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The Feminist Financial Handbook: A Modern Woman's Guide to a Wealthy Life
Live your wealthiest life: Sometimes the best way to stick it to the man is by doing well for yourself. There’s just one problem: it’s hard to do well for yourself when systemic oppression has placed innumerable hurdles between you and your aspirations. The Feminist Financial Handbook provides real motivation and resources for real women who may be struggling—not only those who have already accumulated wealth.
Overcome obstacles: The Feminist Financial Handbook provides actionable tips for women in business to overcome these obstacles without dulling the visceral experience of the real-life struggles women face as they try to master their money management and their lives. Because women’s experiences don’t exist in a vacuum relegated to their gender, the handbook explores financial issues with anecdotes and perspectives of women of different races, sexual orientations and abilities.
Find the answers to your money questions: Whether you want to learn more about general financial planning principles, like saving or earning a higher income, or delve into issues that disproportionately affect women, like the wage gap or the long road to economic recovery after experiencing domestic violence, The Feminist Financial Handbook has stories and advice from women who have been there, worked through the struggle, and achieved personal success.
Learn from the frontrunner of the Femme Frugality blog: Written in the same passionate tone that has made Femme Frugality a two-time nominee for Best Women’s Finance Blog, The Feminist Financial Handbook acknowledges the financial struggles and oppression modern women face while providing actionable steps to live your wealthiest life and achieve personal success.
The Feminist Financial Handbook presents a feminist view on finances relevant to a post-Recession economy. This book will walk you through how to:
Decide what wealth and success means for you Learn how to earn more and negotiate effectively Master manageable money-saving methods242 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 24, 2018
As far as financial advice books go, this one was a huge departure in the best way. Seriously: what other book on making ends meet do you know of that begins with a brief glossary of terms like "kyriarchy"? I've been trying to improve my financial literacy recently, and have read some great books on the topic, but they're all about how financial systems work. This book is instead about how social systems work: how they're broken, how they're disproportionately built for certain kinds of people and not others, and how to work within and around the system to beat the game.
For example, Conroy has whole chapters on financial abuse, mental health, and disability. How does one recover from domestic abuse that includes financial abuse? How does one's mental health affect finances? And how does a disabled person or the parent of a disabled child work to build savings while still accessing government disability benefits? The women she interviews (and they're all women, from the scholars whose books she cites to the average everyday women whose personal stories she includes in the book) are wonderfully diverse: stay-at-home moms, single moms, transgender women, divorced women, elderly women, Muslim women, black women, latina women, childfree women, mothers of disabled children, gay women, mentally ill women.
The effect is this: money is not a one-size-fits-all establishment. Our lives and circumstances are wonderfully varied, and as a result, our approach to managing our money must also be. Each chapter generally takes the format of "here's a systemic problem"-->"here's how it affects personal finance"-->"here are some practical solutions to overcome the economic difficulties presented by the systemic problem." Every chapter has actionable steps for things like applying for grants and scholarships, finding out if you're eligible for Medicaid through the ACA, opening a special kind of savings account for people living with disability, protecting yourself from financial ruin should you get divorced.
We bleeding-heart feminist liberals are often accused of a "victim mentality," of "complaining rather than doing." Never mind the fact that these criticisms are usually couched in the subconscious mindset of resisting any challenge to the status quo. But books like this prove those rude stereotypes wrong. Here is an example of how to say "Something is wrong," while simultaneously doing something about it. The whole premise of the book is "certain people are oppressed, but let's empower them with the following financial tools." It belies the feminism=victimhood simplification. For the feminist author is definitely a feminist, and she's using her financial skills to lift up both her own life and the lives of others who find themselves in dire financial straits because of prejudice.
I found myself skimming some sections that didn't apply to my personal situation. But then I made a conscious effort to go back and read them closely. Because I should be informed about people whose lives are different from mine. I was infuriated by learning about the "asset tests" disabled people must go through. It's essentially a broken system wherein they HAVE to remain in poverty in order to receive disability benefits. They're literally not allowed to save money lest they lose their benefits before they're ready.
I'm also not in an abusive relationship nor (hopefully) at the risk of divorce any time soon. But this book definitely confirmed my decision to keep my finances largely separate from my husbands. We have a few shared accounts and assets, of course, but because we have no children and completely separate retirement and checking accounts, parting ways would be as simple as arguing over the dog. Everything else could be split 50/50 without any risk of one of us taking advantage of the other financially.
There's a theory that capitalism is inherently a sexist institution. For women overwhelmingly get the short end of the stick when it comes to labor inequities. So a book about "financial feminism" might seem like a contradiction in terms. And to be fair, Conroy doesn't suggest rising up against our oppressors and overthrowing our capitalist shackles. What she does is advocate a feminist approach to personal finance. The closest she comes to advocating a feminist approach to all financial and economic matters is to remind us all to fucking VOTE for widespread economic policy changes.
And I think she's right: personal finance is certainly a feminist issue, and it can be approached through a feminist lens. But to do that, we must acknowledge the different ways in which diverse groups suffer from economic inequality. And this book is a great primer on that topic.
For example, Conroy has whole chapters on financial abuse, mental health, and disability. How does one recover from domestic abuse that includes financial abuse? How does one's mental health affect finances? And how does a disabled person or the parent of a disabled child work to build savings while still accessing government disability benefits? The women she interviews (and they're all women, from the scholars whose books she cites to the average everyday women whose personal stories she includes in the book) are wonderfully diverse: stay-at-home moms, single moms, transgender women, divorced women, elderly women, Muslim women, black women, latina women, childfree women, mothers of disabled children, gay women, mentally ill women.
The effect is this: money is not a one-size-fits-all establishment. Our lives and circumstances are wonderfully varied, and as a result, our approach to managing our money must also be. Each chapter generally takes the format of "here's a systemic problem"-->"here's how it affects personal finance"-->"here are some practical solutions to overcome the economic difficulties presented by the systemic problem." Every chapter has actionable steps for things like applying for grants and scholarships, finding out if you're eligible for Medicaid through the ACA, opening a special kind of savings account for people living with disability, protecting yourself from financial ruin should you get divorced.
We bleeding-heart feminist liberals are often accused of a "victim mentality," of "complaining rather than doing." Never mind the fact that these criticisms are usually couched in the subconscious mindset of resisting any challenge to the status quo. But books like this prove those rude stereotypes wrong. Here is an example of how to say "Something is wrong," while simultaneously doing something about it. The whole premise of the book is "certain people are oppressed, but let's empower them with the following financial tools." It belies the feminism=victimhood simplification. For the feminist author is definitely a feminist, and she's using her financial skills to lift up both her own life and the lives of others who find themselves in dire financial straits because of prejudice.
I found myself skimming some sections that didn't apply to my personal situation. But then I made a conscious effort to go back and read them closely. Because I should be informed about people whose lives are different from mine. I was infuriated by learning about the "asset tests" disabled people must go through. It's essentially a broken system wherein they HAVE to remain in poverty in order to receive disability benefits. They're literally not allowed to save money lest they lose their benefits before they're ready.
I'm also not in an abusive relationship nor (hopefully) at the risk of divorce any time soon. But this book definitely confirmed my decision to keep my finances largely separate from my husbands. We have a few shared accounts and assets, of course, but because we have no children and completely separate retirement and checking accounts, parting ways would be as simple as arguing over the dog. Everything else could be split 50/50 without any risk of one of us taking advantage of the other financially.
There's a theory that capitalism is inherently a sexist institution. For women overwhelmingly get the short end of the stick when it comes to labor inequities. So a book about "financial feminism" might seem like a contradiction in terms. And to be fair, Conroy doesn't suggest rising up against our oppressors and overthrowing our capitalist shackles. What she does is advocate a feminist approach to personal finance. The closest she comes to advocating a feminist approach to all financial and economic matters is to remind us all to fucking VOTE for widespread economic policy changes.
And I think she's right: personal finance is certainly a feminist issue, and it can be approached through a feminist lens. But to do that, we must acknowledge the different ways in which diverse groups suffer from economic inequality. And this book is a great primer on that topic.
May 26, 2021
I wanted to like this book more than I did, and reading a few other reviews, I see that I am not alone in this situation.
Brynne Conroy wrote an approachable and inspiring book, filled with good tips about finances for women, taking into account the system issues that stand in their way. But alas, the book’s scope is broader than it is deep, and most of the tips she shared can be unearth in a handful of articles and research. I do commend her for getting it all together, and arranging it coherently. I also love that each chapter concludes with a task list of things you can do to apply the chapter’s advice directly into your life, from negotiating salary to planning a business of your own and saving.
