best finance books/websites?

[dragonfly411]

What do you think are some of the best financial books or websites? I am looking for resources to educate myself a bit.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

We got one as a wedding present that is actually really good, I''ll check out what the title was when I get home tonight

 

[stephbolt]

I''ve gotten a lot of good advice from Get Rich Slowly.

I also know a lot of people who swear by Dave Ramsey.

Hope those help.

 

[sillyberry]

mint.com is a great website for aggregating all your credit cards and accounts into one service. It also has a lot of budgeting features by category.

I first found it because of a story in the New York Times.

 

[packrat]

I bought Dave Ramsey''s book, well, one of them-The Total Money Makeover. I thought it made a lot of sense and it got me completely pumped up and jazzed to start-but it''s not something you can do by yourself if the other person doesn''t want to do it too. Anyway, that''s the only one I''ve read, but I can recommend it!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 2/22/2010 3:52:32 PM
Author: packrat
I bought Dave Ramsey''s book, well, one of them-The Total Money Makeover. I thought it made a lot of sense and it got me completely pumped up and jazzed to start-but it''s not something you can do by yourself if the other person doesn''t want to do it too. Anyway, that''s the only one I''ve read, but I can recommend it!

That''s the one we got!! Ditto to packrat It''s great

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Date: 2/22/2010 3:52:32 PM
Author: packrat
I bought Dave Ramsey''s book, well, one of them-The Total Money Makeover. I thought it made a lot of sense and it got me completely pumped up and jazzed to start-but it''s not something you can do by yourself if the other person doesn''t want to do it too. Anyway, that''s the only one I''ve read, but I can recommend it!

We keep this book on our coffee table, it keeps me inspired. We''ve passed all the initial baby steps, but sometimes when I start thinking "maybe we should buy a new TV" it''s a good reminder that being weird is good!

 

[packrat]

I wish I could get JD to read it! I got it over a year ago and no dice.

 

[princesss]

From what I''ve read, Ramsey is good for getting people out of debt, while Suze Orman is good for people who are relatively debt-free to plan how to save and spend wisely. It seems like they really disagree on how to use credit scores, so I''d probably read both of them and see what makes sense for my life.

 

[dragonfly411]

Have any of you read Smart Couples Finish Rich?

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Date: 2/22/2010 4:56:14 PM
Author: packrat
I wish I could get JD to read it! I got it over a year ago and no dice.

Haha, I understand. I will sometimes read things out loud in excitement and my husband will say "Nicole, your enthusiasm is contagious, but did you really need to buy this book to tell you that not having debt, saving money and sacrificing today so you can have more tomorrow is a wise idea?" Even though the book operates on basic principals, I find it very refreshing to read at times when I get an itch to keep up with the (broke) Joneses, which is rare.

You''re right, though, it''s impossible to do if your spouse isn''t on board. Dave says to focus on the why instead of the what. Sticking to a written budget it always easier if you are both excited about the goal.

 

[princesss]

Date: 2/22/2010 5:09:47 PM
Author: dragonfly411
Have any of you read Smart Couples Finish Rich?

Honestly, since you two aren''t married, I''d probably focus on developing your own strategy for dealing with finances and making smart choices, and encouraging your BF to do the same. Just in case anything happens (I''m not even thinking a breakup, but more like - what if he dies before you do?) you need to be able to handle all financial decisions by yourself. So train yourself to do it now, and then figure out how to combine spending habits when you get married.

But that''s just my $.02

 

[appletini]

I''m a big fan of www.mint.com but also microsoft money, which has been discontinued so for you get Quicken. I think a lot of day to day financial stuff is just common sense like having a budget and paying bills on time. Once a week I usually log my receipts and pay bills, the MM/Quicken allows me to track all my upcoming bills so I know when they are due and its easy to reconcile everything. I like the mint.com b/c I can see everything in one place and categorize it, the site also lets you create your budget and I typically do online shopping at work so its easy to see where I am with the budget.

I''m also a huge fan of taking advantge of direct deposit. I have portion of my paycheck direct deposited into savings, then any time I get a raise I increase the amount of my savings direct deposit by the income adjustment.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 2/22/2010 5:14:36 PM
Author: princesss

Date: 2/22/2010 5:09:47 PM

Author: dragonfly411

Have any of you read Smart Couples Finish Rich?

Honestly, since you two aren''t married, I''d probably focus on developing your own strategy for dealing with finances and making smart choices, and encouraging your BF to do the same. Just in case anything happens (I''m not even thinking a breakup, but more like - what if he dies before you do?) you need to be able to handle all financial decisions by yourself. So train yourself to do it now, and then figure out how to combine spending habits when you get married.


But that''s just my $.02

Princess - Thanks, that is a good idea

Do any of you worry about putting the info into mint.com?
I am going to be working to set up a monthly budget for us, as well as to keep good track of my debt (which I''m afraid I have a small bit of

) as well as encouraging SO to do the same. I have to admit, I was not raised to be financially savvy, and am trying to avoid the type of debt my parents have accrued over the years. I''m also trying to grasp at hairs and tell myself that we really can make it even if our income is small right now compared to some. I wouldn''t say our paycheck is gone by the time bills are done (which is what I consider living pay check to pay check) but we certainly are on the low end of the income pool.

 

[rierie26]

My mom and cousin swear by "Women and Money" by Suze Orman. I like her tv show and her advice is helpful, even to those who aren''t debt free.

 

[Scorpioanne]

There is a woman here iin Canada who has a show that is really popular, the show is called "''Til Debt Do Us Part" and the expert is all about being sensible and tracking your money. Her name is Gail Vaz Oxlade and she has awebsite that you can download tracking tools from. Very handy, I have learned a lot from her.

 

[Haven]

If we''re talking about personal finance, I have a some suggestions.

I''m another fan of Dave Ramsey. I like his books best, actually. His show is good too.
I also like David Bach''s books, his "latte factor" concept changed the way I spend my pocket change.

I''d also recommend taking the books out of the library rather than buying them.

 

[mrssalvo]

add me to the Dave Ramsey club. We started following him a few years ago and it was life changing for us.

 

[sillyberry]

Dragonfly, I haven''t worried about putting my information on mint, at least not any more than I worry about online banking and other accounts.

I think their privacy explanation is pretty thorough: http://www.mint.com/privacy/

 

[dragonfly411]

Thank you guys so so much for all of this! I have to admit I really don''t know a lot about the whole deal... so these will help give me a start! I hope I can figure mint out... We may end up switching to BOA but we haven''t fully decided whether it would be beneficial enough to go through the hassle.

I am going to head to the library hopefully this weekend.

 

[Dancing Fire]

who needs them books when you can get rich quick by doing the opposite of what i do in the stock market.

 

[dragonfly411]

I have to know what you do to be able to do the opposite

I think I''m still a bit on the poor side to be playing the stock market anyways

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 2/23/2010 11:05:54 AM
Author: dragonfly411
I have to know what you do to be able to do the opposite

I think I''m still a bit on the poor side to be playing the stock market anyways

i''ve been on the SHORT side of financials in the past 9 months

and have been loading up on oil refineries.

now you can go and make some easy $$$''s by doing the opposite,just thank me when you get rich.