Budget books, magazines & more. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

BOOKS TO READ (on a 5-star rating system, sorted by highest rating)

How to Own Your Paycheck Again by Leo Quinn - ***** 
-helped us create a debt pay off plan and get rid of our credit card debt

Personal Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson - *****
-we give a copy to newlyweds as a wedding gift!

Automatic Millionaire by David Bach - 
-read it, follow it, and you'll retire comfortably

Start Late, Finish Rich by David Bach - 
-it's never too late to get your finances straightened out!

MAGAZINES

Budget Living - A hip, urban mag that takes cheap chic to new levels.  

Money - A bit pretentious, and I would take their investment advice with a grain of salt (results don't back up their recommendations).  But their case studies and articles are interesting.  

Consumer Reports - How can you NOT subscribe to CR?  Better yet, check out their website at www.consumerreports.org and pick up a web subscription, too.  You'll be able to do easy searches on their ratings and reviews through the years.  If we have to shop for a big item (especially a car) we subscribe to the website for a month, then cancel.  The current web rates are $4.95 per month, $19.00 per year for print subscribers, and $26 per year for web-only subscribers.  

NEWSLETTERS

SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Sound Mind Investing (Christian) - A personal finance newsletter that offers specific investment advice.  Our 401k portfolio immediately turned around when we invested in their recommended funds.  Their 1999-2003 rate of return was 65%!  During that time period their average rate of return was 12.2%*.  SMI has consistently outperformed the stock market, and they'll prove to you exactly how they do it.

One of the things I love best about SMI is that they offer more than just advice on investing.  They tell you how to get out of debt, save 3 to 6 months' living expenses, budget and spend wisely, plan for retirement and college and much, much more.  

Check out our review of the book Sound Mind Investing above.  It's written by Austin Pryor, founder of www.sminow.com and the best book on personal finance I've ever read.  

You can subscribe to the monthly print newsletter or SMI's fantastic website.  www.sminow.com offers a daily blog, monthly fund rankings, message boards and archived articles.

SMI is a Christian-based publication, so if the mention of God, Scripture, tithing, giving, etc. offends you, don't subscribe.  But if you want an inexpensive newsletter with advice that I guarantee will improve your finances, regardless of your religious beliefs or background, I would definitely take a look.  I have dealt with SMI's staff personally and I can testify that they are extremely intelligent, competent, friendly and obsessed with integrity.  Rare find in the post-Enron world, no?

*To see the charts detailing rate of return visit www.sminow.com.

Kiplinger Letter - Weekly forecasts on business, economic and regulatory trends, as well as Washington-watching.  Good info if you like to select your own investments.

FREE NEWSLETTERS

ConsumerWorld.org - Great site with weekly e-mail newsletter updates on recalls, online and offline deals, and much more.  A must-read in your inbox.

BUDGET WEBSITES

PERSONAL FINANCE SITES

www.smartmoney.com
www.quicken.com
www.ricedelman.com
www.consumerworld.org
www.sminow.com (Christian)
www.crown.org (Christian)

RATES/LOANS

www.bankrate.com
www.eloan.com
www.myloanquote.com