The interest in eBooks is on the rise. And why not? If you love to read, reading a book on Kindle is a great way to indulge your passion while spending less money than you would at the bookstore. Reading books on Kindle also fits in with our on-the-go lifestyles. Whether you're on a business trip or sitting in a carpool lane, you can pick out a book and be reading within minutes.
There are some great books about credit cards that you can read on Kindle. Take a look at my top five picks:
1. Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress: Real Life Solutions for Solving Your Credit Crisis by Gerri Detweiler, Nancy Castleman, and Marc Eisenson (Good Advice Press, 2010; Kindle edition, $9.99).
Are you stressed about your credit card debt? Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this situation nowadays. The economy may be technically recovering, but many folks are still trying to come back from financial losses suffered during the recession. This book just came out last month and the timing couldn't be better. In this book, you get solid advice about topics such as how to get out of debt, how to spot debt-reduction scams and how to avoid bankruptcy mistakes. And the authors' "debt triage" strategy is a must-read for those feeling overwhelmed with debt.
2. Your Credit Score, Your Money & What's at Stake: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future by Liz Pulliam Weston (FT Press, 2009; Kindle version $9.99)
This book was originally written in 2007 and it has now been updated to include advice on how to survive in our "post-economic crisis" world. This book is for anyone who wants to understand what makes up their credit score. In today's economy, your credit score is more important than ever, so now's the time to get a handle on it. Credit scores always seem a little mysterious, especially since there's more than one scoring system out there. But this book is written in a straight-forward style that makes this complex topic easy to understand.
Another helpful read by Weston that's inexpensive ($1.59!), is How to Get the Best of Your Credit Cards (FT Press, 2010). It's cheap because it's just an excerpt from Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life (also a good read about personal finance, in general). Still, if you want to learn more about credit cards, this is a great way to get a lot of information in a small dose.
3. How You Can Profit from Credit Cards: Using Credit to Improve Your Financial Life and Bottom Line by Curtis E. Arnold (FT Press, 2008; Kindle edition, $9.99)
This stellar book, written by CardRatings.com founder and consumer advocate Curtis Arnold, is a useful guide for savvy credit card holders. If you pay off your credit card bills every month, you're a candidate to profit from your credit cards. This book goes beyond the obvious advice -- use rewards cards when possible! -- and gives insider details on how to make real money from your cards. You'll also get tips on how to decipher credit reports, understand your credit score, slash debt, and more. And especially helpful is the chapter about how to capitalize on future credit card trends.
4. Money 911: Your Most Pressing Money Questions by Jean Chatzky (Harper Paperbacks, 2009; Kindle version, $9.99)
If you're feeling pressure from your credit card debt, this is another good book with sound advice. It answers questions such as which credit cards to pay off first, whether you should consolidate your debts and if you need credit counseling. Once you get answers to your urgent questions, the book guides you into a look at money and your life. Here, Chatzky gives insight about overall money management. The goal is to get to a state of financial well-being so that skilled money management becomes a way of life.
5. The Skinny on Credit Cards: How to Master the Credit Card Game by Jim Randel (RAND publishing, 2009, $9.99)
If you're interested in increasing your credit card I.Q., this witty book is a great place to start. There really aren't enough books out there that give you the no-nonsense facts about credit cards like this book does. Randel gives us a glimpse into the lives of "Billy and Beth," a typical young couple who have gotten themselves into credit card debt. This book aims to educate you about the "game" of credit cards and it successfully hits the mark.