A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (2024)

Table of Contents
We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about their favorite purchases that have saved them money. Here are the economic results: 1. Reusable Norwex microfiber cloths that will cut your cleaning costs. 2. A SodaStream to replace your LaCroix addiction. 3. A pair of wireless headphones that won't break on you. 4. A set of wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and make your laundry extra fluffy. 5. A bread machine so making delicious homemade loaves can be so much easier (and cheaper than buying bread all the time). 6. A French press that will cut down on your cold-brew bills. 7. A food saver so freezer burn can be a thing of the past. 8. An on-the-go water bottle with a built-in filter. 9. A drying rack that'll save money on your electric bill *and* help your clothes last longer. 10. Reusable sweeping and mopping pads you can use with a Swiffer Sweeper Wet/Dry. 11. Reusable bento boxes that will encourage you to actually make your lunch. 12. A contract-free phone plan that'll save you money. 13. A family-sized (it holds 18 cups!) Brita dispenser so you can skip all those bottled water purchases. 14. A food subscription to provide all the ingredients you need and cut down on food waste. 15. A sewing kit (and maybe some lessons) that will keep you out of the tailor's. 16. A small chest freezer to stock up on amazing grocery deals. 17. A slow cooker that'll make buying (and cooking!) in bulk more logical. 18. A menstrual cup so buying expensive tampons and pads can be a thing of the past. 19. Reusable grocery bags that will save you a lot of cents (while saving the environment). 20. A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. 21. A water bulb that'll keep your plants alive by watering them over time. 22. A refillable K-Cup so you can use any coffee in your Keurig machine (and create less waste). 23. Gel nail polish and a curing light for creating long-lasting manicures at home. 24. A Kindle that will save you money and shelf space. 25. And a color-coded(!) app to track your spending and keep you up to date on bills. Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter. FAQs

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and itspublishingpartners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Like retail therapy for your bank account.

by Maitland QuitmeyerBuzzFeed Staff
A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (3)

Zoe Burnett

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about their favorite purchases that have saved them money. Here are the economic results:

1. Reusable Norwex microfiber cloths that will cut your cleaning costs.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (4)

amazon.com

"Seriously. I bought my first set of cleaning cloths in January and I have yet to purchase any cleaning supplies. The only chemical I use to clean is toilet bowl cleaner. I use water and Norwex cloths to clean every other surface in my home. Life-changing and money-saving!" —M. Piquette

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $47.50.

2. A SodaStream to replace your LaCroix addiction.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (5)

amazon.com

"I use filtered water and then add citrus, basil, or basically anything I want or have on hand. I have saved a fortune not buying LaCroix and I have DIY pamplemousse on demand!" —Kristin K.

Get it from Amazon $109.80.

3. A pair of wireless headphones that won't break on you.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (6)

amazon.com

"I used to spend money every few months on new earbuds because the wire kept wearing out. So I cut the middleman [and the wire] and got a luxurious pair of Parrot Ziks. Haven't had to buy earbuds for years now." —Rachel Elizabeth Miller, Facebook

Get these recommended headphones from Amazon for $198.88.

Or try these cheaper but very highly rated wireless headphones from Amazon for $24.99.

4. A set of wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and make your laundry extra fluffy.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (7)

amazon.com

"They help fluff up and evenly dry my down comforters/coats, and they're a natural, chemical free alternative to fabric softener sheets. Six balls cost [under] $15, and they last for years." —Casey Austin, Facebook

Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.99.

5. A bread machine so making delicious homemade loaves can be so much easier (and cheaper than buying bread all the time).

"Unless I'm being, fancy flour/yeast/etc costs about 40p per loaf (50 cents) compared to £1.20 ($1.60) for an equivalent loaf in the supermarket. —Hannah Haydock, Facebook

Get a 2-pound bread machine from Amazon for $58.49.

6. A French press that will cut down on your cold-brew bills.

amazon.com

"I love iced coffee. I drink it all year! Before getting the French press, I tried making over night iced coffee in a ziplock container... Let's just say it was a disaster. At night I fill my French press up with water and coffee grounds. By morning it's perfect. So instead of buying an iced coffee for about $3 at Starbucks, I can buy an entire container for around $10. Super easy and delicious." —Brittani June B., Facebook

Get this French press from Amazon for $16.99.

7. A food saver so freezer burn can be a thing of the past.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (11)

amazon.com

"It’s an investment up front, but when you save food items for months and sometimes years without spoilage, it’s very worth it! You can buy in bulk, then seal it whole or portion it out to save even more! I love buying more expensive items like meat and cheese on sale to always have it on hand." —Kristi-Marie Standing

Get it from Amazon for $64.95.

8. An on-the-go water bottle with a built-in filter.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (12)

amazon.com

"I can fill it up anywhere and have filtered water, so there's no need to buy bottled water." —Mary Catherine H

It's also great for making infused waters!

Get the larger size from Amazon for $21.35 (available in two sizes and eight colors).

9. A drying rack that'll save money on your electric bill *and* help your clothes last longer.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (13)

amazon.com

"I love mine and have saved not only on my electric bill but also on laundry sheets. And it is collapsible for easy storage!" —Your Opinion Is Moo

Get it from Amazon for $29.44.

10. Reusable sweeping and mopping pads you can use with a Swiffer Sweeper Wet/Dry.

Amazon

"You can use any kind of floor cleaner you like — save even more $$$ by making your own floor cleaner (there are tons of recipes on Pinterest)." —Samantha B.

Get them from Amazon: a five-pack of reusable microfiber dusters for $15.48 and a two-pack of reussable microfiber mopping pads for $10.01.

And get a Swiffer Sweeper Wet/Dry Kit from Amazon for $11.94.

11. Reusable bento boxes that will encourage you to actually make your lunch.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (14)

amazon.com

"I spent about $20 on reusable bento boxes. It encouraged me to cook my own meals at home using the sale flyer from the grocery store instead of grabbing something on the run. It easily saved me half as much money on food as I was spending previously." —Tonya Brown, Facebook

Get a set of four from Amazon for $13.95 (available in three color sets).

12. A contract-free phone plan that'll save you money.

"We only spend $50 a month and have unlimited talk, text, and internet." —Cassy Michael

Check out the $45 plan at Straight Talk.

13. A family-sized (it holds 18 cups!) Brita dispenser so you can skip all those bottled water purchases.

amazon.com

"We were spending a fortune on bottled water because our tap water tastes awful. The Brita is amazing, our water tastes great now, and no more buying expensive (and environment-destroying) water bottles!" —Felicia-Marie Gauthier, Facebook

Get it from Amazon for $39.59.

14. A food subscription to provide all the ingredients you need and cut down on food waste.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (18)

Hello Fresh

"Joining Hello Fresh has saved money and space. I have a smaller fridge, and all that excess shopping ended up being wasted before I joined." —Tina Johnson Smithee, Facebook

Plans start at $6.99 per meal.

15. A sewing kit (and maybe some lessons) that will keep you out of the tailor's.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (19)

containerstore.com

"I had found the perfect outfit for graduation senior year, it just needed to be taken in. My parents gave me the option of them paying to get it taken in or getting matching shoes. I got the shoes and a $20 sewing kit and had my grandmother show me how to fix it in an hour. Between altering and re-hemming my own clothes and doing the occasional fix for other people, I have saved/made a couple grand since then." —Jamekin

Get it from The Container Store for $6.99.

Take a beginner's sewing class at Udemy for $19.

16. A small chest freezer to stock up on amazing grocery deals.

"I bought a cheapo little chest freezer so I could stock up a little extra when meat went on sale. Then I learned to buy bulk fresh fruit when it was cheap and in season and freeze it for breakfast smoothies. Eventually I managed to cut my food budget for five by 20% *and* we eat healthier! Pro tip I learned from a friend's misfortune: Buy a freezer alert thermometer! They are less than $20 and will alert you to a power outage *before* everything spoils." —Kathleen Hoskey, Facebook

Get this freezer from Amazon for $239.99.

17. A slow cooker that'll make buying (and cooking!) in bulk more logical.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (22)

amazon.com

"It means I spend less per portion because I can buy a whole bag of carrots (for example) instead of just one or two — I make stuff in bulk and freeze portions. I'll do 15 minutes prep in the morning before going to work (or even the night before) and it will be done by the time I get home. They are pretty versatile too. I've done curries, stews, roast joints, chili, and even cake." —Hannah Haydock, Facebook

Get a 6-quart slow cooker from Amazon for $39.99.

18. A menstrual cup so buying expensive tampons and pads can be a thing of the past.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (23)

amazon.com

"In addition to being better for you and the environment, it pays for itself after two or four periods. Way cheaper to invest in this once rather than continually have to buy tampons." —Lauren S.

Get it from Amazon for $26.87.

19. Reusable grocery bags that will save you a lot of cents (while saving the environment).

"Here, the plastic/paper bags costs money (25–50 cents each) so over the years I've probably saved $200–300, and cloth doesn't dig in as hard on your hands." —Emma Cha Black, Facebook

Get a 10-pack of reusable bags from Amazon for $34.95.

20. A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (26)

amazon.com

"Paid off $75K in debt. Seriously changed our lives. Best $20 we ever spent." —Leah Wilson

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

21. A water bulb that'll keep your plants alive by watering them over time.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (27)

amazon.com

"My house plants thank me for that one." —Hans

Get a set of three from Amazon for $19.97 (available in six color sets).

22. A refillable K-Cup so you can use any coffee in your Keurig machine (and create less waste).

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (28)

amazon.com

"I love treating myself with my French press, but for mornings when I really need to have a single cup of coffee on the go, I like to use the Keurig. And those K-Cups definitely add up (plus they’re horrible for the environment). With the reusable cup, I can add any kind of coffee I want and it tastes just as great!" —Mary Cruz

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $13.95.

23. Gel nail polish and a curing light for creating long-lasting manicures at home.

"I’m a bartender so if I want my nails to stay nice after excessive hand washing, opening bottles and other constant damage by using my hands and nails, I have to get the gel polish at the salon. Since I’ve been getting them done twice a month for years, I’ve learned how to do them by myself. I recently went on Amazon and bought my own light and polish, which are the same brands my favorite salon uses. It was a bit pricey up front but saves me around $80/month." —Stephanie C.

Get the light from Amazon for $31.99 and the OPI gel polish from Jet for $14.95+ (available in three colors).

24. A Kindle that will save you money and shelf space.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (31)

amazon.com

"I bought my Kindle so I wouldn’t spend so much money on physical copies of books. It has saved me tons of money, not to mention shelf space!" —Cheakpeasarenice

"Sign up with BookBub. You’ll get an email with e-book bargains every day. You pick the genres, they’ll tailor to your preferences. I get books for 99 cents, sometimes even free!" —Anne R.

Get the new Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon for $129.99.

25. And a color-coded(!) app to track your spending and keep you up to date on bills.

"It may seem tedious to log every purchase, but if you’re a student like me and have limited money, get a spending tracker! Just download any app, and if you need to pay to upgrade and get full features, DO IT. It will be worth it. I have saved so much money by just keeping track of where my money is going." —Pooki

Download Homebudget from the App Store and Google Play for $4.99.

Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter.

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money. (2024)

FAQs

A book to teach you how to budget, pay off debt, and save money.? ›

Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money offers the ultra-practical way to learn how money works. These are the principles Dave learned after losing everything. They're the same principles that have helped millions of families go from the stress of debt to the peace of knowing the future is secure.

How do I make a budget to pay off debt? ›

How to Create a Budget to Pay Off Debt Fast
  1. Write down your monthly after-tax income so you can see exactly how much money you have to work with.
  2. List all your fixed and variable expenses throughout the month. ...
  3. Categorize these expenses into three buckets: necessities, nonessential expenses and savings/debt payments.
Apr 21, 2022

What books does Dave Ramsey recommend? ›

The best Dave Ramsey books echo the financial philosophies he believes in, including:
  • Financial Peace.
  • Baby Step Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth, and How You Can Too.
  • EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches.
  • More than Enough.
  • The Financial Peace Planner.
Jun 9, 2023

How can I learn to budget and save money? ›

Follow the steps below as you set up your own, personalized budget:
  1. Make a list of your values. Write down what matters to you and then put your values in order.
  2. Set your goals.
  3. Determine your income. ...
  4. Determine your expenses. ...
  5. Create your budget. ...
  6. Pay yourself first! ...
  7. Be careful with credit cards. ...
  8. Check back periodically.

What is the summary of get good with money? ›

Brief summary

'Get Good with Money' by Tiffany Aliche is a practical and engaging guide that teaches readers how to take control of their finances. It covers everything from creating a budget to investing in stocks, and provides actionable advice for achieving financial freedom.

How to pay off debt and save money at the same time? ›

7 tips on how to pay off debt and save at the same time.
  1. Create a budget. ...
  2. Prioritize your debts. ...
  3. Make more than the minimum payment on your debts. ...
  4. Consider debt consolidation. ...
  5. Set savings goals. ...
  6. Automate your savings. ...
  7. Cut back on unnecessary expenses.
Sep 19, 2023

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 80 20 rule Dave Ramsey? ›

There's an 80-20 rule for money Dave Ramsey teaches which says managing your finances is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent knowledge. This 80-20 rule also applies to constructing a healthy life. Personal wellness is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent knowledge.

What does Dave Ramsey say is the most important thing to do? ›

Eliminate Debt Before You Invest

The No. 1 rule of the Ramsey investing philosophy is not to invest a dime — at least not until you eliminate all of your toxic debt, which he considers to be pretty much everything but your mortgage.

What are the 4 Dave Ramsey funds? ›

And to go one step further, we recommend dividing your mutual fund investments equally between four types of funds: growth and income, growth, aggressive growth, and international.

How do I train myself to spend less money? ›

You'll be able to plan your budget, track your spending, and monitor your debt and savings progress each month.
  1. Shop with a goal in mind. We've all been there. ...
  2. Stop spending money at restaurants. ...
  3. Resist sales. ...
  4. Swear off debt. ...
  5. Delay gratification. ...
  6. Challenge yourself to reach your new goals.
Apr 5, 2024

What is the best budget advice? ›

Budgeting is an essential part of a healthy financial life.
  • Create your budget before the month begins.
  • Practice budgeting to zero.
  • Use the right tools.
  • Establish needs versus wants.
  • Keep bills and receipts organized.
  • Prioritize debt repayment.
  • Don't forget to factor in fun.
  • Save first, then spend.
Feb 22, 2024

How to live on very little money? ›

These seven tips may be able to help.
  1. Understand your current financial habits. Not sure how to start spending less? ...
  2. Create an effective budget and stick to it. ...
  3. Look for ways to reduce spending. ...
  4. Set financial goals for future success. ...
  5. Save for emergencies or major purchases. ...
  6. Pay down debt. ...
  7. Stay aware of lifestyle creep.

How to get good at money? ›

Here are seven to get you started.
  1. Track your spending to improve your finances. ...
  2. Create a realistic monthly budget. ...
  3. Build up your savings—even if it takes time. ...
  4. Pay your bills on time every month. ...
  5. Cut back on recurring charges. ...
  6. Save up cash to afford big purchases. ...
  7. Start an investment strategy.
Jun 27, 2023

What is the synopsis of Dave Ramsey's complete guide to money? ›

Book overview

Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money covers the A to Z of Dave's money teachings, including how to budget, save, dump debt and invest. You'll also learn all about insurance, mortgage options, marketing, bargain hunting and the most important element of all―giving.

What are five good things about money? ›

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy security and safety for you and your loved ones. Human beings need money to pay for all the things that make your life possible, such as shelter, food, healthcare bills, and a good education.

How do I create a debt payoff plan? ›

How to set up a debt payoff plan
  1. List your debts. Your financial plan to pay off debt needs to start with understanding everything you owe. ...
  2. Prioritize your debts. ...
  3. Find extra money to make payments. ...
  4. Knock out one debt at a time. ...
  5. Debt snowball. ...
  6. Debt avalanche. ...
  7. Debt management plan. ...
  8. Custom method.
Nov 13, 2023

How do I pay off debt if I don't make enough money? ›

SHARE:
  1. Step 1: Stop taking on new debt.
  2. Step 2: Determine how much you owe.
  3. Step 3: Create a budget.
  4. Step 4: Pay off the smallest debts first.
  5. Step 5: Start tackling larger debts.
  6. Step 6: Look for ways to earn extra money.
  7. Step 7: Boost your credit scores.
  8. Step 8: Explore debt consolidation and debt relief options.
Dec 5, 2023

How to pay off $5000 quickly? ›

Debt avalanche: Make minimum payments on all but your credit card with the highest interest rate. Send all excess payments to that card account. Once you pay that account off, send all excess payments to your next highest rate. Repeat until all of your debts are paid off.

How much should you budget for paying debt payments? ›

We recommend the 50/30/20 system, which splits your income across three major categories: 50% goes to necessities, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment.

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