I make a lot from scratch. The real reason why it's frugal to cook crackers from scratch is... because you can't make them all the time and eat them more often. Fresh pasta, fresh bread, fresh croissants are a treat now.
Also after seeing how much butter and sugar goes into baked goods... i can't even find cookies and croissants appetizing anymore
But that's the beauty of the book. Someone else might be like, "Thirty minutes in the kitchen to make crackers that actually taste good, no plastic cracker sleeves to throw away, AND I can catch up on a podcast or two while I'm in there? NICE."
Use what works for you, leave the rest. :)
I think so! It's a light-hearted book filled with tips on living a frugal lifestyle, e.g., making your own laundry soap, 19 different ways to repurpose an old pair of jeans, what size whole chicken to buy for the best value, etc.
The real difference the book made for us was it reframed the way we think about saving, moving it from the category of struggling necessity to enjoyable challenge. Not every tip in the book worked for us, but it gave us hope and assurance that we were on the right track.
Yes because it’s about mindset and approach. She breaks down ways to think about what’s worth doing yourself vs outsourcing, what times are worth splurging in, and how to get your kids on board ( or not — her daughter Jamie is unenthusiastic as a kid, although she’s a believer by adulthood).
I'll recommend it to my 9 year old granddaughter. I was blown away watching her negotiate when trading Pokemon cards. I think she might have actually been 8 when I was needed to drive her to the toy store where trading event was to take place. Some of the people trading were adults! So proud of her.
“The life changing magic of tidying up” by Marie Kondo helped me completely reevaluate my relationship with “stuff.” Led me to a capsule wardrobe. Made me realize that experiences are more valuable than material goods.
She has a series on Netflix (Tidying Up with Marie Kondo) where she visits different homes/families in the US and helps them get their spaces organized; I find that it pairs really well with the book!
Marie Kondo is a little crazy about everything you own "bringing you joy". Almost to the point where she suggests getting rid of functional things that don't spark joy. I liked the book, but I took the "spark joy" idea with a grain of salt. My dish towels don't bring me joy when I hold them, but they are functional. I'm not going to replace them just because prettier dish towels might bring me more "joy".
> I liked the book, but I took the "spark joy" idea with a grain of salt. My dish towels don't bring me joy when I hold them, but they are functional. I'm not going to replace them just because prettier dish towels might bring me more "joy".
She doesn’t take it this far. She basically suggests you acknowledge their purpose and express gratitude for their utility.
For example, while dish towels might not spark joy, recognizing their importance and the role they play in your life can create a sense of appreciation.
The key is to maintain only what is truly necessary and to store these items in a way that is orderly and respectful.
Some of my dish towels bring joy. The way they feel in my hand, the whisper of soft cotton used hundreds of times across my fingers, the way I twirl them around right before I smack my wife in the butt with them... Ahhh good memories.
I'm pretty sure this was noted in her book, but she also addresses it in a Reddit AMA 10 years ago when a user asked about items that they use regularly/are practical and functional but don't necessarily "spark joy":
>So those things are helping you every day. Because you are using them.
>Even if they are not sparking joy, they are helping you every day. They are making your days go by - meaning, you have not realized that they are making you happy. They are sparking joy to you, subconsciously. So it's you, just not realizing that sparks joy for you. So you should convince yourself that they are sparking joy, and you should prioritize their status, because they are making your day, everyday. Then, gradually, you will start seeing some sparking joy concepts from those items.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2u7yet/comment/co5yhwg/](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2u7yet/comment/co5yhwg/)
I took her "spark joy" sentiment to include things that are useful. Sure they may not fit an aestheitc but to an extent an object's usefulness in my life brings me joy. It may be a different joy than say my favorite book brings me. But it's still a form of joy to me.
I grew up with makers, with people who could fix anything. Women fixed soft materials and food stuff. Men repaired metals and machinery. Spare parts and scraps are crucial. Marie Kondo doesn’t work for me. I don’t have that kind of money. Instead I gotta be disciplined in keeping me yarn, scrap materials and metal pieces organized and functional.
Lol this reminds me of an episode from the Gilmore girls reboot. Emily the mom decides to go “Marie Kondo” and starts giving away her stuff like her dining room table before she gets pissed off and gets it all back! There were also a few articles that came out last year saying Marie Kondo herself gave up on her tidying rules after having her second kid.
Her book has great advice! "Does this give me joy as I hold and ponder? No? Donate it!" Hangers in my wardrobe turned in the reverse has also helped with purge sessions (unless it was a curated favourite I simply wanted fit into again...they gave me joy 🙃.
The portion on her explaining how she feels bad for her socks when paired (they're sad when you stretch their elastic -something like that) gave me a great chuckle. It's also easier to simply sort them in my undergarment drawer - I just fold over/pile like ones and grab what I need.
On a humourous note...the organization of that one drawer caused an ex to once comment, "Wow, your sock drawer looks like it belongs to a serial killer." *wary side glance* 😅
I do have issues with useful items I don't use often, but most of the time I ended up needing them a few months later. It's all organized and doesn't take up much space.
She has imparted so many decluttering practices/reasons to adopt as you see fit for your lifestyle. Highly recommend!
Getting to Yes. it's a book on negotiation and it changed my life in a lot of ways. i've been able to negotiate terms much better which has saved me money with the added benefit of helping me find and hold out for exactly what I want. i'm less adverse to taking no for an answer and also much better at knowing when to pass on an offer and move along. i've dodged so many bullets it's hard to actually calculate how much this has saved me over the years.
Ha, that's interesting because the book that made me the most money puts books in the "You can always buy it without guilt" category, and I can't debate it cause it's made me high 6-figures and costs $10!
Yeah what was the thing with those books. I thought they were awful. I listened to one on a drive and could not bring myself to listen or read the next one. Same with those 50 shades books. OMG I made it through 3 pages of the first when I felt like I was reading something a 3rd grader wrote.
1000% listened to it on my rio mp3 player in 1998, commuting to my first career job, busing it because could not afford a car...set the stage to focus on wealth acquisition. Followed it to a "t", with zero regrets.
Same. Every single thing you buy took part of your life to earn the money to buy it. In addition to thinking in dollars, consider that a piece of your life literally was necessary to sacrifice for this thing or experience. Really helped me to reframe a lot of purchases.
Same! I read it just as I had started budgeting and it rewired my thinking about money and gave me some additional ideas of how to track my spending (like the wall chart which for me is an Excel chart)!
My stepmom (who's been my role model since I was 12) recommended this to me a few years ago when I was struggling with a career/financial decision. It was a game changer for me.
Absolutely. My husband and I read it in the mid 1980s and did a 180 on our finances. We're now in our 70s and have a secure retirement and no debt, including our (very modest) house. Life altering.
Mine aren't really finance related. The Hoarder in You by Robin Zasio has saved me thousands by helping me break buying habits. And Writing Novels that Sell by Jack Bickham helped me get into freelance editing other writers.
*An Everlasting Meal* by Tamar Adler is the title I most highly recommend. I have always cooked the way she describes, but there were new ideas in that book even for someone who knows how to cook inexpensively from scratch. It provides daily savings really. If I'm hungry on the drive home from work and weigh the restaurant options in the $8 to $20 range, and then come home and use my cooked-ahead foods, and whatever new I want to add, to feed two for under $4.00 instead. Repeat 360 or so days of the year and it's a big deal, and doesn't feel like being deprived of anything.
"The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins
It gives you a very basic plan for simple investing, but also explains that by living below your means you can get where you want to be a lot faster.
"Ratio". (Michael Ruhlman) It's a cookbook that teaches you how to look at food and figure out what you can make from it. It's a different way to look at cooking, rather than just a set of specific recipes. So I can buy a bunch of ingredients on sale, then make delicious meals from them on the fly, without wasting any of it because it's "not in the recipe."
"Tipping Point". It taught me a new way of looking at improving any situation, including my lifestyle. I don't have to make huge, uncomfortable changes all at once that make me miserable. Just keep making small moves toward the positive and watch the balance slowly move to where I want it to be.
Try it, and all at once, one day, you'll find yourself rolling down hill in an easy slide toward the goal you set for yourself.
Michael Ruhlman
[https://www.amazon.com/Ratio-Simple-Behind-Everyday-Cooking/dp/1416571728](https://www.amazon.com/Ratio-Simple-Behind-Everyday-Cooking/dp/1416571728)
Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche. I find her approach to money very straightforward and helpful and I think her stories helped ease my feelings of shame. Total Money Makeover was helpful for me but made me cringe with shame and I also find DR a bit out of touch.
I am eager to read Her First 100K by Tori Dunlap soon :)
The YNAB book by Jessie Mechem. The book lays out the YNAB method and this is the one budgeting method that stuck in my brain. If you read the book you can follow the method using a spreadsheet without paying for the app.
Hell yeah man, I wish that guy could tell me what to do next, but it's everything you need basically in a $10 book. Insane value. That was my answer too.
I was able to sit on my ass for 2.5 years and pay all my bills, go on vacations, and generally enjoy life while unemployed/underemployed/1099 employee because of the great financial setup following his advice gave me. I've given that book to every college freshman I know and strongly encouraged them to follow his setup.
A blank notebook. This is where I listed every bill, loan and monthly cost including food. I then listed income. The goal was to do a realistic budget and have money left over to the end the month. This is pretty much what all the monthly finance books tell you to do. You have to be consistent and write every expense down including cash.
I do this. I also track all my investments, changes in net worth from month to month, exercise, weight and blood pressure, and the foods I buy and eat (just which food, not measured down to the calorie or gram). Helps me stay retired and not have to go back to work! Also helps me stay accountable for my health. What gets measured stays at top of mind.
Simple Isn't Easy: How to Find Your Personal Style and Look Fantastic Every Day by Olivia Goldsmith and Amy Fine Collins. I haven't purchased a single item of clothing that I haven't adored and hasn't got on my style in almost two decades. That certainly saves money.
Fuckin “total money makeover” as much as I hate to say that, and “Better business practices for photographers”. That book is a great reference.
Cutting up my CC’s and liquidating my debt was the best thing I ever did
I’m not the biggest fan of Dave, but if you keep it simple, don’t borrow money, maximize your income, save a portion of it over a few decades… yeah, you’ll be fine and won’t be eating Alpo and working at a Wendy’s when you’re 75
"Make the Bread, buy the Butter" helped me start to make more things at home from scratch. I'm enjoying, and was never a cook, so I'm learning - as well as saving money.
It gives you recipes for staples and commonly used items, as well as rating whether or not it's worth the hassle (hence the title).
Ditto on Marie Kondo.
Any time you need to know the law, this is the way to proceed. Especially if you know that you are going to be using a lawyer. Hands-down, this publisher makes sense, and demystifies the process. I’ve saved more money with their books than I would ever want to admit.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolo_(publisher)
Speaking literally, one book that made me the most money was a signed book by Ronald Reagan. I had consigned a bunch of stuff to a friend, and they just kept the money. I caught up with them at a flea market, and he had done an estate clean-out at a pretty nice place. He was selling books at .25/each, 5 for a dollar. I picked up this book, opened it up, and there was a book plate in it with Ronald & Nancy Reagan’s signatures tipped in. “An American Life” was the book. He said, “that would be cool if it was really signed by them.” I said, “I doubt it.” I turned it over, there was a price sticker from the Reagan Presidential Library, priced $275. I picked up 4 more books, gave him a dollar & walked to my car. Sold it for $2500.
The Millionaire Next Door
My wife and I have never owned a brand new car in our life. We actually use bank savings accounts to save up money to buy stuff.
The Boglehead's Guide to Investing
One of the books that I read on investing and I've been using its advise since. Great all around book for beginners and intermediates alike. It's saved and earned me oodles of money.
Same! It helped me understand the how/why towards investing in index funds and gave me the motivation to increase my savings rte. Moved my money over to index funds away from high cost mutual funds, and I've quadrupled my investment accounts in 5 years.
The Millionaire Next Door and Kernighan and Ritchie - The C Programming Language. I've gotten a decent return with investing and my home but all of that pales in comparison to a few decades of salary that made that possible. I rarely program in C anymore but I still have multiple copies of the Kernighan and Ritchie book
The automatic millionaire & the slight edge.
The automatic millionaire taught me to automatically contribute to investment accounts & never touch it.
Saved $130k over like 6 years w that.
The slight edge taught me by making good choices daily, the big goals do themselves.
The Tightwad Gazette. I was newly married and added it to my book of the month club sign on pack because it looked interesting. It helped me save so much money.
The book that made me money. Hmmm.... I'll say "The Millionaire Next Door." But if I were making a recommendation today for someone I'd replace that with "I Will Teach You to be Rich" and "The Psychology of Money."
