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Repeat after me: I am always improving, but today I have all the knowledge I need.
Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a big bargain hunter. My motto is why pay for it when I can get it for free? That’s why the library and I go hand in hand. Once I decided to get serious about paying off my student loan debt and self improvement I’ve been making weekly trips to the library to find books to pique my interest for a while. I go there so much that if I’m absent for a couple of days my local librarians check in on me to make sure I’m ok. And they are always ready with new suggestions, which makes my book hunting job even easier. Sometimes, their book advice is so spot on that taking out a library book is just not enough. I need to own it.
If you are on a budget like I am, trying to pay off debt, and enjoy life at the same time, you might be hesitant to purchase a book. After all, one dollar spent on a book is a dollar taken away from your debt payoff. However, think of these books as an investment in your future. Trust that I don’t take these suggestions lightly. The books on this list are so good that you’ll want to do more than just read them. You’ll want to highlight, dog ear, take notes and apply the tips to life –all things you can’t necessarily do when the book is borrowed from the library.
Here are five books I recommend you actually splurge on and not just borrow from the library.

1. The Power of Broke – If you are broke right now, you are in the perfect position to build a solid foundation. Ok, so this one isn’t exactly a financial book, but it is pretty encouraging as you read about the success stories from Daymond John and others. The book will teach you that hungry and driven is exactly what you need to hustle your way to a wealthy life. What I loved about the book were the real life examples of people making the best of the only $100 to their name. I found myself wanting to highlight these true stories when I took the book out from the library. I took this book out from the library 3 times and read it cover to cover in a matter of days each time.
2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad – This one is definitely an oldie but goodie. I actually never borrowed this one from the library. My parents gave it to me as a gift when I was 16 and I’ve reread it several times since then. There’s a reason why it has over 6,000 reviews on Amazon. It came out 21 years ago and still holds substance now. What I loved about this book was the challenge to what society considers an asset and liability. Spoiler: If you think your nice cushy house is an asset, you are in for a surprise.
3. The Millionaire Next Door – Have you ever wondered about the daily lives of millionaires? If you have, this is the book for you. The author shares with us the results of his social experiment analyzing the lifestyle choices of Underaccumulators of Wealth (UAW) and Prodigious Accumulators of Wealth (PAW). The book provides insight in the decision making of the wealth as it pertains to car shopping, education and even caring for children. There is something for everyone to take away from this book; especially if you are looking for a reason to embrace the frugal lifestyle. Amazon reviews don’t lie. There’s nearly 2,000 of them and a majority are positive. I’ve read this one twice and each time I find a new tidbit I never noticed before.
4. The One Week Budget – If you haven’t heard of Tiffany “Budgetnista” Aliche yet, you are missing out. The Budgetnista is the queen of all things financial advice and money management. She lost her job, foreclosed on a house and moved back in with her parents years ago and has since found herself a thriving career that’s landed her TV Spots on the Real, Good Morning America and more. And that all started with this book. I had the pleasure of going out to eat with Tiffany before she was known around the world and she is a sweetheart which is clearly reflected in the book. Budgeting isn’t really fun to most people but this book truly breaks it down in a painless way and even includes worksheets. Don’t believe me? Just read the reviews for it here. I wish I could say I still read this book, but unfortunately I made the mistake of loaning it out and never got it back. Perhaps it’s a testament to how good this one is. Guess, it’s just time for me to repurchase.
5. You Are A Badass at Making Money – While the other books on this list discus money habits, this book is different in that it discusses your habitual thoughts about money. For example, if you are the type to see a wealthy 18 year old driving a BMW and think “What a spoiled teenager,” instead of, “That’s great. I wonder what she does for living,” you are less likely to be wealthy because you attribute negative feelings and thoughts to those who are wealthy. Did you know that? Furthermore, it reinforces the idea that if you believe that money is everywhere and you attract money it will eventually happen. And of course, make sure you practice your money mantras. You can find it here.
Have you read any of these books? Are there any books you can suggest that are so good that you borrowing from the library just isn’t enough?
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I’m very anal about money/finances so these books sound amazing. I’ve added them to my notes section. Thanks for the suggestions.
Thank for this post. I am getting into a bunch of things right now and managing my money/finances will be critical to the success of these endeavors.
Thanks for this post. I’ve read Rich Dad Poor Dad but not the others. I will add them to my queue.
The One Week Budget sounds like one that’s up my alley…what I need in this moment. I’m going to check that one out.
I want to read you are a badass at making money! Sounds like a powerful affirmation too!
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Of all the books on the list, I think this one is my absolute favorite. There is such a wealth of information in there that can really speak to anyone.
I’m obsessed with financial information so I will need to add these book titles to my repertoire. I think Tiffany from Budgetnista Is awesome.
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She really is awesome. I’m just so proud of how far she’s come. I remember having a business lunch with her way back when just after she wrote her first book. So happy to see where she is now. Truly an inspiration professionally and financially.
I have read “The Power of Broke,” and I love it! It is one of my go-to books when I need inspiration and financial advice!
The only book on this list I haven’t read is the One Week Budget. Definitely picking that up.
This sounds like an awesome list. I would really like to read the book titled The One Week Budget. The tile captured my attention right away.
Love Rich Dad Poor Dad. These are great suggestions thank you!
I absolutely loved Jen Sincero’s first book and I will definitely look into securing her newest one. I’m also pretty hype about Daymond’s new book even though I didn’t even read the first one. My goal is to read 30 books this year so thanks for adding some to my list!
I can remember when Rich Dad, Poor Dad was on tour. My hubby went to the seminar and got a copy of the book. He really liked it. I think I’m more interested in The Power Of Broke. I’d like to see how each person dealt with their struggles.
I just borrowed two financial books from the library: Smart Money, Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and his daughter; Clark Howard’s Living Large for the Long Haul
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I’m not familiar with these books. I’m certainly going to look into them though.