Your Money Narrative: Understanding Your Story to Build a Stronger Financial Future

by Amy R. Cook

It’s not about the money.

Storytelling is a part of each one of us. We tell ourselves stories every day, based on our past encounters, and we mold them over time so they stay relevant with our growth. Our financial stories are no different than the plotlines in our personal lives, however; they can have a profound effect on how we manage our future.

Children of the Great Depression lived through a time of scarcity, which shaped how they viewed their money as adults and how they ultimately passed down their money narratives to their children. These same stories can run rampant for generations if they are not unpacked with curiosity and care. By asking the why, you can unlock the power you have over your finances and tackle the hidden meanings you attach to money.

Why do you spend more than you have?

Why do you feel guilty when you spend money on yourself?

Why do you save and spend differently than other people?

It all comes down to your personal financial narrative and the steps you can take to build a stronger future and land on a lasting legacy.

So, what’s your money narrative?

Genres: Nonfiction, Money

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2024

Reviews

[Pearl Angeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb read! I have learned so much when it comes to my finances through this book. It has a pretty good twist in the end, too. I highly recommend!

[🩶 April • A.M. Flynn • 🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this eRead from GR. I read it over the past few days and it's very informative.

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a genius concept! Your Money Narrative does a really good job of explaining concepts and giving advice through real-world scenarios. It's easy to understand and written well. A quick read, and probably a good refresher for those who are already financially savvy.

I won a kindle copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Elizabeth O'Keefe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of basic concepts.

If you aren't money savvy or know how to make educated decisions on how you spend your money, then this is a book for you.

For those who know about money, this is not for you.

I was not the target audience for this book, but maybe it might be the book for you.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Advantage Books for choosing me.

Easy to follow, flows great. The chapters aren't long, and they allow you to retain the information easily. Informative and helpful.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Your Money Narrative," author Amy Cook explains how to navigate our finances effectively. This book stands out for its insightful questions that help analyze our financial situations, fostering self-awareness and understanding of our money habits and attitudes. By gaining clarity on these aspects, we can take actionable steps to improve our financial behaviors. The book offers clear and straightforward advice, although individuals who struggle with decision-making or feel unprepared to take financial steps may find they know what needs to be done but lack guidance on how to do it.

The narrative format of the book attempts to address this challenge. It's important to note that the author emphasizes that money shouldn't be a source of guilt or anxiety but rather a tool for achieving our goals and aspirations. This mindset likely resonates with many readers who grapple with financial matters. Overall, "Your Money Narrative" is a valuable resource for understanding various aspects of financial security, and I highly recommend it.

[Gianfranco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind changer

This book and the questions it generates about the reader, I feel like it has fallen like a glove to me. I am a young man who is in that stage of life in which financial decisions begin to have much more relevance, I no longer think only about parties and travel, but I think about saving, the future, my children and my partner.



I feel in that sense that Cook is absolutely right, because it really is all about narrative and learning to ask yourself the right questions not only about your financial decisions, but also about your life decisions in general. Parenting, schooling and your job are often tied to the narrative you choose to assign to them.



I believe that this book has opened my eyes, from now on, I will assume my way of understanding what are income, expenses and costs from a completely different perspective in which I will question myself first, what is the meaning of each one of them?

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based on the premise that we, as humans, tell each other stories every day about our own lives. These stories or narratives inform how we look at the world and interact with it.

In particular, this book posits that we tell ourselves stories about money. We all have a relationship with money, but for some of us, it’s a healthy relationship, and with others, not so much.

Some individuals have a problem with spending money they don’t have and getting themselves into debt. There are other problematic behaviors that people engage in concerning money as well.

This book presents some possible solutions to those who struggle with money for various reasons. Anyone who wants to take better control of their finances would do well to read it and ask themselves the questions that the text puts forth.

[Maria Paula Castellanos Monroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to understand the way everyone use the money!

“Your Money Narrative” by Amy R. Cook is a book to educate yourself financially.
I would like to describe this book with one word: WOW! Many times, we analyze the economy and the distribution of money in an egalitarian way without knowing that the use of money depends on the psychology of each person, their context and their experiences. This book describes perfectly how children of the Great Depression era see the use of economic resources from a scarcity point of view.

