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Most schools in the US don’t teach kids about budgeting. As a result, many young people are thrown out into the real world without knowing anything about money management. I was one of them, and those mistakes landed me over $169,000 in debt. It took hard work, sacrifice, and a lot of books about budgeting to help pull myself out of it.
Managing money is an important life skill that’s unfortunately not taught to everyone. However, the resources to learn this skill are out there for anyone to use. Some great books about budgeting or money management could be sitting waiting for you at your local library.
Here are my top 15 picks for the best books about budgeting:
1. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? Cary Siegel
We start this list of the best books about budgeting with a great beginner book. Siegel first wrote this book with his five children in mind. But he realized that money management skills, like budgeting, aren’t taught in most traditional schools. This book is great because it teaches you real-world knowledge on how to use and budget your money.
If you’re a beginner, then you might want to check out my article on tips to start saving money here.
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
This is one of the most popular books about budgeting in recent years. In this book, Kiyosaki shows his readers the differences in how poor, middle-class, and wealthy people look at their money. This book really makes you think about what habits you need to build to get and stay wealthy.
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
3. The One-Page Financial Plan by Carl Richards
This book is geared towards people who want simple, straightforward advice on properly managing their money. Don’t let the title fool you, though! It’s 224 pages full of educational content.
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
4. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
If you’re like me, then you always make sure to budget some money for yourself. In this book, Sethi teaches you how to save your money while still buying what you love. It’s one of the more unique books about budgeting because of how the author looks at money. Definitely worth a read!
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
5. Clever Girl Finance by Bola Sokunbi
It’s refreshing to see books about budgeting written by fellow melanin sisters like Bola Sokunbi. She wrote this book especially for women as a guide to ditch debt, save money, and build real wealth. I love that one of the first things you’ll learn when reading this book is how to make a budget.
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
6. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
You can rarely go wrong when you buy one of Dave Ramsey’s books about budgeting and money management. The Total Money Makeover will teach you how to change your spending habits and fix your budget.
I absolutely love Dave Ramsey’s financial ideas – and you should too! If you wanna know more, then you should check out my article on his proposed budget plan here.
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
7. The One Week Budget by Tiffany Aliche
Need to learn how to budget, and fast? Tiffany Aliche’s The One Week Budget is a book that aims to teach you money management in just seven days.
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Amazon
8. Kakeibo: The Japanese Art of Saving Money by Fumiko Chiba
The people of Japan have mastered minimalism and have taught themselves to be okay with less. It’s a huge difference from the culture of consumerism we have in the U.S. You can learn a lot from this book, both about budgeting and everyday life.
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9. The Financial Diet by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage
Fagan and Ver Hage will teach you an important lesson in this book: budgeting isn’t just about money. It’s about everything from the clothes you wear to the food you eat. It’s an interesting read, to be sure, and I definitely recommend it.
Get your copy today on:
Amazon
10. You Need a Budget by Jesse Mecham
Mecham’s critically acclaimed book on managing your money is founded on four simple rules. Give every dollar a job, embrace your actual expenses, roll with the punches, and age your money. Find out what he means by grabbing a copy for yourself!
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11. How to Manage Your Money When You Don’t Have Any by Erik Wecks
The problem with many books about budgeting is that they were written for people who already make serious money. But you might not be taking home a lot of cash, to begin with. If that’s the case, then this is the perfect book for you.
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12. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
Unlike other books about budgeting, The Automatic Millionaire begins with a story of an average American couple becoming millionaires. You can learn from their story and what they did to get to where they are. In addition to that, this book shows you a unique way of looking at money and budgeting.
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13. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
For more than 25 years, this book has been considered a go-to for people looking to be better with money. Not only does it talk about budgeting and money management, but it also touches on investments and revenue streams. No matter where you are in your financial journey, this book is a must-read.
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14. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Budgeting isn’t always about money, and this is one of the few books that teach that concept. Housel’s bestseller shares 19 different short stories on the strange ways people tend to look at money. These stories might even make you realize your own bad habits when it comes to money.
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15. Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
A list of the best books about budgeting wouldn’t be complete without Napolean Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. Hill took 20 years to write this book and interviewed millionaires and successful businessmen like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. Originally published in 1937, there’s a reason this book remains relevant to this very day.
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But if you don’t have time to read these books about budgeting…
Then you don’t have to worry! If you need proven and reliable tips, then you should sign up for my Financial Fam. It’s a text waitlist where you can receive valuable tips, insider knowledge, and the occasional freebie from me! Joining the Financial Fam is completely free, so sign up ASAP!
P.S. If you loved this content, I have a few other book recommendations for you. Check them out here.
Great catalog of books that people should read if they’re looking to budget more effectively. It’s never a bad idea to get advice from those that are knowledgeable on the subject.