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It's Not Common Cent$: A 30-Day Personal Finance Crash Course for College Students and Young Adults. How to Manage Money, Save Money Fast, Pay off Debt and Invest in the Stock Market.
Do you want to get out of debt, save money and retire a millionaire, without giving up everything you enjoy? Then this book is for you. Did you learn about money management and building wealth at school? Nope, neither did I Do you feel overwhelmed by all the ‘money stuff’ you’re supposed to know, but don’t know at all? You’re not alone Adulting is hard. And no matter how old you are, if you don’t know how to handle your money, it can be difficult to feel like an actual adult. Even though you may be enjoying some independence and even be supporting yourself with a job, you may feel totally clueless when people start talking about insurance, taxes, and investments. And it’s not your fault. Personal finance was not taught to us in school. We weren’t taught about budgeting, stocks, or mortgages. We didn’t learn about what we can do with our money so we don’t lose it to inflation. In fact, according to a recent study by the TIAA Institute, only 16% of Americans aged 18-37 are considered financially literate . The good news is you’re still young. It is not too late to set yourself up for long-term financial success. And don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be hard - you shouldn’t be intimidated by terms like compounding and risk diversification . I will break it down for you. I’ve been in your shoes before, and I get it. My goal is to empower you with the financial knowledge that no one teaches at school. Knowledge that I had to learn the hard way. No matter what your finances look like right now , this 30-day crash course will take you from broke and clueless to financially literate and independent in no time. Simply follow my step-by-step plan. 30 days is all you need to change your money habits and change your life. In It’s Not Common Cent$ , you will And much more. If you’re thinking this is something you can delay until you’re older, think again. The millionaires of today didn’t start building wealth yesterday. If you wait too long to learn the basics, you could find yourself neck-deep in debt or end up having zero dollars saved up for an emergency. And then you’ll have to work twice as hard to get yourself back to where you are now. Don’t get left behind because you’re too lazy or too scared. The concepts in this book are simple, easy to digest, and most importantly, FUN. Pick it up, and I promise you won’t want to put it down. If you want concrete, actionable advice on how to get a grip on your finances in just 30 days, then scroll up and click the “Add to Cart” button right now.
276 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2021
81 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 19, 2021
Full of information about budgeting and how to best manage your money 💰 defo recommended for anyone looking to manage there money to meet financial goals
August 8, 2023
The perfect personal finance book for beginners. I wish i had this at University. It covers a wide range of topics & written in a really fun, engaging way which is hard to do with a topic like finance.
As an accountant, i wanted to read this to refresh myself on basic concepts & inspire me to take another look at my personal finances & see if i could be doing more.
Great read. I really recommend for anyone who is scared/ overwhelmed to learn about personal finance - it is genuinely a really helpful read!
As an accountant, i wanted to read this to refresh myself on basic concepts & inspire me to take another look at my personal finances & see if i could be doing more.
Great read. I really recommend for anyone who is scared/ overwhelmed to learn about personal finance - it is genuinely a really helpful read!
December 5, 2021
Amin does not put forward a new, untested approach to personal finance. Instead, she synthesizes tried and true strategies, packaging the information for an especially hard to reach audience: young people. This is a group whose eyes glaze over at the mention of retirement, or even just long-term planning. Amin’s strategy is to get this readership thinking in concrete terms about what it would mean to be financially secure and free from the worries of debt—and possibly also from the shackles of wage labor.
Of particular interest to young readers will be the detailed content on “spending & saving hacks,” side hustles, and multiple income streams.
Amin is a patient educator, opening the book with foundational terms that in other contexts (such as personal-finance blogs and listservs) often get thrown around without explanation.
Also helpful is that Amin’s writing style is accessible and jokey, like one friend talking to another. Amin is honest about her own early missteps, and she presents herself as Exhibit A when making the case for getting out from under debt and gaining understanding—and thus control—of one’s finances.
The book is loaded with practical tips (directed primarily to US and UK readers) and with recommendations for further learning—including Amin’s own Facebook Group.
I read this book primarily for purposes of review and reinforcement, thinking I already had a pretty good handle on most of the content. But the book still ended up clarifying quite a few things for me (for example, Amin’s explanation of credit scores is probably the clearest I’ve ever encountered).
The book reminded me of how I used to think about credit card debt, back when I was in college: my focus was usually on the minimum monthly payment rather than on how interest was changing the real cost of my purchases. If that kind of credit-card ignorance persists, Amin’s comments will quickly set folks straight.