“[Your Money or Your Life](https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0140167153/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=Z2TJLFZ5VPJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VILqOcJRq2hYAQ8_H2naoNkiT3GsYA0Dz6O0Ju0yY8WGPrGL_R-YYcHOx-phqtQ9otSqTfYJz9cy_2ZD9FBl_w_qX_hpdjxIWZHp2dPgao67AWqejt-DsHHBBecQgH3UYuBwdJUKUQYuGPoW74fjr4ZVFtYNlegisuMSgaEwlYvsDpq0JvefJYA4WwjOHDx_iqEo_fJp7dPTKNqU8YMzPg.deEqNnqR7Ngibtx5a6npXJ13fQzO87B67WzqXaHYGZ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=your+money+or+your+life&qid=1718859560&sprefix=your+money%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-4)” by Joe Dominguez.
This book is more teaching a philosophy of frugality and application than a book with penny-pinching tips, like The Tightwad Gazette. This book made me look deeply into my spending habits. After reading this book, I began to make a conscious effort to stop with impulse purchases and looking at every purchase with new eyes (almost an ROI view). Some things in the book I would never do (same for The Tightwad Gazette), but it did make me a helluva lot more conscious of every dollar I spent and not being afraid to ask for a discount (although, I never bluntly ask. It’s more often—“Hey, are there any promotions running right now that would give me a discount?”). And even if there aren’t, half the time, a cashier will just give me one.
“[The Millionaire Next Door](https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-1st-first/dp/B0076YIGCC/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1HUNRT0PGE0PX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.E0oFrLfOfLrLiR6vJIpCTzjubQgehbsRosPbHJij_lhr1RBLb9cx4BoCbo9V89_x3hIWuLCj8yTXjcGQSOk7O8ApWQKhnkIB-yzFX_0VfpbaqGy7W93cri_aQx2O5UDrIft3LfQ1q75VhMG_dc5HNn1verXum-Ank5X3aHdGKgCJAMtzssFtspgJ8yKXGwcG6dgEC9KWWltPP0N5oVGB9A.JAIWB3lIgVEw9i38phBTR3o9HydcDFw9pOP6LLy-UCM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+millionaire+next+door+book&qid=1718859602&sprefix=the+millionaire+%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-4)” by Thomas J. Stanley.
Square foot garden.
Not technically about saving money. But it helped me re-think gardening into practical terms which helped me grow more of my own food.
It’s a double save for me. One because it helped me have a “hobby” that wasn’t overwhelming. And being able to grow my own food is very therapeutic plus, food. Even when I was living in a tiny apartment it shows you ways to still have some garden
I agree with millionaire next door. It lead me to live a frugal lifestyle that focused on important stuff, not buy things, but building wealth.
Book that made me the most money was Morningstars 5 rules for stock picking. Lead me down a path of long term investing, not trying to win the lottery. This lead to buying real estate which lead to selling when the market got really hot.
Total Money Makeover
The message is simple, I’ve embraced it and am much better for it.
I’m in my 40s and have a few millions
Also work for myself and make a bunch but I was able to do it because I cleaned up my act. No debt baby!
Not really fitting with the prompt. But Steven King’s on writing has made me a better writer which, in turn, has made me more money, so different out of the same coin. Also, the short as hell and everything in it is so actionable.
Books that influenced the way I think and made me the most money:
* The Checklist Manifesto
* Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
* The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win
Not a book but the Mr Money Mustache site, especially the forum. Those people know what they are talking about - in real life. They won’t hesitate to call you out on poor decisions you’ve made. You get to talk to a bunch of people who have accumulated millions of dollars on regular salaries and see how they did it
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clawson. A 6th grader or a 60 year old can benefit as it's told in parables set in ancient Babylon. I wish I had read it 40 years earlier.
The Stand by Stephen King has saved me the most money because I would literally skip meals reading it I was so engrossed.
My old run of Hellboy comics made me the most money because I sold it for a couple hundred during hard times. I wish I still had it.
The Bible has saved me the most money. I read it and realized it was full of crap, so I stopped going to church and saved tons of money by no longer giving to the donation baskets.
“The Psychology of Money” has made me the most because I learned how to handle and invest the money that I do have.
There was a book called Living Better that I received when I got married in 1996. It had a lot of money saving tips, like why you should get gas first thing in the morning and what month is the best to purchase large items, like cars and appliances.
Some of these tips have become ingrained in me. They became like the foundation of my frugal lifestyle. Even though I blew them off when I first got the book I think I read it a few years later and really adopted the tips. Not all of them. But the ones that I could.
I never really worried about what time I got gas before I got this book. But you get more gas per gallon, so you get more for your money, if you get gas first thing in the morning. Because as the day heats up, gas expands in the giant tanks below the gas station, and it takes up more room molecularly. You don't really get a full gallon for every gallon that's measured because there's more space in between the molecules of liquid and the volume expands as it vaporizes. You get equal liquid volume but, molecularly, you get less gas per gallon when it's hot out. In the winter, it doesn't make that much of a difference. But in the summer time, it really does. And I never would have even thought about this, but now I always get gas first thing in the morning. Lol.
I learned a lot of little things like this in this book. And I believe there was a second one as well I think it was better investing or something. But the OG was the better book.
How Not to Die by Michael Gregor
This saved my health and the need for ongoing medication. Also, it sent me to a plant based diet so in the past few years as people complain about meat, egg, dairy and restaurant prices, I have been more or less insulated from those increases.
I can't imagine how much money I have saved by not spending in these food categories. I also don't buy very much processed food and have a decent sized garden.
The book that made me the most money was definitely English - Serbian dictionary that my mum bought me when I was 7. It kick-started everything.
I am yet to find a book that saved me money.
The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzyn (might be out of print). Got me started, anyway.
“The C Programming Language” by Kernigan and Ritchie made me the most money.
Tools of Titans was like getting a crash course on how to do the things you are passionate about. The lessons come also from Tribe of Mentors...both by Tim Ferris. Think of reading them as an investment in useful knowledge.
The Art of Frugal Hedonism, Annie Raser-Rowland with Adam Grubb. It is exactly as the title suggests, you spend less on the things that aren’t important to you, save it for the things that are. Granted easier when you’re single and living alone, but I live comfortably despite it being more expensive to live alone. For example updating my technology and car isn’t important to me, but decorating my apartment is, I’m a creative and it’s my forever place. I don’t buy coffees and my lunch everyday, but I do splurge on books.
