This is not your dad’s list of the best personal finance books to read in 2019.
No offence to your dad either, but it often feels like the exact same books have been recommended on “best of personal finance” lists for the past thirty years.
The classics are the classics for a reason, but they’re not a fit for everyone—and if you’re looking for a more modern, or slightly more diverse, take on personal finance that feels relevant to your life today? You’re in the right place.
The best personal finance books to read in 2019
There are books to help you figure out a budget you feel great about, books to help you get out of debt, books to help you invest your money, and books that can help you navigate the sometimes-overwhelming world of finance. (And PS. The links are affiliate links, so if you buy through them I may earn a small commission—but all of the books should be available at your local library as well!)
Worry-Free Money: The guilt-free approach to managing your money and your life by Shannon Lee Simmons
This book is hands-down my favourite personal finance book, especially for people who are just getting started when it comes to managing their money. It’s approachable, fun to read, and breaks down exactly how you can manage your money—no matter how much of it you have, or how many commitments you’re juggling—on a monthly basis. Plus, there truly is no guilt involved, and nowhere does it advise you to stop spending on the stuff you love.
Shannon walks through multiple examples as well, to help illustrate different points and scenarios, and they’re so varied that I guarantee at least one of them will serve up an “aha!” moment about your budget.
Get Money: Live the Life You Want, Not Just the Life You Can Afford by Kristin Wong
Money isn’t just about one thing—it’s not just budgeting, or just investing, or just earning more. That’s why Get Money is such a great book to add to your shelf (and your brain) in 2019. Kristin has managed to gamify all of the most important concepts you need to know when it comes to your money, including things like negotiating and side hustles.
With a mix of expert interviews, advice, challenges and concrete goal-setting steps, Get Money is perfect for you if you want to take real, specific action on your finances this year, and you don’t want just another book about theory.
Plus, and maybe this is just me, I love to see books addressing the True Realities of millennial finance, like side hustles. Things that were not at all addressed in money books written the year I was born: that.
The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner’s Guide to Getting Good with Money by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Ver Hage
Money isn’t just money—it’s how we can afford to live the lives we want, and it touches everything, from our emotions to the food we eat. The Financial Diet’s book covers all of that in a truly well-rounded and approachable way, including everything from saving for retirement to how to grocery shop and cook effectively (on a budget).
If you’re looking for an experience that feels like the best of a glossy magazine and the best of solid financial advice, this is the book for you. It’s a great place to start for a total beginner, doesn’t have too much country-specific information (so it’s great for everyone, everywhere) and even if you’re a seasoned money pro, it’s just fun.
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry
Even if you’re not a broke millennial, Erin’s got you covered with this thorough overview of money 101. While you can read it from cover to cover, Broke Millennial is also structured as a choose-your-own-adventure book. If you’re already rocking a solid budget, but you have no idea what’s up with credit scores, you can skip right to that section, and vice versa. Beginners will get a lot out of the whole book, but even if you’re advanced, there are some topics (getting financially naked with your significant other, for example) that we can all use some helpful tips on.
If you’re in the US, there are also seriously helpful breakdowns of your retirement accounts that will be informative and help you make the most of them—but it’s a heckin’ useful book no matter where you are.
Refinery29 Money Diaries: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Your Finances… And Everyone Else’s by Lindsey Stanberry
Money Diaries is one of my favourite things on the internet when it comes to money, so it’s no surprise I loved the book, too. If you aren’t familiar, women from all over the US (and infrequently cities around the world) share their income, their expenses, and a detailed look at one week of their spending.
The series is wildly popular, and often sparks a lot of uh… “conversation” online, but I think it’s vitally important that we start to normalize and talk about how much money it really takes to live a certain kind of lifestyle, and the choices and tradeoffs we all make behind the scenes.
The book does include multiple unpublished money diaries, but it also breaks down some of the how-tos we all need to tackle, using the diaries as examples and lead-ins. Some of the information is more US-specific, but trust me, the person who read it in one sitting: it’s fun for everyone.
