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Pocket Your Dollars: 5 Attitude Changes That Will Help You Pay Down Debt, Avoid Financial Stress, and Keep More of What You Make

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Popular personal finance blogger and money-management expert shows how to overcome financial stress with straightforward advice when debt-reduction programs and budgets fail to help.

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2012

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645 people want to read

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Carrie Rocha

4 books24 followers

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5 stars
70 (21%)
4 stars
108 (33%)
3 stars
111 (34%)
2 stars
26 (8%)
1 star
8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for Carrie Rocha.
Author 4 books24 followers
January 27, 2013
I'm the author so I'm obviously biased, but this book is intended to be the one you read before you read about how to set up a budget worksheet. This helps you understand why you haven't been able to make the financial changes you've wanted to do or known you should do. I tell it from a personal point of view as someone who overcame debt and realized that our success was only because we had first changed on the inside. That internal change made lasting behavioral lchange possible.
Profile Image for Lina Baker.
64 reviews15 followers
January 12, 2013
Keep in mind my amended rating system: a two is an average read, that i would recommend to appropriate people.

That said, Rocha writes an accessible book on some of the psychological constraints on achieving the stress-free financial living we all so ardently desire. The books focuses on five attitudes regarding money which leave many of us feeling trounced, and ways to successfully break out of our rut.

While written in a style fairly typical of all self-help books (equation: presentation of problem, suggestions of root causes, methodology of breaking free, encouraging final words) her candor regarding her own financial past and present successes is refreshing in a world that is so bashful of discussing money.

The final chapter actually provided me with some interesting information on the grocery industry in the form of a list of major dates throughout the year you can expect sales on certain household goods. It further provided a way for this self-admitted online shopper to reap some rewards for seeking my bounty via the great WWW.


All in all an unremarkable, yet not poor read. Looking for the reason your finances might be floundering? I would recommend this as a decent place to start; but stop along the way to answer her questions and marinate on the end goal.
Profile Image for Jenny.
30 reviews
August 5, 2018
What I appreciated about this book is the emphasis on the emotional core of how you use and view money. You've got to start at the root and then you can make changes from there. It wasn't your basic "how to budget your money book" because it didn't make me feel guilty for not leading an extremely restrictive lifestyle (it differentiates between being frugal and being an extreme penny-pincher, the former being preferable). The author is not trying to make us feel like failures--just normal people.

There were portions of the book that really spoke to me and calmed me down. For example, the concepts of resiliencey, reframing, and replacement thoughts.

However, by the time I finished the book, the 5 attitude changes as listed on the cover didn't stay freshly distinct in my mind. What were the cognitive/behavioral concepts mentioned later in the book?.

What Carrie Rocha helps make clear is that 1) what happens to us in childhood effects our handling of money as adults 2) our consumerist culture has put pressure on many of us to "fake it" and "compete" with the wealthy despite lifestyle and income disparities 3) goals, resiliency and motivation can help get you back on track.


However, I felt a little left out as the voice and topics clearly address married couples and families. As a divorced woman in her 40s, I felt a treatment of a fuller audience would've been more helpful.

What about those of us living in very high cost of living areas: Metro NYC, Washington DC, San Francisco, etc? She writes from suburban Minneapolis, I believe, which I would think is dramatically different from those of us in major metropolitan coastal areas. What I wondered was: what kind of advice does she have for those of us in these expensive areas who make decent money, but where the cost of housing, transportation and other things cut even more deeply into our pockets? The playing field is a bit different, even though we can apply many of the attitudes and concepts.

Overall, I felt this book had value for me, despite the above, and I would recommend to others, especially those who are willing to do the cognitive and behavioral work to see results and improve their situations.
Profile Image for Kalyn.
Author 3 books66 followers
February 21, 2013
Though I feel I have a fairly healthy attitude toward money, Carrie did encourage me in saving up for what “might happen”. We don’t ever expect our car brakes to go, a flood to demolish or home, or an extreme medical emergency, but if we prep for the unknown, we will be better equipped to handle whatever comes our way.

