Toolkit

Here’s our list of recommended tools, software, and sites that can help you get where you want to go.

Web Based Finance Calculators

Planning makes difficult things easy. Here are some of the sites that help you plan out your retirement.  The savingadvice.com calculators are for saving money/frugality, the others are for financial independence.

 

Credit Score Check

Each of these sites will let you to check your credit score free of charge.

While you don’t have to pay to check your credit, you’ll definitely need to provide some personal information. Another good way to get your credit for free is to ask your mortgage or car loan processor when you are applying for a loan.

Personal Finance Forums

It’s hard to get ahead without help. Here are 2 good forums where you can find people who are interested in saving money, debt reduction, etc.

 

Downloadable Software

Software packages you can download. These are all 100% free.

 

Investment and Budgeting Tools

Accumulating wealth is never an easy task. So here are a few things to help you out with your journey.

 

The personal finance canon of books

Rich Habits – This book contains ten principles that were created through years of careful research of the daily habits of the author’s wealthiest clients. You’ll be surprised to know that they do not waste their time on the internet. The author stresses that you are in your way to creating your own financial success if you follow these principles. A must read if you want to start building wealth. Get a copy here.

The Millionaire Next Door – Pop culture dictates that wealthy people live luxurious lives and buy anything they want whenever they want it. But if you take a closer look, most of the wealthy people live simple and frugal lives. Author, Thomas Stanley,  illustrates how “real” millionaires live in a must read for those who are starting out with gaining wealth. Get your copy here.

The Intelligent Investor – If you’re interested in generating wealth through the stock market then this is the book for you. Most readers found the book like as if a grandfather giving out advice to the younger generation. According to Graham, one must never try to beat the stock market as many smart people tried but failed in the end. This book remains as one of the best out there and is considered as the stock market bible for value investors. Click here to get a copy.

The 4-hour Work Week – Author, Tim Ferriss, shows how to be effective on either work or business in a short amount of time. This lifestyle re-design gives more time for self-improvement and recreation rather than cramming yourself up with work.  His teachings include: leaving out your weaknesses to give room for your strengths to improve and that relative income is more important than absolute income. Click here to learn more.

Rich Dad Poor Dad – Best-selling author, Robert Kiyosaki, bares how his youth paved way to a different outlook about money. One of his many topics is how owning a business do wonders to the amount of taxes you pay. He also mentions the many things a business can do that an individual person cannot. Click here to learn more.

The Richest Man in Babylon – This timeless book is one of my personal favorites. The lessons you will find in this book is pretty simple and straight to the point. One of the main topics mentioned is: “Only seek advise from those who are knowledgeable and wise on a subject”. In addition, this book is also the basis of another best-selling personal finance book, The Automatic Millionaire. Get a copy now!

The Automatic Millionaire – If you are struggling to take control over your finances, then this personal finance masterpiece is a must read. Based on the best-seller, The Richest Man in Babylon, this book offer sound financial advise and concepts. Like most personal finance greats, the core revolves around paying off debt and acquire wealth. But what if you can make these things automatic. Click here to learn more.

Think and Grow Rich – This is arguably the most circulated book regarding personal success even after 75 years of its first release. It showcases 13 steps to obtaining success outlined after over 20 years of research to more than 500 wealthy individuals in different disciplines. As a result, this book was able to help more than 70 million readers worldwide. Click here to get insights.

The Total Money Makeover – Personal finance icon, Dave Ramsey, talks about financial success stories. He points out that changing your behavior and sticking to a plan are the keys to financial success. He discusses that personal finance, same as other things in life, is 80% behavior and 20% knowledge. Want to know more? Click here.

Freakonomics – This book is written by a young economist named Steven Levitt. In his book he said that abortion curbs crime. True enough that during the 90’s there was a significant drop in crime rate in the US. Levitt and his co-author presented that it was due to the decision made two decades ago to legalize abortion. Although the topic itself is controversial in nature, Levitt displays the power of data mining in relation to almost everything, including personal finance. Discover the hidden side of almost everything by clicking here.