Do young people buy personal-finance books? I’m not so sure. I suspect they are more likely to seek information on subreddits dominated by crypto bros (for example). Maybe the way to get this book into the hands of its intended audience is for the older crowd to gift it to younger friends and family members. I’m quite certain that the young people in my own clan will be more willing to listen to Amin than to me!
Of particular interest to young readers will be the detailed content on “spending & saving hacks,” side hustles, and multiple income streams.
Amin is a patient educator, opening the book with foundational terms that in other contexts (such as personal-finance blogs and listservs) often get thrown around without explanation.
Also helpful is that Amin’s writing style is accessible and jokey, like one friend talking to another. Amin is honest about her own early missteps, and she presents herself as Exhibit A when making the case for getting out from under debt and gaining understanding—and thus control—of one’s finances.
The book is loaded with practical tips (directed primarily to US and UK readers) and with recommendations for further learning—including Amin’s own Facebook Group.
I read this book primarily for purposes of review and reinforcement, thinking I already had a pretty good handle on most of the content. But the book still ended up clarifying quite a few things for me (for example, Amin’s explanation of credit scores is probably the clearest I’ve ever encountered).
The book reminded me of how I used to think about credit card debt, back when I was in college: my focus was usually on the minimum monthly payment rather than on how interest was changing the real cost of my purchases. If that kind of credit-card ignorance persists, Amin’s comments will quickly set folks straight.
Do young people buy personal-finance books? I’m not so sure. I suspect they are more likely to seek information on subreddits dominated by crypto bros (for example). Maybe the way to get this book into the hands of its intended audience is for the older crowd to gift it to younger friends and family members. I’m quite certain that the young people in my own clan will be more willing to listen to Amin than to me!
August 30, 2022
The book starts with the very catchy statement those who don't manage their money will always work for those who do and that is what attractive mean to read the whole book The writer in this book has educated and enlightened the readers with financial knowledge and statics to deal with once Personal Finance she has given knowledge about budgeting saving insurance emergency funds and everything else related to finance something that are found really good in this book is that it's not meant for readers of any specific country and anyone living in any country could benefit from it moreover she has emphasized over the financial freedom and saving an optimum portion of your income for future through easy and tested strategies according to what I believe she has tried to make the readers drive away and discourage them to use the credit card but telling them how they works and have a tempted to make them financially secure in this book Amna mentioned over spending and have related to that and how we can save money how a side Hustle is an important aspect of financial planning and that there should be multiple strains of income financial knowledge is given in this book in such an easy way that even the person having absolutely minimum knowledge about finance and investments could understand it more over she is discussed her own approach of dealing with the death and establishing a budget. The best thing about this book is its written in a way that makes it so relatable for people mostly the college students does book like the others did not feel like a finance class but it feels like talking to a friend about financial advisor moreover I love her she recommended a few ask that can help us manage our finances and keep record of what we earn and what we spend you also have included a Google sheet budgeting tool for readers to download and has recommended its uses for efficient management of Once Personal Finance I was totally recommend this book to anyone who want to get knowledge about Personal Finance but things are finance as a really boring think to study about.
October 21, 2022
This was an interesting book full of good tips and advice. I learn best by looking at lots of resources and references so I liked that there were a lot of resources both from Aaminah Amin and outside sources cited throughout the book. The terminology of things can throw me off sometimes, so I appreciated that the author took their time to expand on important terms, like what a copay is or what different kinds of debt are. It also covers basics for both the US and UK, so if you live in either area, this book can be very helpful to you for more complex topics.
This is definitely a book to read and re-read if you can. I haven’t completed the 30 day action plan outlined within the book as I wanted to read through it first and start gathering resources and my information before moving forward. Steps within the action plan do have you gathering resources, I just would like to be prepared before I decide to sit down and try out the plan within the book. Each step outlined in the action plan is relatively easy to accomplish and is broken down in a small enough size to make it manageable. It isn’t something to spend 5 hours on a day but instead spreads out over several days so you can ease into making a budgeting and finances plan.
I think I may be getting to the edge of the age-group it was targeting because some of the phrases or examples just made me sigh and move past that part of the book instead. It also gives tips that present themselves in more of a “everyone can be a millionaire!” light, which I didn’t like as there are much more complex issues behind why a person is rich or poor. The tips are all still incredibly helpful and I have seen similar advice elsewhere, so it was still a good read.
If you are beginning to manage your finances on your own or simply want a little extra help, this is an excellent place to start. It functions as a beginners guide for general financial management and more advanced topics, like managing your debt or loans and healthcare terminology.
This is definitely a book to read and re-read if you can. I haven’t completed the 30 day action plan outlined within the book as I wanted to read through it first and start gathering resources and my information before moving forward. Steps within the action plan do have you gathering resources, I just would like to be prepared before I decide to sit down and try out the plan within the book. Each step outlined in the action plan is relatively easy to accomplish and is broken down in a small enough size to make it manageable. It isn’t something to spend 5 hours on a day but instead spreads out over several days so you can ease into making a budgeting and finances plan.
I think I may be getting to the edge of the age-group it was targeting because some of the phrases or examples just made me sigh and move past that part of the book instead. It also gives tips that present themselves in more of a “everyone can be a millionaire!” light, which I didn’t like as there are much more complex issues behind why a person is rich or poor. The tips are all still incredibly helpful and I have seen similar advice elsewhere, so it was still a good read.
If you are beginning to manage your finances on your own or simply want a little extra help, this is an excellent place to start. It functions as a beginners guide for general financial management and more advanced topics, like managing your debt or loans and healthcare terminology.
December 17, 2021
It’s not common Cents by XYZ is a book everyone should read. It is the complete guide on matters related to money and finance. A has covered everything in this book, right from small basic things like budgeting to what earlier seemed daunting like investing. The book is full of easy examples to make you understand how money works and how you can make it work for you.
A wonderful bonus of this book is that A has spreadsheet templates on her website for almost everything that she tasks the reader to do. So even if you don’t know your way around Microsoft Excel, you can still make use of everything the book has to offer. I must also add that this book also gives you a list of multiple apps that you can use for budgeting, tracking your spending, or even investing in the stock market.
Even though this book is non-fiction and about important stuff, it’s written in such a simple language that it’s easy to follow and understand. What I liked the most about the book was that it began with a thorough explanation of terms we encounter in the book (and will do so on our financial journey) like principal, interest, and so on.
This book is especially for people living in the US and UK but that does not mean that people from other countries cannot learn from it. It’s because, in most parts of the world, the basic idea remains the same, and this is essentially what this book has tried to explain.
At this point, I feel I must also compliment A’s ability to weave humour into learning. If not for her jokes that are generously sprinkled throughout the book, I’d definitely have lost interest before I even got to the “principal.” (Those who have read the book will know there is a bad attempt to have cracked a joke there, but at least I tried.)
So, pick this book up, and start your journey to financial wellness today. I can assure you that you will not regret it.
A wonderful bonus of this book is that A has spreadsheet templates on her website for almost everything that she tasks the reader to do. So even if you don’t know your way around Microsoft Excel, you can still make use of everything the book has to offer. I must also add that this book also gives you a list of multiple apps that you can use for budgeting, tracking your spending, or even investing in the stock market.
Even though this book is non-fiction and about important stuff, it’s written in such a simple language that it’s easy to follow and understand. What I liked the most about the book was that it began with a thorough explanation of terms we encounter in the book (and will do so on our financial journey) like principal, interest, and so on.
This book is especially for people living in the US and UK but that does not mean that people from other countries cannot learn from it. It’s because, in most parts of the world, the basic idea remains the same, and this is essentially what this book has tried to explain.
At this point, I feel I must also compliment A’s ability to weave humour into learning. If not for her jokes that are generously sprinkled throughout the book, I’d definitely have lost interest before I even got to the “principal.” (Those who have read the book will know there is a bad attempt to have cracked a joke there, but at least I tried.)
So, pick this book up, and start your journey to financial wellness today. I can assure you that you will not regret it.
September 30, 2022
Although primarily geared towards college students and recent graduates, It's Not Common Sense will be of use to any adult seeking financial stability (budgeting, creating spending plans, investing). It is also slanted towards those struggling with debt, but there is plenty here for those that have already paid off all their loans and are wondering where to go from there. I obviously cannot outline the entire book here, but I will say that I took notes for my own use as I read, and that I have already applied some of the author's advice (primarily by disabling the one-click purchase option on my Kindle app). Amin stresses the importance of developing and maintaining good financial habits, while acknowledging that the specifics of those habits are not set in stone. For instance, she takes mild disagreement with the traditional 50-30-20 rule of allocating funds, since each person's financial situation is different and plans need to be modified accordingly. The author eases the reader's fears of dipping a toe into the stock market, something I have avoided doing for years for the exact reasons listed. Other items of note include the book's explanation of why debt is not in all cases a negative thing, delivered in such a way that finally believe it. It also avoids the implication that poverty is always and only the result of moral failure which is present in a lot of personal finance material. Some reader may find the author's use of humor throughout the text to be a bit grating, but I think this is ultimately preferable to a text as dry as its subject matter might render it. The material is straightforward and easy to understand, including everything from a step-by-step explanation as to how to file taxes to lists of apps that assist with various aspects of personal finance. Overall, I am impressed with how much valuable information this book delivers in only 278 pages.
