If just clicking on this article made you a little stressed out, don’t worry—you’re about to get some major money-anxiety relief.
Quick financial analysis—buy a book written by a financial expert to help you better understand money, $13. Hire a money expert, wayyy more than $13. In other words, by reading this article, you’re already making very a very wise financial decision. You’re killin’ this whole money managing thing!
In the interest of making other financially-wise decisions, we rounded up seven of our favorite finance books, written by (and for!) women. They cover everything from debt to self-confidence to investing, asking for a raise, or deciding how to finally set up a budget that works for your life.
ON MY OWN TWO FEET: A MODERN GIRL’S GUIDE TO PERSONAL FINANCE
By Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar
Two Harvard graduates get together to write a book, for women, about how women can improve their money management skills. It’s a no-brainer that you want to read it—and read it now. They cover topics like credit card debt, creating budgets, and how to come up with a simple plan to help ease your financial stresses.
YOU ARE A BADASS AT MAKING MONEY: MASTER THE MINDSET OF WEALTH
By Jen Sincero
You’ve probably already read Sincero’s first book, You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. Even if you’re not a self-help book person, you’ll love her sarcastic, witty insight on how to live a better life. Her take on finances is the same—even if you’re not a money person, you’ll be able to laugh and learn alongside the nuggets of financial wisdom she provides. Sincero gets real about her own financial perils and successes—which makes it a relatable, motivating read.
SPEND WELL, LIVE RICH: HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT WITH THE MONEY YOU HAVE
By Michelle Singletary
Previously published as 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life, this book is a classic. Her first mantra? “If it’s on your ass, it’s not an asset.” So you see, now, why we love this book. It’s filled with no-nonsense real talk, breaking down the anxiety that comes with the complexity of our finances by simplifying the way we think about and spend the money that we have. You have enough—and you can do better.Â
WOMEN’S WORTH: FINDING YOUR FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE
By Eleanor Blayney
Women are different than men. We earn money differently (think: wage gap, male-dominated industries), and we spend money differently than men do. Why is most of the financial advice, then, written by men, about men’s experiences, meant for men, but marketed for “everyone”? This book gets real about women and our relationship with money. Blayney breaks big concepts down into palatable chunks, and even includes exercises to help think them through. Education breeds confidence—and we all deserve to be more confident in ourselves.
CLEVER GIRL FINANCE: DITCH DEBT, SAVE MONEY AND BUILD REAL WEALTH.
By Bola Sokunbi
This financial book comes from the perspective of a Black woman. When Bola Sokunbi realized that close to zero financial books were serving women of color, she set out to write Clever Girl Finance: Ditch Debt, Save Money and Build Real Wealth. It sets an actionable beginner’s guide to all things personal finance. Learn how to get rid of your debt and save your money—for real.
BROKE MILLENNIAL: STOP SCRAPING BY AND GET YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE TOGETHER
By Erin Lowry
You’re an adult, so you definitely don’t live paycheck to paycheck anymore, right? …Right… Guess what? 78 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a recent study. So if you are, you’re not alone. But this book can help you grow into the 24 percent of Americans who aren’t. Doesn’t that sound better? It starts with reflecting on your relationship with money—and how you think about it. Lowry walks you through real-life situations like managing student loans and splitting bills at dinner (because Venmo is sometimes just not the business.)
KNOWING YOUR VALUE: WOMEN, MONEY, AND GETTING WHAT YOU’RE WORTH
By Mika Brzezinski
This book isn’t just about managing the money you have—it’s also about learning how to negotiate for more. About why women make less. About why we take fewer risks in our careers. It’s chock-full of interviews and advice from big names like Joy Behar and Sheryl Sandberg, and offers brutally honest advice about what we can do to be better about owning our careers, and asking for what we deserve. Your self-worth is not based on your net-worth, but it’s great if you can boost them together.