Living Debt-Free: The No-Shame, No-Blame Guide to Getting Rid of Your Debt by Shannon Lee Simmons
Shame and blame seem to come standard in “get rid of your debt” advice, at least from what I’ve seen previously—not anymore. Right off the bat, as soon as you open this book, you’ll know that there’s finally a book that’s not going to make you feel awful about having debt.
In fact, Shannon goes as far as to lean in to her role as your personal get-out-of-debt cheerleader, and she does an amazing job of it. As with her first book, Worry-Free Money, she uses real-life stories and examples to illustrate her points as she goes, and it makes for an immensely readable and, dare I say it, fun book about getting out of debt.
Happy Go Money: Spend Smart, Save Right and Enjoy Life by Melissa Leong
It’s easy (well, easy enough) to read about money, but it’s a bit harder to figure out how you’re going to implement the wisdom you’re reading in your everyday life. Luckily, Melissa Leong has got you covered in her new book, Happy Go Money.
It’s a fantastic beginner’s guide to thinking about money in the context of your life, and using it to make yourself happy on your terms—but because that means a personalized approach you can actually stick to, she takes it a step further by ending every chapter with concrete steps you can take, and questions you can ask when you have “Money Talks.”
Building a small group of trusted friends or family you can talk about money with is just one of the fantastic, approachable, and high-impact suggestions she offers as she walks through everything you need to know for your own Happy Go Money. (Happy Go Money officially comes out on January 8th, 2019.)
I Will Teach You To Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. Just a 6-Week Program that Works by Ramit Sethi
Unlike many of the books on this list, this isn’t a newer title—it came out in 2009 and let me just say, it stands the test of time. If you’re more interested in specific, actionable steps you can take week by week to get your money in order, this is the book for you.
Ramit breaks down exactly how to build and implement a system that, over time, will make you rich. What rich means to you is also covered, and that’s a topic he’s really expanded on using his blog and social media presence since this book came out, so if you’re interested in learning more about that, they’re great places to check out afterwards. His Instagram stories in particular are among my favourites, and not just when he’s on an amazing honeymoon adventure around the world.
Stop Over-Thinking Your Money!: The Five Simple Rules Of Financial Success by Preet Banerjee
There’s a lot of information out there about how to budget your money, and build systems, but less about how to navigate the incredibly complex world of financial products—especially if you’re not a super-rich person who has a swanky financial advisor. That’s where Preet and his awesome book comes in.
Preet’s simple rules are practical advice that anyone can follow, and they help you navigate your entire financial life. What does that mean? Well, when I went to buy life insurance after we bought our house, I knew exactly what I needed and what questions to ask—not to mention products to avoid—when talking to the salesperson.
The best personal finance books to pre-order in 2019
While I can’t (yet!) tell you how much I enjoyed each of these reads, I can tell you they’ve all been pre-ordered and I’m just waiting for the Amazon shipment notification when their release date rolls around. Here are three books, coming from three amazing writers in the financial space, you should look forward to this year.
Broke Millennial Takes On Investing: A Beginner’s Guide to Leveling Up Your Money by Erin Lowry
A follow up to her first book, Broke Millennial, this time Erin is tackling investing. She interviewed experts who work in the industry in a variety of different roles, and distilled their knowledge into a practical guide suitable for everyone who wants to get a handle on how to use their money to make more money. AKA, investing. Speaking from personal experience here, a bit of background knowledge will go a long way to making you feel more comfortable when the markets go loopy (which they do from time to time).
Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way by Tanja Hester
Tanja is the author of one of my favourite financial independence blogs, Our Next Life, and her first book is all about the approach she took to financial independence—which is markedly different than a lot of the advice out there. If you want to read an actionable guide that makes financial independence feel approachable, doable, and fun? This is a preorder you need in your life. Some of the information is specific (and highly, highly relevant) to the US, like planning for healthcare, but most of the book is applicable to anyone who would love to build more freedom into their financial plan.
Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All The Money You Will Ever Need by Grant Sabatier
I don’t write a lot about side hustles, but I do often give my side hustles credit for a lot of the financial goals I’ve achieved in the past few years, from buying a house to planning a debt-free wedding. If you’re interested in learning more about side hustles, making more money, and fitting it into your life in ways that make sense, Grant’s book should be right up your alley. He’s a blogger and entrepreneur who went from $2.26 in his bank account to a millionaire in just a few years, and his book breaks down what he’s learned in the process.
Get your hands on one of the best personal finance books of 2019
To celebrate the new year and to say thanks for hanging out here in my nerdy corner of the internet, I’m going to give away 3 of the best personal finance books of 2019!
To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment here with which one you’d most like to read! I’ll choose 3 comments randomly on Monday, January 7th, 2019 at (Note: the contest is unfortunately only open to readers in the US and Canada, due to shipping constraints.)
The contest is now closed, and the winners have been notified by email. Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and I’m so happy to see that so many of you are excited to read some of my favourite books this year!
Yes! This is the giveaway I need in my life as I get serious about saving for a house.
Love this!! I’ve been an avid TFD reader since discovering them on YT, then following their blog. Chelsea (the face of TFD) is hilarious on IG!
I’d love to read, “Living Debt Free”. Something my partner and I are working hard towards after making some mistakes early on in adulthood we are still paying for. Urhg.
Happy Go Money sounds pretty awesome. Definitely interested in that one! Thanks for all the great recommendations!
This looks like such a great line up! Quite a few apply to where I am at financially now, and where I’d like to be this year. I think Worry-Free Money is at the top of my reading list!
I would love a copy of Worry Free Money – the way that this book talks about money is radically different from many of the other options. Can’t wait to read the next book by Shannon Lee Simmons!
Great choice of books! I’ve read a few of these and found them really helpful. It would be great to read another!
Get Money by Kristen Wong sounds like it’s in line with the next steps I should be taking with my money. I will definitely make it a point to add a couple of these to my 2019 reading list!
I was just recently thinking of starting the year off reading a great book about money management so this list could not have come at a better time. Thank you for providing this quick list of books to start the year off. I too agree that Happy Go Money sound like one of the books I would read first.
I’ve been following Erin Lowry’s work for a while now and as I’m just dipping my toe into investing, I can’t wait to tackle her new book!
Awesome list! I am going to read Get Money next for sure! Thanks 🙂
I will teach you to be rich, seems to be the type of book I’d enjoy the most – concrete steps couldn’t hurt!
Happy New Year!
I somehow want to fit ALL of these books into my monthly book reading challenge!! But… Happy Go Money sounds like the action steps to put more than just my reading challenge forward. And “forward” is where I’m heading in 2019 😉
Thank you for this opportunity!
Great recommendations! I would love to read Stop Overthinking Your Money–I’m getting married this year and likely also buying a house, so I need to start thinking about life insurance and all the things you mentioned in your blurb about this book.
Get Money sounds like a really holistic approach to managing my financial life. And as I’m starting a side hustle this year I think it will help me look at my financial health big picture. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve picked up a few of your book suggestions in the past (totally devoured Worry-Free Money – omg she’s awesome – and the TFD book, and loved Broke Millennial and (parts) of Money Diaries as well! Looking forward to reading others you have listed here – thanks for always giving us good resources!
Thanks for putting together these recommendations! I’d love to read the first book, Worry-free money by Shannon Lee Simmons!
Happy New Year Desirae!
Thank you for your informative posts and your practical and human approach. I appreciate this list of recommendations, and agree with the above comment about how great Chelsea from The Financial Diet is! Looking forward to checking out the others too!
Would love to read “Worry Free Money”. I continually see it on my Indigo walkabouts (the best stress reducer there is) and seeing it on your list has solidified my urge to read it! Thanks for all the reco’s!
I would love to read all the books on the list and I would start off with Worry-Free money.
Hi Desirae! This list couldn’t have come at a better time. My significant other and I are taking a serious focus on our finances with an aim of being able to retire early. A lot of these titles sound super interesting and we’ll definitely be reading. I’m especially interested in Work Optional – sounds very relevant!
Thanks for all your posts and information, it’s fantastic!