December 30, 2021
Providing a comprehensive 30-day action plan, It's Not Common Cent$ guides readers through general information on money management and the various approaches to it.
There are two sections of the book, each with two and eleven chapters, respectively. The financial guide starts with a brief summary of some basic financial jargon, before moving on to nine golden rules. These also serve as a guide to what the financial guide is going to cover. Continuing with its action-oriented study, it asks the reader to conduct his own analysis, giving the reader a better idea of where he stands in his financial journey. Including Budget, savings, debt, insurance, and tax in its subsequent topics, with their importance, types, and pros/cons, the author provides an extensive set of spreadsheet and Excel instructions, accompanied by many illustrations.
There is an overview of the actions to be taken at the end of each chapter. Apart from the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, I appreciated the friendly, conversational tone of the author while giving lessons on a subject that could easily become tedious. The lessons, as such, sounds as if are being given by a friend, with humorous analogies and examples.
Some parts of the chapters were geared toward the USA or UK readers, such as apps for use or tax information, which I had to skim since they did not pertain to me.
In general, the book proves to be very informative for those just starting out on the road to financial independence and looking for guidance on how to cope with it. I recommend it especially to ignorant college students, who, with its logical lessons and the author's friendly tone, will not find it boring and will leave with valuable knowledge for their futures.
There are two sections of the book, each with two and eleven chapters, respectively. The financial guide starts with a brief summary of some basic financial jargon, before moving on to nine golden rules. These also serve as a guide to what the financial guide is going to cover. Continuing with its action-oriented study, it asks the reader to conduct his own analysis, giving the reader a better idea of where he stands in his financial journey. Including Budget, savings, debt, insurance, and tax in its subsequent topics, with their importance, types, and pros/cons, the author provides an extensive set of spreadsheet and Excel instructions, accompanied by many illustrations.
There is an overview of the actions to be taken at the end of each chapter. Apart from the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, I appreciated the friendly, conversational tone of the author while giving lessons on a subject that could easily become tedious. The lessons, as such, sounds as if are being given by a friend, with humorous analogies and examples.
Some parts of the chapters were geared toward the USA or UK readers, such as apps for use or tax information, which I had to skim since they did not pertain to me.
In general, the book proves to be very informative for those just starting out on the road to financial independence and looking for guidance on how to cope with it. I recommend it especially to ignorant college students, who, with its logical lessons and the author's friendly tone, will not find it boring and will leave with valuable knowledge for their futures.
March 20, 2022
Personal finance is crucial for a successful and happy life, but it’s not taught in school. So, how are young people supposed to know about budgeting, saving, purchasing insurance, paying taxes, and investing? Unfortunately, many of them never learn about these topics and therefore waste money or even put themselves at risk of bankruptcy.
Aaminah Amin’s book It’s Not Common Cents is a good starting point for anyone who is about to graduate high school, currently in college, or about to begin their first job. All the above-named topics are explained in a simple and engaging way.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that it’s designed for both US and UK readers, so people from either country can benefit from the advice. Additionally, the author puts a lot of emphasis on financial freedom and saving a large portion of your income. If young people learn about these concepts at a young age, they can change their lives and potentially regain years of their lives that would otherwise be spent at work.
If I were to add something to this book, I would suggest being more clear about the benefits of ETFs and index funds. The author mentions that you earn average returns when you purchase these investments. But in fact, a simple index buy-and-hold strategy allows you to do better than 80-90% of market participants, who either jump in and out of the market, pay extremely high fees, or fail to choose a mutual fund that outperforms the market. I expect that this concept is discussed in greater detail in Amin’s upcoming book about investments.
Aaminah Amin’s book It’s Not Common Cents is a good starting point for anyone who is about to graduate high school, currently in college, or about to begin their first job. All the above-named topics are explained in a simple and engaging way.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the fact that it’s designed for both US and UK readers, so people from either country can benefit from the advice. Additionally, the author puts a lot of emphasis on financial freedom and saving a large portion of your income. If young people learn about these concepts at a young age, they can change their lives and potentially regain years of their lives that would otherwise be spent at work.