As for the readability of the book, I like how the author writes about her own life and makes each of the points personal and applicable. However, I was easily distracted away from the writing of the book. I had to work to finish it, and it doesn’t usually take me that long to finish a book!

Read the rest of my review here: http://wordswithbooks.com/2013/02/21/...
Profile Image for Rachelle Cobb.
Author 9 books318 followers
December 18, 2019
ORIGINAL REVIEW POSTED JANUARY 2014:
This book is full of helpful information--especially for college students like myself who want to pay off their loan debt (which in my case is thankfully minimal) and who want to walk into their adult years with an efficient spending plan!

REREAD DECEMBER 2019:
I still really love this book and Carrie’s approach to helping readers overhaul their mindsets about money before building a budget. Upon rereading, I enjoyed the refresher course.

“Frugal living habits alone aren’t enough to change your financial destiny. Their power magnifies when they’re combined with grateful, satisfied, future-looking, generous attitudes.” Amen!
Profile Image for Brooke.
483 reviews19 followers
October 4, 2013
I really enjoyed the information provided in this book, because it makes perfect sense to me. All of the attitude changes she spoke about pertained not only to finances, but also to other issues in life - like weight loss, etc. Sometimes the writing was a little confusing, but then when I got further into each section, Rocha pulled everything together & it all made perfect sense. I hope that I can follow some of her ideas, so we can get out of debt & feel more secure!!
Profile Image for Jen.
29 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2016
I've read several financial books and blogs, and there wasn't anything really new in this book. BUT I have to say it totally motivated me to get our finances to where I've been wanting them to be! Recommend for anyone who wants to take control of their money.
Profile Image for Tina S..
12 reviews6 followers
July 11, 2017
The husband and wife approach seems like a good idea but it didn't help me at all.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
214 reviews15 followers
November 10, 2017
Great goodwill book find. It had some good money-saving tips, money plans ideas, and was very motivating.
Profile Image for Emma Abrahams.
61 reviews7 followers
January 23, 2022
I really appreciate that this book went into the psychology behind why people spend too much money. It gave me lots to think about and put into action.
22 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2013
Pocket Your Dollars: 5 Attitude Changes That Will Help You Pay Down Debt, Avoid Financial Stress, and Keep More of What You Make by Carrie Rocha

Countless free budget plans are available for every possible income level and stage of life. So why do more than 60 percent of U.S. households still live paycheck to paycheck? The key to financial stability and success isn't just about money--it's about attitudes.

Rocha uses the lessons she learned overcoming personal debt to teach readers how to triumph over the lies we tell ourselves, such as "I deserve a treat," "Fake it till you make it," and "I can't afford it." Each chapter uses real-life examples to explain faulty thinking about money, followed by step-by-step instructions for how to overcome these pitfalls. Budgets are helpful, but real change won't happen without a financial attitude adjustment.
I am always looking for ways to improve our family budget and when I saw Pocket Your Dollars… was available I decided to see for myself what I could learn from it. A lot of the ideas in this book deal with the attitudes we develop about money. I thought there was some good solid information for getting out of debt and staying out of debt, such as in Chapter 5 when Rocha talks about consumerism and how the rich really live.
The chapters in Section One speak of the five attitude changes that need to be made. There is a quiz at the end of these chapters and discussion questions which are suitable for small groups. These chapters are filled with real-life examples of attitude changes made by Rocha and her husband to pay off almost $60,000 of debt in just 2 years.
In Section Two Rocha shares skills to help change your attitude toward debt and saving money. My favorites were replacement thinking- We work too hard for our money to let it leak out of our life- I am grateful for what I have, etc.
Section Three, which was my favorite section, was packed with many helpful resources. Here we find tips for cutting spending, budgeting and even a plan for paying off debt. One of the things suggested in Pocket Your Dollars is to pay off your credit cards and loans with the lowest balance first- no matter the interest rate. She then went on to suggest once a debt is paid off you add that payment to the next lowest bill until they are all paid off.
Over all I would give Pocket You Money… a 3 star rating. I would have liked to have read about others who have had success with these attitude adjustments presented. I think staying out of debt once you have paid everything off can be a challenge. While the author has been debt free for 4 years I would have like to have some advice from someone who has remained debt free for a much longer period of time.
I received this book from Bethany House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books653 followers
March 21, 2013
Title: POCKET YOUR DOLLARS
Author: Carrie Rocha
Publisher: Bethany House
December 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1087-7
Genre: Personal Finance

When it comes to money, attitude is everything.

Carrie Rocha, founder and owner of Pocket Your Dollars.com, one of the most popular sites on the web, shares the secrets that will help you change the way you think about money. Seven years ago she and her husband were surprised to discover the mountain of debt they'd accumulated. They knew they'd have to make big changes. Thirty months later they were debt free and have stayed that way ever since.

How did they do it? It wasn't through a step-by-step financial program or spending plan. It turns out, budgets can't fix everything--real change takes an attitude adjustment.

You too can triumph over the pitfalls that lead to financial stress. With practical help in every chapter, including real-life examples and easy-to-use self-assessment tools, you'll soon understand what Carrie discovered: Lasting change can start today.

POCKET YOUR DOLLARS is the latest in a long line of financial wisdom books following in the wake of Dave Ramsey’s classes (which I would love to take.) For the most part, there wasn't anything new in POCKET YOUR DOLLARS. Most of it is all common sense. I did like that Ms. Rocha focused on our attitudes toward money. She discusses five different attitude changes needed to help us pay down debt and avoid financial stress. Such as:

 If only I had more money
 I deserve a treat (my biggest downfall)
 It won’t happen to me
 I’ll fake it ‘til I make it
 I can’t afford it

She goes on to show us the skills we need to change our attitudes and some simple budgeting advice.

Ms. Rocha also shares the story of how she and her husband paid off over $50,000 in about thirty months. POCKET YOUR DOLLARS ends with some practical tips- all of which I was already aware, except one. Buy your gas on Tuesdays. In some parts of the country, apparently, that's when gas prices are at their lowest. Wow. I tracked prices here to see if it was true, and it didn’t seem to be any different where I live. Nothing changed. But, maybe where you live it is true.

POCKET YOUR DOLLARS reminds us that money (or lack, thereof) is not the root of the problem, but rather it’s our attitudes. 3.5 stars. $13.99. 224 pages.
Profile Image for Victoria Brinius.
763 reviews35 followers
March 2, 2013
I really never thought of some of the things in this book. In order to stop impulse buying you need to control your impulses first. The beginning of this book talked about training yourself to change your way of buying. It comes down to wanting and what you need. I want to buy a new car, but if I save up and plan, then I can buy it debt free. This book also talked about the snowball effect of paying off your bills. I heard of that before, but I never saw it explained as well as it was in this book. This book also talked about saving for a surprise "need" (tires, breaks, broken stove etc.). It gives you ideas to save. I also liked how going out to eat was addressed. That is a bad habit of mine. The book talked about how they challenged themselves not to eat out. They brought food with them. They could not even stop at the grocery store and impulse buy.
The last section of the book talks about saving money. Coupons and being frugal can go a long way. The book also talks about creating a spending plan.
I wish I read this book before I got married. I had credit card debt, and a lot of it. Having a mortgage is scary sometimes, but I would never change my past. Every one that has debt should read this book, even if they change one habit, or learn one way to save money, then it is worth it. 5/5!!!!!
thanks to Bethany House for the book to review, however all opinions are my own~
Profile Image for Kate.
268 reviews10 followers
February 25, 2013
Looking to save your hard earned money, or perhaps how to change your attitude towards debt and money management?

The author and her husband Marco have come from two entirely different family lifestyles and were raised with conflicting views on money, circumstances and spending habits. Together they devised a plan on how to live and stay debt free. Included are how to be satisfied, becoming aware of thought patterns, avoiding the temptation and many more chapters and subchapters. Many tips and mindsets are brought into the overall picture along with personal quizzes and discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

I did enjoy this book and found the information practical, useful and valuable. Most helpful to me were subchapters ie: the products to look for on sale and at what time of the year to find them on sale, how to track spending and when setbacks happen. The author shares her life throughout a good portion of Pocket Your Dollars and what she and her husband have discovered about their spending and saving habits. I do think that each person who reads this book can walk away learning something which can then be applied to their lives. Overall good read 4 Stars! I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers for my review.
Profile Image for Tima.
1,678 reviews129 followers
July 3, 2016
Our economy is terrible, debt is sky rocketing, and families are losing their homes. What would happen if we completely changed our attitudes and mindsets about money? The result would be amazing. If you are a fan of Dave Ramsey or the Pocket Your Dollars website, then you will love this book. It has easy to understand terminolgy and stories woven into the five steps that make the book interesting to read. The facts are presented in an entertaining way and are a welcome change from the typical boring and dry financial books out there.

My husband and I have followed Dave Ramsey for years. But this book brought out some really good points and started a great conversation between us. So even if you feel great financially, I highly recommend this book as a good way to brush up on things. But for those of you who are in debt or completely lost when it comes to finances, this book could be life changing.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Cori.
694 reviews16 followers
January 27, 2014
What intrigued me: Martha suggested it when it came up as a free download for the Nook.

What I liked: I like the layout of the book and her quizzes to help you become more self aware. Of the five attitudes I need to work the most on the "if only I had more money" and "I deserve a treat" attitudes.

What I didn't like: I didn't find all of her practical suggestions helpful, but that wasn't really the point of the book. I was also a little thrown off by the final chapter. Her review of her website, while informative, kind of makes me feel like I just read 165 page advertisement. Books that end that way kind of kill it for me.

Favorite quote: “...I trust Mint.com for three reasons. First, they use the same 128-bit encryption and physical security that banks use. Second, it is read-only access, so Mint.com does not have permission to initiate any transactions. All they can do is download the data of what has already been done. Third, Mint.com is owned by Intuit, who owns reputable software like TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Quicken."
Profile Image for Heather Bridson.
430 reviews8 followers
March 25, 2013
This is a great little book to help with financial planning. IT doesn't tell you what you can't afford. It tells you how to plan for anything you want, and how to change your attitudes that keep you in debt. I love how it is written, easy to read and understand. Perfect for anyone who needs a little financial help. I hope I can get my husband to read it to. Anyway, this is a great little book! I'll probably refer to it on and off for a while.
The only downside to this book, t has occasional "big" words, while I had no issues, I did think about other people who may be reading this book. It would be a little better if it was written for all common people, so they don't stumble over the words as they try to change their thoughts and attitudes towards money.
I received this book in a giveaway. I was not paid for a review of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kelly Bartholomew petzold.
3 reviews2 followers
March 8, 2013
This was a great book to teach you attitude CHANGES, not how to save money. Once you make the decision that you want to get out of debt and stay out of debt for the rest of your life, then this is a great book to start you on your journey. It's not about how much money you make but rather what you do with it. This book gives you the attitudes and adbice on how to make these changes in your life. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in paying down their debt, and anyone who is interested in changing their attitudes about money. This book teaches you how to separate out your expenses into manageable chunks and easy to understand terminology. I LOVED at the end of the book where the author shares her coupon filing system and coupon clipping ideas. I would recommend this book to my friends.
Profile Image for IrenesBookReviews.
1,051 reviews28 followers
July 26, 2013
This book has plenty of tips on ways to save your money and not overspend. The best parts of the book are the many examples. You will most likely find some story that you can relate to. Whether it is how to not treat yourself to something every time you get a paycheck to learning how to set money aside before it goes into your spending account you will get practical advice in the book. I gave this book 4/5 stars. I liked how easy it was to read and follow. I actually got bored a few times and that is why I gave it a lower rating. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning ways to save and stay on a budget.