Get Money: Live the Life You Want, Not Just the Life You Can Afford by Kristin Wong looks right up my alley, I’d love to get my hands on this book in 2019!
Another great post! Thanks for all the recommendations. I would love to read Financial Freedom! Happy New Year 🎇
Happy Go Money!! I’m counting down the days until it’s out💃🏾
Thanks for the great reading suggestions Desirae! I’d love to read the R29 Money Diaries book, as a long time reader of their weekly posts, they definitely made me look at my weekly spending habits in a fresh way.
I’d love to win a copy of “happy go money” – But I’ll be making a note of these and keeping my eyes open for them.
Hey Desirae! I’d love to read Get Money. I followed Kristin’s column in the Toronto Star when I lived there and found it super helpful in de-mystifying the budget challenges relevant to our generation. Thanks for the giveaway!
Nice read, and I agree many books are a bit dated now. I would appreciate reading Worry-Free Money. Cheers!
I LOVE books! Thanks for this opportunity.. kind of tough to choose which book I would read, Get Money and Money Diaries sounds great and I would read them both. hmmm… but I guess if I had to choose one I would say you sold me on ‘Stop Overthinking your money’ by a fellow Canuck and I think I overthink my money 😉 Thanks again!
Thank you for curating this list! I would love to read Get Money, or either of the books by Erin Lowry.. excited for the possibility to win one!
Thanks for curating this list! I would love to read Get Money or either of the Erin Lowry books – and excited for the opportunity to win one!
I would love to read all of these books. The one that really interests me is Work Optional, I would love that in my life.
Thanks for the great post! They all look very interesting, I think Worry free money has caught my eye the most though! Will definitely be buying a couple of these books in the near future
Happy Go Money, sounds perfect! I want to spend and save smart, be HAPPY, l read finance books and have implemented several important steps to living a more balanced and debt free life. It’s such freedom and peace when you realize money is a tool that can open options when you have a positive relationship with it!
I SO look forward to reading your weekly emails. Thanks for doing what you do. I would love to read Worry Free Money.
I follow Grant on YouTube (as well as the Financial Diet… so sad that Broke Millennial is leaving for now!) and find that his stuff fits where I’m at in my life a little better than the basic budget starter – Financial Freedom will be great for those who are considering FI;RE (or even just incorporating some elements of it like I am).
Woohoo! I’d love to read Broke Millennial and Refinery 29 Money Diaries! Getting a peek into other peoples’ lives is always interesting. Thanks for the list!
Worry Free Money seems so interesting!
I think the Worry-Free Money looks great! (only 50% judging based on the cover art), though Money Diaries also sounds like a cool pick up book!
I love your book recommendations! When I started reading your blog I took some of the recommendations you made earlier in the year (I think…I basically read your entire blog once I found it). I’ve read and LOVED Broke Millennial, Worry-Free Money (thanks especially for this one), and the TFD and Money Diaries books and a lot of them + your blog have inspired my financial goals I’ve outlined for this year (like finally open a Roth IRA, yeesh). I really want to read Shannon Lee Simmons’s new book Living Debt Free, but all of the other books on your list that I haven’t read yet are now officially on my to-read list!
I would love to read Refinery 29 Money Diaries!! Thanks for making the list
Something I’ve researched a few months ago, and would like to work toward is getting a side hustle. So looking forward for the release of Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need
Thanks for all the good read suggestions Desirae!
I’d love to read “Worry-Free Money”! Really getting focused this year 🙂 Thank you for this list! It’s too bad I have a Kindle so I can’t borrow the ebooks from the library up here, so I’ll slowly be building my collection or finance books this year 🙂
Work Optional or Get Money would be great for helping me with the next parts of our financial journey. Will also be checking out the others!
I would love to read Get Money by Kristin Wong! The side-hustle aspect of millennial life is sooo real! Thanks for this list; my New Years resolutions included reading more and being better with money — can you say two birds, one stone?
Will love to read – Broke Millennial Takes On Investing: A Beginner’s Guide to Leveling Up Your Money by Erin Lowry!
Great list! I’m torn between I Will Teach You to be Rich, and Debt-Free Living. Either would be great additions to my library and start the year off with some good learning!
I didn’t know Shannon Lee Simmons had a new book, but I’ve had Worry-Free Money on hold at the library for a while. Thanks for the great recommendations!
Worry-Free Money, because I’d like to worry a whole lot less about my financial situation! 🙂 Love your content Des, keep it up and happy new year!
I’ve read a couple of these – Ramit Sethi I think has the best one as far as straight-forward, actionable items that actually get results. Automating your finances is such a game changer! Happy Go Money and Work Optional sound like promising reads for my next one 🙂
I’ve read a bunch of these and Worry-Free Money is my favourite! Up next, I think I’d most like to read Stop Over-Thinking Your Money.
I’m looking forward to finally paying off my student loan in the next couple years, so Living Debt Free is the book I’m hoping for.
I’d choose Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All The Money You Will Ever Need by Grant Sabatier. Lots of ones on your list I haven’t read though.
Thank you for that list! I’d like to read “Broke Millennial…”. I’ve discovered your blog last year and I’ve done a lot about my personal finances in 2018 (thanks to you!) and I want to continue this year!
I cannot wait to read Living Debt Free!
I would love to ring in the New Year with Money Diaries! It would be interesting to read about other money successes and struggles and be able to compare them to mine!
Thank you for the list and for the giveaway, I hope I win!
I would love to read “Broke Millennial” by Erin Lowry. I read “Worry Free Money ” by Shannon Lee Simmons based on your recommendation a couple months ago and I absolutely loved it.
Great post! I’ve been searching for a good finance read recommendation to add to my 2019 reading list so this blog post couldn’t be more timely! I’d love to read Broke Millennial Takes on Investing because I could use some guidance in this department.
Hi! Thanks much! I would definitely be interested in taking a look at the first one Worry Free money! Sounds great! Thanks much.
This is a fantastic list. I’ve read worry free money, is totally excellent. Looking forward to reading her newest book living debt free.
I read the Frugalwoods book in 2018 and it definitely gave me a new perspective on what you can accomplish financially in a short amount of time. I’m interested to know what the Work Optional author has to say since Frugalwoods is literally ALL about penny-pinching!
Also have the goal to start a side-hustle this year and can probably use all the help I can get!
Awesome list! Can’t wait to read through it 🙂
Love Financial Freedom and definitely pre-ordered that one. I’m based in Singapore so wouldn’t qualify for the giveaway. Nonetheless, I’m pretty excited about this list, and while I’d love to read all of them, I think for this year, Financial Freedom hits all the right notes for me.
I am planning to read all of these, starting at the top with Worry-Free Money. Fun and approachable sounds like a great way to dive into this list.
I like the listwill check into several of the titles for myself and my millemial kids I would choose Living debt free by Shannon Simmons as I’m heading closer to retirement years and want o be debt free. Thanks!
What a great list. Won’t be able to read them all in one month but maybe with one per month, I’ll get through a good part of the list 🙂 stop overthinking your money should be my first one as I’m really overthinking money matters to the point of getting decisions paralysis :b all the best for 2019!
I love finance books and I haven’t read any of these yet. Great giveaway.
Great list, it’s so hard to find personal finance resources that act as a good starting point for a “normal” thirty-something, not someone who’s already knee-deep in FIRE and running three side hustles.
Personally, first up for me would be The Financial Diet, because for 2019 I need to get back to basics. But the Refinery29 Money Diaries would for sure be the biggest page turner – who isn’t curious about how others get and spend their money?
I’ve read a few of these on my journey to some semblance of adulting, but I hadn’t heard of Worry Free Money and I’d really love to read it.
Thanks for this list, it’ll help me hit my 2019 Reading Goal too 😉
Thank you for the list! I found it great!
So many great books! Thanks. I will teach you to be rich would be my starting place I think.
I would love to read Worry Free Money! Definitely feeling the guilt when it comes to finances – although I’m financially stable I know I could be doing a better job of managing things, but the guilt leads to procrastination and avoidance! Not this year! Bring on 2019 and getting it all together! 🙂
Thanks for the list! Promptly got on my library app and put them all on my holds 🙂 ‘The Financial Debt’ is the one that makes the top of my list!
