Wallet Activism: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change

by Tanja Hester

2022 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST — SOCIAL/POLITICAL CHANGE • 2022 ASJA ANNUAL WRITING AWARD WINNER — SERVICE • 2022 NAUTILUS BOOK AWARDS GOLD MEDALIST — SOCIAL CHANGE & SOCIAL JUSTICE • 2022 AXIOM BUSINESS BOOK AWARD GOLD MEDALIST — PHILANTHROPY/NONPROFIT/SUSTAINABILITY

How do we vote with our dollars, not just to make ourselves feel good, but to make a real difference?

Wallet Activism challenges you to rethink your financial power so can feel confident spending, earning, and saving money in ways that align with your values.

While we call the American system a democracy, capitalism is the far more powerful force in our lives. The greatest power we have—especially when political leaders won’t move quickly enough—is how we use our where we shop, what we buy, where we live, what institutions we entrust with our money, who we work for, and where we donate determines the trajectory of our society and our planet. While our votes and voices are essential, too, Wallet Activism helps you use your money for real impact.

It can feel overwhelming to determine “the right way” to a choice that might seem beneficial to the environment may have unintended consequences that hurt people. And marketers are constantly lying to you, making it hard to know what choice is best. Wallet Activism empowers us to vote with our wallets by making sense of all the information coming at us, and teaching us to cultivate a more holistic mindset that considers the complex, interrelated ecosystems of people and the planet together, not as opposing forces.

From Tanja Hester, Our Next Life blogger and author of Work Optional , comes the mindset-shifting guide to help you put your money where your values are. Wallet Activism is not a list of dos and don’ts that will soon become outdated, nor does it call for anti-consumerist perfection.

Instead, it goes beyond simple purchasing decisions to
 For anyone interested in leaving the world better than you found it, Wallet Activism helps you build habits that will make your money matter.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Social Justice, Audiobook, Self Help, Money, Adult

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

Tanja Hester is the author of WALLET ACTIVISM: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change and WORK OPTIONAL: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way. After spending most of her career as a consultant to Democratic politics and progressive issue campaigns, and before that as a public radio journalist, Tanja retired early at the age of thirty-eight. She documented the process on her award-winning financial independence/retire early (FIRE) blog, Our Next Life. She’s been an outspoken voice in the personal finance media community to consider systemic barriers and opportunity gaps, rather than simply pushing people with lots of advantages already to accumulate more wealth, part of why the New York Times called her “the matriarch of the women’s FIRE movement.” She hosts a podcast also called Wallet Activism, writes an occasional opinion column for MarketWatch, and lives in a burgeoning permaculture food forest she’s growing in North Lake Tahoe, California, with her husband, Mark Bunge, and a flock of tiny rescue dogs. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @our_nextlife and visit her blog at OurNextLife.com.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agreed with some key concepts, but I did not like the format. There was too much self-flagellating identity-politics virtue-signaling for my tastes. For example, the author complains about people who teach yoga classes without giving something to India, then an endnote reveals that she is "guilty" of doing this herself for years. ????
Reading this book is a very long walk just to get to the conclusion that specific advice isn't possible because the world is changing every day.
There's bizarre stuff like connecting family planning advocacy with eugenics, and to back that up citing one article that mainly undermines that notion, and then another article from the Catholic Church, which is not normally nowadays considered an objectively neutral--let alone credible--authority on sexual justice issues.
The larger central fallacy of the book is the notion of pushing change on big issues down to the individual level, when often this is a distraction from needed system change. The author does hint at times that she realizes this, for example when she writes "only government can institute policies that force the bad guys to change their ways." I think maybe "Wallet Activism" was the wrong title for this book, because it's more about exploring the morality of our economy and political system than about what to do with the next dollar you spend.

In terms of everyday buying decisions to fight global warming, I think a better recent book is: The Climate Diet: 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint.

