Banks for You!

I mentioned a couple of classic personal finance books, “The Wealthy Barber” and “The Richest Man in Babylon,” in my latest MSN column “7 gifts that can change lives.”

But there are a ton of money books out there that can provide inspiration, either for yourself or for the people you know who may be struggling. This year alone has brought a bumper crop of great titles, including:

“The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed: The Only Personal Finance System for People with Not-So-Regular Jobs” by Joseph D’Agnese and Denise Kiernan. This is, quite simply, a must-have book for those who work for themselves—including regular W-2 employees who have a business on the side. Written by two freelancers, it’s clear, it’s funny and the money management system they outline is simply brilliant. Give this to your contractor/freelancer/self-employed friends and get prepared for them to start lavishing you with thanks when they’re only a few pages in.

“Generation Earn: The Young Professional’s Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back” by Kimberly Palmer. Palmer, who blogs as the Alpha Consumer, turns the idea of the debt-riddled “slacker generation” on its ear, using solid research to show that the youngest generation of professionals has more skills, and far less debt, than is generally acknowledged.  Palmer also reaches beyond tried-and-true personal finance advice to discuss values, giving back and living more lightly in the world. This would be a great pick for a recent college graduate or really anyone in his or her 20s or early 30s.

“Psych Yourself Rich: Get the Mindset and Discipline You Need to Build Your Financial Life” by Farnoosh Torabi. People who keep trying to get their financial act together, only to have everything fall apart, may want to reconsider how they think about their money. Torabi points out the many ways we can sabotage ourselves as well as techniques to get beyond the roadblocks that prevent us from taking control of our cash.

“Your Money: The Missing Manual” by J.D. Roth. Roth’s popular Get Rich Slowly blog documented his journey digging himself out of debt, but his first book goes lightly on the personal anecdotes and focuses more on the nuts and bolts of getting your finances in order. Refreshingly, he doesn’t assume his readers all want to become Donald Trumps, assuring us that it’s more important to be happy than to be rich—but having a handle on your money can help you reach either goal.

“The Simple Dollar: How One Man Wiped Out His Debts and Achieved the Life of His Dreams” by Trent Hamm. Hamm is another popular blogger, and—in contrast to Roth’s approach—this book is all about his journey out of debt. It’s inspirational and accessible and, like the other books on this list, all about creating a happy and prosperous life rather than just an impressive balance sheet.

“Be Centsable: How to Cut Your Household Budget in Half” by Chrissy Pate and Kristin McKee. Even black-belt frugalistas are likely to learn something from this book, and it’s an absolute goldmine of great advice and tips for newbies just starting to get a handle on their household spending.

Update: And how could I forget “Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education without Loans, Scholarships or Mooching Off My Parents” by Zac Bissonnette? Bissonnette is one of the new shining lights of personal finance, who wasn’t even out of school yet when he wrote this book, which delivers some great ideas for getting an education without drowning yourself in debt.

Got a book to recommend? You can do so in the comments.

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