Would love to read the new 2019 books you are describing above! I’m trying to understand the basics about investing…. on my own; not via an expensive big bank 🙂
Would love to read Happy Go Money. I just retired and want to use the money I have not fret over what I don’t have!
Gettin’ sh*t done this 2019! Would love some of these books 🙂 xo
I flipping love Money Diaries, too! I’ll definitely be sticking that on my TBR for this year. I’ll also likely pick up Preet Banerjee’s book (I am the person who would like to -and should- know more about financial products, so I think this is a book for me for sure) and the Grant Sabatier book as well.
…also, I totally just reached the end of the post (I write my comments as I read because I’m weird like that?) and girl, you are a gem! I think the book I would benefit most from if I won would be the Preet Banerjee book so…I’ll go with that!
I’d love to read Money Diaries! I’m an avid follower of the online series and have been seriously coveting the book – I’m glad to hear that it was good!
Thank you so much for doing this! I am most interested in The Financial Diet although I will be on the lookout for all the books you’ve listed in stores and at the library!
Worry free money!
I’d love to read “Broke Millenial”, mainly but not only for the breakdown of retirement plans here in the US. Thanks for creating this awesome list and giveaway!
Thanks for curating this collection – you’ve just crafted my reading list for the next few months and I’m here for it. Worry-Free Money and Financial Freedom are the two titles I’m most looking forward to diving in to. Thanks!
Interested to start with Worry-Free Money! Thanks for the post, I’ll be checking these out 🙂
I would really like to read Happy go money. It looks like a good read for where I am financially right now.
I am really trying to get my financial house in order! Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry would be just the thing to help me get started… and finished!
None of these were on my radar before but I can’t wait to read most of them! Thanks for sharing!
This is an amazing list, thank you! I’ve added all that I haven’t read to my “to read” list for the year!
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http://www.areweadultsyet.com
I would love to read Financial Freedom!
Financial Freedom by Grant Sabatier sounds like it will be great! I’ve loved reading his blog, Millennial Money.
I’ve already read The Financial Diet book and Broke Millennial’s first book and loved both of them.
Hi Des! Love seeing your blog posts show up in my e-mail every week! I’d love a copy of Kristin Wong’s Get Money. Particularly interested in finding a side hustle!
Refinery29 Money Diaries has been on my to-read list for a few months now as I am truly OBSESSED with real numbers when it comes to income, expenses etc. It’s also so fascinating how different people spend their money and it opens a window into different lives than my own. What goes in and out of our finances is EXACTLY the kind of information people seldom talk about and it sounds like such a perfect read.
I read Worry-free Money early last year and have been looking for more finance books to keep me motivated on my husband and I’s personal finance journey.
Um how about them all?! If I have to pick one it’d be worry free money!
I definitely want to read Worry Free Money!!
I read Worry Free Money off your recommendation, and it is brilliant. Next I’d like to read I Will Teach You To Be Rich. I love finance books with actionable steps.
Thanks for the sharing this list of books! The one I would love to read most is Get Money .
I’d love to read “Happy Go Money” or “Broke Millenial Takes on Investing”!
Looking to up my investing game (aka start! haha) and I’d love to learn more about longer term outlooks on spending and saving money. So either would be awesome reads!
Thanks for posting – I’ve read 2 of these and highly recommend Broke Millennial (honestly changed my financial life and I can’t wait to order her book on investing because she is the reason I started) and TFD’s book.
If I had to pick my next book, it would be Worry Free Money because I feel guilty for spending money on ANYTHING.
Thanks, Des and Happy New Year!
I’d love to read: work optional! It sounds like her approach is in line with my values and I’d love to hear how she applies it to money! Thanks for everything you bring to the table Desirae!
Love the blog and I’d love to read Stop Over-Thinking Your Money!: The Five Simple Rules Of Financial Success by Preet Banerjee !
I’ll probably try to read all of them, but for the contest this is my winner!