For not getting caught up in keeping up with the Joneses:

The Psychology of Money

Other books to consider:
Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
Your Money or Your Life
The China Price: The True Cost of Chinese Competitive Advantage
Hope and Despair in the American City: Why There Are No Bad Schools in Raleigh
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right

[Megan Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really challenged how I view my capacity to make the world better. It is really valuable to challenge your thinking and see how you can make better decisions in the future. It was a little overwhelming at times thinking through the impacts of the decisions we make, but 100% still recommend!

Some things I will be trying to do after reading this book - 1) Buy less things (mostly clothes) 2) Waste less things (what is reusable?) and 3) Invest my money in better causes. There are SO many tangible takeaways from this book that gives guidance on how to better live our lives according to our values.

[Lorilin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of this was repeat information for me, but I did learn a few things. I had never heard of opportunity hoarding—for example, living in a nice neighborhood but then refusing to have low-income housing anywhere near you. I thought that was interesting.

The book also reminded me to be extremely thoughtful about where I put my money. What does X organization stand for? How do they pay their employees? Where do they source their materials? Yes, X item may be cheap, but why? I like the message to be intentional. And I especially like the message that we all have power to change our planet. Our individual changes may be small, but together, over time, our good deeds add up.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The synopsis on this one was intriguing, but some of the issues the author tackled did not seem to be given adequate thought (e.g. the stance that electric cars are the “superior” environmental choice when much electricity is still made by burning fossil fuels, and the batteries for electric cars are notoriously non-recyclable and use rare substances mined from the earth). I give her credit for utopian ideals, but if you’re going to exorcise one product for negative environmental impact, you have to apply the same critical lense to the solution you are advocating for. There were a fair few items like that in the book- even a section pivoting from talking about housing shortages to suggesting those fortunate enough to own a home deed it back to the indigenous people whose ancestors once resided on that land, rather than selling it, when they are moving. It would have been nice to see the book present more middle of the road, practical, and applicable to daily life solutions, rather than swinging from one extreme to the other. The end result was not really a personal finance book, or even a values-based finance primer, but a collection of essays about the evils of multiple -isms, global warming, injustices, and the need for a better social safety net in the United States.

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://www.instagram.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

Wallet Activism is a great book and I’m really glad I read it. It taught me new things, reminded me of others, and inspired me to make some changes.

For you if: You want to be more intentional with the things your money does and does not support.

FULL REVIEW:

“The question of whether we wanted all this waste and pollution was never put up for a vote. No one has ever run for office on a platform of disposable clothing. Make no mistake: our votes matter. But changing the way things are won’t happen through our votes alone. How we spend our money matters, too.”

First of all, BIG thanks to BenBella Books, who sent me a complimentary review copy of this book after I expressed interest in reading it. I’m happy to report that I loved it just as much as I’d hoped I would!

Like its title suggests, Wallet Activism is a book about how to use your money to make a positive impact on the world. The first section is all about what it means to be a wallet activist and how to become a better judge at what kinds of decisions can make the most difference. Then the second section dives more specifically into advice for specific areas, like what food and material goods you buy, where you live, and where you bank and invest.

What makes this book especially great is how accessible all of the advice is. Tanja Hester did a fantastic job of emphasizing that something is always better than nothing, and that there’s no shame in not doing the absolute most (and that doing the absolute most probably isn’t as helpful as it seems anyway). She lists steps that can be taken at all different levels of income and wealth.

One thing that I didn’t expect was often this book focused on wallet CLIMATE activism, specifically. I think that pretty much all the advice can be applied to any area of activism, but she did pull a lot of climate-related examples. But as someone specifically looking to become a better environmental citizen, I was definitely not mad about it.

I walked away from this book armed with more knowledge and a ton of inspiration to make some changes. You should read it!

[Amethyst · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You won the coin flip and got assigned the role of rich Monopoly player in life, even if you're only rich in a global sense, and you can either get complacent and eat all the cookies, or you can fight your way out of that mental trap and use your privilege for good."

Tanja Hester offers intersectional and approachable ways use money to create change, with a top priority of decarbonizing. She recognizes that change will take individual efforts as well as collective action. One of the tips that will stay with me is rethinking financial decisions as a "wallet activist" by asking who it serves, can everyone do it, if it's too cheap, and what I'm helping to create by contributing profits to an entity. Instead of focusing on what to consume, she asks us to consider whether to consume, with practical tips for choosing everything from your bank to your groceries.

