Books and tools for your check-up
A short list of books worth reading and a few simple tools that make paperwork and privacy easier. Nothing here is required: every step in our guides works without buying anything.
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Books
- Credit scoresYour ScoreAnthony Davenport
A plain explanation of how credit scores are built and what moves them.
See on Amazon - Credit reportsCredit Repair Kit For DummiesSteve Bucci
Step-by-step help reading your reports and handling disputes yourself, with sample letters.
See on Amazon - Getting out of debtThe Total Money MakeoverDave Ramsey
A strict, step-by-step plan for paying off debt and building savings.
See on Amazon - Money basicsBroke MillennialErin Lowry
A friendly guide to budgets, credit cards and credit scores for people starting out.
See on Amazon - Money habitsThe Psychology of MoneyMorgan Housel
Short essays on why people make the money choices they do.
See on Amazon - Spending planI Will Teach You to Be RichRamit Sethi
A six-week program for automating bills, saving and spending on what you care about.
See on Amazon
Tools
- Identity theftCross-cut paper shredder
Shred old statements and credit card offers instead of throwing them away whole.
See on Amazon - PaperworkFireproof document box
A safe place for your Social Security card, tax records and signed agreements with collectors.
See on Amazon - PaperworkAccordion file organizer
Keep dispute letters, certified mail receipts and replies together by month.
See on Amazon - BudgetingBudget planner
A paper planner for tracking bills, due dates and spending each month.
See on Amazon - PrivacyRFID-blocking wallet
Blocks contactless card readers from scanning cards through your wallet.
See on Amazon - Mail9x12 envelopes
Large envelopes so dispute letters and copies of ID go out flat, ready for certified mail.
See on Amazon