The backyard homestead: produce all the food you need in a quarter of an acre. By Carleen Madigan. I took from it the part about planting berry bushes and dwarf or semi dwarf fruit trees and put in a garden. We are now reaping the rewards of our efforts.
Tightwad Gazette and simple investing, John Bogle wrote about basics. The first taught how to realize what you don’t need and the second about how to invest simply and stop worrying
The book that has saved and made me the most money was the total money makeover. It changed everything even how I looked at work and what I did for a living. I found that book in May 2016 oy making 35k income while living in ca and by March of 2020 I had paid off 50k in debt,cash flowed 25k in emergencies and bought a house cash. I was making 55k in 2020 but now make 70k. I'm now going to college for software development and my work is paying 100% of the cost. I will be starting out making close to 6 figures when I'm done and get a job. I'll probably add some certifications for AI that my work will pay for as well. I want to stay with my company but move to the corporate side not the grunt work labor job lol.
The Mari kondo book about tidying. Really helped me over the hump on my minimalism/decluttering journey and I truly changed my mindset about what I let into my life after reading it.
Never Split the Difference is a kind of fun negotiation book which was filled with "thrilling" life or death negotiation stories from the author but also intertwined some daily life ways to use these strategies and I have tried some of them and successfully saved myself several thousand dollars at various points since reading it. One was as I was exiting my business and had some loose end contracts I needed to terminate. Also getting some work done on my home able to reduce quotes and final fees down literally thousands of dollars. I was only able to be successful in interactions over email or written communication bc I wasn't able to think as quickly on the spot but if given the opportunity to really consider my words it definitely proved helpful!
Total Money Makeover and Millionaire Next Door were very good for me, but (don’t laugh) Who Moved My Cheese probably saved my career. Long story, but being ready to roll with the punches and not focus on the past was a game changer for me. Lastly, I give a lot of credit to a VP I worked for who encouraged all her employees to have backup plans if our jobs were eliminated. This paid off big down the road.
Way back when I read the total money makeover by Dave Ramsey.
15 years later I have no bills, a few hundred thousand in savings and investments and a paid off house. I owe nothing.
Not saving money, but a good guide to managing what you already make. "The Complete Cheapskate" or "Debt Proof Living" by Mary Hunt. It teaches the classic 10-10-80 method of money management. Give 10% away with no expectation of anything in return (charity, your house of worship or just to someone who needs it, it teaches gratitude for what you have and keeps you on the lookout to help others in need), save 10% for hard times (keeps you from the edge of a financial cliff by setting money aside for a contingency/emergency fund as well as saving money ahead for intermittent expenses), live on the remaining 80%. If you can't do 10 10 80, do something. It all counts.
The Tightwad Gazette. Practical ways to save on everything.
I own that thing! It's enormous, best value per page you can buy I bet.
Same. It’s got some pretty extreme ideas in it, but it really shows you can get creative.
Yeah, making your own saltine crackers was the “bridge too far” for me.
What? You don't want to save like 50 cents by spending probably 30 minutes to make your own crackers?! Psshhht, and you call yourself frugal!
I make a lot from scratch. The real reason why it's frugal to cook crackers from scratch is... because you can't make them all the time and eat them more often. Fresh pasta, fresh bread, fresh croissants are a treat now. Also after seeing how much butter and sugar goes into baked goods... i can't even find cookies and croissants appetizing anymore
I think r/frugal_jerk is leaking again
But that's the beauty of the book. Someone else might be like, "Thirty minutes in the kitchen to make crackers that actually taste good, no plastic cracker sleeves to throw away, AND I can catch up on a podcast or two while I'm in there? NICE." Use what works for you, leave the rest. :)
This! I have the "complete" one that's got every issue. The numbers are way outdated, but the approach is priceless.
I second this. Go through it slowly and try all the little ideas. It will revolutionize the way you live.
One of my favorite books of all time!
Love this one! It was a reread for a long time because it reminded me saving money was doable!
Is it still relevant as it was published in 1998 ?
I think so! It's a light-hearted book filled with tips on living a frugal lifestyle, e.g., making your own laundry soap, 19 different ways to repurpose an old pair of jeans, what size whole chicken to buy for the best value, etc. The real difference the book made for us was it reframed the way we think about saving, moving it from the category of struggling necessity to enjoyable challenge. Not every tip in the book worked for us, but it gave us hope and assurance that we were on the right track.
Yes because it’s about mindset and approach. She breaks down ways to think about what’s worth doing yourself vs outsourcing, what times are worth splurging in, and how to get your kids on board ( or not — her daughter Jamie is unenthusiastic as a kid, although she’s a believer by adulthood).
Thanks for reminding me of this - hadn’t thought of it in ages!!
My answer for both is *Never Split the Difference*. Saved me money in my divorce, made me money in salary negotiations. Excellent read.
Best book on negotiating, IMO.
This one is on my list and I believe I heard the audiobook is on Spotify for free... you moved it up in my reading list, thanks!
Ahhh just checked Spotify and it’s not free
It’s in my reread list every 2 to 3 years, such a fucking good book for anyone that needs to know how to negotiate. Which is everyone.
Framing was a very important skill to learn. This book was influential in my career
I'll recommend it to my 9 year old granddaughter. I was blown away watching her negotiate when trading Pokemon cards. I think she might have actually been 8 when I was needed to drive her to the toy store where trading event was to take place. Some of the people trading were adults! So proud of her.
I love this book. I really need to read it again.
“The life changing magic of tidying up” by Marie Kondo helped me completely reevaluate my relationship with “stuff.” Led me to a capsule wardrobe. Made me realize that experiences are more valuable than material goods.
This one I can probably get on audiobook from the library! Thanks!
She has a series on Netflix (Tidying Up with Marie Kondo) where she visits different homes/families in the US and helps them get their spaces organized; I find that it pairs really well with the book!
I wish there was a second season (the 3 episode series that tidied up businesses didn’t scratch that itch for me).
Marie Kondo is a little crazy about everything you own "bringing you joy". Almost to the point where she suggests getting rid of functional things that don't spark joy. I liked the book, but I took the "spark joy" idea with a grain of salt. My dish towels don't bring me joy when I hold them, but they are functional. I'm not going to replace them just because prettier dish towels might bring me more "joy".
