Budgeting is a great tool for financial health. It helps to keep track of your income and expenses, plan for the future, and make sure you stay on top of your finances.
But it’s not as intuitive to figure out as you might think. That’s why books about budgeting can be so helpful.
This is exactly why I’ve gone ahead and selected the best books about budgeting so that you can get the most out of your financial journey.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to build a budget or an experienced spender, these books will help you make the most of your money and put yourself in a better position financially.
Best books about budgeting
1. The Simple Path to Wealth
Hands down, whenever anyone asks me for the one book that can change your financial life, this is the one I always recommend.
The Simple Path to Wealth is written for those who want to get on track with their finances but don’t want it to take up too much of their time. The author, J L Collins, has simplified concepts that have previously felt complex and intimidating into easy-to-follow instructions.
Basically, it focuses on the steps that are needed to move towards achieving financial freedom in life, and covers all aspects of budgeting. It presents readers with a step-by-step guide to building wealth and provides clear explanations of the concepts of savings, investments, taxes, retirement planning, asset allocation – and, of course, budgeting.
2. The Total Money Makeover
The Total Money Makeover is written by Dave Ramsey, who is a well-known financial advisor, radio host, and TV personality. As suggested by the title of this book, it provides readers with an overall makeover for their finances and covers a variety of topics such as budgeting, debt, savings, investments and retirement planning.
Dave Ramsey is known for his blunt yet effective approach to personal finance that favors lean budgets that prioritize reducing debts, so this is a great book for those who want a no-nonsense guide to money management.
He also offers motivation and encouragement throughout the book to help keep readers on track with their financial goals.
3. I Will Teach You to Be Rich
This best-selling personal finance guide is written by Ramit Sethi and provides a contemporary approach to taking control of one’s finances. It has been praised for its holistic approach to budgeting and money management that provides readers with a roadmap for financial success.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich delves into topics such as automating your finances, cutting costs, investing smartly, and creating sub-savings accounts for specific goals. It also provides advice on how to get out of debt and use credit cards responsibly, which are both important aspects of budgeting.
4. The Wealthy Barber
The Wealthy Barber is a classic personal finance book written by David Chilton that has been around since 1989. It presents readers with an easy-going non-stressful approach to managing finances.
He uses the story of a fictional barber named Roy and takes you through his financial journey as he is slowly turned into a wealthy individual on average earnings.
This is one of the few books that hold up decades after publication because of it’s tried and true advice and timeless principles when it comes to budgeting for wealth.
5. The Automatic Millionaire
Making the choice between splurging on small delights and investing for the future can be tough, but The Automatic Millionaire provides a realistic approach to balancing both.
This book was written by David Bach and is all about having money work for you through automation. It provides readers with strategies on how to set up automatic deposits in savings accounts so that your money works for you even when you’re not paying attention.
6. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This In School?
Many of us have felt like we have been left in the dark on how to manage money and this book provides a much-needed guide. It’s written by Cary Siegel and provides readers with 99 concepts for financial success during their lifetime.
Many of the lessons can apply to forming a budget and help to put readers on the right track when it comes to money management. It is a great read for those who want to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of budgeting in bite-sized nuggets.
7. The Financial Diet
The Financial Diet was written by Chelsea Fagan and explores how to make small but meaningful changes that can have a major impact on one’s long-term financial health.
This book focuses on getting out of overwhelming financial situations such as overspending habits, high-interest debt, credit card debt, or low-paying wages. Fagan shows that no matter what kind of financial situation one is in, there are ways to take back control and start budgeting for a better future.
While some of these changes can be difficult, remember that you can use the methods in this book as a temporary case study to gather more information and resources for optimizing your financial life and personal budgets.
8. Get a Financial Life
Get A Financial Life is a popular personal finance book written by Beth Kobliner and provides an in-depth look at all things personal finance for those in their 20s and 30s. It offers support in budgeting and making good financial decisions in a digital era and teaches readers how to best use money and pay down their debt.
It also provides strategies on how to set financial goals, plan for retirement, and build an emergency fund. This book is a great option for those who are just starting out in the world of budgeting and want an easy-to-read guide with actionable advice.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Budgeting Methods
9. Your Money or Your Life
Your Money or Your Life is written by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. This book looks at money in a different way and offers readers an unconventional approach to budgeting.
Its nine steps focus on happiness and fulfillment more than material possessions, and how to align with one’s values when it comes to money.
This helps to keep readers in a place where they make conscious decisions to align their money with their values when developing a personal budget.
There isn’t an empty impulse to make more, but rather a realization of how much is enough. When we are aligned with the purpose of our spending, our budgets become a lot more pleasant to make and follow.
10. The Millionaire Next Door
The Millionaire Next Door is a classic personal finance book written by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. Published in 1996, this book looks at the common traits of millionaires and how they manage their money.
It takes an analytical look at the spending habits of wealthy people and offers readers tips on how to think like a millionaire in order to budget, save, and invest like one.
The biggest message in the book is that most millionaires aren’t as showy as we think, and they certainly don’t spend money lavishly. In fact, most millionaires are frugal and plan their budgets in order to become wealthy.
This book can help to redefine what it means to be wealthy and how budgeting can help readers get one step closer to true wealth.
You may also be interested in: 60/20/20 Rule You Can Use to Dominate Your Budget
11. Think and Grow Rich
Think and Grow Rich is pretty different from traditional personal finance books. Written by Napoleon Hill and first published in 1937, this book looks at success from a different angle.
It focuses on mindset and positive thinking as a way to transform one’s financial situation. It provides readers with ideas on how to develop a money-making mentality and look for different opportunities when it comes to budgeting and saving.
The book may seem abstract to some, but it provides an interesting perspective on how to think when it comes to finances. Many people read this book over and over again to gain new information each time.
12. The Everything Budget Book
The Everything Budget Book is written by Tere Stouffer and provides readers with hundreds of useful tips they need to know about budgeting.
It’s a great crash course for those who need to learn the basics of budgeting and money management in a short amount of time. It also makes a wonderful reference book for brushing up on your personal financial skills, so it’s a great option to keep around in your personal library after reading front to back.
This book offers strategies for setting up a budget, cutting costs, saving money, and investing in the stock market. It also covers topics like credit cards and debt management.
13. The One Week Budget
The One Week Budget is a great option for those who want to get started with budgeting as quickly as possible. Written by Tiffany Aliche, this book takes readers through step-by-step instructions on how to build and maintain a budget in just one week.
It’s perfect for those who struggle with getting started or make too big of changes too quickly when it comes to budgeting.
Instead,iIt takes a more manageable approach that allows readers to make small changes over time rather than trying to overhaul their finances all at once. You’ll be surprised by how much you’re able to accomplish in a single week!
14. Rich Dad Poor Dad
Rich Dad Poor Dad is a popular personal finance book written by Robert Kiyosaki. It looks at the differences between the way wealthy people and middle-class people think about money and provides practical advice on how to become financially independent.
Kiyosaki challenges readers to think differently about money and offers a way for them to start building wealth by investing in real estate, stocks, and other assets instead of depreciating assets like cars and furniture.
Robert Kiyosaki uses 4 quadrants to illustrate how to move from the left side (employee/self-employed) to the right side (business owner/investor) in order to achieve financial independence.
With this transition to the right side of the quadrants, even a person with modest earnings can use the right mindset and actionable advice to become financially independent.
15. How to Manage Your Money When You Don’t Have Any
How to Manage Your Money When You Don’t Have Any is an essential read for those who are just starting out in the world of budgeting. Written by Erik Wecks, this book advocates creating consistency and stability in one’s finances by examining expenses and learning how to control them.
It walks you step by step in setting up a spreadsheet budget so that you can monitor your income and expenses. It also provides detailed guidelines for more sophisticated budgeting, saving money, and reducing debt.
This is one of the best budgeting books for young adults because even if you have no money, it still teaches you how to set up financial systems in preparation for future earnings.
Related: 15 Free Blank Budget Worksheets to Take Control of Your Money
16. You Need a Budget
You Need a Budget is a great tool for those who are looking to break unhealthy patterns in their finances. Written by Jesse Mecham, this book helps readers to unravel the misconceptions about budgeting and financial freedom.
He’s known for saying that you should “give every dollar a job”, which means that you should assign a specific role and goal for each dollar in your budget.
This method helps to create structure and organization in one’s finances and makes it easier to track progress without having loose ends.
17. Spend Well, Live Rich
Spend Well, Live Rich is written by financial expert Michelle Singletary and is one of the most thorough books on saving money and budgeting. She tells the story of her grandmother Big Mama who, on feeble earnings, was able to live a full and rich life with her budgeting skills.
The book teaches 7 money mantras that can help you to make authentic and healthy decisions when it comes to budgeting your money. Some of these principles include sweat the small stuff, cash is better than credit, and keep it simple.
It’s a great resource for those who are looking to make meaningful changes to their financial lives even in a lower earning bracket.
18. You Are a Badass at Making Money
You Are a Badass at Making Money is written by New York Times Bestseller Jen Sincero and focuses on the mental blocks people have when it comes to money. This book provides practical exercises that can help you to change your mindset and make smart financial decisions.
It also teaches readers how to get comfortable with dealing with money, including how to make more of it, how to save money to invest toward your goals, and how to use budgeting as a tool for achieving financial freedom.
In my opinion, it’s also one of the best books on business budgeting for those just getting started on their entrepreneurial journey, as it teaches you how to properly invest in your professional endeavors.
The book is also peppered with plenty of personal anecdotes as well as humor, so it’s a more personal and enjoyable read than other books about budgeting.
19. The 21-Day Financial Fast
The 21-Day Financial Fast was devised by Michelle Singletary and focuses on the spiritual side of budgeting. This book teaches readers how to use a financial fast to reset their mindsets about money and gain a better understanding of their values and goals.
It challenges people to go without their typical spending habits for 21 days, which can help to gain clarity and insight into their finances. It also provides practical advice on setting up a budget, saving more money, and cutting back expenses.
It’s one of the best books on money management for those who are looking to make meaningful changes in their financial lives but don’t know where to start.
20. Grow Your Money
Grow Your Money is a practical guide to investing written by financial journalist Bola Sokunbi. It helps you to orient your budgeting efforts towards making low-risk long term investments that allow you to grow your money and increase your net worth.
It provides step-by-step instructions on how to invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, REITs, and other investment options.
The book also outlines the basic principles of investing, such as diversification and understanding risk, so that readers can make informed decisions when it comes to their finances.
The book is presented by Clever Girl Finance, a popular personal finance blog, so readers can take comfort in the fact that it comes from a reliable source.
