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CRUSH Your Money Goals: 25 Smart Money Habits to Save, Invest, and Fast-Track Your Financial Freedom
Atomic Habits and Psychology of Money meets Investing 101 and Personal Finance 101 in this easy-to-navigate guide to adopting healthy personal finance habits, perfect for anyone just starting out with money management or anyone looking to get out of debt, save money, build wealth, and live a more financially comfortable life.When it comes to building financial health, adopting good money habits that will last (and dropping bad ones) can insure financial freedom. With Smart Money Habits, discover the psychology behind why habits work to help achieve goals, and twenty-five simple financial habits to adopt—and which to drop—to help you invest properly, budget, save, climb out of debt, and so much more. Even small changes can make a lasting impact. Inside these pages, expert money coach Bernadette Joy offers you habits to try, such -Always keeping receipts for purchases and donations so you can claim any eligible activity on your taxes -Signing up for automated payments for major bills whenever you are given the option since this can avoid overdrafts, lower bills when going paperless, and more -Checking your accounts every day to see where you are financially and to guard against someone tampering with your money -Switching to using cash when going out for anything that can be considered a luxury like dinner, movies, and more By changing your patterns with better habits, you’ll be on your way to a healthier financial life in no time!
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2024
52 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Bernadette Joy
4 books4 followersI am a world traveller of many years, and have visited so many paradises ...met wonderful people...but I have also seen so much destruction over time.
That is what inspires my writing. Travelling is the greatest teacher.
I love the beauty of this planet, the energy of this planet, the love of nature, and the grace and purity of so many of its occupants. We live on a jewel....and we need to save it.
That is what inspires my writing. Travelling is the greatest teacher.
I love the beauty of this planet, the energy of this planet, the love of nature, and the grace and purity of so many of its occupants. We live on a jewel....and we need to save it.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 5, 2025
This felt like it was geared more for the younger crowd that are new to this whole "You are now and adult with a job (or not) and are now in charge of your own finances."
I liked the simplicity for the that reason and it covers so many ways to cut back. However, overall, this wasn't for me. So 3 stars for the niche she has created.
I liked the simplicity for the that reason and it covers so many ways to cut back. However, overall, this wasn't for me. So 3 stars for the niche she has created.
January 14, 2025
This was okay. Like every personal finance book, I take the good and discard the irrelevant. She almost lost me completely at "Save 50% of your income".
May 15, 2025
CRUSH my head under a rock after reading this book.
1/5. I have my finances on lock, this beefy pamphlet is garbage.
This book chiefly lacked a voice, a clear idea of audience. Joy sets up this brilliant niche that her opinion is worth it as the child of immigrants who understands harmful hush-hush attitudes towards money, relates to the unique habits and fears that spawn from that, and can advise as one who is both wealthy and attuned to psychology.
And then.....literally does not deliver one single bit on any of that. I took issue with most of this book, but here are the lowlights:
- Critically, 90% of the advice was conventional, half-baked, or downright wrong. While I'm no Dave Ramsey fan myself, to subtly dig at him then regurgitate many of his principles...laughable.
- I agree with the concept of treating oneself while paying down debt, but Joy, almost disingenuously so, overstates that freedom. Badly.
- The quality of writing implied a book churned for money and not for value. Like, all for conversational but I shouldn't be seeing comma splices.
- When your advice caters to those who have massive debt and those who have millions to invest and is not well delineated then you've got a structural issue.
- On that note, the organization confused me more than the bad writing. I'd like to assume the spattering of tips devoid of true structure is not just a ploy to sell her course...but in placing myself in the shoes of someone new to personal finance I cannot see myself succeeding through this book. Tips mean nothing without basic strategy.
- I'd be remiss not to mention her claim to credibility of paying over !! $300,000 of debt off in three years !! but then you quickly find out most of that is a mortgage (which is not quite the same) and then much much later it's hinted she bought a house at the bottom of COVID and sold it at market highs...real savvy guru right there!
Not to say there were a few helpful tidbits. A few. Like most self-help books, you take what sticks and trash what reeks. Oscar the Grouch would love it here.
In fairness, this book was shoved on me, so I started in curiosity and ended up hate-finishing. If anything, this empowers me to write a better money book, because I could.
