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Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No
Take on your toughest money the people you love.
Gail Vaz-Oxlade gets hundreds of letters every month from people who can’t figure out how to get their sister off their couch, their mother to stop hitting them up for money, or their mates to recognize that saving is part of having a solid financial foundation. The letters have a common Gail, how do I get through to them?
Money Talks is Gail’s answer to that toughest—and most common—problem that sits at the heart of money and how to tell your mate, your father, your best friend or your grandmother it’s time for a change. Whether it’s sisters fighting over the decision for Mom and Dad to sell the family home and downsize, life partners arguing over whose shopping is really messing with the budget, or parents wondering when their adult child will ever leave home, the “money” gets blamed for what is actually an inability to figure out the real problem and deal with it objectively—and that’s where Gail steps in.
With over seventy-five different scenarios drawn from years of working with real Canadians, Gail helps readers see their own situations through stories that reflect what they’re experiencing. Then she gives readers the language to negotiate effectively, showing them that for each problem there are steps they can take to find a solution.
Gail has long believed that so many money issues have more to do with behaviour than with the money itself. People can be delusional, selfish, inconsistent, fearful, lazy, bullying and entitled, and those traits are reflected in how they deal with money. Relationships seldom disintegrate just because people are ‘bad with money’. But how each person responds to the other—and to the real issues—can make or break a relationship.
Have a bully in your life? Wish your brother would grow the hell up and stop counting on you to save his butt? Want to tell your BFF that dreaming is only the first step in making a better life? Gail will show you how.
Gail bets that there many people you will recognize as you read Money Talks—and one of them just might be yourself.
Gail Vaz-Oxlade gets hundreds of letters every month from people who can’t figure out how to get their sister off their couch, their mother to stop hitting them up for money, or their mates to recognize that saving is part of having a solid financial foundation. The letters have a common Gail, how do I get through to them?
Money Talks is Gail’s answer to that toughest—and most common—problem that sits at the heart of money and how to tell your mate, your father, your best friend or your grandmother it’s time for a change. Whether it’s sisters fighting over the decision for Mom and Dad to sell the family home and downsize, life partners arguing over whose shopping is really messing with the budget, or parents wondering when their adult child will ever leave home, the “money” gets blamed for what is actually an inability to figure out the real problem and deal with it objectively—and that’s where Gail steps in.
With over seventy-five different scenarios drawn from years of working with real Canadians, Gail helps readers see their own situations through stories that reflect what they’re experiencing. Then she gives readers the language to negotiate effectively, showing them that for each problem there are steps they can take to find a solution.
Gail has long believed that so many money issues have more to do with behaviour than with the money itself. People can be delusional, selfish, inconsistent, fearful, lazy, bullying and entitled, and those traits are reflected in how they deal with money. Relationships seldom disintegrate just because people are ‘bad with money’. But how each person responds to the other—and to the real issues—can make or break a relationship.
Have a bully in your life? Wish your brother would grow the hell up and stop counting on you to save his butt? Want to tell your BFF that dreaming is only the first step in making a better life? Gail will show you how.
Gail bets that there many people you will recognize as you read Money Talks—and one of them just might be yourself.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2015
7 people are currently reading
171 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 13, 2017
How important is the 'narrative voice' in non-fiction? After crawling through this book, I've learned my answer to that question is 'Very.' I like Unreliable narrators in fiction. I like narrators that aren't easy to love. But I don't think I like Gail Vaz-O very much, and I didn't like this book because of that. Yes, there were some good points in there. But she's brash, vulgar, and annoying too often. The fake dialogues are often stupid and unrealistic. I also found the book rather sexist (basically, in almost all the hetero couples she creates, the woman is right) and her style of writing is weak weak weak. There are much better personal finance books out there.
July 15, 2021
Money matters require talk, talk, talk. My family member’s names were changed to protect the innocent. Not really but….
May 16, 2016
An essential book on how to have conversations about money, with your parents, children, partner, friends, whatever. It's full of examples and ideas about what to do. I read this one really quickly, because there was so much good information in here. It gave me lots to think about.
Some of the writing was a bit hoaky, but the overall message was excellent.
Some of the writing was a bit hoaky, but the overall message was excellent.
October 4, 2017
Good book, great Graduation gift (thanks mom and dad). As a student I felt it was good to be aware of these upcoming issues in my life and how really at the end of the day money is just atool and we attach alot of meaning to it. Also avoid debt. but really useful and hopefully will pay dividends in the future.
June 23, 2018
I love Gail Vaz-Oxlade but I didn't love this book. It's written in a series of vignettes. I personally find this style annoying and distracting, although some people may relate well to it. She did have a series of tips for how to handle each vignette. I was disappointed in the overall structure but her main financial points remain sound.
July 29, 2019
The money talks to have with your family, your friends, and yourself. I love Gail's compassionate & realistic approach. My favourite book of hers to date.
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October 23, 2025money talks
April 8, 2016
Cha-Ching...Let's Talk Money!!!
Gail Vaz-Oxlade is Canada's financial guru. Her latest book "Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No" focuses on how to approach or start a conversation regarding money in a positive manner. If you're looking for advice on how to get out of debt, you'll have to read some of Gail's previous books, or watch reruns of her show.
I borrowed this book from my local library. I had 21 days to read it and it took me 21 days to finish. It really shouldn't have taking me that long to read the book, but I found some parts boring and I actually put the book aside and started another book before returning to "Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No".
The book is mostly written in scenario format, with Gail's voice still present ( have you ever heard the commercial 'Come to Jamaica and feel alright'...when I hear Gail's voice, even when reading, I think...listen to Gail and everything will be alright!...lol). However I found some of the scenarios in the book unrealistic....in an intense heated situation would a conversation really play out like that...well maybe? I don't know.
I would recommend "Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No" to other readers because the book does contain great information on how to handle,approach and communicate with the money morons in your life.
Gail Vaz-Oxlade is Canada's financial guru. Her latest book "Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No" focuses on how to approach or start a conversation regarding money in a positive manner. If you're looking for advice on how to get out of debt, you'll have to read some of Gail's previous books, or watch reruns of her show.
I borrowed this book from my local library. I had 21 days to read it and it took me 21 days to finish. It really shouldn't have taking me that long to read the book, but I found some parts boring and I actually put the book aside and started another book before returning to "Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No".
The book is mostly written in scenario format, with Gail's voice still present ( have you ever heard the commercial 'Come to Jamaica and feel alright'...when I hear Gail's voice, even when reading, I think...listen to Gail and everything will be alright!...lol). However I found some of the scenarios in the book unrealistic....in an intense heated situation would a conversation really play out like that...well maybe? I don't know.
I would recommend "Money Talks: When to Say Yes and How to Say No" to other readers because the book does contain great information on how to handle,approach and communicate with the money morons in your life.
February 23, 2016
Great instructions for those hard talks
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June 12, 2016
LOVED this book! Gail is smart and practical. This is as much about relationships as it is money. I like that there are several 'conversation-starter' type scripts throughout the book to follow to put into practice what Gail teaches.
March 27, 2018
Unlike her other books that were very informative, this one is about how to have different types of difficult conversations about money. It contains many different types of situations and actual examples of how the conversations between people could go.
April 2, 2017
Just skimmed the second half, as there's a lot of repetition and just plain common sense.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews