13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (2024)

What Are The Best Financial literacy books to help improve your personal Finances?

1. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki:

Rich Dad Poor Dad is a classic and has sold millions of copies worldwide. It focuses on the importance of financial education and encourages readers to think differently about money and investing.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (1)

The author walks you through a time in his life during childhood when he started to develop the basic skills for improving his personal finances.

No, Robert Kiyosaki did not have two fathers. He made that very clear in his writing. The poor dad was his biological dad (a successful educator with poor financial literacy). The rich dad was his friend's father (a successful businessman with great financial literacy).

This New York Times Bestseller is worth reading due to its powerful key takeaways about financial literacy.

Rich dad poor dad is one of the best financial literacy books for beginners and you can pick it up for a few dollars on Amazon.

2. "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey:

Dave Ramsey is a personal finance guru and offers a step-by-step guide to managing your money and getting out of debt in his book The Total Money Makeover. It includes practical advice and real-life success stories.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (2)

Sometimes it pays (pun intended) to learn from others who have achieved what you are trying to achieve. Financial independence has become a reality for people just like you, so it's always a good idea to learn from their financial freedom story.

If you want solid advice on how to build wealth and increase your net worth, then The Total Money Makeover is the financial literacy book for you!

3. "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham:

The Intelligent Investor is considered a classic in the field of value investing in the stock market and is often recommended by Warren Buffett.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (3)

It is one of the most popular personal finance books because it provides a solid foundation in investing concepts and principles that have helped lead individuals to financial freedom.

America's wealthy did not become that way overnight. In fact, there are over 1,700 millionaires created in the US each day.

4. "Your Money or Your Life" by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez:

This book is a comprehensive guide to taking control of your finances and achieving financial independence. It includes a step-by-step program for tracking your spending, reducing expenses, and increasing savings.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (4)

Here are 5 key takeaways from this book to help improve your financial knowledge:
  1. Encourages readers to track their spending to gain a clear understanding of where their money is going. This can help individuals identify areas where they may be able to cut back and save more to create financial freedom.
  2. Encourages readers to develop a budget and stick to it, in order to make their money work for them to achieve their financial goals.
  3. Emphasizes the importance of living below one's means, rather than constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses and spending more than one can afford.
  4. Encourages readers to find ways to increase their income while saving money, rather than just cutting back on expenses, as a way to achieve financial independence.
  5. Promotes the idea of financial independence and the freedom it can bring, rather than just focusing on accumulating wealth. It also encourages readers to consider their values and goals, and how they align with their spending and earning habits.

5. "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins:

Written in an easy-to-read, conversational style, this book is a great introduction to investing for people who are new to the subject.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (5)

The Simple Path To Wealth focuses on building wealth through low-cost index funds, and also touches on how to minimize taxes, reduce fees, and live frugally.

6. "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel:

This book explores the emotional side of money and it reflects on how our attitudes, beliefs, and emotions affect our financial decisions. It is a well-researched book and offers insights that can help readers make better financial choices.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (6)

The Psychology of Money is a book you definitely want to add to your reading list. After all, the money management game is played in our minds first. Financial wisdom grows over time when you learn how to feel the energy of money and what it represents in this life.

7. "Money Master the Game" by Tony Robbins:

This book is written by popular motivational speaker Tony Robbins and it draws on the knowledge of some of the world's most successful investors and financial experts.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (7)

Tony Robbins is known for his ability to connect with his audience and offer the most life-changing advice, and he did not fall short of that with this financial literacy book. It offers a 7-step plan for financial freedom and provides practical advice and strategies for achieving financial success.

8. "The Automatic Millionaire" by David Bach:

The Automatic Millionaire is part of the "Finish Rich" series and focuses on simple and automatic ways to save and invest money to improve your finances.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (8)

It provides a step-by-step plan for achieving financial security and debt management, including strategies (e.g., the snowball method) for paying off debt and increasing savings.

9. "The Little Book of Common Sense Investing" by John C. Bogle:

This book is written by the founder of Vanguard and it's a simple and straightforward guide to investing. It encourages readers to adopt a long-term, low-cost investment strategy and avoid the common mistakes that many investors make.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (9)

As a successful financial guru, the author does a great job at distilling some of the best money lessons in the field, making it an instant best seller. In this book, you are able to see clearly what the path to financial well-being and financial planning looks like.

Your future self and bank accounts will thank you for reading this book to create your financial freedom.

10. "The Truth About Money" by Ric Edelman:

The Truth About Money is written by one of the most well-known financial advisors in the industry and provides a comprehensive overview of personal finance. It covers everything from budgeting and saving to investing and retirement planning, and includes practical advice and real-life examples to help readers better understand and manage their money.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (10)

5 Money Lessons From This Book:
  1. Emphasizes the importance of having a long-term financial plan in place and sticking to it. This includes setting financial goals, creating a budget, and investing for the future.
  2. Stresses the importance of investing for retirement as early as possible, in order to take advantage of compound interest and have enough money saved for a comfortable retirement.
  3. Encourages readers to be proactive about managing their money, rather than relying on financial advisors or other professionals to do it for them. It provides guidance on how to make informed decisions about investments, insurance, and other financial products.
  4. Teaches the importance of diversification in investing. It suggests spreading the risk by investing in different asset classes such as stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities, and cash.
  5. Advocates for the importance of understanding and managing debt. It suggests creating a plan to pay off high-interest debt as soon as possible and avoiding taking on new debt. It also gives advice on how to use credit cards, loans, and mortgages in a responsible manner to build credit and improve financial literacy.

Some Honorable Mentions Of Financial literacy books that help you Save money

11. The Richest Man In Babylon:

"The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S. Clason is a classic personal finance book that teaches valuable money lessons through parables set in ancient Babylon.

The book is a great road map and emphasizes the importance of living below one's means, saving at least 10% of one's income, and investing wisely.

It is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their financial literacy and gain a better understanding of how to manage their money.

12. Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together:

"Broke Millennial" by Erin Lowry is a relatable and humorous guide to personal finance for millennials.

It covers topics like budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding student loans, credit cards, and other financial products. It is a great resource for young adults looking to take control of their finances and build a solid financial foundation

13. Think & Grow Rich:

"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill is a classic personal development and self-help book first published in 1937. The book teaches the power of positive thinking, visualization, risk-taking, and goal-setting to achieve success.

It is widely considered a must-read for anyone looking to improve their mindset, save a lot of money, and achieve their aspirations and goals. This book was created to help others "live rich" in its simplest meaning.

Wealth isn't just about how much you invest in the stock market but how much you invest in your mindset in general.

Final Thoughts On Creating Financial freedom:

Improving your financial literacy will take time and that's okay. The most important thing is that you do not give up on yourself. Most of us did not get into debt overnight, so becoming debt free will not happen overnight as well.

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (11)

When considering student loan debt in the United States alone, there are currently over $1.745 Trillion dollars owed in student loan debt. Building wealth through financial literacy books can lead you on the path to properly managing student loans, starting your first emergency fund, and figuring out how to make your money work for you to achieve your financial goals.

The path to personal wealth is lined with valuable life lessons, so take your time when going through these personal finance books. Some money lessons take longer than others to comprehend.

Happy Reading!

13 Must-Read Financial Literacy Books To Boost Your Money IQ - Crystal Harrell, MS, MPH (2024)

FAQs

How do I become financially literate? ›

Key aspects of financial literacy include knowing how to create a budget, plan for retirement, manage debt, and track personal spending. Financial literacy can be obtained through reading books, listening to podcasts, subscribing to financial content, or talking to a financial professional.

Where to learn financial literacy? ›

The Khan Academy Financial Literacy course is made up of units covering topics like budgeting, saving, credit, investments, insurance, taxes, scams and fraud. The units are designed to give you the skills and tools you need to take charge of your finances.

What is meant by financial literacy? ›

Financial literacy refers to the ability to understand and apply different financial skills effectively, including personal financial management, budgeting, and saving.

What is the best book to learn how money works? ›

5 of the Best Finance Books That Help You Understand Money
  • 1) Money Master the Game (Tony Robbins) ...
  • 2) Fools Gold (Gillian Tett) ...
  • 3) The Psychology of Money (Morgan Housel) ...
  • 4) Kleptopia (Tom Burgis) ...
  • 5) Why Wall Street Matters (William D Cohen)
Nov 30, 2021

Which financial book should I read first? ›

1. The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, by Andrew Tobias. If you are truly just starting out in your investing journey, this book is a great place to start. You'll learn tips on how to save and invest for your future and get excellent advice on what to avoid in the financial world.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the first rule of financial literacy? ›

1. Budget your money. In general, there are four main uses for money: spending, saving, investing and giving away. Finding the right balance among these four categories is essential, and a budget can be a very useful tool to help you accomplish this.

What are the disadvantages of financial literacy? ›

The study found that financial literacy decreases preference for the present, suggesting a positive effect on decision-making and saving behavior. The negative effects of financial literacy include taking too many risks, overborrowing, and holding naive financial attitudes.

What is financial literacy Dave Ramsey? ›

As defined by Dave Ramsey, “Financial literacy is the possession of skills that allows people to make smart decisions with their money.” These skills range from the relatively simple (like setting and keeping a budget) to the more complex (like demystifying income taxes and your 401k).

Can I learn finance on my own? ›

Finance can be easy to learn if you are willing to seek out informative content from books, podcasts, videos, blogs, and even professionals and then invest some time soaking up knowledge.

What is a smart money program? ›

In the confusing world of finances, SmartMoney is designed to help you understand money in a simple way so that you can set and accomplish your financial goals!

How to save up money? ›

7 steps to start saving money: A comprehensive guide to saving, budgeting, and investing for a better financial future
  1. Understand your income and expenses.
  2. Reduce your expenses.
  3. Increase your income.
  4. Automate your savings.
  5. Manage your debt.
  6. Build an emergency fund.
  7. Invest in your future.

What is another name for financial literacy? ›

Financial literacy, also referred to as financial capability, means having the capacity, based on knowledge, skills and access, to manage your financial resources effectively.

What are spending habits? ›

Spending habits refer to the patterns and behaviors individuals exhibit when it comes to their expenditure of money. It involves the way people choose to allocate their financial resources and make purchasing decisions.

What are the 4 main financial literacy? ›

Financial literacy is having a basic grasp of money matters and its four fundamental pillars: debt, budgeting, saving, and investing. It's understanding how to build wealth throughout one's life by leveraging the power of these pillars.

What are the 3 keys to financial literacy? ›

Three Key Components of Financial Literacy
  • An Up-to-Date Budget. Some tend to look at the word “budget” as tantamount to the word “diet,” but at its most basic, a budget is just a spending plan. ...
  • Dedicated Savings (and Saving to Spend) ...
  • ID Theft Prevention.

What is the best business finance book for beginners? ›

The best business finance books for beginners include How to Read a Financial Report by Tage C. Tracy and John A. Tracy, How Finance Works: The HBR Guide to Thinking Smart About the Numbers by Mihir Desai, and The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business by Josh Kaufman.

What is the best age to learn financial literacy? ›

As kids become teenagers, so between 12 and 15, they can be given more responsibility such as managing a small budget, Landolt explained. This includes concepts like spending, saving and understanding how decisions to spend money can impact how much money is left later, but in more depth, he said.

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