1/5. I have my finances on lock, this beefy pamphlet is garbage.
This book chiefly lacked a voice, a clear idea of audience. Joy sets up this brilliant niche that her opinion is worth it as the child of immigrants who understands harmful hush-hush attitudes towards money, relates to the unique habits and fears that spawn from that, and can advise as one who is both wealthy and attuned to psychology.
And then.....literally does not deliver one single bit on any of that. I took issue with most of this book, but here are the lowlights:
- Critically, 90% of the advice was conventional, half-baked, or downright wrong. While I'm no Dave Ramsey fan myself, to subtly dig at him then regurgitate many of his principles...laughable.
- I agree with the concept of treating oneself while paying down debt, but Joy, almost disingenuously so, overstates that freedom. Badly.
- The quality of writing implied a book churned for money and not for value. Like, all for conversational but I shouldn't be seeing comma splices.
- When your advice caters to those who have massive debt and those who have millions to invest and is not well delineated then you've got a structural issue.
- On that note, the organization confused me more than the bad writing. I'd like to assume the spattering of tips devoid of true structure is not just a ploy to sell her course...but in placing myself in the shoes of someone new to personal finance I cannot see myself succeeding through this book. Tips mean nothing without basic strategy.
- I'd be remiss not to mention her claim to credibility of paying over !! $300,000 of debt off in three years !! but then you quickly find out most of that is a mortgage (which is not quite the same) and then much much later it's hinted she bought a house at the bottom of COVID and sold it at market highs...real savvy guru right there!
Not to say there were a few helpful tidbits. A few. Like most self-help books, you take what sticks and trash what reeks. Oscar the Grouch would love it here.
In fairness, this book was shoved on me, so I started in curiosity and ended up hate-finishing. If anything, this empowers me to write a better money book, because I could.
February 5, 2025
I read a personal finance self-help related book about once a quarter and I've been really excited to read about so many more experiences and stories to financial freedom. I like to stay up to date with what has been working for other people. Like another reviewer mentioned, "take the good and discard the rest". Unfortunately, I feel like there are more to discard than to keep. There are some habits and tips that are beneficial, but I'm not sure it outweighs the other noise. I did enjoy the conversational aspects of this (I listened to the audiobook, but there wasn't a version to review). I wouldn't recommend this book to someone starting their financial literacy journey; I think there are more out there that will really give you a self-help, personal development aspect to finances, but I'm also not sure I'd recommend it to someone buckling down and wanting to get serious with their goals either.
May 19, 2025
There are some things that I couldn’t agree with, Readers should approach with caution. There are many similar books out there, this wouldn’t be my first choice to read to obtain financial wisdom.
February 9, 2025
YNAB would be the base for this program. “By giving every dollar a job - the power of this habit lies in its extreme intentionality. You gain clarity on exactly where your money is going.” That’s what YNAB does! It is an online way to simplify/ organize your accounts, set money goals, see your NET worth, and help you spend intentionally (aligning expenses with your values.)
This book explains things that you might find in other financial books but in a fresh way. It supports the fact that you are never too young or too old. “Your future is worth protecting. Consider that your best years are ahead of you,” no matter what your age.
Things I’ll think about/ revisit:
*It offers some good (simple) perspectives on investing by suggesting to max out tax advantaged accounts.
*She mentions Marie Kondo as related to finances (which is also in my GoodReads list for YNAB). She explains it as “a way to reset the intentions you have for other money habits. It is a connection between clutter and your financial habits. How does clutter impact your ability to make better money choices?” The same thought is true with keeping a lean kitchen.
*Rethinking my categories with her 3 main categories, Survive (monthly non negotiables), Revive (making life good), and Strive (build wealth). And then using the numbers in those categories to get a target for gaining financial freedom. I also like the way she explains why keeping a month of expenses in your checking account helps with smoothing out those months where you have smaller unexpected expenses or if you have irregular income. And that this needs to be done in order to make a habit of investing. The 30 Days of Grace should be in a high interest savings account for unexpected situations like car/ home/ medical.
Again, those are in other books. I just like the way she explained them.
This book explains things that you might find in other financial books but in a fresh way. It supports the fact that you are never too young or too old. “Your future is worth protecting. Consider that your best years are ahead of you,” no matter what your age.
Things I’ll think about/ revisit:
*It offers some good (simple) perspectives on investing by suggesting to max out tax advantaged accounts.
*She mentions Marie Kondo as related to finances (which is also in my GoodReads list for YNAB). She explains it as “a way to reset the intentions you have for other money habits. It is a connection between clutter and your financial habits. How does clutter impact your ability to make better money choices?” The same thought is true with keeping a lean kitchen.
*Rethinking my categories with her 3 main categories, Survive (monthly non negotiables), Revive (making life good), and Strive (build wealth). And then using the numbers in those categories to get a target for gaining financial freedom. I also like the way she explains why keeping a month of expenses in your checking account helps with smoothing out those months where you have smaller unexpected expenses or if you have irregular income. And that this needs to be done in order to make a habit of investing. The 30 Days of Grace should be in a high interest savings account for unexpected situations like car/ home/ medical.
Again, those are in other books. I just like the way she explained them.
February 17, 2025
Personally I found this book to have too much text compared to the amount of information you get.
Some chapters have really catchy titles (the type you can see on YT or TikTok), and that make me feel like this book was a bit more clickbait-y than it is. The ideas are usually not bad, but nothing impressive, but there are also things that don't apply to myself and I can't use or things I don't relate to since this books is focused more on the American way of life. Personally I don't have collage debt since in my country, if you have good grades, you can get a Bachelor's and a Master's degree for free, and I realise I was really blessed to not have this kind of debt hanging on my shoulders, and while I don't blame the book for adding this part since a lot of people deal with this, it was simply not the case for me. However, I have other financial struggles so I still considered that the book can be helpful. And it can, but I simply can't agree with some advice (maybe I misunderstood, but outsourcing the cleaning of my apartment and focus on making more money would be great, if I had the money for that or if starting a side hustle would bring me enough money right from the start).
There are still useful things and I will try to apply many ideas to my budget in the future, but I don't think this book is the best you can get on this topic. It might work for you, but for me, I feel like it's not enough
Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest review
Some chapters have really catchy titles (the type you can see on YT or TikTok), and that make me feel like this book was a bit more clickbait-y than it is. The ideas are usually not bad, but nothing impressive, but there are also things that don't apply to myself and I can't use or things I don't relate to since this books is focused more on the American way of life. Personally I don't have collage debt since in my country, if you have good grades, you can get a Bachelor's and a Master's degree for free, and I realise I was really blessed to not have this kind of debt hanging on my shoulders, and while I don't blame the book for adding this part since a lot of people deal with this, it was simply not the case for me. However, I have other financial struggles so I still considered that the book can be helpful. And it can, but I simply can't agree with some advice (maybe I misunderstood, but outsourcing the cleaning of my apartment and focus on making more money would be great, if I had the money for that or if starting a side hustle would bring me enough money right from the start).
There are still useful things and I will try to apply many ideas to my budget in the future, but I don't think this book is the best you can get on this topic. It might work for you, but for me, I feel like it's not enough
Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest review
August 21, 2025
C.R.U.S.H. Your Money Goals is a game-changer for me. Bernadette Joy’s approach to personal finance is not only practical—it’s transformational. Her C.R.U.S.H. method (Curate, Reverse, Understand, Spend, Heal) breaks down 25 simple, powerful habits that helped me shift my financial mindset and take real action. I’ve even attended some of her live workshops, and applying her tips and techniques has propelled my financial position in a very favorable light.
The book itself is refreshingly unique—printed in **purple ink** instead of traditional black, which gives it a bold, energetic vibe that perfectly matches Bernadette’s empowering tone. It’s not just a book; it’s a movement toward financial freedom.
*I keep buying copies to gift to family and friends—it’s that good.* If you’re ready to ditch debt, save smarter, and build wealth with intention, this book is your roadmap. Highly recommended! #debtfree #financialfreedom #FUmoney #financialindependence
The book itself is refreshingly unique—printed in **purple ink** instead of traditional black, which gives it a bold, energetic vibe that perfectly matches Bernadette’s empowering tone. It’s not just a book; it’s a movement toward financial freedom.