If I were to add something to this book, I would suggest being more clear about the benefits of ETFs and index funds. The author mentions that you earn average returns when you purchase these investments. But in fact, a simple index buy-and-hold strategy allows you to do better than 80-90% of market participants, who either jump in and out of the market, pay extremely high fees, or fail to choose a mutual fund that outperforms the market. I expect that this concept is discussed in greater detail in Amin’s upcoming book about investments.
February 28, 2022
This is a must read for any Young Person who wants/needs to improve their financial literacy, and understand the very basics of managing their money. The writer uses a light-hearted approach (though peppered with cheesy jokes) and aims well at a young adult audience. As a “how to” book for people who have not been taught the basics I thought it was very easy to understand and follow the guidance given. Terminology is broken down and explained clearly and the reason why it is important to budget not only day-to-day but to plan ahead and start right now when saving for retirement is all laid out in barebones.
I was impressed with the background research that had been done into college aged students and how much education they had received formerly on the topic. I’ve known too many young twentysomethings who have found themselves in debt and struggled to get out of their overdraft. This book has a way of helping manage debt and work towards climbing out of it.
The author frequently mentions her own downloadable budgeting tools (that are free) and Facebook community that could provide support, encouragement and advice if unavailable elsewhere. The budgeting tool itself is easy to understand, and the author takes you point by point through setting up and using it effectively. Overall a really great read!
I was impressed with the background research that had been done into college aged students and how much education they had received formerly on the topic. I’ve known too many young twentysomethings who have found themselves in debt and struggled to get out of their overdraft. This book has a way of helping manage debt and work towards climbing out of it.
The author frequently mentions her own downloadable budgeting tools (that are free) and Facebook community that could provide support, encouragement and advice if unavailable elsewhere. The budgeting tool itself is easy to understand, and the author takes you point by point through setting up and using it effectively. Overall a really great read!
October 8, 2022
It is always inspiring to see women authors in money and finance! Money is not a complex issue, but it can be an intimidating one, and this book answers the pressing question of how to make money work for you in a precise, fact-based, light-hearted, and constructive way. "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now"; so is the case with taking charge of one's financial well-being. The book's content is paced slowly such that someone with no prior knowledge can take it in and reflect on their financial goals and habits simultaneously. What's more, since the author writes from her own experience and learnings being someone who wasn't educated about money from the very beginning until she ran into financial challenges of her own, the tone of the book is not preachy as other books around money tend to be. Rather, it reads like a genuine and empathetic offering of wisdom and support through means of breaking down seemingly difficult financial concepts and providing action-oriented tools to build personal finance models for oneself. Being a college student myself who started her personal finance journey exactly one year ago, I am eager to commit to the 30-day process outlined in this book to improvise, recommit to, and enhance my financial knowledge.
December 8, 2021
Aaminah Amin has put forward a well-grounded and accessible finance book for a vibrant age group: young adults. It is exactly as the title suggests and designed to help readers make and maintain a personal budget. The author weighs in on the nitty gritties of money management and personal spending while giving personal experiences as well.
What I appreciated most about the book was the author's ability to apply the right amounts of humor across the chapters making this tome profoundly appealing and catchy. Further, the author provides pivotal tables and charts to encapsulate the information shared in the book. Additionally, the thorough explanations of the finance jargon present in the book are a clarifying force as well.
This is an informative treatise that equips readers with thoughtful approaches to managing money, paying off debts, and personal investment. Its friendly but firm tone and punchy self-reflection questions are some of the strengths of the book in an otherwise universal subject. Amin's approaches will resonate well with readers determined to make better financial decisions.
What I appreciated most about the book was the author's ability to apply the right amounts of humor across the chapters making this tome profoundly appealing and catchy. Further, the author provides pivotal tables and charts to encapsulate the information shared in the book. Additionally, the thorough explanations of the finance jargon present in the book are a clarifying force as well.
This is an informative treatise that equips readers with thoughtful approaches to managing money, paying off debts, and personal investment. Its friendly but firm tone and punchy self-reflection questions are some of the strengths of the book in an otherwise universal subject. Amin's approaches will resonate well with readers determined to make better financial decisions.
December 23, 2021
First off the bat, money can be a very complex and intimidating and one thing I loved about this book was that it started off with a quote from Dave Ramsey (Those who don't manage their money, will always work for those who do.) That is one of my favorite quotes because of how true and powerful it is. I also loved that this book was not lessons on money management but a combination of learning tools and personal experiences that help us readers understand how to manage our money better and become more financially healthy. It's really hard to paint a picture with just using words let alone teach a lesson but, Aaminah Am in does a brilliant job choosing the right language correlating with the right audience for this book. Asking Am in wrote this book in her own style and not only did I feel like I was not in a finance class but out to lunch with my friend telling me how she made her millions. That I can appreciate very much. I also loved Amin's recommendations of financial apps and I know they will help with becoming financially healthy.