For people who want to do better for earth and each other and avoid upholding deeply unjust and harmful systems - this is a great resource that will ask you to aim for actual progress, not perfection or easy wins.

[Liss Carmody · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, this was better than I was expecting. We all know that ethical consumption is an oxymoron, but we all live in a capitalist society anyway, and have to figure out ways to marry our identities as consumers (however uncomfortably we wear them) with our other identities as idealists, environmentalists, activists, humanitarians, and humans. None of this is easy work, and it's impossible to achieve perfection in this arena. The thing I liked best about Hester's book is that she doesn't try to pretend that this isn't a messy, complicated, constantly-shifting landscape in which there are no great choices, only degrees of less-bad. She also makes a point not to talk down to her audience or engage in absolutism, but instead does a decent job of acknowledging that individuals have to act according to their own abilities AND priorities.

Ultimately, Wallet Activism acknowledges all this and mostly doesn't try to determine the answers. It provides a framework for the individual to conduct further ongoing research, while raising considerations and topics they might not have considered previously. Hester reiterates over and over again that what the 'best' choice might be will vary depending on the specifics, so it's not enough to simply accept one person's decree about what constitutes a good or bad choice. It's not even enough to do your own research once and consider the matter settled. You have to keep engaging with the questions over and over and over again, in each new circumstance. Often enough, she points out, the most ethical choice is to avoid consuming whatever and wherever you can.

[John Bell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book focuses on consumption choices with ready substitutes. With no substitute for long distance air travel, the author doesn't discuss it at length. However, the impact of one's trans-hemispheric leisure air travel is likely far greater than any other singular lifestyle modification (diet, local transportation, etc.)

For example, the author's complaints about Black Friday are set during her vacation in the south of France. According to the quick calculator on The Guardian, a one way flight from LA to Paris generates more carbon than a person in Columbia does in a year. Yet, somehow, her flight itself gets no mention while oddly the linguistic purity of the French language gets a few lines. Flying deserves a far harsher examination than it gets in this book.
(https://www.theguardian.com/environme...)

[Gemma Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me taking notes and digging deep to figure out to use my money to reflect my deepest values. It's the kind of nonfiction I know I will pick up time and again to refocus my efforts and renew my committment.

Wallet Activism dives into the most pressing issues we face as a society - inequality, climate change, corporate and political corruption - and lays out a truly inclusive roadmap for how we can fight back using our individual resources. Without sugarcoating the enormity of these problems, Hester empowers us to make personal changes that can, in time, enable real progress.

This book will make you face harsh realities about the world we live in and your role in it, but it will also, amazingly, give you hope that you help can shape a better future.

[Diane C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hester covers SO much ground, and this is not a book you can just get and read in a week or so. It's a book to have and read a chapter now and then. She not only tackles an issue, but does it so thoroughly and in detail it's almost overwhelming at times, but that is just a be aware, not a criticism. It's why it covers so much ground, and ends up being an eye opener even for those of us who already consider alot before we spend our dollars. This is an essential read. This is a library book that I didn't finish, but I've bought it so I can really explore it.

[Maras · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fantastic, and such a necessary read. without the prevalent "if you use plastic straws you're evil", but rather focusing equally on systemic changes, new sustainable habits, and that billionaires and corporations are the ones to blame. i enjoyed the list at the end with additional resources, and a solid research that was put into writing the book.

additionally, it has answered questions I've had for a while now (eg. why do lesbians love subarus 😂).

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty overwhelming amount of depressing information to squeeze into a book, so it's probably much more helpful as a reference book, but it still gave me a lot to think about.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource to help shape the way you use your money in order to do the most good. Hester illustrates how we can all make a difference with our dollars. Highly recommend.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched guide to considering how you spend your money in line with progressive ethics.

[Matt Gnagey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was super hopeful about this book. I teach environmental economics and courses on repair and sustainable consumption, so I have dug deep into this question for the last decade. But the author clearly does not have a good understanding of what they are trying to say.

Too many bad economic takes, too many random tangents, virtually no rigor and analysis.

I started laughing when the author basically had an entire section saying that whenever you want to buy something you should just google whether the company that is good or bad. A much better analysis would look at the actual economic and environmental benefits of supporting local businesses, local non-profits etc. Or illustrate what an effective lifestyle to support environmental and social causes would actually look like.

Another dud was using garlic as an example for food miles, this is a terrible example because the carbon footprint for transporting something that small to a store is miniscule, but rather the entire environmental impact (in food miles) comes from whatever mode of transportation you take to the store.

I would recommend reading something better written like "Curing Affluenza" if you are interested in these issues.

[MookNana · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s no way around it: the information in this book is incredibly depressing and overwhelming. It’s also thoroughly researched, well-organized, and actionable. Complex topics are broken down and explained clearly and accessibly.

There’s no doubt this is a very dense book and I recommend consuming it elephant-style—one bite at a time. That said, it’s very worth reading to be an aware, informed consumer whose actions reflect their values.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[E W · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Wallet Activism, Tanja Hester provides an accessible, efficient, and engaging guide to conscious consumption. The book outlines the ethical issues involved in our everyday, seemingly benign individual market choices and how to use spending power—on whatever scale—for good, or at least to do less harm.

Wallet Activism is, in part, in the vein of Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture and Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, which address the consequences of excessive consumption of cheap wares that require enormous resources to produce, typically involve oppressive labor practices, and transition quickly from production to an eternity in a landfill. Hester also covers much more substantive choices, such as selection of the school one’s child attends (if one can afford a range of choices) and gentrification. A continuum that starts with unnecessary plastic objects but also encompasses choosing your child’s school by heavily weighting the benefits of your choice to other people’s children is somewhat daunting, but the book is intended to help the reader gain a foothold at any point on the continuum and to work one’s way up over time.

Hester is pithy where she needs to be, with advice such as “If your activism has an aesthetic, it’s probably more performative than impactful” and “Shop like you give a shit.” The book also emphasizes the role of deceptive marketing efforts and how to avoid being taken in by them. The “sea of lies” includes greenwashing and pink washing, as well as the creation of artificial demand. Hester helpfully reminds us that not that long ago, bottled water and Starbucks coffee weren’t a thing, but now they are a ubiquitous and spectacular waste of natural and monetary resources.

As is clear in the subtitle (“How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change”), the book focuses on the idea that individual choices in the aggregate can effect change—primarily by reducing market demand for harmful practices and products. While such results are possible (she cites reversal of the damage to the ozone layer when consumers stopped buying aerosol products), results are slow coming if they come at all. It would have been helpful to emphasize, too, that no matter what results we will be able to achieve in the world or in others’ behavior, it is important, for our own integrity, to align our choices with what we care about and to minimize, to the degree possible, our participation in what we view as harm. But readers new to consumer ethics will find Wallet Activism a helpful introduction, and even seasoned ethical consumers will likely learn something new.

[Raven Bosquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Wallet Activism: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change," Tanja Hester presents a compelling guide to harnessing personal finance as a tool for social and environmental impact.

Hester's book is a call to action, urging readers to consider the ethical implications of their financial decisions and empowering them to align their spending, earning, and saving habits with their values. From conscious consumerism to divestment strategies, Hester provides a comprehensive roadmap for individuals seeking to make a positive difference in the world through their financial choices.

One of the book's strengths lies in Hester's practical approach. She offers concrete strategies and actionable advice that readers can implement immediately, whether they're looking to support sustainable businesses, advocate for social justice, or reduce their carbon footprint. Her emphasis on small, incremental changes underscores the notion that everyone has the power to effect meaningful change, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Moreover, "Wallet Activism" is rooted in Hester's own experiences and insights, making it both relatable and accessible. She shares personal anecdotes and real-world examples that illustrate the impact of individual actions, inspiring readers to think critically about their own financial behaviors and their potential ramifications.

