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Never Too Late
Freshly updated retirement advice from one of Canada’s most trusted financial writers
We all know we should save for retirement, right? But we don’t. We’re just not sure where to start, or when. Experts conjure magic numbers and use complicated terminology. Do we really need a million dollars? And if we don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of saving that much, should we even bother?
Gail’s answers are no and yes—there is no magic number that fits everyone, and yes, you must bother! The hardest part of retirement planning is getting started, so Gail walks you through the steps to put momentum on your side—even if it’s with as little as a dollar a day. She’ll help you figure out where you are now, where you want to be and how to get there.
No expert, Gail included, should offer a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why Never Too Late has concrete steps for developing a plan that is right for you. Never Too Late is about cutting through the crap, taking charge and taking action to create the future you want.
We all know we should save for retirement, right? But we don’t. We’re just not sure where to start, or when. Experts conjure magic numbers and use complicated terminology. Do we really need a million dollars? And if we don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of saving that much, should we even bother?
Gail’s answers are no and yes—there is no magic number that fits everyone, and yes, you must bother! The hardest part of retirement planning is getting started, so Gail walks you through the steps to put momentum on your side—even if it’s with as little as a dollar a day. She’ll help you figure out where you are now, where you want to be and how to get there.
No expert, Gail included, should offer a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why Never Too Late has concrete steps for developing a plan that is right for you. Never Too Late is about cutting through the crap, taking charge and taking action to create the future you want.
352 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2010
23 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Gail Vaz-Oxlade
20 books169 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 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 17, 2019
The thing I liked least about this book was the title. I've passed this book by for years thinking it wasn't for me because it sounds like a book specifically geared for people just starting to think about retirement in their 40s 0r 50s, rather than someone in their 20s or 30s. In fact, Gail has specific advice for people from teens to 70s.
As always I appreciated Gail's wit and candor. I liked Never too Late better than Money Rules as it's more cohesive and dives more into depth on investing. If you're looking for a general personal finance book, this would probably be a good one to choose--don't be put off by the retirement focus as it's pretty comprehensive. She covers a lot of the same ground as Money Rules - how to make a budget, how and why to calculate net worth, and basic advice for saving money if you find you're in a real pinch (look for sales, get a second job or side gig, barter, borrow, delay consumption, take in a boarder etc.) I found her explanations here clearer, however, than the abbreviated information in Money Rules. There were some parts of the book that felt internally repetitive (not just repetitive from other Vaz-Oxlade books), especially in the last section, where I felt like I must have read the same page over because she repeats the same examples three times, a few pages apart. But that's a pretty minor quibble; the advice is sound.
As a 30-something, who is at least 20 years from retirement (that would be early retirement), I found the first three sections the most helpful, especially how to calculate your personal savings rate, figure out how much you will need, and then how you are going to get there, including detailed information on different types of investment options. The last section, "Pull the Chute," is more about implementing your retirement plan when you are at/near retirement age. I found this section the most confusing because, as Gail admits, the options are confusing (e.g. RRIFs vs. annuities), and were less familiar to me, but I also didn't worry about it too much because those decisions are still pretty far away for me.
As always I appreciated Gail's wit and candor. I liked Never too Late better than Money Rules as it's more cohesive and dives more into depth on investing. If you're looking for a general personal finance book, this would probably be a good one to choose--don't be put off by the retirement focus as it's pretty comprehensive. She covers a lot of the same ground as Money Rules - how to make a budget, how and why to calculate net worth, and basic advice for saving money if you find you're in a real pinch (look for sales, get a second job or side gig, barter, borrow, delay consumption, take in a boarder etc.) I found her explanations here clearer, however, than the abbreviated information in Money Rules. There were some parts of the book that felt internally repetitive (not just repetitive from other Vaz-Oxlade books), especially in the last section, where I felt like I must have read the same page over because she repeats the same examples three times, a few pages apart. But that's a pretty minor quibble; the advice is sound.
As a 30-something, who is at least 20 years from retirement (that would be early retirement), I found the first three sections the most helpful, especially how to calculate your personal savings rate, figure out how much you will need, and then how you are going to get there, including detailed information on different types of investment options. The last section, "Pull the Chute," is more about implementing your retirement plan when you are at/near retirement age. I found this section the most confusing because, as Gail admits, the options are confusing (e.g. RRIFs vs. annuities), and were less familiar to me, but I also didn't worry about it too much because those decisions are still pretty far away for me.