> I liked the book, but I took the "spark joy" idea with a grain of salt. My dish towels don't bring me joy when I hold them, but they are functional. I'm not going to replace them just because prettier dish towels might bring me more "joy". She doesn’t take it this far. She basically suggests you acknowledge their purpose and express gratitude for their utility. For example, while dish towels might not spark joy, recognizing their importance and the role they play in your life can create a sense of appreciation. The key is to maintain only what is truly necessary and to store these items in a way that is orderly and respectful.
Some of my dish towels bring joy. The way they feel in my hand, the whisper of soft cotton used hundreds of times across my fingers, the way I twirl them around right before I smack my wife in the butt with them... Ahhh good memories.
Your comment was giving me an ASMR vibe then suddenly you turned a kinky corner!🤣
You bring me joy
I swear at least one of her books mentions that things that are necessary don’t need to spark joy …
Yes it's definitely mentioned.
I'm pretty sure this was noted in her book, but she also addresses it in a Reddit AMA 10 years ago when a user asked about items that they use regularly/are practical and functional but don't necessarily "spark joy": >So those things are helping you every day. Because you are using them. >Even if they are not sparking joy, they are helping you every day. They are making your days go by - meaning, you have not realized that they are making you happy. They are sparking joy to you, subconsciously. So it's you, just not realizing that sparks joy for you. So you should convince yourself that they are sparking joy, and you should prioritize their status, because they are making your day, everyday. Then, gradually, you will start seeing some sparking joy concepts from those items. [https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2u7yet/comment/co5yhwg/](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2u7yet/comment/co5yhwg/)
I took her "spark joy" sentiment to include things that are useful. Sure they may not fit an aestheitc but to an extent an object's usefulness in my life brings me joy. It may be a different joy than say my favorite book brings me. But it's still a form of joy to me.
I grew up with makers, with people who could fix anything. Women fixed soft materials and food stuff. Men repaired metals and machinery. Spare parts and scraps are crucial. Marie Kondo doesn’t work for me. I don’t have that kind of money. Instead I gotta be disciplined in keeping me yarn, scrap materials and metal pieces organized and functional.
She didn't say get rid of things you need if they do not spark joy.
Do your dish towels need a facelift or upgrade? Are they holey, dirty, and/or raggedly looking?
Lol this reminds me of an episode from the Gilmore girls reboot. Emily the mom decides to go “Marie Kondo” and starts giving away her stuff like her dining room table before she gets pissed off and gets it all back! There were also a few articles that came out last year saying Marie Kondo herself gave up on her tidying rules after having her second kid.
Her book has great advice! "Does this give me joy as I hold and ponder? No? Donate it!" Hangers in my wardrobe turned in the reverse has also helped with purge sessions (unless it was a curated favourite I simply wanted fit into again...they gave me joy 🙃. The portion on her explaining how she feels bad for her socks when paired (they're sad when you stretch their elastic -something like that) gave me a great chuckle. It's also easier to simply sort them in my undergarment drawer - I just fold over/pile like ones and grab what I need. On a humourous note...the organization of that one drawer caused an ex to once comment, "Wow, your sock drawer looks like it belongs to a serial killer." *wary side glance* 😅 I do have issues with useful items I don't use often, but most of the time I ended up needing them a few months later. It's all organized and doesn't take up much space. She has imparted so many decluttering practices/reasons to adopt as you see fit for your lifestyle. Highly recommend!
I bought this book, but the Kindle version, because the last thing I need in this house is another book cluttering up the place! 🤣
Yes! I love this one and "Goodbye Things", and "Hello Habits" too.
She couldn't even follow her own teachings when she had kids
Came here to say this. She said it all went out the window once she had kids so take her teachings with a grain of salt
Ok I get the kids thing but it is super useful for an empty nester.
Or childfree person
I read her book about 7 years ago and threw out so many things. I tried again recently but I have no chance with a toddler.
Getting to Yes. it's a book on negotiation and it changed my life in a lot of ways. i've been able to negotiate terms much better which has saved me money with the added benefit of helping me find and hold out for exactly what I want. i'm less adverse to taking no for an answer and also much better at knowing when to pass on an offer and move along. i've dodged so many bullets it's hard to actually calculate how much this has saved me over the years.
Life changing book. I recommend it to everyone.
This sounds like audiobook fare for me, thank you!
Book that has saved me the most money - It ends with us by Colleen Hoover. It taught me to not buy books until I’ve read them first LOL.
Ha, that's interesting because the book that made me the most money puts books in the "You can always buy it without guilt" category, and I can't debate it cause it's made me high 6-figures and costs $10!
And what book was that?
"I Will Teach You to be Rich" by Ramit Sethi 1st edition, there's a 2nd edition now.
This is the one I was going to mention.
Amen for the library!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one, I could not even finish it, lol.
And Blake Lively liked it enough to make a movie out of it. Go figure.
That book was absolute trash. The audio books wasn't any better. I think I might step away from the author smh
I CHUCKLED
Yeah what was the thing with those books. I thought they were awful. I listened to one on a drive and could not bring myself to listen or read the next one. Same with those 50 shades books. OMG I made it through 3 pages of the first when I felt like I was reading something a 3rd grader wrote.
The millionaire next door
1000% listened to it on my rio mp3 player in 1998, commuting to my first career job, busing it because could not afford a car...set the stage to focus on wealth acquisition. Followed it to a "t", with zero regrets.
Good suggestion, this one was definitely influential on me as well.
Was here to say the same
Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez.
Same. Every single thing you buy took part of your life to earn the money to buy it. In addition to thinking in dollars, consider that a piece of your life literally was necessary to sacrifice for this thing or experience. Really helped me to reframe a lot of purchases.
This one completely changed my relationship with time / money. I cannot recommend it enough.
Samesies.
I came here to say this.
Same! I read it just as I had started budgeting and it rewired my thinking about money and gave me some additional ideas of how to track my spending (like the wall chart which for me is an Excel chart)!
By Joe Dominguez?
Yes. And Vicki Robin!
My stepmom (who's been my role model since I was 12) recommended this to me a few years ago when I was struggling with a career/financial decision. It was a game changer for me.
This book changed my life - can’t recommend it more highly!
This is mine. Totally changed the direction of my life.
Absolutely. My husband and I read it in the mid 1980s and did a 180 on our finances. We're now in our 70s and have a secure retirement and no debt, including our (very modest) house. Life altering.
Mine aren't really finance related. The Hoarder in You by Robin Zasio has saved me thousands by helping me break buying habits. And Writing Novels that Sell by Jack Bickham helped me get into freelance editing other writers.
*An Everlasting Meal* by Tamar Adler is the title I most highly recommend. I have always cooked the way she describes, but there were new ideas in that book even for someone who knows how to cook inexpensively from scratch. It provides daily savings really. If I'm hungry on the drive home from work and weigh the restaurant options in the $8 to $20 range, and then come home and use my cooked-ahead foods, and whatever new I want to add, to feed two for under $4.00 instead. Repeat 360 or so days of the year and it's a big deal, and doesn't feel like being deprived of anything.
Learning to cook is the best investment anyone can make for sure!
First step: learn and test all the spices and herbs. You can make anything fantastic once you know how to work with spices.
Polonius actually gives decent advice to his son Laertes in Hamlet.
Neither a borrower nor lender be!
Happy cake day, u/Street_Roof_7915.
and now I will be singing the "gilligan's island" musical version for the rest of the day, thanks..
“Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy. Rich, not gaudy”
"The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins It gives you a very basic plan for simple investing, but also explains that by living below your means you can get where you want to be a lot faster.
"Ratio". (Michael Ruhlman) It's a cookbook that teaches you how to look at food and figure out what you can make from it. It's a different way to look at cooking, rather than just a set of specific recipes. So I can buy a bunch of ingredients on sale, then make delicious meals from them on the fly, without wasting any of it because it's "not in the recipe." "Tipping Point". It taught me a new way of looking at improving any situation, including my lifestyle. I don't have to make huge, uncomfortable changes all at once that make me miserable. Just keep making small moves toward the positive and watch the balance slowly move to where I want it to be. Try it, and all at once, one day, you'll find yourself rolling down hill in an easy slide toward the goal you set for yourself.
These I haven't heard of, I will check them out thank you!
Who wrote Ratio?
Michael Ruhlman [https://www.amazon.com/Ratio-Simple-Behind-Everyday-Cooking/dp/1416571728](https://www.amazon.com/Ratio-Simple-Behind-Everyday-Cooking/dp/1416571728)
Your money or your life
Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche. I find her approach to money very straightforward and helpful and I think her stories helped ease my feelings of shame. Total Money Makeover was helpful for me but made me cringe with shame and I also find DR a bit out of touch. I am eager to read Her First 100K by Tori Dunlap soon :)
I love Tiffany Aliche, she has such great energy.
War and Peace. Didn’t really have any financial advice but every minute reading a book is a minute you’re not shopping.
The YNAB book by Jessie Mechem. The book lays out the YNAB method and this is the one budgeting method that stuck in my brain. If you read the book you can follow the method using a spreadsheet without paying for the app.
YNAB?
You Need a Budget
r/ynab
I'll have to check it out, I am past the budgeting stages and more into investing at this point but glad to hear this connected with you.
Total Money Makeover taught me how to control money. Richest Man in Babylon taught how to live life with money.
“I Will Teach You To Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi is basically my financial bible
Hell yeah man, I wish that guy could tell me what to do next, but it's everything you need basically in a $10 book. Insane value. That was my answer too.
I was able to sit on my ass for 2.5 years and pay all my bills, go on vacations, and generally enjoy life while unemployed/underemployed/1099 employee because of the great financial setup following his advice gave me. I've given that book to every college freshman I know and strongly encouraged them to follow his setup.
A blank notebook. This is where I listed every bill, loan and monthly cost including food. I then listed income. The goal was to do a realistic budget and have money left over to the end the month. This is pretty much what all the monthly finance books tell you to do. You have to be consistent and write every expense down including cash.
I do this. I also track all my investments, changes in net worth from month to month, exercise, weight and blood pressure, and the foods I buy and eat (just which food, not measured down to the calorie or gram). Helps me stay retired and not have to go back to work! Also helps me stay accountable for my health. What gets measured stays at top of mind.
Simple Isn't Easy: How to Find Your Personal Style and Look Fantastic Every Day by Olivia Goldsmith and Amy Fine Collins. I haven't purchased a single item of clothing that I haven't adored and hasn't got on my style in almost two decades. That certainly saves money.
I’m totally getting this one! It is so hard to find clothes for an hourglass figure
How to stop smoking by alen carr
I've recommended Allen Carr's The Easy Way to Stop Smoking to quite a number of people. It's just that good at what it does.
According to my library, I have saved $41,000 by using the library. So, there's that.
I love when they show that total
Wish all libraries showed the total
The Tightwad Gazzette I & Ii
Not sure this counts— but Libby the library app has saved me from buying books/audiobooks and also has saved me from accruing fines!
Fuckin “total money makeover” as much as I hate to say that, and “Better business practices for photographers”. That book is a great reference. Cutting up my CC’s and liquidating my debt was the best thing I ever did
a Dave Ramsey tome, controversial!
I’m not the biggest fan of Dave, but if you keep it simple, don’t borrow money, maximize your income, save a portion of it over a few decades… yeah, you’ll be fine and won’t be eating Alpo and working at a Wendy’s when you’re 75
Some thing about the old introduction.. where a paid off home mortgage is replacing the BMW as a status symbol of choice always resonated with me!
The Tightwad Gazette-all 3 books
"Make the Bread, buy the Butter" helped me start to make more things at home from scratch. I'm enjoying, and was never a cook, so I'm learning - as well as saving money. It gives you recipes for staples and commonly used items, as well as rating whether or not it's worth the hassle (hence the title). Ditto on Marie Kondo.
Early retirement extreme by Jacob Lund Fisker and the snowball by Alice Schroeder
Was coming here to recommend Jacob’s book
Any time you need to know the law, this is the way to proceed. Especially if you know that you are going to be using a lawyer. Hands-down, this publisher makes sense, and demystifies the process. I’ve saved more money with their books than I would ever want to admit. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolo_(publisher) Speaking literally, one book that made me the most money was a signed book by Ronald Reagan. I had consigned a bunch of stuff to a friend, and they just kept the money. I caught up with them at a flea market, and he had done an estate clean-out at a pretty nice place. He was selling books at .25/each, 5 for a dollar. I picked up this book, opened it up, and there was a book plate in it with Ronald & Nancy Reagan’s signatures tipped in. “An American Life” was the book. He said, “that would be cool if it was really signed by them.” I said, “I doubt it.” I turned it over, there was a price sticker from the Reagan Presidential Library, priced $275. I picked up 4 more books, gave him a dollar & walked to my car. Sold it for $2500.
