences. She gives helpful financial tips, strategies along with activities to help jumpstart your financial future by taking control of your money one step at a time. The book in your hand is evidence you’ve already invested in your financial well-being and will have you moving in the direction of taking control of your money. Inside you’ll discover: -How to create a realistic budget with strategies. -Identifying bad spending habits and develop solutions. -How to begin savings. -How to decrease debt. -How to have a money talk with your spouse. -How to develop a plan after college to tackle student loans -Established behavior change towards money…and MUCH MORE!!
9. Investing in Rental Properties for Beginners: Buy Low, Rent High by Lisa Phillips
Do you have a dream of being a wealthy real estate investor but absolutely don’t want to be a stressed out landlord dealing with an array of bad tenants, repair calls in the middle of the night, and empty units?
- What if I told you rental property investing can be easy, stress-free, and effortless?
- What if you could purchase a rental property for less than the cost of a souped-up Lexus?
- What if financial freedom was only 2-5 rental properties away?
Most real estate gurus are teaching people to invest in real estate they can’t afford and telling them to wait to enjoy their profits in 30 years.
This book is about investing in sub $30k properties (under $30,000) and becoming a wealthy real estate investor enjoying the profits now, rather than later…with only 2-5 properties instead of hundreds or overly priced properties.
10. It’$ My Money – A guided journal to help you manage your finances by Patrina Dixon
A Guided Journal to Help You Manage Your Finances is the first in a series of journals dedicated to financial literacy and money management. It’$ My Money is designed to enrich teenagers with simple but smart financial information while providing inspiring quotes and guided questions. Financial scholars will be able to explore topics and increase their application of financial tools through specific action steps. It’$ My Money equips teens with the content and confidence needed to manage their finances!
11. Money Letters: 2 my Daughter by Jacki Cummings Koski
Money Letters 2 my Daughter is a series of letters from a mother to her 17-year old daughter about all things dealing with money and personal finances. This mother knows her stuff and not afraid to talk about it! You will learn, laugh, and get fired up as she guides you through the right way to manage your hard-earned money. She wants you and her daughter to be wiser about money and raise your financial IQ.
In the book, there are eight primary money topics that are covered, over 50 websites referenced, and a total of 111 letters. This is a great coffee table book and many of the letters have been the subject of spirited debates.
12. Pay Your Student Loans Fast: A Proven Plan for Eliminating $42,000 of Student Debt in Less Than 3 Years by Val Breit
Val Breit graduated college with a master’s degree and over $42,000 in student loans. She started her career as a school counselor earning just $36,000 and was overwhelmed by her college debt. Val tried several debt programs and finally discovered the method that worked for her. She eliminated all her student loans in just 34 months and for the first time ever, she is sharing her secrets with you.
Pay Your Student Loans Fast is not just a personal story.
In this straightforward, easy read, you will unlock:
- practical money-saving strategies to slash your bills in half and build an emergency fund
- the proven steps to finally put your college debt, credit card debt, car loans, and overdue medical bills behind you
- the costliest mistakes you are probably making with your loans, and how to prevent them from destroying your financial future
13. The Sassy Investor Investment Journal by Michelle Hung
This book actually isn’t out yet, but Michelle says that it’s coming very soon. I would keep an eye out for it on Amazon. In the meantime, I did notice that there is already a “Sassy Investor Money Planner” available on Amazon. Judging from the picture below, it looks like it takes the typical eye-numbing monthly budget and gives it some pizzazz in the design department. Very cool!
14. Self-Worth to Net Worth: 12 Keys to Creating Wealth Inside and Out by Cia Ricco and Belinda Rosenblum
Combining personal growth and sound financial strategies, this book will help you develop the skills, mindset, and discipline for effective money management. With 12 key strategies for building your financial foundation—and tools to help you shift your deep-rooted limiting beliefs around what you deserve—you will feel confident, free, and in control of your bank account…and your life.
Find the secrets to:
- Proactively choose and create the life you want
- Break free of your old relationship with money—and craft a new one that serves you
- Recognize and release the childhood influences that block your capacity for joy
- Resolve and shift your hidden scarcity mindset blocks to a new rich abundant thinking
- Take small decisive actions that profoundly shift your peace of mind—and your wealth