A great financial companion that helps with financial health. That's why this book gets 5 stars.
A great financial companion that helps with financial health. That's why this book gets 5 stars.
October 12, 2022
This book is not just a money management guide for everyone. It suggests lifestyle changes that will help you in the long run, of course, in terms of money management. This book is perfect for people who want to understand why the money they are earning is getting spent so quickly or why savings are so significant and how to save in the first place.
This is not a fiction novel, if you do not consider life a big fiction novel, that is. Money is one of the most important commodities one needs to live and thrive in this world. This book has many such strategies and guides to guide you through the process of managing this important commodity.
All I can say about this book is that it's a gem. No matter what your age is if you are noticing discrepancies in your money management then go for it. This book will bring you back on track. Especially recommended for young folk who are just stepping into the financial world.
At last, thank you to the author for writing such a wonderful book for all of us to read and learn.
Thank you
Happy Reading
This is not a fiction novel, if you do not consider life a big fiction novel, that is. Money is one of the most important commodities one needs to live and thrive in this world. This book has many such strategies and guides to guide you through the process of managing this important commodity.
All I can say about this book is that it's a gem. No matter what your age is if you are noticing discrepancies in your money management then go for it. This book will bring you back on track. Especially recommended for young folk who are just stepping into the financial world.
At last, thank you to the author for writing such a wonderful book for all of us to read and learn.
Thank you
Happy Reading
October 15, 2022
The author tries hard to inject humor at regular intervals over the course of the book. Some readers might find the tone of the text to be too casual in places. However, most college students will have no trouble understanding the concepts explained.
Although the book discusses a variety of concepts related to personal finance, readers may feel tempted to skip certain chapters depending on their existing knowledge. The book focuses mainly on how personal finance works in the USA, but there is considerable mention of the UK economy too.
The book is mainly aimed at those who have begun (or are about to begin) earning very recently. They stand to benefit the most from the advice given. Chapters are of an acceptable length and are organized well to build upon in a successive manner without overwhelming the reader.
I would have liked it better if the book had more "what-if" scenarios mentioned as examples in each chapter. Also, because of the largely casual and friendly tone, some readers might not find it as authoritative enough for a self-help book.
Although the book discusses a variety of concepts related to personal finance, readers may feel tempted to skip certain chapters depending on their existing knowledge. The book focuses mainly on how personal finance works in the USA, but there is considerable mention of the UK economy too.
The book is mainly aimed at those who have begun (or are about to begin) earning very recently. They stand to benefit the most from the advice given. Chapters are of an acceptable length and are organized well to build upon in a successive manner without overwhelming the reader.
I would have liked it better if the book had more "what-if" scenarios mentioned as examples in each chapter. Also, because of the largely casual and friendly tone, some readers might not find it as authoritative enough for a self-help book.
October 19, 2022
A really fantastic personal finance book aimed at College students and young adults.
First off, this is one of the best demographics to target with an educational personal finance book - it’s something of an open secret that so many young adults feel woefully ill-equipped to deal with the pressures of financial management as an adult. What’s more, this is the very demographic where good habits will lead to a healthy financial life, whilst bad habits can lead to issues that follow throughout adulthood.
The book itself is great in its delivery. The writing style is accessible and informative; steering firmly away from being condescending. I also really like the structure of the book - it’s starts with the fundamentals (financial jargon, and ‘golden rules’) before progressing logically through a typical financial journey (spending analysis, budget, insurance etc.) before finishing up with more ‘advanced’ topics, namely taxes and investing.
Overall a fantastic, accessible book with sensible and actionable suggestions. I will definitely be recommending this book to others!
November 4, 2022
It’s Not Common Cent$: A 30-Day Personal Finance Crash Course for College Students and Young Adults. How to Manage Money, Save Money Fast, Pay off Debt and Invest in the Stock Market by Aaminah Amin is a book that I would recommend to anyone who wants to gain financial literacy. I can say that this is so far the easiest book about finances that I’ve come across. I loved how Aaminah used humor in the book to keep the reader entertained. I can admit I’ve learned a lot from this book one being the psychology of spending. Some of the mistakes she has mentioned I stand guilty as charged. Another eyeopener for me was the various ways you can invest. With this information, I can confidently begin my investment journey. As explained in the book, creation of wealth is something that can be achieved by anyone as long as we are consistent and ready to apply some of the tips mentioned in the book. Aaminah points out that budgeting is the key foundation of building your financial success. Also, saving and investing begins with small actionable steps, so start with what you have!