February 9, 2018
I can't say enough good things about this book. I picked it up thinking it would be a good starting point for retirement basics. It's much more than that. Ms. Vaz-Oxlade writes VERY clearly and engagingly. Two particular strengths of the book are that (1) she's speaking to a broader audience than (as she notes) is usually the case (i.e., not only those who will be traveling the world in retirement), and (2) she seems to clearly appreciate the anxieties and emotions around people who suspect they're looking at a dark and dismal retirement. Much of the first part of the book is directly but sympathetically making the case that it's better to get your head out of the sand, no matter what your prospects, and that one can be well fed and have a happy life in one's golden years, even if means are modest. She repeatedly points to adjusting our expectations, as well as options for bringing in cash or trimming expenses, no matter where one stands financially.
Along with the emotional support, I learned a lot (clearly and concisely) about such things as the ins and outs of Canadian government pensions and support, RRSPs versus TFSAs, and what an annuity is.
I expect I may read this book again in the future. I'll certainly be recommending it far and wide.
Along with the emotional support, I learned a lot (clearly and concisely) about such things as the ins and outs of Canadian government pensions and support, RRSPs versus TFSAs, and what an annuity is.
I expect I may read this book again in the future. I'll certainly be recommending it far and wide.
February 12, 2014
I was surprised by how good this book was. If you are at the stage of building your savings habits from scratch, this will be useful. If you have money and want to know how to invest for your retirment, this will be useful. If you're starting early or late, this will be useful. I think Gail struck the right balance, providing some harsh lessons without making the reader feel bad about themselves and showing all of the options available. It's clear but not too simplified. I was looking for some good information about TFSAs vs. RRSPs and my investment options within those, and I got that. Although I'm not close to retirement, I also found the later chapters about what to do/think about just before and during retirement very informative. Now that I've read through it and done some of the exercises, I'm going back and doing them more thoroughly. She also has some worksheets and more resources on her website http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/resource...
June 15, 2011
If you actually do all the "exercises", really look into your finances, do the math, make the budget, this is a fantastic book. If you just skim it, you'll probably feel like it's not telling you anything you didn't know. I now know so much more about my money and I have a plan for the future. No living in a cardboard box under the Bloor Viaduct for me!
May 22, 2015
I like her common sense style. There are some good worksheets included and I did most of the exercises. Happy that I am on the right track.
June 23, 2017
Canadians might be familiar with Gail Vaz-Oxlade's no-nonsense financial advice through her television series, 'Til Debt Do We Part, Princess and Money Moron. In this book she uses the same approach to help us financial illiterates gain knowledge in preparing for retirement. She starts with the basics of figuring out your net worth, making a budget, determining your risk category, comparing RRSP'S and TFSA, understanding various financial terms, examining different scenarios, all with her expertise and wit. As far as I am concerned, this book is invaluable.
February 22, 2016
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Gail has a way of demystifying investing which I really appreciated. The book is full of great advice whether you are just starting out with saving or you want to take a closer look at your retirement savings options.
I liked it so much I'm going to buy myself a copy once I return it to the library.
I liked it so much I'm going to buy myself a copy once I return it to the library.
June 11, 2012
Gail is a welcome glass of ice water in the face with her advice! :)
I felt reassured by her "do it now and it will get done" attitude towards those who may have very little put away for retirement...her sense of humour is infused throughout this book as well, which makes it and easy read.
I felt reassured by her "do it now and it will get done" attitude towards those who may have very little put away for retirement...her sense of humour is infused throughout this book as well, which makes it and easy read.
April 12, 2019
I can hear her voice from tv. Very no nonsense and pragmatic with a naughty sense of humour. Some
Great reminders in here - I read it
In under two
Hours and walked away inspired about what changes I need to make. Will keep it easily accessible on my bookshelf for constant referral
Great reminders in here - I read it
In under two
Hours and walked away inspired about what changes I need to make. Will keep it easily accessible on my bookshelf for constant referral
June 12, 2017
Yet again Gail makes learning and understanding personal finance something fun and easy to understand. She doesn't bog you down with lingo that you won't understand - she writes in simple terms with a great sense of humour.
The main goal of this book is to teach you that saving for retirment is important. The earlier you start saving the more you will have at retirement! She teaches us about compounding the interest to earn more for every dollar you save. Gail explains the different type of savings out there from TFSAs , RRSPs and work pension plans - with the different risk levels that you can go with (which correspond with your risk tolerance).
And the other main goal of the book is BALANCE! You need balance in your life, including with money. If you spend all your time saving, saving, saving, you won't have any fun. But if you spend all your time having fun and spending money, you won't have anything left for retirement. So it's plain to see that she teaches about how to balance your immediate needs/wants vs. your future needs. "Don't pull all your eggs in one basket."
Gail takes the time to explain things to each age group that you could possibly be in from 20s and 30s to retirment age. So she actually breaks down the difference between starting to save early in your 20s and what it's like if you start in your 40s and 50s. It really is a dramatic difference if you wait until later in life to start saving for retirement.
With all said and done... I've implemented a savings plan myself and I think it's completely easy to follow once you know how.
As always - it was a pleasure reading Gail's book. She always makes me laugh with the way she writes - it's very much like watching her on her TV series' 'Til Debt Do Us Part and Princess. Visit Gail's website (the link is up at the top), she has a lot of great articles and great budgeting tools.
Thank you to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and reivew this book. It was a wonderful read.
The main goal of this book is to teach you that saving for retirment is important. The earlier you start saving the more you will have at retirement! She teaches us about compounding the interest to earn more for every dollar you save. Gail explains the different type of savings out there from TFSAs , RRSPs and work pension plans - with the different risk levels that you can go with (which correspond with your risk tolerance).
And the other main goal of the book is BALANCE! You need balance in your life, including with money. If you spend all your time saving, saving, saving, you won't have any fun. But if you spend all your time having fun and spending money, you won't have anything left for retirement. So it's plain to see that she teaches about how to balance your immediate needs/wants vs. your future needs. "Don't pull all your eggs in one basket."
Gail takes the time to explain things to each age group that you could possibly be in from 20s and 30s to retirment age. So she actually breaks down the difference between starting to save early in your 20s and what it's like if you start in your 40s and 50s. It really is a dramatic difference if you wait until later in life to start saving for retirement.
With all said and done... I've implemented a savings plan myself and I think it's completely easy to follow once you know how.
As always - it was a pleasure reading Gail's book. She always makes me laugh with the way she writes - it's very much like watching her on her TV series' 'Til Debt Do Us Part and Princess. Visit Gail's website (the link is up at the top), she has a lot of great articles and great budgeting tools.
Thank you to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and reivew this book. It was a wonderful read.
June 18, 2016
Gail Vaz-Oxlade is my go-to-gal for finances and budgeting and I have purchased almost all of her books. The focus of this book is retirement and how we should and can plan for it. As someone in my early 30s, I don't really want to plan for retirement however Gail stresses just how and why it is so important to start doing so at a young age. She also includes information for older adults who did not prepare for retirement and she sets out the steps to go about fixing your finances so you can eventually retire. Gail also discusses how to determine what amount you realistically need for retirement and how to figure that out even if you will retire in 30 years. This book is an updated version published in 2013.
Within her basic retirement advice, she also includes her usual basic financial advice including the "don't spend more than you make" , "earn more money if you need more money" and "cut back what you don't need".
What I really like best about Gail is that she stresses that it is absolutely important that you budget for fun and having a life. She says you can do anything you want with your budget, you just need to have the money for it and be able to pay your bills.Overall, another great read from Gail. If you have ever seen her on television or heard her on the radio, you can hear her speaking as you read this book
Within her basic retirement advice, she also includes her usual basic financial advice including the "don't spend more than you make" , "earn more money if you need more money" and "cut back what you don't need".
What I really like best about Gail is that she stresses that it is absolutely important that you budget for fun and having a life. She says you can do anything you want with your budget, you just need to have the money for it and be able to pay your bills.Overall, another great read from Gail. If you have ever seen her on television or heard her on the radio, you can hear her speaking as you read this book
May 9, 2020
So I'm one of those rare 20-somethings who totally dorks out over financial planning and retirement savings. So it follows that I really liked this book - I found it very accessible as someone who knows a bit, but not a lot, about retirement planning.
I would recommend this book to all my compadres, especially my young female friends - who still are more likely to make less over our lifetimes, yet live longer. Planning is important.
I would recommend this book to all my compadres, especially my young female friends - who still are more likely to make less over our lifetimes, yet live longer. Planning is important.
January 3, 2020
A really great book. Admittedly, this book was a bit terrifying for me to read as I was always under the impression that come retirement time I'd sink, big time. Gail breaks it all down for you and comes up with practical ways you can save your own bacon if life passed you by without putting a lot into savings. I actually feel much better after reading this and although I'm late to the party, I feel that I've got this.
February 18, 2015
Definitely a departure from what I normally read. I have shied away from money advice books, thinking they would be painfully boring. I love Gail's approach, though. She is honest and expresses concepts simply, and with her chipper, positive attitude. This book has inspired me to think ahead financially.
