One of my favorite things about being a personal finance blogger is our awesome community. I’ve never encountered a group of people who were just so keen on helping you getting your life together and so nice and supportive about it.

That being said, I want to highlight one of the first bloggers I started reading before I even joined their ranks – Stefanie O’Connell from The Broke and Beautiful Life. In case you were unaware, acting isn’t always the most profitable career choice, but Stefanie is gung-ho about living the dream and still making sure she’s fiscally sound. She’d be the first to tell you it’s not easy, but it’s definitely do-able.

But why take my word for it? She’s actually written a book about it! Building on the same principles she based her blog on, Stefanie just published The Broke and Beautiful Life: Small Town Budget, Big City Dreams.

I think the quote from her book that sums up Stefanie’s success to me is “follow your dreams, but don’t be limited by them.”

I met Stefanie first as a personal finance blogger and that’s how I tend to think of her, but I know she’s an actress. As a stage manager myself, I know plenty of other performers and have seen first hand the financial realities of trying to live the dream. Too many people in the arts get stuck in the broke mentality. Rather than being limited by her dream, Stefanie evaluated other roles she was passionate about and could take on as well – and has found a way to make life a little more beautiful along the way.

Some key takeaways from The Broke and Beautiful Life: Small Town Budget, Big City Dreams for me were:

• What’s my money mentality?
• How’s my financial literacy doing?
• Am I prepared for financial emergencies (and does “following my dream” effect the amount I should have saved)?
• When is the last time I actually checked my credit score?
• How well do I know me spending triggers?
• Do I speak up when I notice a mistake – a price listed wrong or an error on a bill?
• Do people see me as an “income opportunist”?
• Am I maximizing my frugal potential?

If you’re someone intent on pursuing your passion no matter what obstacles pop up – this is the book for you. I love how encouraging it is and the way Stefanie balances the importance of striving for your dream job while still upholding practical financial advice to keep you from going… and staying… broke along the way.

No joke, this book just became my new graduation gift for any younger family members who graduate from college with a “passion” degree… and honestly, maybe even for the pre-med and accounting majors in the family too.

What’s on your reading list?