Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover is the best book on personal finances I have ever read.  He has a plan and if you stick to his "Baby Steps" it will work.  This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme, but far from it.  The Total Money Makeover shows how to prepare for an emergency, pay off debt sensibly, pay off a mortgage if you have one, save for a period of unemployment or other circumstances and gain control over your money, rather than having money control you.  I love the concept in this book of telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.