100 books like Broke Millennial Talks Money

This book helps readers become financially “whole” by providing practical guidance, dos and don’ts, and action items. One of my favorite parts about the book was the author’s discussion on insurance. Before reading this book, I found much of the conversation around the various insurances to be overwhelming, muddled, and quite “salesy.” In this book, the author breaks down the importance of determining your insurance needs, selecting the right policies for you, and understanding specifics about health, life, disability, and property insurance. I also enjoyed the author’s discussion on selecting financial professionals, including practical advice on choosing accountants, financial advisors, and estate planning attorneys. 

Want to start investing but have no idea where to start? Get this book. I first read this book when I was about a year into my investing journey. I had started investing in my retirement through my company’s 401K plan but was stuck. I didn’t understand much of the investing lingo, lacked the confidence to buy and sell investments, and was unsure whether my strategy of balancing my student loan repayment with my investing goals was wise. Erin, Broke Millennial, provided exactly what I was looking for! Learning from a fellow millennial woman provided a fresh perspective on investing while making the topic interesting and approachable.  

When I started my financial freedom journey, I discovered the Clever Girl Finance platform and gained great value from their blog posts and resources. When their book was released, I immediately picked it up because I needed guidance and encouragement in my journey to pay off over $200,000 of debt. This book provides actionable tips on how to create a debt freedom plan and, importantly, how to stick to the plan. I appreciated its balanced approach, which emphasized rewarding yourself (even in small ways) during the journey and managing your debt-free goals alongside your other financial goals. 

I know it might sound odd to hear a personal finance book will help you up your game in sports, but money stress can be a huge drain on anyone’s psyche.

This is another book I think about daily because it dramatically shifted my mindset about money. While it might seem to speak to a reader who’s just getting their career started, both I and my 79-year-old mother have learned a ton from reading this book and taking Sethi’s advice to spend extravagantly on the things we love while cutting ruthlessly on things we don’t need.

I love that this book gives me permission to focus with intention on the pieces that matter and not worry about the rest.

This is a practical and comprehensive guide to achieving financial independence and security.

The book offers a step-by-step program that covers everything from understanding your current financial situation to creating a budget, reducing debt, and investing for the future.

What sets this book apart from others in the personal finance genre is Orman's holistic approach to financial planning. She recognizes that money is deeply tied to our emotions and offers strategies for overcoming financial fears and building confidence in our financial decisions.

Overall, The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom is a highly recommended read for anyone looking to improve their financial situation and create a more secure and fulfilling life.

First to a Million flips the script for teens and young adults. It lets young people know the “go to school, get a job, and work for 40+ years, then enjoy your retirement” isn’t for everyone.

This is the book I wish I had when I was a teen. Packed full of real-life examples of people who have reached financial independence at remarkably early ages, it is both inspiring and motivational.

I love how Dan Sheeks, the author and a high school teacher, gives teens and young adults a blueprint to shed the playbook that so many of us were given and learn to live life on their terms and maybe even retire before they are 30. 

Seeing there are many ways to build wealth and reach financial independence at an early age in a sustainable way is a gift we need to give to more young people. 

Do It For Yourself: A Motivational Journal is a great pairing with any of the books above. The beautiful and powerful designs ask questions and challenge thinking. They move you to action, like one particular page entitled, “Day One or One Day.” In a world of social media where we don’t keep up with the Joneses driving down the street but rather having the Joneses drive into our own living rooms, Ms. Kutruzzula reminds us that “Comparison Will Kill You.” Money requires action today, not promises tomorrow. It requires us to stick to our own goals and our own plan, not the plans of others. And it requires perseverance. This journal guides just that process.

Money Honey is a quick and easy read that asks the reader “why are you here on the planet and why are you wasting your time living someone else’s life?” Richards’ story of saving and investing then essentially retiring from day job hours while in her 20s will get your attention. You will start asking yourself why you’re sitting on the couch scrolling social media when you could be making a business plan or increasing your savings rate. At its core, the concept is not just about money. It’s about using money for the purpose of living the life we want to live, the one “you” were designed for. She asks, why waste any time getting there? Her money bucketing system is spot-on for saving for long, intermediate, and short-term financial goals. I wanted to save so hard after reading this book.

Smart Money: The Step by Step Personal Finance Guide to Crush Debt is for the Millennial ready to act and looking for the facts. Imagine a no-nonsense personal finance book with 9 steps to get out of debt. When people start their professional lives with credit card debt and student loan debt, they have the choice to get comfortable with it and figure out ways to “manage it.” Ms. McElroy wants the reader to be deeply uncomfortable with it and to “slay it.” Along the way, she covers the financial basics, unlike many financial books that assume a level of reader knowledge that may not yet exist.

I have recommended Clever Girl Finance to several of my coaching clients, and every one of them has reported that they found it very helpful—perhaps because Sukunbi starts by inviting readers to let go of past mistakes. (Regret is a frequent companion of financial anxiety.) Sukunbi is a wonderful storyteller, and she does a great job of breaking down financial concepts to make them clearer and more accessible. The book helps readers master concepts that build upon each other, and as such it is especially useful for women who feel overwhelmed by the prospect of taking charge of their money.