November 29, 2021
Aaminah is a stand up comedian! Or at least, that's how it seems when reading her book. She is full of witty one liners and keeps the reader engaged throughout. If finance is something that you've always kept out of arms reach because you just don't know where to begin, it's boring, or it's scary, then this book is for you! It's fast paced, it's easy to follow, it's, dare I say, enjoyable! It makes you really want to apply the knowledge you learn - and you learn a lot - in a fun way. I was actually motivated to do something about what I was reading.
The book is well written and formatted in an easy to digest structure that provides a lot of information but in a simple way. The only flaw I have with this book is that it's marketed to college students and young adults and I think the audience is much wider than that! If anything, it's for older adults that missed this in their younger years and now need help with their finances - fantastic read!
The book is well written and formatted in an easy to digest structure that provides a lot of information but in a simple way. The only flaw I have with this book is that it's marketed to college students and young adults and I think the audience is much wider than that! If anything, it's for older adults that missed this in their younger years and now need help with their finances - fantastic read!
March 6, 2022
Author Aaminah Amin takes a creative approach when tackling the dull topic of personal finance. She infuses wit and humor along with personal stories and various anecdotes to make personal finance feel like a much more accessible topic to Young Adults. Her causal tone of writing seems as though Amin is speaking to a friend and definitely makes it more relatable for a college-aged audience. I myself as a reader, tend to avoid personal finance books but I was surprised that I got through this book rather quickly because it was mildly entertaining. Amin covers basic personal finance terminology and topics such as credit cards, all very good starting points for a younger audience just starting their financial "journey" so to speak. She also discusses lesser popular but equally important topics such as debt and investing in stocks, all with the end goal for readers to be financially secure and free.
March 8, 2022
Crash Course for College Students and Young Adults. How to Manage Money, Save Money Fast, Pay off Debt and Invest in the Stock Market" is an amazingly well-rounded and entertaining book that will help you get the financial education you probably didn't get in school.
The analogies and jargon clarification tales the chaos out of various financial topics.
Aaminah Amin brought a sense of humor to walk you through the jargon action plans, clarified formulas and rules about how to handle your money, and made investing a gentle kitten instead of the scary monster it can be.
While targeted to college students, anyone can use this book to get their financial situation to where they want it to be. From basic budgeting to investing and income streams, it's all here.
I've started implementing the action steps and can't wait to see the final results. Enjoy the journey.
The analogies and jargon clarification tales the chaos out of various financial topics.
Aaminah Amin brought a sense of humor to walk you through the jargon action plans, clarified formulas and rules about how to handle your money, and made investing a gentle kitten instead of the scary monster it can be.
While targeted to college students, anyone can use this book to get their financial situation to where they want it to be. From basic budgeting to investing and income streams, it's all here.
I've started implementing the action steps and can't wait to see the final results. Enjoy the journey.
September 6, 2022
Most finance books and videos assume you have a base of finance knowledge. Thankfully, Aaminah starts us at the very beginning. With lightness and humor, she teaches 10 vocabulary words by giving story-based examples. I don't get finance, so this made it so much easier for me.
Don't worry if you don't get it all at once. She uses repetition to build understanding and best of all she gives step-by-step details for building your own finance action plan. This includes digital resources for use in real life. She also provides detailed and practical ideas for saving money.
This book is also a fairly quick read, which was a pleasant surprise.
I especially appreciated the excellent editing- there were no glaring errors.
Definitely worth the read and a great resource for referring back to in the future.
Don't worry if you don't get it all at once. She uses repetition to build understanding and best of all she gives step-by-step details for building your own finance action plan. This includes digital resources for use in real life. She also provides detailed and practical ideas for saving money.
This book is also a fairly quick read, which was a pleasant surprise.
I especially appreciated the excellent editing- there were no glaring errors.
Definitely worth the read and a great resource for referring back to in the future.
December 28, 2021
It’s Not Common Cents was a great book loaded with great points that will help anyone struggling with money create a budget that will lead to a more comfortable life. It also explains finances in an easy-to-understand way, so you are not just blindly following rules but making smart choices. I even learned a few things myself, and I’m an adult. I like the action plans at the end of each section which help you put what you’ve learned to use, and I like that the author offers a tool to use with your finances but also takes the time to show you how to create your own using a spreadsheet.
I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with money who would like to learn more about finances, so they aren’t overwhelming. The earlier you get started, the better!
I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with money who would like to learn more about finances, so they aren’t overwhelming. The earlier you get started, the better!
January 17, 2022
Aaminah Amin’s It’s Not Common Cent$ is a good introduction to basic financial principles for a Gen Z audience. The author presents financial vocabulary through a series of scenarios and walks readers through car buying, health insurance, saving, and emergency funds.
Aaminah Amin also touches on why it’s important to make time for long-term investments, budget, and how multiple streams of income can ease financial strain.
I appreciate that the author included a free Google Sheet budgeting tool for readers to download.
With that said, the already short book could have had some more fluff removed from it. The author was trying to make a dry topic fun with casual conversation and references to parties and college, but the constant humor attempts were too much for me.
Aaminah Amin also touches on why it’s important to make time for long-term investments, budget, and how multiple streams of income can ease financial strain.
I appreciate that the author included a free Google Sheet budgeting tool for readers to download.
With that said, the already short book could have had some more fluff removed from it. The author was trying to make a dry topic fun with casual conversation and references to parties and college, but the constant humor attempts were too much for me.
October 22, 2022
I really liked that this book started off by explaining some basic finance terms. I was familiar with them already but if I wasn't the rest of the book would've been a little hard to follow without that.
It mostly pulls points from a few other personal finance books but it breaks them down in a way that makes them easier to understand. The author writes in a friendly, conversational tone that's much more enjoyable than a lot of finance books.
I loved the tips for organizing your finances as well as the actionable steps to take. It definitely makes it feel less overwhelming. I think this would be a great book to gift the teenagers in your life (or young adults) that may not have had any education when it comes to their personal finance.
It mostly pulls points from a few other personal finance books but it breaks them down in a way that makes them easier to understand. The author writes in a friendly, conversational tone that's much more enjoyable than a lot of finance books.
I loved the tips for organizing your finances as well as the actionable steps to take. It definitely makes it feel less overwhelming. I think this would be a great book to gift the teenagers in your life (or young adults) that may not have had any education when it comes to their personal finance.
December 13, 2021
This book has tons of useful information on all things finance. Aaminah Amin does a great job presenting the information in an understandable but still interesting and often funny way. This book starts with the basics but as you continue through the chapters Amin introduces more complex topics but still makes them accessible to everyone. While this book is definitely aimed at young adults and those with limited finance knowledge there is useful information in here for everyone. I have a background in finance and accounting and I left this book with a number of useful tips to put into practice. I definitely recommend taking your time with this book though. While it is relatively short, it is packed full of information. Each chapter builds on the previous one and includes action steps for you to implement your new knowledge into your life. Taking the time to complete these steps will help you get the most of this book in my opinion. All in all a great resource and I'd recommend to anyone regardless of your current level of finance knowledge.
March 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great and easy way to understand finances and would make a perfect graduation present. Most people go to school, graduate, and sometimes go to college, all without learning about money and how it works- and they end up in massive debt later!
I love this quote by the author- "credit cards gives you money that's not yours, to buy things you don't need, with money you don't have." It's SOOOO true! Credit cards are never the answer!
I loved that she includes several ways to have or create multiple income streams. I'd recommend this to any high school student I know.
I love this quote by the author- "credit cards gives you money that's not yours, to buy things you don't need, with money you don't have." It's SOOOO true! Credit cards are never the answer!
I loved that she includes several ways to have or create multiple income streams. I'd recommend this to any high school student I know.
February 25, 2022
This book is very easy to read and follow, as the author does a fabulous job of making the information easy to comprehend. Conveniently, the author begins the book with a short lesson defining key terms in personal finance jargon. The analogies that the author uses made the concepts easy to understand for a reader with limited prior knowledge on the topic. The information throughout the book is easily digestible and informative all at the same time. Although the content is geared towards young adults, I think that readers of all ages will benefit from studying this book!
March 11, 2021
A Book For Everyone
This book is loaded full of information about budgeting and investing. It is geared to younger men and women who are beginning their independent life. However, I am much older and found it full of valuable information. A book well done. Congratulations!
This book is loaded full of information about budgeting and investing. It is geared to younger men and women who are beginning their independent life. However, I am much older and found it full of valuable information. A book well done. Congratulations!
December 12, 2022
Very good book to cover the bases of finance, health insurance terms etc. however, me thinks the author is a millennial just from the writing style. Way too many “jokes” and hashtags to soften the blow of a lot of info. I would rather just be overloaded with info than cringing
May 6, 2021
A really in depth look at financial issues that is both easy to understand and covers all major topics. A must-read for those who haven't had any financial education.
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