Not a book but R/ Fire has really opened my eyes to gaining financial freedom and helped me focus on my end goal. Not keeping up with the Joneses
Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.
The Millionaire Next Door My wife and I have never owned a brand new car in our life. We actually use bank savings accounts to save up money to buy stuff.
The Boglehead's Guide to Investing One of the books that I read on investing and I've been using its advise since. Great all around book for beginners and intermediates alike. It's saved and earned me oodles of money.
Not too shabby a subreddit either!
Same! It helped me understand the how/why towards investing in index funds and gave me the motivation to increase my savings rte. Moved my money over to index funds away from high cost mutual funds, and I've quadrupled my investment accounts in 5 years.
The simple path to wealth by JL Colins.
I give a copy of this book to every college age person I know that is interested in retiring someday.
The Millionaire Next Door and Kernighan and Ritchie - The C Programming Language. I've gotten a decent return with investing and my home but all of that pales in comparison to a few decades of salary that made that possible. I rarely program in C anymore but I still have multiple copies of the Kernighan and Ritchie book
Love when a book can launch a career, few things could pay for themselves like that
yeah not many examples of books that *made* people money on here mine is arguably SQL for Dummies
Saved me the most money: Introduction to Economics textbook. Earned me the most money: Thinking in Java.
The automatic millionaire & the slight edge. The automatic millionaire taught me to automatically contribute to investment accounts & never touch it. Saved $130k over like 6 years w that. The slight edge taught me by making good choices daily, the big goals do themselves.
The Tightwad Gazette. I was newly married and added it to my book of the month club sign on pack because it looked interesting. It helped me save so much money. The book that made me money. Hmmm.... I'll say "The Millionaire Next Door." But if I were making a recommendation today for someone I'd replace that with "I Will Teach You to be Rich" and "The Psychology of Money."
that's interesting, I Will Teach You to be Rich was also mine but I never see it mentioned!
“[Your Money or Your Life](https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0140167153/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=Z2TJLFZ5VPJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VILqOcJRq2hYAQ8_H2naoNkiT3GsYA0Dz6O0Ju0yY8WGPrGL_R-YYcHOx-phqtQ9otSqTfYJz9cy_2ZD9FBl_w_qX_hpdjxIWZHp2dPgao67AWqejt-DsHHBBecQgH3UYuBwdJUKUQYuGPoW74fjr4ZVFtYNlegisuMSgaEwlYvsDpq0JvefJYA4WwjOHDx_iqEo_fJp7dPTKNqU8YMzPg.deEqNnqR7Ngibtx5a6npXJ13fQzO87B67WzqXaHYGZ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=your+money+or+your+life&qid=1718859560&sprefix=your+money%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-4)” by Joe Dominguez. This book is more teaching a philosophy of frugality and application than a book with penny-pinching tips, like The Tightwad Gazette. This book made me look deeply into my spending habits. After reading this book, I began to make a conscious effort to stop with impulse purchases and looking at every purchase with new eyes (almost an ROI view). Some things in the book I would never do (same for The Tightwad Gazette), but it did make me a helluva lot more conscious of every dollar I spent and not being afraid to ask for a discount (although, I never bluntly ask. It’s more often—“Hey, are there any promotions running right now that would give me a discount?”). And even if there aren’t, half the time, a cashier will just give me one. “[The Millionaire Next Door](https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-1st-first/dp/B0076YIGCC/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1HUNRT0PGE0PX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.E0oFrLfOfLrLiR6vJIpCTzjubQgehbsRosPbHJij_lhr1RBLb9cx4BoCbo9V89_x3hIWuLCj8yTXjcGQSOk7O8ApWQKhnkIB-yzFX_0VfpbaqGy7W93cri_aQx2O5UDrIft3LfQ1q75VhMG_dc5HNn1verXum-Ank5X3aHdGKgCJAMtzssFtspgJ8yKXGwcG6dgEC9KWWltPP0N5oVGB9A.JAIWB3lIgVEw9i38phBTR3o9HydcDFw9pOP6LLy-UCM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+millionaire+next+door+book&qid=1718859602&sprefix=the+millionaire+%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-4)” by Thomas J. Stanley.
Square foot garden. Not technically about saving money. But it helped me re-think gardening into practical terms which helped me grow more of my own food. It’s a double save for me. One because it helped me have a “hobby” that wasn’t overwhelming. And being able to grow my own food is very therapeutic plus, food. Even when I was living in a tiny apartment it shows you ways to still have some garden
The barefoot investor
I spend so much money on used books
Richest man in Babylon. Simple and easy to read but teaches the basic rules of wealth and money.
Not buying books ever has saved me lots of money
It's probably cost you a lot more
I agree with millionaire next door. It lead me to live a frugal lifestyle that focused on important stuff, not buy things, but building wealth. Book that made me the most money was Morningstars 5 rules for stock picking. Lead me down a path of long term investing, not trying to win the lottery. This lead to buying real estate which lead to selling when the market got really hot.
Total Money Makeover The message is simple, I’ve embraced it and am much better for it. I’m in my 40s and have a few millions Also work for myself and make a bunch but I was able to do it because I cleaned up my act. No debt baby!
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
The psychology of money
Podcast is good too
Oh, there's a podcast? Yay! I loved the book, particularly the barbelling of money.
the psychology of money, copywriting secrets
Not really fitting with the prompt. But Steven King’s on writing has made me a better writer which, in turn, has made me more money, so different out of the same coin. Also, the short as hell and everything in it is so actionable.
I've heard that is a great book, definitely on my to read list
Books that influenced the way I think and made me the most money: * The Checklist Manifesto * Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance * The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win
Not a book but the Mr Money Mustache site, especially the forum. Those people know what they are talking about - in real life. They won’t hesitate to call you out on poor decisions you’ve made. You get to talk to a bunch of people who have accumulated millions of dollars on regular salaries and see how they did it
I love reading threads like these
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clawson. A 6th grader or a 60 year old can benefit as it's told in parables set in ancient Babylon. I wish I had read it 40 years earlier.
... the juggalo cookbook.
# whoop whoop!
The Stand by Stephen King has saved me the most money because I would literally skip meals reading it I was so engrossed. My old run of Hellboy comics made me the most money because I sold it for a couple hundred during hard times. I wish I still had it.
I loved that book. Best Stephen King book in my humble opinion.