This book opened my eyes and motivated me to change my money mindset to unlock my finances and the use I make of my money; the author has a great ability to talk about thick topics in a simple and easy to digest way. I 100% recommend this book for you to learn about financial literacy.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish that when I was starting my independent life, I got to read this amazing book which brilliantly challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding financial management by deeping into the psychological narratives that govern our money habits. This insightful book illuminates the profound impact that stories, passed down through generations or formed from personal experiences, have on our financial behaviors. I think this book goes beyond mere numbers; it reveals how deeply ingrained narratives, especially those born from periods of economic hardship, shape our attitudes towards spending, saving, and valuing money. I felt so encouraged to introspectively explore the own financial stories; Cook not only uncovered the root causes of our financial actions but also offered me strategies for rewriting these narratives towards healthier financial futures.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Your Money Narrative, the author Amy Cook explains how to narrate our own financial story and how to analyse it to know ourselves and our behaviour. By being aware of our finances, how we feel about money and spending it, we can modify and mould this financial narrative to fit our needs. This book is transformative and insightful. It provides clear and simple advice to become the masters of our finances and our future.
One of the most striking aspects of this book is its emphasis on empowering readers to take charge of their financial destinies. The author argues that money should not be a source of guilt or anxiety but rather a tool for achieving one's aspirations and desires. I think that this message is the one that impacted me the most. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.

[Yolanda Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book that I was needing; it transcends traditional financial advice by exploring the psychological and storytelling aspects behind our financial decisions. With this book, I understand that our financial behaviors are deeply rooted in the stories we've been told and told ourselves, shaped by past experiences and generational influences. What made it even more interesting is the research and anecdotes. The author highlights how narratives from times of scarcity, like those of the Great Depression era, continue to influence modern financial attitudes and behaviors.
In my opinion, this book is a must read for anyone because it offers a reflective and transformative approach, encouraging me to examine my own "money narratives" to uncover underlying beliefs about spending, saving, and self-worth.

[Almiria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Money Narrative by Amy R. Cook is a financial self-help book with a difference. Cook takes the approach that underlying our financial management is the narrative or story we tell ourselves about our finances, which is based on our past experiences. In this revolutionary guidebook, Cook helps us as readers identify what our personal money narrative is and how it shapes our finances. By changing the narrative, we can also take control of the results and gain agency over our financial planning and well-being. I definitely recommend this book to everyone as financial planning and our underlying, often subconscious narrative about it is something that affects everyone in life. I am giving this book five stars.

[Agustina Sureda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Money Narrative: Understanding Your Story to Build a Stronger Financial Future was written by Amy. R. Cook, a certified financial planner where the readers will learn to understand financial literacy and entrepreneurship by telling several short stories that anyone can relate to, with day-to-day scenarios where you can learn financial planning advice.
I have to say, I was a bit nervous to read this book because I'm not good with numbers and everything with the world ""financial"" scares me, but this book is truly a bible to me! I was able to put strange concepts into practical things so I could understand the process and apply it! This is the perfect book if, like me, you want to learn simply about your money! 

[Marina Lujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always struggled to effectively manage my money and have faced constant frustrations due to a lack of personal financial skills. That's why "Your Money Narrative" has made such a significant impact on me! What truly stands out to me about this book is its straightforward approach to tackling the challenges that individuals like myself encounter when it comes to handling finances and feeling burdened by financial pressures. It gives readers the tools they need to make wise decisions and reclaim command over their financial situation.

After reading this book, I really feel more confident and capable of improving my financial situation. It is a clear guide that everyone should read to learn how to manage their money effectively.

[Chico's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't live in guilt for no reason.
Author Amy Cook talks about the relationship between money and your life experiences. She shares compelling stories of people and their lives and financial situations. The stories are relatable, and the message delivered is very effective, especially when the author states each person’s money narrative and writes down reflections at every end. Each reflection encouraged me to look at my finances and try to change that narrative and control it even. Now I see why my parents worked hard for their savings and how that inspired me to save for my future children. I liked how the author subtly teaches the readers to plan financially and set aside money to enjoy and live guilt-free.

[Aneley Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our history influences our finances.

Just like the book says, our personal story affects and, in some way, drives our economies and our way of moving in the financial world. Amy Cook tries to help us to understand this phenomenon and learn from it through her book, Your Money Narrative.
It is a book about finance and money, but it is much deeper than that. The author's psychological and social perspective is very interesting. I liked her analysis about the personal experiences and at the same time, about everything that previous generations transmitted to us.
I think it can be an interesting journey of knowledge and learning because it can change and, in the best of cases, improve your relationship with money.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your personal money story

In this financial book, the first step is an authentic self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as it relates to your various roles and responsibilities. The goal is to build a character assessment that will help guide you to making better choices as well as allowing you to plan better to prevent or circumvent your weaknesses. Written in a conversational tone, interspersed with thought provoking questions, I found this to be a really good book since it can help you figure out your environmental factors that have shaped how you approach and handle money.

[S Tyty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Money Narrative came to life at the perfect time. I have been fighting against my credit cards and my debts for quite a long time, not knowing, something I learned after reading this book, that the problem was I, and only I.
Amy R. Cook proved to be a great writer. She became an inspiration for me since after reading what she had to tell me, I learned how to avoid getting in financial trouble again, how to budget properly, and, most importantly, how to not feel guilty when I spend money on what I like, need or want.
I regard this book as an eye-opener and a guideline for us to start having a healthier relationship with money.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the approach the book has on money and everyone's history with it. It helps the reader figure out the relationship they have with money taking into consideration all the backgrounds and experiences towards money.
The aim of the book is to shift the perspective on money to help the reader build a stronger financial future. One of the things I noticed is the work the author put in the book to help the reader eliminate the guilt related to buying and money, changing the narrative little by little into something positive.
It is a great read that mixes personal experiences and anecdotes with advice and tips to handle money.

[Mia C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about money. The authors delve into the profound impact our past experiences have on our financial decisions and habits, urging readers to unpack their money narratives with curiosity and care. I appreciated the insightful questions posed throughout the book, prompting readers to examine their spending, saving, and relationship with money. By understanding our personal financial narratives, the authors empower readers to take control of their financial futures and create lasting legacies. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking financial clarity and empowerment. I really liked it!

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. My review might be more of a reflection of my expectations vs the actual book. What I wanted this book to be was a mix of finance and psychology. Instead this book is a collection of common financial scenarios with advice on how to address them. I would recommend this book for someone who was intimidated by personal financial management and had no idea where to start. The style is highly approachable and practical. I question if a book is the right format for this content. The majority of the scenarios won't apply to everyone, so a blog series might make more sense.

[Tera Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This finance book takes a unique approach to common financial dilemmas. Through a series of everyday narratives, the author show us how we can more effectively manage our money (and that we are not alone in needing too).

I like the idea that the author presents that we all have a money story that influences us. It’s true. The author includes great questions that help you think through your relationship with money and how to improve it.

This is a great and easy read for anyone who is wanting to learn more about managing personal finance in every season of life.

5 stars

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo to Cook for writing a financial book I actually wanted to read and did!

You Money Narrative is an every day story about money, that's simplified and custom to every day people. Each chapter is a different scenario you may be familiar to or it could be your future or it could be someone you know. Cook describes their "narrative", or story, and then dives into the right questions you should be asking and lists Dos and Don'ts. Every chapter is a series of note taking and understanding.

Overall, 5 out of 5, recommend.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid read! Author does a nice job of conveying typically dry financial topics through fictionalized scenarios. Each story is very brief and has a theme. One example is a pair of twin sisters who received an inheritance from their grandfather, but were taking vastly different approaches with the money. A set of questions and lists of do's and do-not's are included at the end of each chapter.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful information. This was a Goodreads giveaway winner. Thank you.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another book that should have been an essay. Too many words that say too little.

[Chels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got in a giveaway. Good starting point.