***
If I gave you a list of personal finance books that would help you save more, spend less and rock your investment strategy, I suspect you might just gloss over it. But if recommended some amazing stories that would inspire you to make some life-changing decisions, would you be open to it?
Yes?
Cool, then you’re going to love what I’m sharing today.
I think both of these stories should be required reading for any woman (or man) who is currently feeling like they’re swimming upstream against the current their own life decisions. If you’re overwhelmed with too much stuff, too many demands and not enough time, money or headspace to keep up with any of it, then I’m prescribing these two books as your essential bedtime stories.
The Year of Less, By Cait Flanders
I’ve been following Cait for over a year now after diving deep into the personal finance blogger community. She’s refreshingly human and real about the personal struggles she has overcome as both an addict and a chronic over-consumer. Her book is beautifully written and takes you through the emotional ups and downs of a year-long self-imposed shopping ban. But it also shares something much deeper about the courage to face pain head-on, rather than shove it down with an emotional elixir of pizza, tequila, Netflix, and JCrew.com.
Cait’s story might be extreme in some ways, but in more ways than not, it speaks to the struggles we all have. She’s just brave enough to call herself out on it.
After this book you will feel:
- not quite so alone in your struggles,
- inspired to cut back on your vices and
- profoundly touched by a precious story of humanness.
Soulful Simplicity – how living with less can lead to so much more, by Courtney Carver
Courtney is a blogger and author who’s minimalist journey started with a serious health diagnosis. After learning she had MS, she went about making enormous changes in her life to slow down, size down and calm down. From capsule wardrobes to a regular yoga practice, Courtney walks her readers through her process of moving from busy chaos to a happy life with much less. I loved her story so much and it even brought me to tears at some points. It’s one of those books where you dread the point where it’s over.
After reading Courtney’s book, you will feel:
- inspired to start taking stock of your schedule
- ready to tackle your “time + clutter” problem.
The reason I love these books and recommend them so much is that they tackle transformation in a personal way through storytelling. If you’re someone who read The Magic of Tidying Up, but then did nothing to take action because you just felt overwhelmed by it (raising hand over here), then these stories might be just what you need because the authors bring you along on their own journeys so you know what to expect and the value the process brings.
[bctt tweet=”Two books that will inspire your minimalist journey.” username=”fundinghappy”]
Simplifying your life is an incredible process, but it’s emotional and often difficult to get through. Both of these stories will make that journey feel less daunting.
Let me know if you have read either of them or what you think if you decide to pick them up!
Leave a Reply