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challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
It's a fine book. The author's story and the way she tells it are good, but otherwise it is not something I'd reach for as a tome. The plan behind the debt free way is a pretty solid and well known plan (figure out wants and needs, spend on needs, use the wants money to pay down debt). It makes sense, but is hard to do. I am not sure the hard to do part is communicated here.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Maybe more like 3.5? I have read a lot of the author's blog so much of this wasn't brand new info but I feel like reading this was really motivational and has spurred me to take some of my own financial goals more seriously. It's US-centric like a lot of these sorts of resources, which makes a lot of it not so relevant to me. Even so I like the way it's written and can relate to a fair bit of it!
If level one of personal finance is putting some money into your 401k, then this book is level 0, which is simply not putting ALL of your money into Chipotle burrito bowls. This, friends, is the level I'm at.
This book is mostly about how to quickly pay off large amounts of debt (which I don't have, but may have in the near future because of student loans) through a very austere "spending fast." Even though my goal is just to save money and not live paycheck-to-paycheck, a lot of the information was still very relevant because her advice ultimately boils down to fixing a spending problem. And that? That I have.
I did what the author dubs a reverse budget. Which is basically an inventory of where one's money goes. Mine? As paltry my paycheck seems to be, I'm actually flush with cash. I just immediately hand it over to gourmet salad shops, delis, expensive grocery stores, bars, and Korean skincare companies. Lord. This book was a kick in the ass to be more responsible with my cash and live below my means. To practice what others more adult than me might call "delayed gratification."
I s'pose I'll give it a go. For anyone really struggling with unreasonable spending, this book might be the motivation you need to get your shit together.
This book is mostly about how to quickly pay off large amounts of debt (which I don't have, but may have in the near future because of student loans) through a very austere "spending fast." Even though my goal is just to save money and not live paycheck-to-paycheck, a lot of the information was still very relevant because her advice ultimately boils down to fixing a spending problem. And that? That I have.
I did what the author dubs a reverse budget. Which is basically an inventory of where one's money goes. Mine? As paltry my paycheck seems to be, I'm actually flush with cash. I just immediately hand it over to gourmet salad shops, delis, expensive grocery stores, bars, and Korean skincare companies. Lord. This book was a kick in the ass to be more responsible with my cash and live below my means. To practice what others more adult than me might call "delayed gratification."
I s'pose I'll give it a go. For anyone really struggling with unreasonable spending, this book might be the motivation you need to get your shit together.
Read for Fun (Kindle)
Overall Rating: 3.50
The Good:She had a lot of tips on how to approach debt that are super sensible. There are some great tips on Side Hustles, Yard Sales, and ways to pay down debt even faster. The tips on how to talk to your family/friends about your goals was really good (though part of this will be down in the bad too). It was worth the read and I belong to her FB group--loads of good support there. I also like the different approaches Fast vs Diet. I am using a the diet approach (more on why in the bad section) because it is just more realistic for me and my relationships.
The Bad:For me, the completely cutting off family/friends through no spending is just not feasible or fair really. While I can get on board with the no gifts, I am not going to skip every family or close friend celebration (out to eat). Also, I kind of got the feeling that while she was on a no spend, her husband was not (they had separate accounts) so she was still being able to be social in some situations with dinners out they just came under his tab. As a single person, it is also unrealistic to think I am going to put my life on hold for 2 years (that is what it would take for me to get 100% out of debt). So in the end, parts of the book are just not feasible for every person in every situation.
Overall: Worth the price of the book and I love the FB group. I am doing 2018 as a spending diet so that will be interesting. I just think her total approach would not work for me personally but kudos to her for pulling it off!
Overall Rating: 3.50
The Good:She had a lot of tips on how to approach debt that are super sensible. There are some great tips on Side Hustles, Yard Sales, and ways to pay down debt even faster. The tips on how to talk to your family/friends about your goals was really good (though part of this will be down in the bad too). It was worth the read and I belong to her FB group--loads of good support there. I also like the different approaches Fast vs Diet. I am using a the diet approach (more on why in the bad section) because it is just more realistic for me and my relationships.
The Bad:For me, the completely cutting off family/friends through no spending is just not feasible or fair really. While I can get on board with the no gifts, I am not going to skip every family or close friend celebration (out to eat). Also, I kind of got the feeling that while she was on a no spend, her husband was not (they had separate accounts) so she was still being able to be social in some situations with dinners out they just came under his tab. As a single person, it is also unrealistic to think I am going to put my life on hold for 2 years (that is what it would take for me to get 100% out of debt). So in the end, parts of the book are just not feasible for every person in every situation.
Overall: Worth the price of the book and I love the FB group. I am doing 2018 as a spending diet so that will be interesting. I just think her total approach would not work for me personally but kudos to her for pulling it off!
This managed to scare me straight about not getting into debt if nothing else. There's some practical advice mixed in with eyeroll-worthy things that seem less applicable.
I'm frankly shocked that she didn't ruin her marriage over her decision to a) get deeply into debt without telling her husband, b) do a spending fast, and c) consequently mooch off of her husband for a little while, putting him in danger of going into debt.
Funnily enough, I think that the narrative about her life was what kept me transfixed until the end more than the actual advice about saving money, so take from that what you will.
I'm frankly shocked that she didn't ruin her marriage over her decision to a) get deeply into debt without telling her husband, b) do a spending fast, and c) consequently mooch off of her husband for a little while, putting him in danger of going into debt.
Funnily enough, I think that the narrative about her life was what kept me transfixed until the end more than the actual advice about saving money, so take from that what you will.
I really wanted to like this book but i jusy couldnt get into what she was selling. The dave ramsey book was much better
1.5/5
Here’s a summary of the entire book in two words: Spend Less.
This is a book written for people with a spending problem and have a lot of credit card debt (although the advice offered would also work well if you want to pay off your student debt fast). Luckily for me the only kind of debt that I have is a mortgage. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the advice offered in this book would work as well for mortgages.
I don’t have a spending problem as I was born a miser. Heck, I walked for an hour every morning to get to school back in high school because I didn’t want to spend $3.75 on a bus ticket. I’ve also been wearing the same ski jacket, matching snow pants and matching gloves since 2007 (it’s probably out of style and completely worn out and no longer warm but I don’t care. It’s bright green and the only way for my friends and family to identify me when I’m zooming down the slopes). So this book isn’t for me.
[b: The Spender’s Guide to being Debt-Free] is also a huge extended version of [a:Anna Newell Jones|14133560|Anna Newell Jones|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]’ blog, andthenwesaved.com, which promotes the idea of going on a Spending Fast and Spending Diet where you only spend money on things you need rather than on things that you want (story of my life - I’ve been scolding my mom since the age of 8 for always buying too much. Too much food from Costco that we can’t finish. Too much Christmas ornaments that we will probably only use once. Too much useless centerpieces for our kitchen and living room). This book also offers some advice on how to make some extra cash on the side during your Spending Fast so that you can pay off your debts faster, which for me, was the most interesting part of the book.
Would recommend to college students who want to pay off their student loans and heavy spenders with a lot of credit card debt.
Here’s a summary of the entire book in two words: Spend Less.
This is a book written for people with a spending problem and have a lot of credit card debt (although the advice offered would also work well if you want to pay off your student debt fast). Luckily for me the only kind of debt that I have is a mortgage. Unfortunately, I don’t believe the advice offered in this book would work as well for mortgages.
I don’t have a spending problem as I was born a miser. Heck, I walked for an hour every morning to get to school back in high school because I didn’t want to spend $3.75 on a bus ticket. I’ve also been wearing the same ski jacket, matching snow pants and matching gloves since 2007 (it’s probably out of style and completely worn out and no longer warm but I don’t care. It’s bright green and the only way for my friends and family to identify me when I’m zooming down the slopes). So this book isn’t for me.
[b: The Spender’s Guide to being Debt-Free] is also a huge extended version of [a:Anna Newell Jones|14133560|Anna Newell Jones|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]’ blog, andthenwesaved.com, which promotes the idea of going on a Spending Fast and Spending Diet where you only spend money on things you need rather than on things that you want (story of my life - I’ve been scolding my mom since the age of 8 for always buying too much. Too much food from Costco that we can’t finish. Too much Christmas ornaments that we will probably only use once. Too much useless centerpieces for our kitchen and living room). This book also offers some advice on how to make some extra cash on the side during your Spending Fast so that you can pay off your debts faster, which for me, was the most interesting part of the book.
Would recommend to college students who want to pay off their student loans and heavy spenders with a lot of credit card debt.