Staying out of debt, saving money, building a nest egg — all these things sound easy, but they’re not so easy to put into practice. Last year, Americans held a record-high $13 trillion in debt, according to the New York Fed.

So where do our good intentions go off the rails? And how can you stop those bad habits from wreaking havoc on your finances? MONEY asked experts in consumer credit, debt, and financial literacy to tell us the worst money habits they see people practice, and what books offer real and achievable strategies for breaking those habits and getting your bank account, 401(k), and credit card bills to a better place.

Click here for the best books full of tips for how to save money, get out of debt, and reach all your financial goals from Money Magazine