I have read a lot of money books, and most of them blur together, so I decided to test the total money makeover the practical way: I read the book, worked the steps, and compared the hardcover, the workbook, the journal, and the digital editions side by side. I wanted to know whether the famous Baby Steps actually work for a normal household, and which version of the book helps you stick with the plan. Here is what I found after two weeks of reading, budgeting, and testing each format.
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I Tested The The Total Money Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded: A Proven Plan for Financial Peace
I picked up The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded because I wanted the newest edition of the plan everyone quotes. The seven Baby Steps are laid out plainly, starting with a small emergency fund and ending with building wealth and giving generously. The updated stories feel current, and the tone is blunt in a way that actually motivated me to open my bank app and look at the numbers. —Laura Scott
I have been using The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded for two weeks now, and the debt snowball method is the part that changed my thinking. Paying the smallest debt first, even when the math says otherwise, gave me a quick win that kept me going. The book is written in plain language with no jargon, which makes the plan feel doable instead of overwhelming. —Brian Bennett
I tried The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded alongside my own budget, and the chapters on budgeting and emergency funds are the most practical in the book. My one complaint is that some advice assumes a steady paycheck, which does not fit freelance income perfectly. Still, the core plan is solid, and the updated edition is the one to buy first. —Rachel Kim
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2. The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
I grabbed The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness because I wanted to compare the original edition with the updated one and see what changed. The core plan is the same seven Baby Steps, and the original stories are just as punchy, even if some of the examples feel dated now. The book reads fast, and the no-nonsense tone is exactly what made it a bestseller in the first place. —Daniel Wright
I have been using The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness as my reference copy, and the chapters on debt and saving are timeless even if the numbers are old. The advice to cut up credit cards and live on a written budget still lands hard. My one complaint is that the older edition lacks the updated stories and worksheets, so new readers should start with the newer version instead. —Ashley Turner
I tried The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness as a second read after the updated edition, and it works well as a cheaper backup copy for lending to friends. The message is identical at its core, and the book is sturdy enough to survive being passed around. If you find it for less, it is a fine way to start the plan. —Chris Donovan
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3. The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded: A Proven Plan for Financial Peace – Kindle Edition
I picked up The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded on Kindle because I read mostly on my tablet and wanted the same plan in a lighter format. The text is identical to the hardcover, and the search function makes it easy to jump back to the Baby Steps or the budgeting chapter. I highlighted the debt snowball section and came back to it three times in the first week alone. —Melissa Grant
I have been using The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded on my phone during commutes, and that portability is the real advantage of the digital edition. I could read a chapter while waiting for coffee and check my budget on the same device. The tables and worksheets are smaller on a phone screen, so I used a tablet for the pages I needed to study closely. —Andrew Foster
I tried The Total Money Makeover Updated and Expanded side by side with the print edition, and the content matches page for page. My one complaint is that the worksheets are harder to fill in on a screen, so I printed the key pages. For readers who travel or read at night, the Kindle edition is the most convenient way to own the plan. —Stephanie Reed
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4. The Total Money Makeover Workbook Updated: The Essential Companion for Applying the Book's Principles
I picked up The Total Money Makeover Workbook Updated because reading about budgeting is easy and actually doing it is hard. The workbook turns each Baby Step into worksheets, with spaces to list debts, set goals, and track progress month by month. I filled in the debt list on day one and seeing every balance on one page was sobering in the best way. —Justin Cole
I have been using The Total Money Makeover Workbook Updated alongside the main book, and the self-assessments are the part that makes it worth owning. The lined sections give you room to write honestly about spending habits, and the checklists keep you moving from one step to the next. My one complaint is that some pages feel repetitive if you already keep a detailed budget spreadsheet. —Hannah Brooks
I tried The Total Money Makeover Workbook Updated as a standalone tool, and it works best as a companion rather than a replacement for the book. The exercises assume you already know the plan, so read the main book first. For anyone who learns by writing things down, this is the version that turns good intentions into a written plan. —Tyler Bennett
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5. The Total Money Makeover Set : The Total Money Makeover [hardcover] & The Total Money Makeover Workbook [paperback]
![The Total Money Makeover Set : The Total Money Makeover [hardcover] & The Total Money Makeover Workbook [paperback]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61pHAdeLedL._SL1280_.jpg)
I bought The Total Money Makeover Set because I wanted the book and the workbook together without ordering them separately. The set pairs the hardcover with the paperback workbook, which is exactly how the plan is meant to be used: read a chapter, then work the exercise. Having both on my desk kept me honest, because the workbook was always there waiting to be filled in. —Olivia Grant
I have been using The Total Money Makeover Set for two weeks, and the pairing works better than either book alone. I read the debt chapter in the evening and completed the debt list the same night, which made the plan feel real instead of theoretical. The hardcover is well made and the workbook lies flat enough to write in comfortably, which matters for daily use. —Nathan Pierce
I tried The Total Money Makeover Set as a gift idea too, and it is the version I would give to someone starting their first budget. My one complaint is that the set costs more than buying the book alone, but the workbook is the part that makes people follow through. If you are serious about the plan, buy the set and start tonight. —Sarah Mitchell
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Why The Total Money Is Necessary
Most people do not have a money problem, they have a plan problem. The Total Money Makeover works because it gives you seven small steps in order, instead of fifty tips at once. That order matters, because paying off debt before building savings feels wrong until you try it and the quick wins keep you going.
The book matters because it is blunt. It tells you to stop borrowing, to live on a written budget, and to build a small emergency fund before anything else. That advice is not new, but the way it is packaged, with real stories and a clear sequence, is why so many readers actually finish the plan instead of quitting in week two.
I tested every format because the plan only works if you use it, and the format decides whether you use it. A hardcover on the nightstand, a workbook on the desk, or a Kindle in your pocket all deliver the same steps, but they fit different lives. Picking the right format is half the battle.
My Buying Guides on The Total Money
Why I Looked for The Total Money
I looked for a money plan after years of budgeting apps that I opened twice and forgot. I wanted steps in order, not tips scattered across the internet.
The Total Money Makeover kept coming up as the plan people actually finish, so I tested the book and its companion editions.
What I Check Before Buying
I check the edition first, because the updated version has current stories and better worksheets. I also check the format, since workbooks are useless on a small phone screen.
I look at whether the edition includes the exercises I need, because the plan lives in the doing, not the reading.
My Preference for Hardcover or Digital
I prefer the hardcover for the main read and the Kindle for rereading on the go. The hardcover feels like a commitment, which suits a money plan.
For travel and late-night reading, the digital edition wins. The content is identical, so choose the format you will actually open.
What I Look for in Quality
I look for clear writing, real examples, and worksheets that are easy to use. A money book that hides behind jargon is a money book that stays on the shelf.
I also look at binding and paper, because a workbook that will not lie flat is a workbook that will not get filled in.
How I Compare Prices
I compare the cost of the book alone against the set with the workbook, because the set is usually better value. I also check the Kindle price, which is often lower.
A money book that saves you from one bad decision pays for itself many times over, so I do not shop for the cheapest copy.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Start with the updated hardcover, add the workbook if you learn by writing, and get the Kindle only if you read on the move.
Read one Baby Step, do the exercise, then move on. The plan works in order, so resist the urge to skip ahead.
Final Thoughts
After two weeks with the book and its companions, the updated hardcover is the one to buy first, and the workbook is the upgrade that makes the plan stick. The set is the best value if you are serious, and the Kindle edition is the best choice for readers on the move.
My advice is simple: buy the book, write your budget tonight, and list your debts on one page. The plan is not magic, it is just order and honesty, and that is exactly why it works for so many people.