February 3, 2016
Good, easy to understand advice that, despite the title, is good for people of all ages. She provides practical financial advice that applies to everyone, regardless of your current situation and age category.
June 2, 2019
No matter how much money you have to save and no more how far out you are from retirement, this book is the perfect guide. It is an amazing intro on investing to retire and is a great resource guide, to be turned back to at different stages. I just hope that it is updated in the future.
March 22, 2012
Loved this book. I read a few finance help books before but this one is the best.
October 18, 2011
Good advice, well presented. Loved the touches of humour in this book and that the subject matter was presented in such a straitforward manner.
November 24, 2011
A very easy to read book on planning for retirement. The author offers many good tips on budgeting for retirement, and pensions.
April 30, 2016
Not bad summary of retirement planning ideas for Canadians. If you've read others like it, much will be repeated, but none comes close to Gail's tellin it like it is sass.
June 8, 2019
Pragmatic, easy-to-understand book on a topic one should not turtle about.
May 20, 2023
I've always love Gail's books and have learned SO much about money and money management from her since I first started watching her shows Til Debt Do Us Part and Princess 20 years ago. This is the third book of hers I've read, and she never fails to disappoint.
I'm only 45, still another 20 years or so until retirement, but the point really is to read it when you're younger so you can PLAN. Gail explains the why, the what, the how, and the things-you-may-never-have considered in bare-bones-basic and easy-to-comprehend steps and language with a natural progression and order to help you fully understand. She covers everything from simple definitions and possible steps to take based on who YOU are (not some one-size-fits-all answer) to easy formulas to help you with your calculations. She gives it to you straight. And she's Canadian. I feel much more confident going into the next 20-50 years with a pretty solid plan now. This book will stay on the shelf with the others so I can continually reference back to them.
Don't be a moron! Read this book!
I'm only 45, still another 20 years or so until retirement, but the point really is to read it when you're younger so you can PLAN. Gail explains the why, the what, the how, and the things-you-may-never-have considered in bare-bones-basic and easy-to-comprehend steps and language with a natural progression and order to help you fully understand. She covers everything from simple definitions and possible steps to take based on who YOU are (not some one-size-fits-all answer) to easy formulas to help you with your calculations. She gives it to you straight. And she's Canadian. I feel much more confident going into the next 20-50 years with a pretty solid plan now. This book will stay on the shelf with the others so I can continually reference back to them.
Don't be a moron! Read this book!
June 19, 2020
Overall a good book, with some good tips and advice I hadn't heard before.
Getting 3 stars instead of 4 though because the editing really seemed to fall off near the end. There were multiple points where the exact same sentence or example was repeated with just a slightly different context (at least in the audio book version). Was quite jarring to hear, and it really should have been cleaned up.
Getting 3 stars instead of 4 though because the editing really seemed to fall off near the end. There were multiple points where the exact same sentence or example was repeated with just a slightly different context (at least in the audio book version). Was quite jarring to hear, and it really should have been cleaned up.
March 9, 2020
Surprisingly I am ahead of the game.
June 22, 2020
Loved it for the canadian take on retirement accounts and explaination of how each has its benefits. Only problem is its 10 years old so you need to check your numbers before looking onto anything
March 23, 2012
I've been reading Gail's column in Chatelaine for years and enjoy both of her tv programs so I decided to get one of her books. Enjoyed this book, but like many how to books it tends to repeat itself. I never finished it per se as the last chapter is on investing and I will refer to that as required. I can't compare it to her other books but the general financial strategy is the same and Gail has a common sense approach coupled with humour. I'm still a big fan.
Read
April 30, 2014I have decided to take the reins of my finances. While I am a Demon Saver -- my knowledge is lacking in the areas of investment or retirement planning. "Never Too Late: Take Control of Your Retirement and Your Future" is an excellent starter course for those seeking to up their game. In Gail's no-nonsense manner, she lays out the best course of actions while explaining some of the ins and outs of investing, taxes and retirement plans. Highly recommended.
Read
September 5, 2013Great book this woman knows her stuff and offers very good advice. I have started using the practices she talks about in her other book and so far they have made a world of difference. Very easy book to read and it always keeps you thinking.
February 23, 2014
I'm marking this as did not finish, not because I didn't like the book, but because the end is about just before you retire and I am not quite there yet.:) I will go back and read the end, just not right away.
January 29, 2011
Good advice, not too technical.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews