I never started out planning to blog about financial topics but I realized a lot of people were not only physically unhealthy but financially unhealthy as well. While I was losing the first 50 pounds I also paid off $30,000 in debt and improved my financial health. It’s a topic that I feel strongly about because you need to be financially fit to live a balanced and healthy life.
Below I list my favorite financial tools that can help you achieve a better balanced financial life. I’ve used all of these myself and highly recommend them.
Financial Software
Personal Capital is the best, free finance app available. I’ve used several over the years and settled on Personal Capital because it’s effective at tracking my spending, income, and wealth building all in one place. It’s secure and trusted. Biggest benefit? It’s FREE! I’m frugal so I love free things that improve my life.
Side note on how it’s free: Personal Capital makes money from users who buy their investment services. This is completely optional and something people can choose to do if they want a trusted adviser that gives great advice for a lower cost than many firms out there today. You don’t have to participate and I currently don’t. I simply link all my accounts and use the amazing software they offer people for free.
Personal Capital is the perfect tool to link all your accounts in one place and manage your net worth. If you haven’t tried it yet, go get started and get your financial life in order and on the right track!
Free Credit Score
Credit Sesame offers a free credit score without any payment or credit card needed. It’s a great tool for monitoring your credit score which affects the interest rates you get on loans. A higher credit score will save you potentially thousands of dollars, so it’s definitely something you should check regularly and try to improve. You can get your free credit score with Credit Sesame by clicking here.
Favorite Debt Freedom Resources
Dave Ramsey provides motivation and a plan for people getting out of debt. I read and listened to so much Dave Ramsey content when I was getting out of debt. He has helped millions of people get out of debt including lots of my real life friends (some have even been on his show). If you are feeling overwhelmed by debt and a financial life that just isn’t working I recommend you try his books and methods for getting out of debt. They are laid out well in his two most popular books:
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
I don’t agree with everything from Dave Ramsey (example, I use credit cards). But I looooove the solid financial foundation he builds via baby steps of action. It’s a really great way to get started and he is super motivational.
ReadyForZero is an online service that helps people pay off debt by providing a free personalized plan, debt payment tracking, and credit score tracking. Basically it provides you everything you need to know to get out of debt faster. You can upgrade but their basic tools are free and really amazing. You’ll get out of debt faster with ReadyForZero.
Favorite Books About Money
I’ve read a lot about money and personal finance over the last few years as I worked to eliminate my debt and built a strong financial foundation. The following are my favorite personal finance books that I’ve read and recommend to people.
The Millionaire Next Door – I read this book years ago and it opened my eyes to the difference between real wealth and living like the Joneses. It’s a great book for learning about the rich in America that aren’t on TV or in the tabloids. You’ll learn a lot of things about the wealthy that will influence how you live your own life.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich – I’ve read Ramit Sethi’s personal finance blogs for years. He covers all the basics of personal finance in this book while giving specific action streps to make improvement. It’s a great book for anyone in their 20s as is his blog.
The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke – I’m hesitant to include this cause I feel like it might have some out of date information, but its one of the first books I read out of college so I wanted to mention it. It appealed so much to me as a single 20 something who was broke but dreamed big. I’ve since read a few other books by Suze Orman and generally appreciate her take on things. If you are a woman I recommend checking out her book Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny.
There are tons of others I have enjoyed but those are the ones that stood out at the time I read them and made a real impact on my financial life.
Favorite Magazines About Money
In addition to reading books, I also read magazines about money! I know, dorky, but I’ve learned a lot through the practice. They are easy to read while on the elliptical and give up to date information about the economy and how to improve your financial life. Unlike books they are always updated.
These are my favorite magazines that I have a subscription to and recommend:
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine – My favorite subscription, still enjoy this one.
Money Magazine – Great for the money basics for beginners.
Inc. Magazine – More about entrepreneurship, but I love it.
Magazines are a great way to learn since you get new content from professionals every month for about the same price as a book.