I am also not the target audience for a lot of the material, so many parts felt superfluous to me, though they might be very interesting for women in totally different situations. That said, never before had I seen a book on finances that was so inclusive, and tried to look at the barriers women face when it comes to money in such an intersectional way, and that is amazing. Conroy even takes a whole chapter to discuss how mental health affects our finances, a reality I had not seen discussed seriously in a book before! I was aware of many of the issues discussed, but it’s validating to see them verbalized so clearly, not to mention supported by numbers and examples galore. It is also great to use a book such as this one to collect the stories and successes of many women who took steps to make their lives wealthier (and not just in the cold hard cash sense of the word).
I think that one of the things that bothers me a little with the book is that her tone feels unrealistically optimistic at times. I may be an old cynic, but she makes a few things sound like something you can achieve with a snap of your fingers, which is not really how reality works. Some of her stories are wonderful, but also feature very lucky breaks that are not the norm (inheriting a mortgage-free house is not something most people can count on, for instance, and depending on where you are financially, mental health care might simply not be an affordable option for you, even if it’s “the best thing you can do about your financial health”).
Nevertheless, I think this book has a few great ideas for most people, but you’ll have to do lots of independent research on the specific topics that you want to explore further, and probably talk to financial advisors who can look at your personal situation in details to make sure the moves you make are the smart ones for you. In other words, this is a good launching pad for reflection and action, but not the how-to I was expecting.
Brynne Conroy wrote an approachable and inspiring book, filled with good tips about finances for women, taking into account the system issues that stand in their way. But alas, the book’s scope is broader than it is deep, and most of the tips she shared can be unearth in a handful of articles and research. I do commend her for getting it all together, and arranging it coherently. I also love that each chapter concludes with a task list of things you can do to apply the chapter’s advice directly into your life, from negotiating salary to planning a business of your own and saving.
I am also not the target audience for a lot of the material, so many parts felt superfluous to me, though they might be very interesting for women in totally different situations. That said, never before had I seen a book on finances that was so inclusive, and tried to look at the barriers women face when it comes to money in such an intersectional way, and that is amazing. Conroy even takes a whole chapter to discuss how mental health affects our finances, a reality I had not seen discussed seriously in a book before! I was aware of many of the issues discussed, but it’s validating to see them verbalized so clearly, not to mention supported by numbers and examples galore. It is also great to use a book such as this one to collect the stories and successes of many women who took steps to make their lives wealthier (and not just in the cold hard cash sense of the word).
I think that one of the things that bothers me a little with the book is that her tone feels unrealistically optimistic at times. I may be an old cynic, but she makes a few things sound like something you can achieve with a snap of your fingers, which is not really how reality works. Some of her stories are wonderful, but also feature very lucky breaks that are not the norm (inheriting a mortgage-free house is not something most people can count on, for instance, and depending on where you are financially, mental health care might simply not be an affordable option for you, even if it’s “the best thing you can do about your financial health”).
Nevertheless, I think this book has a few great ideas for most people, but you’ll have to do lots of independent research on the specific topics that you want to explore further, and probably talk to financial advisors who can look at your personal situation in details to make sure the moves you make are the smart ones for you. In other words, this is a good launching pad for reflection and action, but not the how-to I was expecting.
November 22, 2019
If you're a true beginner to personal finance, probably worth a full read. Otherwise a skim through the chapters that interest you the most will do you just fine.
May 29, 2020
I really wanted to like this book but it just wasn't for me!
I liked that the book talked about the importance of intersectionality and women being financially independent.
I realize I'm very privileged to be able to say I knew most of the information presented in this book already or some of it seems like common sense. I also found some of the information misleading. The section on getting a bachelors or masters degree for free, for example, makes it sound like there's money everywhere just waiting for people to grab it. I actually had to check what year this book was published because I'd heard that growing up and from faculty and advisors but I spent 6 years trying to secure funding that never materialized. The book makes it sound easy like you just look for funding, but doesn't talk about how competitive it is and how literally millions of other people are doing the same thing and how factors like gender and class and race can play into actually receiving financial support. Sure some institutions are better than others about supporting their students, but not a lot of people get a full ride anywhere in higher education currently.
It was also a bit confusing because the author goes out of their way to talk about the importance of understanding how people's financial situations can impact their lives and how some people have more economic privilege than others. But they also talk about the importance of being able to choose where you put your energy into your goals, like if you want a family or want to focus on your career or whatever. The author acknowledges that sometimes you have to change your priorities and focus on work because you need to pay bills and live somewhere to achieve your other goals, but with so many living like that as our every day normal telling people to think about how they want to live their lives and work toward that doesn't seem like sound financial advice. I know so many people that would love to have children or own a house but are trapped in cycles of systematic racism or underemployment despite having multiple degrees and am having trouble translating some of this advice to these situations.
Overall it's the kind of book that you can take what you find useful and ignore the rest I suppose. I can definitely see how it would be helpful in defining financial terms and helping people figure out their next steps.
I liked that the book talked about the importance of intersectionality and women being financially independent.
I realize I'm very privileged to be able to say I knew most of the information presented in this book already or some of it seems like common sense. I also found some of the information misleading. The section on getting a bachelors or masters degree for free, for example, makes it sound like there's money everywhere just waiting for people to grab it. I actually had to check what year this book was published because I'd heard that growing up and from faculty and advisors but I spent 6 years trying to secure funding that never materialized. The book makes it sound easy like you just look for funding, but doesn't talk about how competitive it is and how literally millions of other people are doing the same thing and how factors like gender and class and race can play into actually receiving financial support. Sure some institutions are better than others about supporting their students, but not a lot of people get a full ride anywhere in higher education currently.
It was also a bit confusing because the author goes out of their way to talk about the importance of understanding how people's financial situations can impact their lives and how some people have more economic privilege than others. But they also talk about the importance of being able to choose where you put your energy into your goals, like if you want a family or want to focus on your career or whatever. The author acknowledges that sometimes you have to change your priorities and focus on work because you need to pay bills and live somewhere to achieve your other goals, but with so many living like that as our every day normal telling people to think about how they want to live their lives and work toward that doesn't seem like sound financial advice. I know so many people that would love to have children or own a house but are trapped in cycles of systematic racism or underemployment despite having multiple degrees and am having trouble translating some of this advice to these situations.
Overall it's the kind of book that you can take what you find useful and ignore the rest I suppose. I can definitely see how it would be helpful in defining financial terms and helping people figure out their next steps.
July 1, 2020
A mixed bag. It doesn't give much advice outside of putting more money into retirement plans and taking advantage of government assistance when needed. The 3 budget methods mentioned in the book (envelope, zero-sum and 50/30/20) aren't exactly realistic. Taking physical money out of your bank and putting it into little envelopes doesn't help you save; trust me, I've tried that one, and when something comes up you will dip into those little envelopes. And the 50/30/20 method doesn't help when your rent is more than half of your monthly income, which it is for most people in this land of stagnant wages and rising housing costs.
She also says throughout the book to seek mental health services if depression and PTSD are keeping you from saving money, does she have no idea how much it costs to see a psychiatrist?
She also says throughout the book to seek mental health services if depression and PTSD are keeping you from saving money, does she have no idea how much it costs to see a psychiatrist?
October 16, 2018
Hey, hey! Look what is out today! I am so proud of this book, and I had nothing to do with it. But I have ALL the respect and awe for its author, who has been in this gig with me since the beginning and is a mad #powerhouse of financial knowledge and know-how. I have learned so much from her site over the years, and this book is packed with her smarts and wisdom. Grab a copy and get your financial act in order!
November 15, 2022
3,5🌟 There is a ton of good information here and its jam packed with practical advice, unfortunately it targets American and Canadian women and, therefore most of the practical advice doesn’t apply to women outside North America. I still tried to sieve through all the info and pick what could be universal. I feel the title should have made it more explicit.
December 12, 2021
A very holistic approach to finance this is a very general but interesting view of different types of women and the different type of financial responsibilities and education they may need.
The book is divided into different settings. It addresses overall gender, heteronormative, differently abled, and stresses intersection Aliti of feminism and five mins.
This book has a great section on how to afford college especially as an adult woman. There is a great chapter about saving for your children’s education or whatever you may have guardianship for. There is a really important chapter about domestic violence and financial abuse. There is a great chapter about entrepreneurship and micro aggressions that occur in the workplace as women and definitely combine with race and other isms. There’s a general definition guide for types of investing and why it’s important to invest.
There are some sprinkles of other info such as negotiation, promotions, how to ask for a raise, and just stark facts of how women of different races and backgrounds are treated differently across-the-board.
Kind of more of a general overview a finance for a woman then a personal finance book this is less of a guide and more of an overall kind of a survival guide for how to think about money in the first place.
This book kind of misses the mark in terms of what exactly she is trying to convey to whom the audience seems a bit muddled whether it’s a beginner or someone who is about to retire and that is really my only caveat.
The book is divided into different settings. It addresses overall gender, heteronormative, differently abled, and stresses intersection Aliti of feminism and five mins.
This book has a great section on how to afford college especially as an adult woman. There is a great chapter about saving for your children’s education or whatever you may have guardianship for. There is a really important chapter about domestic violence and financial abuse. There is a great chapter about entrepreneurship and micro aggressions that occur in the workplace as women and definitely combine with race and other isms. There’s a general definition guide for types of investing and why it’s important to invest.
There are some sprinkles of other info such as negotiation, promotions, how to ask for a raise, and just stark facts of how women of different races and backgrounds are treated differently across-the-board.
Kind of more of a general overview a finance for a woman then a personal finance book this is less of a guide and more of an overall kind of a survival guide for how to think about money in the first place.
This book kind of misses the mark in terms of what exactly she is trying to convey to whom the audience seems a bit muddled whether it’s a beginner or someone who is about to retire and that is really my only caveat.
August 6, 2019
I actually bought this book after listening to the library book because of how incredibly helpful it is. Not only does it list a wide variety of resources for different life stages and incomes, but it treats us all like humans.
Things I really appreciated about this book:
-A full section on disability and how to deal with the forced poverty put upon you by the system.
-How to get funding for your education as a non-traditional student.
-Being LGBT+ and the costs associated to moving into somewhere safer for you.
-Marriage and finances.
-Finances and mental health.
There are a ton of resources that I was never aware of, and some that I didn't know still applied to me (FAFSA). The book does not treat its readers as these autonomous that will forgo all fun in order to save for retirement, but just provides perspectives and resources to make your goals easier.
If you're part of the Carnegie Library, you can rent it from the library for free. I think this book would be worthwhile for everyone and I look forward to visiting the physical copy for reference when I need it.
Things I really appreciated about this book:
-A full section on disability and how to deal with the forced poverty put upon you by the system.
-How to get funding for your education as a non-traditional student.
-Being LGBT+ and the costs associated to moving into somewhere safer for you.
-Marriage and finances.
-Finances and mental health.
There are a ton of resources that I was never aware of, and some that I didn't know still applied to me (FAFSA). The book does not treat its readers as these autonomous that will forgo all fun in order to save for retirement, but just provides perspectives and resources to make your goals easier.
If you're part of the Carnegie Library, you can rent it from the library for free. I think this book would be worthwhile for everyone and I look forward to visiting the physical copy for reference when I need it.
September 24, 2019
When reading the summary and cover of this book I was given the impression that I would be given a lot more explicit financial knowledge than I actually received. Conroy does a fabulous job of describing the struggles of marginalized groups and how finances affect them, but the solutions given seemed less important than the discussion of the problem. This book acts better as a resource for where to start in your financial literacy journey than a one-stop shop or handbook.
February 23, 2019
This book is revolutionary and I'm pretty sure no other book like it exists. I mean, I've searched and searched for personal finance books that "speak" to me, and I haven't found many that cover the ground this book does--that is, framing personal finance issues within the context of circumstances that effect women, LGBTQ folks, people of color, and people with disabilities (and any combination of those identities). So, I think that is really cool. I read the whole book cover-to-cover, whether any particular chapter applied to me or not. And I think the book is educational, just in the broader sense of understanding different people's circumstances, even though a lot of it wasn't applicable to me personally.
I do wish the information about saving and investing had been more robust. Those two topics only cover about 30 pages of the book. It's really the part that I was hoping to learn a lot from, and I was looking for specific advice (e.g. strategies for diversifying savings between investments, savings accounts, CD's, etc; recommendations about how to be savvy with your savings and planning for the future). The chapter about investing is pretty basic and I didn't feel like it was that useful. It just defines the lingo and describes in simple terms how the market works and how it can work for you. I was hoping for more in-depth discussion of different ways to invest (there are soooo many options out there) and maybe even some discussion about "ethical" investing (seems like a relevant feminist topic, right? I see companies touting mutual funds made up of "sustainable" or "environmentally conscious" businesses--is that even a real thing, or just a marketing ploy? I want to know more!). I guess investing is a topic that's covered in detail by lots of other resources but I was hoping to learn more from Conroy's particular take on it.
As a whole, I think this book is pretty amazing and a good overview of financial topics through a feminist lens. Depending on your circumstances, this book is relevant to women of any age. There's certainly information here that I wish I'd been conscious of before I went to college, and other information I may never need in my life. But regardless, it has expanded my knowledge of how finances impact people differently depending on their identities.
I do wish the information about saving and investing had been more robust. Those two topics only cover about 30 pages of the book. It's really the part that I was hoping to learn a lot from, and I was looking for specific advice (e.g. strategies for diversifying savings between investments, savings accounts, CD's, etc; recommendations about how to be savvy with your savings and planning for the future). The chapter about investing is pretty basic and I didn't feel like it was that useful. It just defines the lingo and describes in simple terms how the market works and how it can work for you. I was hoping for more in-depth discussion of different ways to invest (there are soooo many options out there) and maybe even some discussion about "ethical" investing (seems like a relevant feminist topic, right? I see companies touting mutual funds made up of "sustainable" or "environmentally conscious" businesses--is that even a real thing, or just a marketing ploy? I want to know more!). I guess investing is a topic that's covered in detail by lots of other resources but I was hoping to learn more from Conroy's particular take on it.
As a whole, I think this book is pretty amazing and a good overview of financial topics through a feminist lens. Depending on your circumstances, this book is relevant to women of any age. There's certainly information here that I wish I'd been conscious of before I went to college, and other information I may never need in my life. But regardless, it has expanded my knowledge of how finances impact people differently depending on their identities.
December 18, 2019
It may seem like it took me forever to finish this book, but I only had it with me in certain situations. So don't judge the book based on that! This is an excellent primer for women who are new to finance and/or for those who really have no idea about money.
It has great advice on things like sending yourself and/or your children to college without incurring horrifying amounts of student loan debt. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for parents, and also for women who may not have started or finished college due to life situations.
She also has some great advice for parents of differently abled kids about navigating the aid that's available, and not missing out on common benefits. Plenty of advice for women in the LGBTQ community as well.
There's not a whole lot about investments in it, just some very basic knowledge. (My book is all about investments, so they dovetail nicely, ha ha.)
Many of the chapters come with personal stories from women who went through a particular life situation. I always think it's so helpful to see that you're not alone in the world and that other women in similar situations were able to learn what they needed to and began taking care of themselves financially.
Honestly, they should stock this book at the family court, homeless shelters, high schools and colleges.
It has great advice on things like sending yourself and/or your children to college without incurring horrifying amounts of student loan debt. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for parents, and also for women who may not have started or finished college due to life situations.
She also has some great advice for parents of differently abled kids about navigating the aid that's available, and not missing out on common benefits. Plenty of advice for women in the LGBTQ community as well.
There's not a whole lot about investments in it, just some very basic knowledge. (My book is all about investments, so they dovetail nicely, ha ha.)
Many of the chapters come with personal stories from women who went through a particular life situation. I always think it's so helpful to see that you're not alone in the world and that other women in similar situations were able to learn what they needed to and began taking care of themselves financially.
Honestly, they should stock this book at the family court, homeless shelters, high schools and colleges.
January 1, 2019
This book is such a helpful book, not only for women in general, but particularly for segments of the female population dealing with a variety of challenges such as divorce, discrimination, raising special needs children — or just for those of us who lack confidence in things as common as asking for a raise, finding a way to pay for going back to college, or starting a business. My personal area where I lack confidence is in investing. The Feminist Financial Handbook helped me realize I should just “get over it” and start. Also, I didn’t have any idea about SEP IRA’s, and now I do.
I realized as I read Conroy’s information and case studies that I had lived through many of the same experiences as those mentioned in the book — I had run an in-home daycare and applied for food assistance for that, I had a special needs child and applied for Medicaid, and I had run a small business for years. I could have used this book years ago — and I can STILL use this book! An extremely well-written and enjoyable to read, I could easily see recommending this book to many of my friends. Well worth the read.
I realized as I read Conroy’s information and case studies that I had lived through many of the same experiences as those mentioned in the book — I had run an in-home daycare and applied for food assistance for that, I had a special needs child and applied for Medicaid, and I had run a small business for years. I could have used this book years ago — and I can STILL use this book! An extremely well-written and enjoyable to read, I could easily see recommending this book to many of my friends. Well worth the read.
June 24, 2021
This book does what no financial handbook I've ever read before does: Tackles problems that are specific to women, nonbinary, and trans people. While I do wish it had a bit more information on debt management, budgeting, and investing, it at least provides a solid base for all these things.
More importantly though, it has entire chapters dedicated to going to college for free or very cheap, figuring out what benefits you might quality for as a single mother, benefits and budgeting for people with disabilities, how domestic abuse can affect your finances and what to do about it, and more. This book is an excellent resource for people living on a fixed income as well.
If you've ever read a financial book and thought "wow, this book is for people who have loads more money than I could ever dream of having," give this book a try instead. The author doesn't shy away from the capitalist hellscape we live in, and provides solid, actionable advice for making the most of your financial circumstances to live a better life.
More importantly though, it has entire chapters dedicated to going to college for free or very cheap, figuring out what benefits you might quality for as a single mother, benefits and budgeting for people with disabilities, how domestic abuse can affect your finances and what to do about it, and more. This book is an excellent resource for people living on a fixed income as well.
If you've ever read a financial book and thought "wow, this book is for people who have loads more money than I could ever dream of having," give this book a try instead. The author doesn't shy away from the capitalist hellscape we live in, and provides solid, actionable advice for making the most of your financial circumstances to live a better life.
July 7, 2024
If you live under a financial rock this is a great place to start. And honestly many women do start there. I can admit that I’m probably not the target audience but I did appreciate the breakdowns into women specific issues like being the default parent and abuse in and out of the workplace. I also appreciate the covers not just the US, but Canada as well. What was lacking is deeper levels of untangling the HOW to get form point A to point B. Some of the resources like student advice were solid but in other sections, I did not find much more depth beyond what could be discovered in a Google search. Advice was fairly broad, generic instead of uncovering multiple scenarios in a topic and how to problem solve. Overall a great beginner book if you know nothing of money or how women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ groups struggle against it.
April 3, 2019
I loved it! I already have a pretty in depth knowledge of most of what she is discussing in this book. But she enlightened me unto a few more great tricks to add to my arsenal when it comes to finances and parenting, as well as some different laws I was unaware of. Great read and I highly recommend it!
August 30, 2020
This is a really important book for women to feel empowered by financial knowledge and decisions. The obstacles we face financially because of cultural expectations and the wage gap are hefty, but we can overcome them. This book shows us how. It also defines what wealthy really means - that we should not always associate wealth with money but instead associate it with a meaningful life.
April 25, 2021
I was a little wary going into this because of the (to my mind) cheesy title. But I actually think it has a lot of good information.
On a separate note, it was cool to see that this author is from Pittsburgh. I’ll definitely be checking out her blog and following her work now. Love supporting a local author!
On a separate note, it was cool to see that this author is from Pittsburgh. I’ll definitely be checking out her blog and following her work now. Love supporting a local author!
March 30, 2023
It was difficult to me to designate the stars... the book is spot on. It shows you reality, it gives you context and perspective... however... it addresses only US and Canada... I wish I could have a book like this in Europe or Latinoamerica... and assumes you are young and have a life in front of you...
February 10, 2019
Although I am not in the target market for this book, I still found lots of valuable lessons throughout. I can tell that Brynne spend countless hours researching to make sure everything is factually correct and that carries a lot of weight.
August 30, 2019
I have read many financial advice books but every woman needs to read this one. How many financial advice books discuss intersectional feminism and advice on setting up a f**k off fund??? Six out of five stars !!!!!!
January 26, 2020
I loved this book! It open a rabbit hole of things I don't know, and thing I do know were written with a very helpful perspective for me. I hope to be able to share what I learned through my own profession, and direct fellow readers to this book.
December 18, 2024
Need to re-read with a hard copy to see some of the worksheets offered. Great book and I really like the idea of a values-based budget so we can see where our funds are really going and if we're in alignment with our values.
November 28, 2018
I wish I had had the chance to read this 20 years ago! I'm going to get copies to give to the young women in my life. This is an accessible must read for every woman
February 8, 2021
very practical for people in the US and Canada
February 18, 2021
I felt this book could have expanded more in the wealth building but I learned a lot and think this is a great beginning book to start learning about finances
April 7, 2021
Too broad and not deep enough in any particular category.
August 24, 2021
Probably a lot more useful if you're on the poverty line, as most of the aid/tips given are specifically for low-income or poverty households.
December 22, 2024
Tibio.
March 3, 2025
Did not apply to me but good advice!
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