After the holidays when I get my credit card bills, I start thinking how maybe Scrooge McDuck had some good ideas. While hoarding money in a large room and then swimming in it may not be so good (or healthy), saving money and being aware of your spending habits is a smart thing to do. Many DCPL branches subscribe to magazines that all offer personal finance advice and tips such as: Money, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Fortune, and SmartMoney.

A few good books I’d recommend out of the hundreds DCPL has on personal finance:

Kiplinger’s practical guide to your money
- Expansive guide to almost anything you can think of involving your
finances from budgeting to funeral expenses, basic information that
never goes out of style.

Live Well On Less Than You Think: Fred Brock- A very readable common-sense book on living below your means in order to live better later. While this is not a guide to frugality or voluntary simplicity, it has plenty of good suggestions on cutting costs and avoiding debt.

The millionaire next door : the surprising secrets of America’s wealthy: Thomas J. Stanley – Still applicable today as it was in the late 90’s that average people can be rich; just don’t spend lots of money. You don’t have to dumpster dive, but you also don’t need a shiny new Lexus when a Toyota gets the same high ratings.

The total money makeover : a proven plan for financial fitness: Dave Ramsey – A new, popular personal finance book that presents old information in an accessible way. His style is very ‘hard knocks’ and his motivational monologues are useful to those who need a bit of a kick in the teeth.

Two for the money : the sensible plan for making it all work: Jonathan and David Murray – Humorous and practical approaches to financial planning. Useful advice for the generation in-between young children and aging parents who may all need to depend on you financially. 

Websites that are a good place to start:

Find out what’s in your credit history with this free website: annualcreditreport.com

Looking for cool, interactive money management? Check out Mint. (*** an alternative website that is highly thought of by Kiplinger is wesabe.com ***)

Not only a magazine, Kiplinger also has a good website covering a variety of money issues.

CNN also has a money section with many how-to articles and advice.

Since 1996, the Dollar Stretcher has been an interesting site on the web for those who want to be really really frugal. Tips, shortcuts, advice, and a whole web community are on board with being super-frugal.

Remember, there are also about a million different sites, blogs, and forums on different ways to save, budget, or be your own Scrooge.

1. The Library Helps You Through Tough Times
2. In Tough Times…
3. Pinching My Pennies…’Cuz They Deserve It
4. Fun Book Alert! Don’t Throw it Out by Lori Baird
5. More Reading, Less Shopping?