*I keep buying copies to gift to family and friends—it’s that good.* If you’re ready to ditch debt, save smarter, and build wealth with intention, this book is your roadmap. Highly recommended! #debtfree #financialfreedom #FUmoney #financialindependence
November 26, 2024
CRUSH Your Money Goals has so much wisdom surrounding not only budgeting, but sage advice on credit card usage, investing, and insurance. While many of the components are familiar to Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey, Bernadette Joy offers the unique aspect of her Psychology background to recognize how money is a component of individuals and the way they think and act. She has included several testimonials of others using her systems to build wealth, and they help reinforce the recurring theme that we all operate a bit differently but can maintain the same end goal with our money habits. I can definitely see it as a guidebook that can be used from chapter 1 through the end but also as a resource for when certain money scenarios arise.
November 12, 2025
This is an introductory book (appropriate for me, a finance novice) that advocates not just for the traditional financial goals/metrics (pay off high interest debt! Have an emergency fund!) but its readers (especially women of color) to gain total financial independence. While I'm not personally gunning hard for that goal, I enjoyed some of the author's novel approaches to familiar topics. For example, she breaks down basic monthly spending in Survive (necessities), Strive (paying off debt, investing), and Thrive (self-care). I've been applying her $1 rule, where you evaluate whether an item will cost you $1 or less per use (thoughtful exceptions are allowed, of course). It's a useful metric! Reducing screen time as a way to cut down on spending is also smart.
December 30, 2024
This was a quick read and I liked the conversational tone. I've read similar books with pretty much the same information. While I didn't learn anything new, it's always good to hear similar messages to stay focused. I like that the author emphasizes being intentional about your spending and investing. She also makes good points about not letting others derail you, whether it's friends inviting you out frequently or the insidious email and social media marketing that can easily lead to impulse buying. I'd recommend this book to young people or anyone who is new to the topic. It's accessible and not overwhelming at all.
December 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Adams Media & Bernadette Joy for letting me preview the book
Though this book has some sections I would say are American focused – for the investing and the retirement parts. But there were many points to take any, I wrote down a bunch of tips I will hopefully apply to my budgeting.
Publication date: 10th December 2024
Read dates: 19th November – 17th December 2024
Though this book has some sections I would say are American focused – for the investing and the retirement parts. But there were many points to take any, I wrote down a bunch of tips I will hopefully apply to my budgeting.
Publication date: 10th December 2024
Read dates: 19th November – 17th December 2024
February 14, 2025
Some of this really resonated with me. I can’t say it worked because I haven’t started yet but I think there’s some sound advice here if you can get your partner on board if you have one. Either way, this book seems a lot more realistic than anything Dave Ramsey had to say (free summer camp, yeah right.)
December 17, 2024
This book is so easy to read and talks about practical habits around money that are presented in a way that's encouraging and do-able. Very conversational style and providing examples of others on a similar money journey is inspiring!
January 3, 2025
Joy's approach is very reminiscent of Dave Ramsey's strategies. However, I like her Spend Intentionally chapter especially the Lean Kitchen and Fine Dining Allowance. And her recommendations for 10 female personal finance experts to follow and selected resources.
January 28, 2025
Simple and fun to read for newbies introduced to finances and budgeting
Overall there are some useful points and interesting facts to take in mind especially when
u are living in America.
Decent stuffs to recommended.
Overall there are some useful points and interesting facts to take in mind especially when
u are living in America.
Decent stuffs to recommended.
April 29, 2025
I like the tone of this book and can see how it would be so beneficial to people beginning on their personal finance journey. There are lots of things in here I'm going to try out. I listened to the audibook on loan from the library but I think I'm going to buy a copy.
December 19, 2025
This was an informative read, but I was bored. I just feel like once you read one finance book you’ve read them all. I like her take on it, with it being CRUSH instead of FIRE, but again it’s nothing really new.
January 30, 2025
LOVED this book. So inspiring and encouraging! I felt so much relief after reading this.
June 22, 2025
3 1/2
December 22, 2024
2,5 stars
"Crush Your Money Goals" wasn't quite what I was looking for:
Some of the tips in this book might be quite useful, but a lot of this book consists - in my opinion - of platitudes and the author mentioning again and again that she is a millionaire.
"Crush Your Money Goals" wasn't quite what I was looking for:
Some of the tips in this book might be quite useful, but a lot of this book consists - in my opinion - of platitudes and the author mentioning again and again that she is a millionaire.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews