Here are my favorite resources for kicking debt in the butt, getting your personal finances straight, building your business, and just getting your money-self together. I am only linking to books, videos, and programs I personally love.
Check back periodically as I will update the list as it feels right to do so.
BOOKS
Way too broke to even think about debt reduction? Just trying to survive day to day on the tightest budget imaginable? The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacycyzn is not for the faint of heart as some of the tips and ideas are incredibly extreme. However, when I was struggling to pull together grocery money while my ex was spending our entire income on broken computer crap, this book helped us to get by. If you are that broke, see if your local library has the book. If you have a little money and want a great reference for your collection, consider buying the book.
Pay It Down!- From debt to wealth on $10 a day by Jean Chatzky. Jean Chatzky has been a featured money expert on numerous television and news shows and in magazines. She takes a no nonsense, realistic approach with an appreciation for the realities faced by many families struggling to get out of debt. Her advice and steps to get out of debt may seem overly simplified, but they are practical and really work.
Suze Orman's Action Plan: New Rules for New Times. People seem to have a love-hate relationship with Suze Orman, but when you get right down to it, her advice is practical and solid. Having her smack you in the face with the truth of your reality may not be fun, but she has your best interests at heart and wants you to be financially stable and flourishing. Of all of her books, this one is my favorite. 
The Creative Habit by dancer and coreographer Twyla Tharp is amazing! I just adore this book. I'm a creative person (and you are too, even if you think you aren't!) and lately I've felt stagnant. Creativity is a huge part of my daily life, my personality, my business vision -- and by extension it is a huge part of my debt payoff, wealth building, and philanthropic plans. I can't imagine a day without drawing, reading, writing, creating, but I needed Tharp's book to jump start a renewal of my creative juices. Since reading her book and implementing her tips and exercises, my creativity and thus my other priorities have begun to boom. I love it!
Like Twyla Tharp's book, Refuse to Choose! by Barbara Sher isn't necessarily a business or personal finance book, but it helped me re-frame my multiple interests and creativity in a way that is supporting my financial goals while fulfilling my personality, my soul, my inner needs. If you find yourself jumping from job to job, getting bored easily by this or that pursuit, and just plain wondering how you are going to make your many, many interests jive together, this is the book for you.
VIDEOS
MarieTV on YouTube. You probably have heard a ton about Marie Forleo's B-School. It happens to be open now, but this article, other programs I've already done that duplicate similar material, and other experiences have changed my mind on signing up. However, I *LOVE* Marie's videos.
PROGRAMS
Last year, I took the plunge and bought a membership in Leonie Dawson's Shining Biz and Life Academy. It was well worth the expense! Membership gives you full access to ALL of Leonie's programs, workbooks, videos, and a lot more. Leonie's programs WORK if YOU WORK THEM. That's the key here....it took me a while before I really got into her programs because the information overload is huge. However, anytime I implement anything, from small little tweaks to huge overhauls, I see real, measurable results. Membership also gives you access to an exclusive Facebook group and I can't say enough about the sisterhood, support, and relationship building that occurs there. Leonie and her team are also highly involved in the Facebook group, making sure it is a place for support and growth.
If you aren't ready for the full blown Academy experience, Leonie's workbooks are excellent too:
Gina Horkey has put together a fantastic (and affordable) email course on how to boost your freelance writing career in just thirty days (or less). I highly recommend her program and following her blog. She knows her stuff, and by following her concrete tips and advice, I've seen my own freelance writing career go up and up and up. That means, money coming in to pay the bills, save for my emergency fund, and pay down my debt. I've tried several other e-courses in various forms and most of them given the same old advice over and over. Gina's program goes more in depth, with a wider array and depth of information and advice. And, it's built on her own actual experience. I highly recommend Gina's program. Bonus? Gina also happens to be super duper nice and approachable!
Please note: Some links on this page are affiliate links. However, I have only included links to people, books, products, and services I wholeheartedly believe in. All opinions are 100% my own. If you make a purchase through these links,
I may receive a small commission. If that is the case, I thank you very much!