I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

Profile Image for My Book Addiction and More MBA.
1,958 reviews71 followers
February 18, 2013
POCKET YOUR DOLLARS: 5 ATTITUDE CHANGES THAT WILL HELP YOU PAY DOWN DEBT,AVOID FINANCIAL STRESS & KEEP MORE OF WHAT YOU MAKE by Carrie Rocha is a wonderful non-fiction/Personal Finance. What a wonderful book packed full of useful information,with websites included. "The most popular sites on the web, shares the secrets that will help you change the way you think about money". It is written so you can understand and put some of their ideas in use. Who doesn't want to be debt free and have some money in the bank? A very educational and useful book. I would highly recommend this title. Received for an honest review from the publisher.
RATING: 5
HEAT RATING: NONE (FINANCE)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
Profile Image for Amber.
874 reviews
February 2, 2016
I appreciated the unique approach this book took. Rather than heavy emphasis on budgeting, or culling all spending in certain categories, or investment advice, the author addresses our underlying attitudes about money, and suggests exercises for how to modify and change these attitudes. There were some neat and thought-provoking exercises here that I have never encountered in another finance book. The last chapters also reference some good online resources. I liked the tone and overall approach the author had here. This was a library loan, but I am seriously considering purchasing a copy for reference and re-reading.
Profile Image for Nadine.
9 reviews
January 7, 2013
I enjoyed Pocket Your Dollars. It's a book about personal finance but it's not really a financial planning book. It's the inspirational story of the author and her husband and how they got out of debt. Along with her story the author shares advice on how anyone can get a handle on their finances and eliminate debt. The book helps you to see money in a new light and tries to change your attitude not just a few problematic behaviors. It examines how consumerism can affect your life and provides tips on how to counteract our need to spend money mindlessly. Easy and inspiring read.
Profile Image for Rachel.
91 reviews
February 22, 2013
I have read a fair number of everyday financial books, and this ranked pretty high among them. I like the Rocha's approach was practical, and really targeted the roots behind how and why we spend.

That said, it wasn't perfect. There are moments where it felt quite a bit like a long advertisement for her website of the same name. Clearly, she knows what she's talking about at she lives it out, but maybe a little less advertising?
Profile Image for Jason.
11 reviews
February 27, 2013
This book was a good money book. If you have read a few money books before you won't be hit with anything new, but if you haven't read any money books this one would be a good one to start on. Good to read, and it is not that thick so you can get through it in a day or two (or a couple weeks if a non renewable new fiction book comes in under your name at the library.)
Profile Image for Karen.
963 reviews14 followers
September 6, 2020
I am getting more interested in personal finance books like this with Mr. Karen's retirement targeted for next year, which means we'll have less income than we've grown accustomed to. I didn't find anything eye opening here. I wish there'd been more time spent on the attitudes and how to change them and less on specific budgeting/spending tips--that last section seemed tacked on.
10 reviews
Read
May 4, 2015
This is a wonderful book. While the message of the book was not overtly Christian, a believer can see God's principles on each attitude. It was gentle, clear, and relatable. I have so much shame from my debt, yet this book encouraged healthy action as a better solution. I am going to read this book again and do some journaling about its debt-freeing principles.
Profile Image for Beth Browne.
176 reviews11 followers
June 7, 2013
I loved this book. It's a very quick read, the writing is good and the information is very helpful. I've read similar books and found this one to be succinct and the goals achievable. I'll definitely be checking out her website too. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Eileen Leacock.
14 reviews
February 12, 2014
I enjoyed this book because it was a good reminder that it matters what we think about things. Our actions only change when our mind set changes first. When trying to change, we neglect the introspective part and pursue the actions. Pocket Your Dollars is a good reminder to do both things.
3 reviews
March 25, 2014
Good Advice

A lot of sensical advice, but not always totally convincing. Could have used a little more polishing, but overall helpful thoughts that are common sense reminders on how to manage finances.
Profile Image for Anna.
344 reviews26 followers
September 4, 2016
I think my main problem with the book is that I (mostly) don't have the attitudes that she suggests changing. Since I've already gone through that phase of re-prioritizing my finances, the first 50-odd pages don't apply to me and the remaining don't have enough meat to really grab me.
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