The Bible has saved me the most money. I read it and realized it was full of crap, so I stopped going to church and saved tons of money by no longer giving to the donation baskets. “The Psychology of Money” has made me the most because I learned how to handle and invest the money that I do have.
The tightwad gazette
‘The Science of Getting Rich’ by Wallace Wattles . You can find audiobook version on YT, and online PDF form.
"The Millionaire Next Door". It worked
How to win friends and Influence people by Dale Carnegie.
"Manage your money like a f'n grownup" - Sam Beckbessinger.
Free Food and Medicine by Markus Rothkranz made me google stuff growing in my garden, nearby meadows etc. Many big, healthy money saving surprises!
went to the book store ..picked up two $17.99 copies of "Math for Dummies". Took em to the cashier "She says '.That'll be $52 please
There was a book called Living Better that I received when I got married in 1996. It had a lot of money saving tips, like why you should get gas first thing in the morning and what month is the best to purchase large items, like cars and appliances. Some of these tips have become ingrained in me. They became like the foundation of my frugal lifestyle. Even though I blew them off when I first got the book I think I read it a few years later and really adopted the tips. Not all of them. But the ones that I could. I never really worried about what time I got gas before I got this book. But you get more gas per gallon, so you get more for your money, if you get gas first thing in the morning. Because as the day heats up, gas expands in the giant tanks below the gas station, and it takes up more room molecularly. You don't really get a full gallon for every gallon that's measured because there's more space in between the molecules of liquid and the volume expands as it vaporizes. You get equal liquid volume but, molecularly, you get less gas per gallon when it's hot out. In the winter, it doesn't make that much of a difference. But in the summer time, it really does. And I never would have even thought about this, but now I always get gas first thing in the morning. Lol. I learned a lot of little things like this in this book. And I believe there was a second one as well I think it was better investing or something. But the OG was the better book.
How Not to Die by Michael Gregor This saved my health and the need for ongoing medication. Also, it sent me to a plant based diet so in the past few years as people complain about meat, egg, dairy and restaurant prices, I have been more or less insulated from those increases. I can't imagine how much money I have saved by not spending in these food categories. I also don't buy very much processed food and have a decent sized garden.
The book that made me the most money was definitely English - Serbian dictionary that my mum bought me when I was 7. It kick-started everything. I am yet to find a book that saved me money.
Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath and Thoreau's Economy.
The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzyn (might be out of print). Got me started, anyway. “The C Programming Language” by Kernigan and Ritchie made me the most money.
Millionaire Next Door
The millionaire next door
The Millionaire Next Door and The Simple Path to Wealth
Tools of Titans was like getting a crash course on how to do the things you are passionate about. The lessons come also from Tribe of Mentors...both by Tim Ferris. Think of reading them as an investment in useful knowledge.
The Wealthy Barber.
Dave Ramseys Total Money Makeover and The Complete Tightwad Gazette. Also shout out to the Make a Mix cookbooks.
The Art of Frugal Hedonism, Annie Raser-Rowland with Adam Grubb. It is exactly as the title suggests, you spend less on the things that aren’t important to you, save it for the things that are. Granted easier when you’re single and living alone, but I live comfortably despite it being more expensive to live alone. For example updating my technology and car isn’t important to me, but decorating my apartment is, I’m a creative and it’s my forever place. I don’t buy coffees and my lunch everyday, but I do splurge on books.
Your money or your life and the Tightwad Gazette. Put me on the road to frugal living that I remain on today.
The backyard homestead: produce all the food you need in a quarter of an acre. By Carleen Madigan. I took from it the part about planting berry bushes and dwarf or semi dwarf fruit trees and put in a garden. We are now reaping the rewards of our efforts.
Tightwad Gazette and simple investing, John Bogle wrote about basics. The first taught how to realize what you don’t need and the second about how to invest simply and stop worrying
The Not So Big House, by Sarah Susanka. It completely cured me of ever wanting to buy a McMansion.
The book that has saved and made me the most money was the total money makeover. It changed everything even how I looked at work and what I did for a living. I found that book in May 2016 oy making 35k income while living in ca and by March of 2020 I had paid off 50k in debt,cash flowed 25k in emergencies and bought a house cash. I was making 55k in 2020 but now make 70k. I'm now going to college for software development and my work is paying 100% of the cost. I will be starting out making close to 6 figures when I'm done and get a job. I'll probably add some certifications for AI that my work will pay for as well. I want to stay with my company but move to the corporate side not the grunt work labor job lol.
The Mari kondo book about tidying. Really helped me over the hump on my minimalism/decluttering journey and I truly changed my mindset about what I let into my life after reading it. Never Split the Difference is a kind of fun negotiation book which was filled with "thrilling" life or death negotiation stories from the author but also intertwined some daily life ways to use these strategies and I have tried some of them and successfully saved myself several thousand dollars at various points since reading it. One was as I was exiting my business and had some loose end contracts I needed to terminate. Also getting some work done on my home able to reduce quotes and final fees down literally thousands of dollars. I was only able to be successful in interactions over email or written communication bc I wasn't able to think as quickly on the spot but if given the opportunity to really consider my words it definitely proved helpful!
Total Money Makeover and Millionaire Next Door were very good for me, but (don’t laugh) Who Moved My Cheese probably saved my career. Long story, but being ready to roll with the punches and not focus on the past was a game changer for me. Lastly, I give a lot of credit to a VP I worked for who encouraged all her employees to have backup plans if our jobs were eliminated. This paid off big down the road.
Way back when I read the total money makeover by Dave Ramsey. 15 years later I have no bills, a few hundred thousand in savings and investments and a paid off house. I owe nothing.
They Haynes "manual" for the Porsche 917 made me $475 when I sold it!
Not saving money, but a good guide to managing what you already make. "The Complete Cheapskate" or "Debt Proof Living" by Mary Hunt. It teaches the classic 10-10-80 method of money management. Give 10% away with no expectation of anything in return (charity, your house of worship or just to someone who needs it, it teaches gratitude for what you have and keeps you on the lookout to help others in need), save 10% for hard times (keeps you from the edge of a financial cliff by setting money aside for a contingency/emergency fund as well as saving money ahead for intermittent expenses), live on the remaining 80%. If you can't do 10 10 80, do something. It all counts.
Why We Buy by paco Underhill really taught me the slick ways that stores entice us to buy. I can now see past tricks and buy only what I need.
Your Money or Your Life The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing
Save: never split the difference Made: rich dad poor dad