I’m someone who tends to *cough* obsess over things. I get interested in something, and there’s no stopping me. I’ll read or listen to every book or podcast I can get my hands on to learn as much as I can but also keep up the momentum.
Over the last several years I’ve gotten deeper and deeper into the world of personal finance. And I’m glad to see so many other ‘money nerds’ out there creating things like these that can help me stay on track.
Here’s my list of books, shows, and podcasts that I’ve found and loved over the years.
1. The Minimalists (Netflix)
Though it might not seem like it at a glance, adopting a minimalist mentality can help you save big. I would by no means call myself one, but the principles and habits here have a lot of value and have helped me save thousands.
2. The Story of Stuff
This is my favorite book of all time. Seriously. It’s more focused on the toxicity and environmental impact of the things in our lives but let me tell you, if you care even a teensy bit about these things, this book will convince you to stop buying crap you don’t need. Get it here.
3. Choose FI Podcast
This is a great podcast that explores a lot of different things about financial independence and the FIRE movement. Super informative. These guys are very knowledgeable and have some awesome guests on the show.
4. Choose FI’s FIRE Documentary
This one you’ll have to purchase on Prime video for a few dollars but it’s worth it. The guys from Choose FI made a documentary alongside a number of other names in the FIRE community. If you’re interested in getting smarter about personal finance and want to get a partner on board, this is a good way to get them some exposure.
5. Two Frugal Dudes Podcast
Similar to the one above but perhaps with a lower ‘production value’. Their conversations are very down to earth and relatable. They have an episode for example about how their families eat for cheap. This was the first personal finance podcast I got into and it lead to my adopting a lot of these principles. These guys are great.
6. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
This book is the foundation of minimalism. It’s a must read for anyone who wants to adopt minimalist habits and goes much deeper than the show on Netflix. Get it here. Speaking of…
7. Tidying Up (Netflix)
Marie’s book got so popular that they made a show out of it. Which I’ve probably watched 4 times through now. It’s a nice little motivator to declutter your space and quit buying crap you’ll later have to purge.
8. FireDrill Podcast
Another very down to earth podcast. Jay is living in Seattle and working in the tech scene, on her way to retiring early. She interviews heaps of interesting bloggers in the FI space. It’s quickly become my favorite personal finance podcast because I find it so relatable.
9. The Year of Less
Wall street journal bestseller, this book is written by a long time writer in personal finance who also happens to be Canadian (woot!). She adopts a shopping ban for one year after realizing just how bad her shopping habits had gotten. Super motivating. Love this book. Get it here.
10. I Will Teach You to be Rich
This book by Ramit Sethi is another great one. Ramit goes through a lot of the basics of money management with a refreshing take. He’ll tell you it’s okay to keep buying your Starbucks if that’s the thing you value most in your routine, but that it’s not necessarily okay to be paying for your bank account and credit cards. Get it here.
11. Broke Millennial
This is an entry level personal finance book targeted at millennials. If you’re just getting started with managing your money better, this is a good option for you! Get it here