However, while Hester's message is undeniably compelling, some readers may find that certain sections of the book lack depth or fail to address the complexities of systemic issues. Additionally, the emphasis on individual action may overlook the importance of collective organizing and advocacy in effecting broader social change.

Overall, "Wallet Activism" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in aligning their financial practices with their values. With its practical guidance, inspiring anecdotes, and thought-provoking insights, it serves as a powerful reminder that every dollar we spend, earn, and save has the potential to shape a better world. Highly recommended for those seeking to make a positive impact through their personal finances

[Mskychick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this ARC through the GoodReads giveaway program. My views are my own.

I read (and LOVED) Tanja’s previous book, Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-pinching Way. I also follow her blog religiously, so I know her overall views about being green, social activism, etc. I am blown away, however, by the depth and breadth of this book in regards to social and economic activism. This is a fantastic and in depth look at how to modify your behavior that help create the change you’d like to see in the world.

There is a lot of information packed into this book. The thinking is pretty nuanced, too, which I really appreciate. There are a multitude of references and great websites to utilize as ongoing resources, because it is clear that this is a lifelong process that takes a lot of work and research to practice in your day to day life.

It is certainly overwhelming to think about that many issues that are going wrong. It is also overwhelming to try to make large scale changes in your life to try to address the things you’d like to shift. This book does a great job in offering resources to help you think abut how to frame your decisions as well as data and places to find additional resources to help inform your decisions.

I love how inclusive this book is. It helps you to think about not only yourself and the planet, but also the many people that you might not perceive could be affected by your choices. I always end up feeling like people suck, politicians suck more, and corporations suck most of all when I think about climate change and social injustice. Wallet Activism gives me some hope, though, and helps me find the pathway for how to make meaningful changes that will actually make a difference instead of just making me feel better but not truly having an effect.

Brava, Ms. Hester. This is a fantastic book that will stay on my keeper shelf, serving as a reference for years to come, I’m sure.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Hester’s first book, about retiring early, and enjoyed reading her thoughts on her family’s efforts to save and plan well enough to no longer have to maintain full time jobs. The how-to parts of that book were pretty basic, but the justifications and opinions were what I found interesting. With Hester’s newer book, “Wallet Activism”, you get a lot of detailed ideas about how to spend your personal money to try to force change in society. I grew up in a small town, and was told often by my parents to support our local businesses or they would not be there when we needed them. I get the concept. I found some of Hester’s specifics to be spot on, while some were totally out of left field, and possibly wrong. What I got out of the book was that you might decide X is right and good, and Y is wrong and evil, so you spend money in support of X. But over time you may find out that you were totally wrong, or didn’t appreciate the complexity of the situation. You’ve really got to keep thinking if you want your money to support what you (currently) think is right. For example, another reviewer mentioned her disregard for the environmental costs of flying to France. She used that segment to rail against, if I recall, Black Friday sales in France, which doesn’t have a Thanksgiving to give that day the meaning it has in the US. You get the impression that she wants change elsewhere, but not in this foreign country, which she wants frozen in a time before it could be influenced by America. Where do you draw the line when you are thinking of spending to influence? Is it right vs wrong, or is it to maintain your comfort level? Hester has thought about these issues a lot, and gives you dozens of ideas for support here. But human inability to judge our fluid and complex world suggests not diving headlong into any one of them. Moderation and reflection are key.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this author and her first book is one of my top three finance books read to date. I picked this one because it's something I'm pretty passionate about- we all have purchase power. What you spend your resources on really does matter for our communities. Spend it wisely and make thoughtful choices for us all.

However, this book was DENSE. You can tell Tanja really did a deep dive and oftentimes it was a stark reminder that it's hard if not impossible to get it perfect given the many angles exploitation can happen. I appreciate the key ideas when purchasing and her suggestions of what to look for, both bad and good, when it comes to businesses and products.

