In the first part of this series, I talked about two great introductory personal finance books – The Wealthy Barber and Millionaire Teacher. Today, I’m going to focus on two more general interest personal finance books:
- Money Like You Mean It
- Debt-Free Forever
Money Like You Mean It
Money Like You Mean It by Erica Alini describes itself as a book that offers “Personal Finance Tactics For the Real World.” It was published in 2021, so it’s a great book if you’re looking for something that reflects today’s environment – not how the world was twenty years ago.
Some of the things that Erica addresses in her book are:
- How to navigate the crazy housing market, including the merits of renting versus buying.
- Whether side hustles are worth it or not.
- How to negotiate a raise.
- How to invest so you can achieve financial independence and retire before you’re 80!
- What to do about student debt!
- How to handle complicated issues like family finances and unexpected changes in life such as a sudden job loss
This book can help anyone but mainly aims at Millenials and Gen Z.
Debt Free Forever
Gail Vaz-Oxlade wrote Debt-Free Forever. If this name seems familiar, it’s because she’s hosted several shows about getting smart with your money, including “Til Debt Do Us Part” and “Princess.” I’ll freely admit I’ve watched every single episode of both these shows. I’m such a fan of Gail I’ve even seen in her person – and she is FUNNY!
Gail is known for being straightforward and not mincing her words. Debt-Free Forever is an excellent choice if you are feeling overwhelmed by debt and don’t know how to start digging yourself out. Debt-Free Forever explains:
- How to take control of your spending and determine where all your money is going.
- How to list your debts and determine just how much you’re paying in interest every month.
- Put together a budget you can actually live on.
- Determine how to maximize your debt repayments.
- Understand the importance of setting aside an emergency fund and how to get started building one.
- How to get started setting short and long-term goals for a debt-free life!
If you are looking for a book that gets into the ins and outs of investing or negotiating for a raise, then Debt-Free Forever isn’t for you. If, however, you’re looking for a book that will give you hope and a clear plan to claw your way out of debt and stay that way, then Debt-Free Forever is an excellent choice!
Which book do you prefer?
If you’re starting on a financial journey, then Debt-Free Forever is a great place to start, with Money Like You Mean It being a great choice once you’re on the path to financial stability.
