The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (2024)

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In the early days of being straddled with debt, I committed to learning as much as I could about money and my relationship with it. I read as many of the best financial books I could get my hands on.

What I quickly realized was my money problems were rooted in my beliefs about money. What I learned as a child had carried over into my adulthood, and most of it no longer served me well. You can read more about my personal story here.

What I also learned was how I used money in so many unhealthy ways as a substitute to fill my unmet needs. If you’re not sure what I mean, I encourage you to join the 28 Days of Spending Zero -The No Spend Challenge. (Update: The challenge is closed.)

The entire purpose of the challenge is to help other’s struggling with overspending and debt realize why they spend the way they do! Over the years I’ve talked with hundreds if not thousands of women and men who thought paying off their debt was enough. They didn’t see the value in cultivating a relationship with money and learning the motivation behind their spending, savings and investment habits.

One the best ways to develop a better understanding of money is to read as many books as you can on the subject.The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (1)

THE BEST FINANCIAL BOOKS I READ THAT GOT ME OUT OF DEBT

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (2)The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (3)

1. Over Coming Under Earning by Barbara Stanny
This book is an excellent resource for those of you who are living paycheck to paycheck. Underearners struggle with their self-worth which is translated into how much they earn. Good exercises and tools to break the cycle and start making more money and break the cycle of living from pay check to pay check.

Other Resources Worth Reading:How To Budget When You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (4)The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (5)

2. The Energy of Money by Maria Nemeth,P h.D.
By far one of the best books ever written on the subject. The book will help you uncover all those nasty hidden beliefs we carry around like bricks and then give you the tools and techniques to break free from them once and for all. This is a must read!

Other Resources Worth Reading:The 30 Day Money Mindset Challenge

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (6)The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (7)

3. Financial Recovery by Karen McCall
This is like therapy wrapped up between two covers. Jammed packed with useful information to help you overcome underearning, low or no savings, yo-yo debting, overspending and chronic debt. Filled with lots of tools and strategies to help you change your financial circ*mstances and regain peace of mind.

Other Resources Worth Reading:How To Reach Your New Year Financial Resolutions

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (8)The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (9)

4. You’re Broke Because You Want To Be by Larry Winget
I read this book after several years after my financial recovery, and so it didn’t impact me in the same way as some of the other books. But one of the reasons why I include it here is because of the straight, no bullsh*t approach Larry takes. It’s like a slap in the face, in a nice way and some people may better respond with that approach. One particular area I continued to struggle with was pretty much cured after reading this book despite how far I had come in my journey. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy reading it.

Other Resources Worth Reading:My Debt Free Journey

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (10)The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (11)

5. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
The bible of all financial debt management books out there. This is a much read for anyone suffering from debt. Although I don’t always agree 100% with Dave, I learned a lot about becoming a better steward of my money by reading his book.

Other Resources Worth Reading: The Joy of Saving

What are some of your best financial book recommendations? I’m always interested in reading new material on the subject or old favorites, so if you have a great recommendation leave it in the comments section.

Happy Reading~

MY FAVORITE MONEY-SAVING TOOLS

EBATES: Want to earn cash back when you shop online? Ebates acts as a shopping portal offering coupons and cashback from over 2,000 online stores. I always check on Ebates first whenever I shop online! You canjoin Ebates for free and get a $10 welcome bonus when you sign up through this link.

DIGIT: Like the idea of saving but need something automatic? Digit is the perfect solution if trying to automate your savings strategy. In essence, what Digit does is use an algorithm to detect spare money and then transfers it to a secure savings account – so you’ll always have something to fall back on. Sign up for free!

GROCERY BUDGET MAKEOVER: Is your grocery budget giving you a serious kick in your families spending plan? Grocery Budget Makeover helped my family slash $6,000 a year from our food bill! Learn more about how Grocery Budget Makeover can help you save money too!

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (12)

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The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt (2024)

FAQs

The Five Books I Read That Got Me Out Of Debt? ›

"Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble" by the National Consumer Law Center. For anyone who isn't sure where to start on their debt-payoff journey, this book provides the tools you'll need to get started.

What is the best book on getting out of debt? ›

"Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble" by the National Consumer Law Center. For anyone who isn't sure where to start on their debt-payoff journey, this book provides the tools you'll need to get started.

How do you get out of debt? ›

List your debts from highest interest rate to lowest interest rate. Make minimum payments on each debt, except the one with the highest interest rate. Use all extra money to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate. Repeat process after paying off each debt with the highest interest rate.

Is there such a thing as good debt? ›

Examples of good debt are taking out a mortgage, buying things that save you time and money, buying essential items, investing in yourself by borrowing for more education or to consolidate debt. Each may put you in a hole initially, but you'll be better off in the long run for having borrowed the money.

What's the smartest way to get out of debt? ›

Try the debt snowball or avalanche method

You can start to see progress while paying off the lowest balances first, then move on to the next. The debt avalanche method saves money on interest when you pay the minimum on all debts while putting extra funds toward the balance with the steepest interest rate.

What is the number one way to get out of debt? ›

First, always pay at least the minimum required payments on your credit cards and loans. Then allot extra money toward paying down more debt and saving, according to your goals. A debt consolidation loan or a balance transfer credit card can also help lower overall interest payments.

How much debt is unhealthy? ›

Generally speaking, a good debt-to-income ratio is anything less than or equal to 36%. Meanwhile, any ratio above 43% is considered too high. The biggest piece of your DTI ratio pie is bound to be your monthly mortgage payment.

What is the average bad debt? ›

Bad debt – a tiny but menacing threat!

The bad debt to sales ratio measures the slice of revenue a company loses because customers aren't settling their invoices. In 2022, the average bad debt to sales ratio for enterprise businesses was a mere 0.16%.

What debt should you avoid? ›

Generally speaking, try to minimize or avoid debt that is high cost and isn't tax-deductible, such as credit cards and some auto loans. High interest rates will cost you over time.

What is the best strategy for paying off debt? ›

Consider the snowball method of paying off debt.

This involves starting with your smallest balance first, paying that off and then rolling that same payment towards the next smallest balance as you work your way up to the largest balance.

What is the best financial book out there? ›

  • Best on Personal Finance: Rich Dad Poor Dad. Buy on Amazon. ...
  • Best for Investing: A Random Walk Down Wall Street. Buy on Amazon. ...
  • Best Global Perspective: The Silk Roads: A New History of the World. Buy on Amazon. ...
  • Best Biography: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. Buy on Amazon.

How do I get out of insane debt? ›

6 ways to get out of debt
  1. Pay more than the minimum payment. Go through your budget and decide how much extra you can put toward your debt. ...
  2. Try the debt snowball. ...
  3. Refinance debt. ...
  4. Commit windfalls to debt. ...
  5. Settle for less than you owe. ...
  6. Re-examine your budget. ...
  7. Debt-to-income ratio. ...
  8. Interest rates.
Dec 6, 2023

How do I stop obsessing over debt? ›

“An action plan for improving your finances is one helpful mechanism for reducing the chaos, and ultimately bettering [your] financial behavior.” To avoid feeling overwhelmed when devising a debt strategy, focus on achievable, small goals that can be met daily, weekly, and monthly.

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