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As I reflect on my financial journey, there are clear moments where everything shifted — not because I found a magic formula or stumbled into a windfall, but because I changed the way I thought about money. And the most affordable way I did that? Books.
If you’re a woman who earns a good salary and still feels behind, I want you to know something important: the problem usually isn’t how much you make. It’s the money story running in the background that nobody ever helped you rewrite. Books are one of the most powerful and least expensive ways to start doing that.
I’ve read a lot of personal finance books over the past several years — during my divorce, during the rebuild, and during the season I’m in now, actively paying off debt and building wealth on a single income. The books on this list are the ones that actually moved the needle for me. I’m sharing them in hopes they do the same for you.
What is Financial Literacy?
First of all, let’s make sure we are speaking the same language. Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. Now you may be asking yourself- what does this have to do with earning more? Valid question.
Why Financial Literacy is Important
In my quest for financial stability, I became hyper-focused on how much money I was earning. While I will argue (to my grave) that this was the best focus for me as a single mom, I learned that earning more alone does not ensure financial success or stability. There are plenty of high earners drowning in debt or making poor financial decisions.
Bottom line- financial literacy is essential to navigate your new financial reality. Earning more is one thing, but knowing what to do with more money is a whole other skill. Let’s dive in…
Short Plug for Learning with Books
Books are one of my favorite ways to learn. They are inexpensive, accessible, and the information is condensed into an easily-digestible format, that you can come back to again and again. One thought I have around books is that I am paying $10-$30 to have access to the mind of someone who has spent a lot of time (and maybe money) to learn what they are writing about. How cool is that?
What Makes a Financial Book Good for Beginners?
You might note that the list of books below does not fall in line with many classic financial resources. I have probably read many of the books you are thinking about.
The list of financial literacy books below were exceptionally helpful to me on my financial journey (as a beginner). I read them all at different times and they helped me to:
- Change the way I think about money
- Develop a budgeting routine that is enjoyable to me
- Set financial goals around my values
- Recover my finances as a single mom
All of the books listed below are written for beginners and contain actionable tips/strategies to radically transform your financial journey.
If you’re anything like me, you might be quick to click ‘add to cart’ on every single item. I will challenge you with this- start with ONE book that is meeting you where you are at today.
I read the below books (and many, many others) over the course of the past 6 years. Changing your financial picture is a marathon, not a sprint.
You do not need to learn everything there is to learn about financial literacy today.
You might have a different takeaway than me. You might re-read one of these books and have a different takeaway the second time. The beauty in learning is that it never stops!
Best Books on Financial Literacy for Beginners
Without further ado, here are my top picks for books on financial literacy for beginners…
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Focus: Making sense of how people think about and behave with money
Why it’s great for beginners: Easy-to-read thought-provoking ideas around what money means to people
Jess thoughts: There is a lot of interesting history in this book- for example, how financing came to exist. I found this book extremely insightful to put my money behaviors into perspective.
I Will Teach you to be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Focus: Building wealth through systems (budgeting, saving, spending, and investing)
Why it’s great for beginners: Written in a conversational style with action items throughout and designed to help the reader gain control of their finances
Jess thoughts: Ramit has a wealth of knowledge about financial decision making and there were ideas in this book that I had never thought of (like automating my paycheck- what?) This book is modern and contains information on just about everything.
Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money
Focus: Handbook for Financial Peace University
Why it’s great for beginners: Direct/minimal steps (in linear order) to get out of debt and achieve financial peace
Jess thoughts: I admittingly have graduated beyond Dave Ramsey’s teachings but I do remember how powerful it was to read this book in the peak of my divorce. If you’re looking for a simple and solid plan to achieve financial stability, the steps in this book will work.
Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup
Focus: Changing your relationship with money
Why it’s great for beginners: Written using personal examples and covers the emotions tied to relationships with money
Jess thoughts: Reading this book was one of the first times I became aware of my relationship with money. Kate’s writing spoke to the feminine part of me that wanted to feel good about my money relationship.
Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung
Focus: A proven formula to achieve financial independence for the average person
Why it’s great for beginners: The most thorough and simple to understand explanation of the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement
Jess thoughts: This is one book that I will say might not be for total financial literacy beginners however, in the FIRE world this book is very easy to understand. I will also say that I wish I would have found this book sooner!
Best Books on Financial Literacy for Single Moms
When I was struggling financially as a newly separated mom going through a divorce, I felt like a fish out of water. I latched onto anything and anyone that felt relatable. Below are two books that speak to the financial journey of a single mom.
The Kickass Single Mom by Emma Johnson
Focus: Taking your life back as a single mom
Why it’s great for beginners: Speaks to the nuances of navigating finances in single motherhood that may be skipped or glossed over in other resources
Jess thoughts: This book was a godsend to me in a very dark time in my life. Emma challenged me to get myself together and hope for a better future. Her focus on regaining independence after divorce was exceptionally important to me related to finances.
My Money, My Way by Kumiko Love
Focus: Aligning emotional health with financial health
Why it’s great for beginners: Thought provoking questions around money values and actionable steps to take control of finances
Jess thoughts: Kumiko is a great example of healing your financial picture. Her book really helped me connect with my “why” for setting financial goals and got me excited about my future!
Reading about money is where the mindset shift starts — but the system is what makes it stick.
If you’re ready to take what you’ve learned and put it into action, the first thing I’d set up is the 3-account system. It’s the money management framework I use to pay off debt, build my emergency fund, and still enjoy my life — all on autopilot.
Grab the free one-page setup guide below and you can have it running by the end of the week.
And if you’re just getting started on your financial journey, this post walks you through exactly how I stopped living paycheck to paycheck on a six-figure salary — because earning more is only half the equation.
