CRUSH Your Money Goals: 25 Smart Money Habits to Save, Invest, and Fast-Track Your Financial Freedom

by Bernadette Joy

One of “The Best Books for Personal Growth in 2025!” —Oprah Daily

Atomic Habits and Psychology of Money meets Investing 101 and Personal Finance 101 as financial superstar Bernadette Joy breaks down how using her CRUSH program can help you get out of debt, save money, build wealth, and live a more financially comfortable life.

Get ready to Crush Your Money Goals and turn to the power of habits to make lasting financial changes!

When it comes to building financial health, adopting good money habits that will last (and dropping bad ones) can insure financial freedom. In Crush Your Money Goals, you will find information on the psychology behind why habits work to achieve goals, and twenty-five simple habits to adopt, and which to drop, to help you invest properly, budget, save, climb out of debt, and so much more.

Join expert money coach Bernadette Joy as she guides you through her C.R.U.S.H. approach to financial wellness, a program she’s been using for years to help her followers get in financial shape. With C.R.U.S.H., you will learn
-Curate Your Accounts
-Reverse into Independence
-Understand Your (Net) Worth
-Spend Intentionally
-Heal Your Money Wounds

Each letter covers 5 easy-to-implement habits you will use to take control of your finances. From trying the $1 rule and facing your financial fears to holding a digital detox and decluttering your calendar, Crush Your Money Goals will have you saving money in no time! By changing your patterns with better habits, you’ll be on your way to making financial changes not just for today, but for tomorrow!

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Self Help, Personal Finance, Money

240 pages, Paperback

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

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".

[Micah · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and Bernadette’s affinity for K-POP. She put financial guidance into actionable, simplified steps and really took out the complicated fluff. This would be a great book for a beginner to finance or someone looking to get out of debt fast and start saving for their future. Chapter 7 was the only part that I started losing momentum. The shameless business plug and lifestyle tips weren’t really my thing, but I can see the connection she was making to better achieving your financial goals. It will likely help someone out there. For me, the beginning to middle of the book were my favorite. I appreciate her “don’t make it complicated approach”.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[LS · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jan Tell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[MarryAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[CeeCee Whipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Shawna Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Theresa Connors · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.)

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Milkshake Oreo · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Chantelly Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dajionna · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jessalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. So inspiring and encouraging! I felt so much relief after reading this.

[Jazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2

[Sarah Hanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of this information was valuable, but a lot didn’t align to what I thought this book would cover. I specifically liked some of the budget breakdowns.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super helpful info and I appreciate the mention of “money wounds” and how they influence our relationship with our money.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Brian Herriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Crush Your Money Goals" by Bernadette Joy is exactly what so many of us need. It’s a personal finance book that isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about the mental game we play with ourselves, and that’s what makes it so powerful.

Bernadette also dives deep into fear, not just naming it but showing how to turn it into something useful. It reminded me of Farnoosh Torabi’s "A Healthy State of Panic," an equally great read.

What sets this book apart is how much Bernadette has your back. Not in a hollow, rah-rah motivational way, but in the real way where mistakes are accepted and she still finds a way to pump you up when you’re not feeling it. That tone carries through the whole book. There is even a section near the end called “Read this when you feel like giving up.” How cool is that? It’s like she anticipated the wall we’d hit and handed us a rope over it.

Five stars from me. "Crush Your Money Goals" is practical, deeply human, and the kind of book I’ll be recommending widely.