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A Woman of Independent Means: A Women's Guide to Full Financial Security
Vaz-Oxlade, Gail, Vaz-Cxlade, Gail
391 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1999
2 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Gail Vaz-Oxlade
20 books170 followers"Hello! I'm Gail Vaz-Oxlade. I'm a mother, step-mother, grand-mama, friend, confessor, writer, TV host, money maven, teacher, artist, and ex-wife. I'm loud, large and laugh a lot. I'm passionate about learning, committed to sharing and hell-bent on getting people to take control of their money and their lives.
I've written 13 books on personal finance, hundreds of articles for the financial media, published a financial magazine for women, hosted three prime-time television shows and worked with Canada’s leading financial services companies to help educate employees and clients. (I've been busy, eh?)
My corporate projects have ranged from the design of a product knowledge and sales curriculum to cover every product sold through the branch network, to the writing of several consumer-oriented brochures, the development of web content, the on-camera hosting of consumer-oriented videos, and myriad public presentations. I can make the most complex financial topic accessible to everyone, even kids.
For those of you who have detected an accent, go ahead and guess! I immigrated to Canada in 1977, lived in The Big City for a long time and then moved to the country. I have dozens of houseplants, read or listen to about 150 books a year and I'm a fabulous cook. I’m learning to knit and dying to get a new puppy… but the time’s not quite right yet so I’m practicing what I preach and being patient.
I’m all about change, and I believe that we can have anything we want in life…anything. It’s all a matter of what’s important to us and how hard we’re prepared to bust our butts. I also believe that a well-balanced life is one of the keys to happiness, and so I strive to achieve a sense of balance.
I’m happy with my life. I am determined to do interesting work and to be useful. I love to learn new things. And I’m practicing living in The Now. I am a work in progress."
I've written 13 books on personal finance, hundreds of articles for the financial media, published a financial magazine for women, hosted three prime-time television shows and worked with Canada’s leading financial services companies to help educate employees and clients. (I've been busy, eh?)
My corporate projects have ranged from the design of a product knowledge and sales curriculum to cover every product sold through the branch network, to the writing of several consumer-oriented brochures, the development of web content, the on-camera hosting of consumer-oriented videos, and myriad public presentations. I can make the most complex financial topic accessible to everyone, even kids.
For those of you who have detected an accent, go ahead and guess! I immigrated to Canada in 1977, lived in The Big City for a long time and then moved to the country. I have dozens of houseplants, read or listen to about 150 books a year and I'm a fabulous cook. I’m learning to knit and dying to get a new puppy… but the time’s not quite right yet so I’m practicing what I preach and being patient.
I’m all about change, and I believe that we can have anything we want in life…anything. It’s all a matter of what’s important to us and how hard we’re prepared to bust our butts. I also believe that a well-balanced life is one of the keys to happiness, and so I strive to achieve a sense of balance.
I’m happy with my life. I am determined to do interesting work and to be useful. I love to learn new things. And I’m practicing living in The Now. I am a work in progress."
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 20, 2015
Every year for the past few years, I have read a financial book. It has been a part of my edification (yes, financial management will make me a better person!) and trying to get me into the mindset of responsible spending for the year. This, by far, has been my favourite personal finance book I have ever read.
First, I will admit that it helps that it is Canadian, as we Canadians are often inundated with American financial literature (there are more similarities than differences, but there are times we need to attend to the differences). Particularly since a significant portion of financial management relates to retirement savings and, if you have children, education savings, these systems are different in Canada and need addressing.
I felt this book was early (not the first, but early) on the trend of organizing financial plans by life event, as opposed to decade - as we do not experience the same life events in specified decades any longer. Having read the chapters in advance, I felt better prepared to tackle the new events as they came, if they came (although some I would be grateful if they did not: divorce, illness of parents, etc.). As a good financial book should, it discussed what to do in good times and bad. It provided a solid foundation of information, then went through the gambit of all the big events in one's life and the financial impact, the steps to take in financial management.
And what a solid foundation it provides. It not only goes through the basics of financial management, it goes through related concepts such as the basics of investing, important starter terms for insurance, questions to ask professionals as you are seeking the right professional to help you with your financial life, etc. While you can always learn more, this book provides what you need to go about your daily financial life. So long as your financial life is simple, this book will get your through.
The two major drawbacks of this book must come as no surprise: (1) This is a starter book,something to give you a wide solid base, so if you are looking for in-depth information, look elsewhere; (2) Information ages, but particularly in the financial world. While our major systems are the same, there are certain rules that have changed with different governments. It is inevitable.
In part to fulfill audience requests for an update, Gail Vaz-Oxlade wrote It's Your Money . Unfortunately, while her update was decent given its size, if did not encapsulate the breadth of the first book. Truthfully, I keep the two side-by-side to have the "whole story." If you can find this book second-hand (as it is no longer in print) and can gather what information needs updating, there is still so much you can learn from this book that is not in the update. If not, It's Your Money is the next best thing.
First, I will admit that it helps that it is Canadian, as we Canadians are often inundated with American financial literature (there are more similarities than differences, but there are times we need to attend to the differences). Particularly since a significant portion of financial management relates to retirement savings and, if you have children, education savings, these systems are different in Canada and need addressing.
I felt this book was early (not the first, but early) on the trend of organizing financial plans by life event, as opposed to decade - as we do not experience the same life events in specified decades any longer. Having read the chapters in advance, I felt better prepared to tackle the new events as they came, if they came (although some I would be grateful if they did not: divorce, illness of parents, etc.). As a good financial book should, it discussed what to do in good times and bad. It provided a solid foundation of information, then went through the gambit of all the big events in one's life and the financial impact, the steps to take in financial management.
And what a solid foundation it provides. It not only goes through the basics of financial management, it goes through related concepts such as the basics of investing, important starter terms for insurance, questions to ask professionals as you are seeking the right professional to help you with your financial life, etc. While you can always learn more, this book provides what you need to go about your daily financial life. So long as your financial life is simple, this book will get your through.
The two major drawbacks of this book must come as no surprise: (1) This is a starter book,something to give you a wide solid base, so if you are looking for in-depth information, look elsewhere; (2) Information ages, but particularly in the financial world. While our major systems are the same, there are certain rules that have changed with different governments. It is inevitable.
In part to fulfill audience requests for an update, Gail Vaz-Oxlade wrote It's Your Money . Unfortunately, while her update was decent given its size, if did not encapsulate the breadth of the first book. Truthfully, I keep the two side-by-side to have the "whole story." If you can find this book second-hand (as it is no longer in print) and can gather what information needs updating, there is still so much you can learn from this book that is not in the update. If not, It's Your Money is the next best thing.
June 26, 2020
While this is now dated, written before the TFSA product was introduced and RESP limits/benefits were changed, it is still chock full of good advice. Gail Vaz-Oxlade is my favourite financial expert. She explains the why behind the advice and has a no nonsense style. I love that she's not afraid to write that if you can't afford to pay cash for that want then go without. Clarifying of course that if the item is a true need, then another way must be found.
June 20, 2019
It was ok, a 2.5. I skipped a couple section as children and planning for them won’t be in my future. I’ve read a lot of her newer books and therefore found this one redundant and outdated. I definitely recommend her newer books over this one.
July 15, 2007
Excellent advice
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews