5 CLASSIC BOOKS TO HELP BUILD FINANCIAL LITERACY

Building financial literacy isn’t difficult. If you can learn the five foundations of financial literacy, you’ll be well on your way.

So, why don’t most people do it? It’s because all financial decisions are behavioral, and everyone has a personal history with money. That can lead to some very negative ideas about money, and those ideas can hold you back.

In today’s post, you’ll get five book recommendations on handling your money and your ideas about it.

The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is one of the most recognized names in the financial literacy arena. He’s helped millions get out of debt and remain that way. And he’s walked the walk.

Ramsey developed the system after he leveraged his real estate business, and the bank called the loan. He careened into debt and spent the following years avoiding bankruptcy and paying back his debtors. After the experience, he developed a system to help others do the same.

The Total Money Makeover is one of the original books in the Ramsey library. It shows readers how to attack debt with what he calls the debt snowball. It’s sold over 5 million copies and is still popular for its timeless wisdom.

Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? 99 Personal Money Management Principles to Live By, by Cary Siegel

Cary Siegel is a retired business executive who wrote this book for his five children. He soon realized none of the principles was taught in U.S. high schools. The book became a mission and then a classic as it found its way into hundreds of school curriculums.

The book is aimed at young adults but can help anyone serious about gaining financial literacy.

The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness, by Morgan Housel

How can a book written only three years ago become a classic? Morgan Housel simply showed how people throughout history, and in all sorts of circumstances, handle money based on their preconceived notions. That timeless information created a wave of interest, and the book remains an Amazon #1 Bestseller today.

Housel shares 19 stories about money and behavior that will help you come to grips with your own attitudes and how they shape your financial literacy. All money is behavioral, and Housel peels back the curtain on some mysterious ways we use it.

The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Clason

First published in 1926, this financial classic has stood the test of time. The book uses stories set in ancient Babylon to teach lessons on financial literacy that still have practical value today. It proves that money problems have been the same throughout history, as are the solutions.

The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, by T. Harv Eker

This is another book that emphasizes the psychology of finance. Eker was one of the first to maintain that people inherit attitudes about money from their caregivers. Those unconscious attitudes, he maintains, can have a big impact on their financial futures.

Ekers offers ideas on overcoming negative attitudes and demonstrates how personal development is the foundation of financial literacy and success.

The Bottom Line

Money is a static object. It won’t do anything unless you tell it to. These five books will go a long way in helping you determine why you tell it the things you do and how to make sure it’s the right thing to say.