Favorite quotes:
"Regardless of which issues you're most passionate about and what you believe, change needs to look like, the goal of wallet activism is to bring things into balance: more equality for people treated unequally and fewer demands on our over-Text planet. But it should also be about balance for you: aligning your financial choices to your values, and- just as important- scaling your activism to your means."

Ask yourself- For Whom? Can everyone do this? Is it too cheap? What am I funding? What am I contributing to?

"...the central problem: those with the most money consume the most, and they're the least concerned about their role in our collective problems, because they can afford to escape them."

"Divesting your money from banks that fund fossil fuel projects is many times more powerful than changing how you shop. And the more money you have to save and invest, the bigger your impact becomes. More than in any other topic in this book, where you put your money to dictates exactly what you're funding, so make sure you're funding the world you want to live in."

"We do the most good when we focus first on our biggest impacts and strive for consistent improvement, not perfection."

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book offers practical guidance on how to make conscious choices with your money—whether through spending, saving, or investing—to create positive change in the world. Hester dives into the ethics of consumerism, the power of where and how we allocate our dollars, and the importance of understanding the impact of our financial choices on both people and the planet.

One of the key takeaways from the book is that our financial decisions are not neutral. Every dollar we spend or save can be used as a tool for activism, and Hester provides a roadmap for doing just that. From choosing sustainable brands to supporting ethical investments, she encourages readers to use their financial power wisely.

In this context, using platforms like paykassma.com for secure and ethical financial transactions can be a part of your wallet activism strategy. Paykassma.com offers a reliable and transparent way to manage your funds, aligning with the principles of financial integrity that Hester emphasizes. By choosing platforms that prioritize security and ethical practices, you can ensure that your financial actions contribute to the broader goals of social and environmental responsibility.

Overall, "Wallet Activism" is a must-read for anyone interested in making their financial habits more intentional and impactful, and integrating tools like paykassma.com into your financial routine can further support those efforts.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An Activist's work is to keep chipping away at a big problem over time, not giving up when things are hard and not getting discouraged when change comes incrementally rather than in big bursts."

Have you ever thought of the impact your financial decisions have on the environment, economy or simply put every bit of the value chain that it took to get something into your possession?

I will admit that I cannot help but think often, but following through on my actions or changing my habits to match my talk is something I haven't done. The furthest I have thought about a financial decision is evaluating the true cost of what it means to have a refrigerator- because since getting it, I spend more on my electricity bill than I did before I had it.

In this book, Tanja explores where our money goes, what we spend on stuff- in small and large scale and even something as important as the food we buy, clothes we wear, houses we live in, electronics and so on. I love how detailed her research in, because not only is it convincing, it is challenging- a call to action, to review our spending and investing habits.

This is a good book not just to read, but to discuss with friends and colleagues- to see oneself in the larger scheme of our capitalistic world. Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Masha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally done with this one!! ... as others have stated, this book is incredibly depressing and left me feeling dejected and hopeless. Even though the intention was the opposite -- I found that a lot of the suggestions were either personally unactionable or personally not applicable. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be reading this if I didn't want to act on my desire to live/spend more meaningfully and ethically. I'll write down some suggestions that *were* applicable:
- Almond milk is better than oatmilk in terms of pesticide concentration
- Milk cartons are better than plastic bottles
- It's better to buy 'loose' bundles of vegetable versus vegetables in a plastic container
- Check stickers of produce to see where it came to try and purchase produce from your own country
- Invest in ESG funds rather than always the usual S&P500

Some of the topics were just way off for me, though, like how marble produces silica dust which is harmful to those producing it. Maybe this is meaningful if you are planning your next countertop remodel, but I don't understand why this was in the first half of the book while all of the tips I just mentioned were in the latter half of the book. (Which is, quite long, I may add.) It felt like a lot of the facts stated were just that -- facts, without necessarily pointing to the "correct" alternative or spending choice.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good intro if you're looking for a starting point on sustainability and being a more ethical consumer. I have read multiple books on similar topics previously, so I'm not sure I got as much out of it as I would have otherwise, but there was some genuinely new and surprising information to me in here. I appreciated that so much of this book was frank and direct about what choices you should make. Obviously, we are facing deeply entrenched systemic problems that individual choices will not fix, and that is covered plenty in here, along with an acknowledgement most choices will not be clearly bad or good, but it gives pretty point blank advice whenever possible. Sometimes with these types of books you finish feeling unsure what to do and kind of hopeless and that none of it matters because capitalism will negate any of your individual actions anyway. Wallet Activism largely avoids this. The organic vs non organic vs GMO section was excellent because it outlined consumer choices so clearly, telling you what's better to buy organic, what is actually probably worse to buy organic, and that GMOs aren't doing weird poisoning to you but there are other ethical concerns around them when it comes to big agriculture business practices. It also emphasized the well-being of farm workers in its recommendations which is so often not even considered in advice on sustainability and what diet is "best" for the planet. If your organic produce requires workers to labor longer in dangerous conditions to harvest the same amount as traditionally grown, is that really "better" because less fertilizer was used? It was refreshing to see this type of analysis included. 

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a Kindle copy of this book thru Goodreads, but I hadn't gotten around to reading it until now.
I really liked the author's last book Work Optional, but I knew this one had a much different focus.

I don't disagree with many of Hester's points regarding environmental impact and social justice, and I'd like to think I've made some good personal choices in alignment. Although the author tries to point out personal choice can't have as great an impact in some areas as system level policy change, nevertheless I'm left with the sense that even good personal choices more often than not have bad consequences/after-effects/etc. And that's despite seeming to require a lot of time & effort to do the due diligence necessary for meaningful wallet activism.

I'm not unhappy that I read this book, but, whether unintentional or not, Hester's messages come with a heavy dose of guilt and an overall feeling of dejection.
If half-stars were an option, I'd rate 2.5.

[Nicole Crucial · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved how concrete this book was. Very rarely is a personal finance book going to discuss NIMBYism and gentrification, or to clearly articulate the complex overlapping circumstances of trying to "do good" with money. Hester also does a great job in my opinion of emphasizing that personal choices can't eclipse the need for system level policy change, but that consumer behavior can in some circumstances exert influence. She also pulls in more than just climate and environment, including considerations of labor rights, racial justice, international development, and social justice in evals of consumer choices.

This book gave me some achievable goals for 2022 and a better framework for evaluating the behavior of companies and my choices as a person who buys stuff (which we all are).

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The core message of this book is important, and I can tell that the author is really passionate about using our money for good while mitigating exploitation/harmful practices. However, this book is pretty dense and kind of all over the place, which makes it (at least for me) harder to discern what the key takeaways are. Maybe the Millenial/Gen Z in me craves high impact brevity, but I would've also liked to have a bulleted summary at the end of each section with practical tips on how to practice wallet activism.

The most helpful part of this book was creating a financial values statement in chapter 3. It helped shed light on the causes that I care about, and how I want to operate to support those causes. I now have this pasted into my budget tracker as I navigate my expenses over the course of the month.

[Chris Kieser · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You have real power." So begins this invaluable, groundbreaking book by Tanja Hester. As someone who has been committed to conservation and voting with my dollars for several decades, I knew beforehand that many of the concepts in this book would be familiar to me. That said, I was completely blown away by how much I learned from reading it. The incredible footnotes are proof of the meticulous research and effort that were put into writing Wallet Activism. Tanja has a real forte for promoting the practical steps that we can all take towards positive change without being overbearing. In addition, her encouraging and nonjudgemental tone makes changing the world for the better actually seem possible, despite all of the challenges. Very highly recommended.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

A good book with lots of resources on how to earn, spend, save and give your money more responsibly. The author really focuses on not being perfect 100 percent of the time, but really making an effort to do your best. Pessimism and nihilism have plauged me for the last few years (started when I majored in polisci). It is easy to feel disillusioned by our current systems and so easy to feel like what I, a single person does, is not going to change anything. But this book breaks that mindset with actual action steps to take, bug and smalI think I got my initial umph back and it gave tangible ways that we as individuals can be more conscious and join collective action to make some change.