Money Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us

by Berna Anat, Monique Sterling (Illustrator)

"In this nonfiction teen book, "financial hype woman" Berna Anat explains all the stuff young adults need to know about personal finance, covering everything from how and why to make a budget, to understanding the inequalities of our economy and how to work to change them"--

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Money, Self Help, Audiobook, Personal Finance, Business

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Dannie Lynn Fountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts with a disclaimer that every finance book should have: “All the essential money How-To's in here? You could Google them. That's how I learned it. What makes this book different is the plethora of personal stories in every chapter. […] It's about what you didn't learn about money in school, but what you did learn at home.”

And then goes on to use layperson language to explain complex financial topics, layering in nuance of how this *actually directly* impacts marginalized folks, from someone who lived it and watched their parents live it. It’s the first finance book I’ve read that does NOT talk about debt, bankruptcy, and overdrafts from a place of shame first.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy and Berna for writing the book this industry (and we all) ACTUALLY needed.

[Ally Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I appreciated the clear, thoughtful, and judgment-free explanations of things like investment, credit, and debt, but the voice of the book was super annoying in a trying-too-hard-to-be-hip way.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really excellent "beginner" finance book. Perfect for brand-newbies, especially teens or those young-at-heart. It was a little *too* beginner to be useful for me personally, and the writing style was a little young for me, but I think it's perfect for teens or early-twenties. I really appreciated the intersectional approach and the way Berna breaks things down to feel less intimidating and obscure. While I wasn't the target audience, I plan on buying a copy for my sister!

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was once an episode of South Park where a group of anti-smoking adults came to the school to give their “Butt Out” performance. As they sat cringing while watching these lame grownups rap and dance to the idea of never starting to smoke, the kids decide they never want to be like those nerdy adults. By the end of the episode, most kids were smoking.

This book will probably not push you into something negative (like spending all your money without thinking) but it did take my middle-aged brain awhile to get over the “YO, KIDS: MATH IS FUN, AND MAKING MONEY THROUGH COMPOUNDED INTEREST IS EXCITING - NO CAP!!” vibe of the book. I get writing the book in slang and with lots of emojis, but I think most adults who read this may be turned off by the tone.

This book says it’s for people of all ages, and while the financial information in it is broken down into an easier way to understand, it’s probably best for a 13-year-old. Most kids in America can start working at age 14, so getting this important knowledge is a big help for those starting out. Adults may also benefit from this, but it’s definitely geared towards younger people.

Overall, this is a good breakdown of your options on banking, credit, saving, and investing. If you want detailed information about some of these topics, especially investing, you may need to look elsewhere, but this is a great starting point. Most people find money matters boring, and this does help if you can get past the way it’s written. 3.5 stars, rounded up for some sage advice directed at those who are struggling to manage their money.

(Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Berna Anat, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

[Claire Bilodeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

yk that December was bad for me when this is my first book of 2025. Actually pretty helpful though!

[gallane | travelinglovereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, shout out to another bayyy areaaaa author!!!

I found Berna in 2020 after I was laid off from my job, feeling stressed with the unknown and not sure if I was handling my money correctly. How crazy is it that this realization hit me in 2020? It turns out, I’m not alone. Truthfully, I learned a lot from @heyberna's Instagram, and I told everyone I knew about her. Not only does she talk about money in a digestible way, but she provides so much historical and social context that it doesn’t make you feel bad for not knowing it. Because of Berna, I have the following accounts: Bills Bills Bills, Live Your Life, Rainy Day, and Emergency Savings (no fun there because I want to remember its importance lol).

Also, because of Berna, I started conversing with my friends about what kind of accounts they have and their go-to money tips. I felt empowered to talk about money out loud, and that’s precisely what this book is about. I’m so excited that she had the opportunity to grow from just IG and put out this book which I know will be helpful to anyone.

When I first started this book and was reading about how our traumas shape our money habits and spending patterns, I had to put it down because I didn’t know she would speak DIRECTLY to me like that, lol. But then I picked it back up and caught up on her budgeting tips, saving, investing, and socially conscience spending.

This book is categorized as YA, but I think at any age, if you’ve ever handled money without doing anything extra (like I’d say most of us probably do) then you can benefit from reading this book. I promise you’re bound to learn a thing or two.

Thank you, NetGalley, Quill Tree Books, and Berna, for a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review. Money Out Loud comes out on April 25th! Also, go follow @heyberna!

[Becka's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, so refreshing to get advice from someone other than rich white men 🙄 talking to you Dave Ramsay. Her personal experience as a BIPOC woman learning to navigate finances is so much more relatable and her easy to understand explanations are so appreciated. A teen could listen to this and understand it! And her fun storytelling and colloquial language makes it that much more appealing for a young audience. Highly recommend listening to her narrate the audiobook so you hear the messaging exactly as she intended. Singing, acting, and all. Fun listen and I learned a lot! Great tips and info. I know the difference between Roth IRA and 401K now. Incredible.

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always tell people to start their research with a teen nonfiction book, because teen nonfiction is often easy to digest and presented in an entertaining way. And I'm talking about books like this. Anat demystifies money and makes it a natural topic of conversation. She takes the fear out of it and offers excellent tips on debt, credit, savings, banks, and donations, all while using engaging and clear metaphors. I was so encouraged and inspired by this book. It will encourage young people, first-generation students, people of color, and really any passionate reader to start taking charge of their money, and use it to make a difference.

[Genavieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this!! Great for beginners and money experts alike. Berna speaks in such an engaging, accessible way about topics that have bored/overwhelmed me in the past. I love her focus on customizing your budgeting approach and her chapter on using your voice (whether you have income to spare or not) to advocate for community care.

[Brenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book 2 stars just because the author was at least addressing something many people are struggling with but the more I read (& cringed), the more I just couldn't do it. I understand she's trying to be modern but why does she have to tell us every financial expert's sexual orientation? What does that have to do with figuring out finances? Also, I want to thrive in facts, not constantly read about race and gender. A lot of the advice and information is terrible. For instance, she makes it seem like we're lucky to pay taxes and that using that money to fund social programs is part of being a good person today. That's malarky. These taxes on our income are unconstitutional. She mentions how they started around 1913 (about when the Federal Reserve got going) but never mentions the violations that occurred to our rights as citizens. Why didn't she mention this? Because all of her research draws the same conclusions that anybody with googling power would draw but does NOT draw the same conclusions as people who study, dive deep, and think for themselves would draw. Social programs can be incredibly beneficial but our government is spending money with no regulation, claiming that much of the spending is being put into social programs, and is not being held accountable for the spending or the outcomes. She berates capitalism from the modern point of understanding without realizing it's our politicians telling us how bad capitalism is and that "rich people and business owners" are creating financial inequity in this country but having studied this more deeply for years, that's simply not true across the board. Politicians are creating financial inequity. Many business owners are providing jobs and economic prosperity but their success is being muddled by government interference. One of the pieces of advice she gives is that if you don't have enough money, make more money, as if that's not something somebody struggling already has considered or tried to do. I view this book as a train wreck. It was horrible but I just couldn't look away. Was an entire book really this bad? Yes, it really was. Please don't get your financial advice or knowledge from this book!!!

[Ryan Matsumoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engaging and entertaining personal finance book aimed at GenZ and Millennial readers!

The author has a highly charismatic writing style that makes it feel like you’re in regular conversation with her. I appreciated how she made the book more relatable by talking about her own personal story paying off $50,000 of credit card and student debt and saving up money to quit her job to travel the world for a year with her boyfriend.

There were several aspects of this book that were unique among the personal finance books I’ve read:
- A focus on how our attitudes about money are shaped by our family and childhoods.
- A recurring theme of gamifying personal finance habits and goals. For example, the author recommends pairing a biweekly budgeting session with a reward (like eating a favorite dessert) so that you psychologically condition your brain to look forward to budgeting.
- The author recommends setting up ‘sinking funds’ for savings accounts specifically designed for certain use cases (e.g. travel, holiday gifts, emergency fund). She also recommends giving them fun names, since that will make you enjoy thinking about your finances.
- A focus on how credit card and student debt work, especially with compounding interest. I found her explanations to be very intuitive and a nice change of pace from some other personal finance books, which can be somewhat boring.
- Acknowledgement of the money privileges that certain people may or may not have.
- Acknowledgement of historical inequities and events that have contributed to nonwhite Americans being more distrustful of the banking and investing systems. For example, she talked about how many Filipino families lost their family wealth stored in banks during WW2 due to invading forces.
- An entire section about how to spend and donate in line with your social values. The focus on morality and giving back to society was a nice change of pace from some other books I’ve read.

The author is definitely opinionated about the downsides of capitalism in America, which may turn off some readers. But I do think that a lot of her complaints about inequities and unfairness are worth thinking about regardless of your political views.

[Ceci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the humor in this book. Berna Anat rights with quick wit and in a way that makes you feel like you're sitting with your favorite friend at a coffee shop. I think she makes intimidating topics easy to understand and digestible. I thought it would go a little deeper into the financial world by the end of the book. Much of what she shared I already knew but I did like the refresher. I appreciated her encouragement along the way. I've come a long way with my financial plan as a result of this book even as simple as it was in the end. I would highly recommend for someone younger than myself, maybe in their 20s. Great start to financial planning and self sustainability!

[Anna Anjos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great starting point to look into personal finances closely. Some things I already knew, it was motivating to hear nonetheless, others were new and interesting (I dont live in the US and never had a student loan, for example). And it was great to hear that a book on financial knowledge includes charity and community support topic.
Bonus: I rewrote my budget, in details, after listening to this book (with charts, comparisons and all :D)

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Loved everything from the discussions of how our first financial memories are made, to how in the long run, we can help fight the good fight with our savings.

I was so tired of getting lectured on how to manage my money by arrogant, old men and Berna absolutely brought rays of sunshine to a bleary excel spreadsheet.

[Jessica Jang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has changed the way I look at money. In my mission to learn everything about finance and money, I will be highly recommending this one for anyone who feels like public education failed them when it comes to understanding money.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's edition for an honest review.

[Maira Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! Not only is there a lot of great information, it is easily digestible, the author is hilarious/empathetic and as a child of immigrants I definitely related to her experience.

There’s a few things I’ll be implementing so really thankful for this rec! Highly recommend this book!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Berna initially on instagram with her microdoses of finance guidance videos and was so excited when she published this book. Of course had to buy it to support a female POC - it’s refreshing to hear finance education from a woman of color and this is a really great intro book to those just learning about better ways to manage their finances and start investing.

Importantly she contextualizes financial education and acknowledges the gate keeping that has existed in this space, and historically why POC may not trust banks (she has the receipts!), and how generationally some people may be learning this for the first time because their parents had to practice other methods of finance.

I love her attitude and how accessible this book is to get started on taking control of your finances, starting at wherever you’re at right now.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Incredible book. All the advice is super easy to understand and actionable! I feel inspired! Maybe I’ll even be able to retire when I’m 65!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun read! I wish I had this book when I was in high school.

[Jes Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll have to remember this book as my kids get older and start learning about money

[Corrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read on the basics of finance geared toward young adults, particularly first gen, BIPOC, etc. Very entertaining writing.

[Lellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a running joke that the American education system doesn't teach teenagers much about money or personal finances (like how to do your taxes among other things). This is a great book to remedy that and I hope there are some high school programs out there that use it in their curriculum. It has a sassy/sarcastic undertone that I think teenagers and YA readers will vibe with while also being very very informative about all aspects of personal finances as well as how money isn't equal among race and class.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

some good info here thats easy to follow, but I felt like the writing was cheesy and trying to hard to connect with the kids.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me, more for a high schooler opening their first checking account.
The hella informal style is going to sound like frickin dated in a like a year laughing emoji.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 4 ⭐️
I think this book would be most beneficial for a younger adult audience (teenagers) or those who aren’t familiar with how to manage money (honestly, like many adults - myself included).
What I found most helpful was the beginning of the book. Berna talks about how each of us had as a ‘money story’ & probably isn’t even our OWN story - more like stories our parents, caregivers, ‘society’ has told us about money that have now become our beliefs & direct our spending/saving/investing habits (or lack there of habits). She presented some exercises & examples for digging out your internalized stories, beliefs, witnessing them & then changing the narrative. It was very helpful!
I also liked the debt portion where she talks about snowball, avalanche & shaved ice (her invention 🤣) method. I’d heard of them before but it was good to have a refresher. I also loved how she wasn’t just giving us information - but presenting actual activities we should do. For the debt, she said to write down all your debt balances, the interest rate so you can see what you actually have. & then from there, making a plan on how to manage/pay down.
She also talked about budgeting & making a job for each & every dollar, which honestly a little hard for me to conceptualize even now. To me, it’s HARD to account for every dollar - what if something comes up?! What I took away from this is really knowing where & how you are spending. Each week, sitting down with yourself & your account & having a money date. Checking in to see how much you’ve spent, if you’re staying on track & reminding yourself what your goals are - your WHY & HOW. & again addressing some of those pesky money stories + believes that probably still arise.
This book covers so much. Investing. How to spend/save for a better world. I really enjoyed it & learned some things. This book really gave me the courage to+ confidence to face my spending + debt. I was ignoring it because I felt ashamed of how carelessly I was spending & how quickly I ended up in debt. But this book really is a kind wake up call not to keep your head in the sand & to take proactive + reactive steps to improve.

[Amanie Johal]

Even though I don't explicitly follow Berna, I've really liked what I've seen of Berna's personality from the content that comes across my feed and the podcast interviews she's done, so that was why I picked up this book. I probably knew it at the time I added it to my TBR, but by the time I picked it up, I forgot this was aimed towards teenagers. Once you've read enough personal finance books, the boiled-down advice is all the same, so it's really the personality of the author or the specific angle of the book that's going to pique my interest at this point. In Berna's case, I loved her personality, and I just wanted to know what her book was like, so I wasn't surprised that the personal finance aspect was not ground-breaking to me, but knowing it was written for teens definitely explains a lot of things.

For my fellow Canadians, this book isn't too American-centric; there's maybe a chapter's worth of content for 401k's and Roth IRAs (and student loans, which is a similar but still distinct beast from how they function in Canada, as far as I'm aware), so it can still be applicable for the Canadian teen in your life. Honestly, just having someone walk through the basics of personal finance would be very helpful for a teen bcause they'd at least have it in the back of their head as they enter adulthood even if the information doesn't really make sense to them yet (speaking as a former teen who infrequently consumed budgeting videos but didn't understand them at all because I had no concept of what it meant to have bills or debt or a full-time job with responsibilities 🤪)

Berna's personality really shines through in the writing of this. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Berna and because the writing is so conversational, it feels like I'm just listening to an interview from her or a video she's posted on Instagram. It's very very casual and feels authentic to her voice. Would highly recommend the audiobook, but the physical book will definitely be easy to read in terms of writing style.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maraming salamat po for this incredible book Berna! As a 2nd gen pinay, I was never taught anything about money except that it’s scary, go to school to be a nurse and never use credit cards. Umm, not very helpful.

Berna actually changed my life when I found her financial podcast on Spotify during covid and started following her. She explains scary money stuff in a way that marginalized folks can understand and feel empowered. This book is the perfect starter kit for figuring out ways to navigate this system that’s “hella male and hella pale” as she calls it LOL.

For example,I didn’t know until my 30’s that I could have more than one bank account, or have my paycheck split automatically, or how to have a savings or even change the names of my accounts… Do you know how embarrassing it is to admit that as an adult? But how am I supposed to know that unless someone tells me?? Those are just a few of the things I learned from Berna and she made me feel like I’m not alone in feeling confused and ashamed about financial stuff.

If you’re like me and have spent your whole life just surviving and being terrified or ashamed of money, this book is for you. Even to just explain the basics of accounts, saving, debt, investing etc she really helps lay the foundation for you to gain control of your money (and life) in a fun, exciting way. She even includes mini interviews with several BIPOC or queer creators/experts that you can follow for more details on certain topics whether it’s how to pay taxes as an immigrant or even breaking down terms from the investing world. I can’t recommend this book enough, trust me you want this relatable Filipina Auntie Berna as your Financial Hype Woman!!

[Katherine Schwingel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have said for years that financial literacy should have been mandated in high school, and if this book was the basis of the curriculum, it would have been such a great class!! I would have been in such a better financial place right out of high school and through my college years with this information.

It feels like you’re sitting in the kitchen with your big sister who always had the answers (what a Roth IRA is, the magic of compound interest, taxes) but you realize that she didn’t either, and learned along the way, and wants to make sure you get it too.

Hearing this financial advice from a fellow first-gen daughter, that inherently knows that familial financial and caretaking obligations are absolutely part of your future planning, is so so important to be out there in the personal finance literature space! The nuances that only someone who has lived it can understand are so abundant in this book.

The personal stories from Berna and other financial experts, and the true-to-Berna voice kept me focused and engaged. Being part of her community and seeing her create this book with the community has led me to having more honest money conversations with friends, family, and coworkers, and I think this book will do that for anyone ready to embrace what they can control about their money.

Sidenote: this paperback is also the perfect size for my purse, and I have half a mind to permanently keep a copy in the back pocket to give to anyone who might need it. This is definitely going to be my go-to gift for the cousins and little ones that will need this in the future, and anyone that needs more financial education!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book that spoke to me as a teenager, me in my 20’s, AND me right now (late 30’s).
Every time I pick up this book, I get inspired and literally fix at least one little part of my finances. It’s a journey, friends, and this book makes me feel so seen.

Berna has a way of making money accessible, understandable, and most of all human. The overall acknowledgment of: ~this~is~a~process, we~are~all~trying~our~best, and together we can make *our* world a better place, absolutely lands. Concepts and actionable tips are shared in both deep-dive and bite sized pieces, which is helpful because sometimes personal finance can be a l o t. You can tell the book was written with a full heart and Berna does everything to highlight and uplift the community around her.

It’s not just about personal finance (singular), but it’s also about leaving the world better than we found it. Truly ~the vibe~.

This is by far the most relatable money book I have ever read. I love the perspective that comes from the lived experience of a brown girl (she-is-me-I-am-her). Berna makes me feel less alone and gives me hope that I won’t be on a financial struggle bus forever.

This is a book I will BUY WITH MY CHEST over and over. This will be my go-to-gift for years to come for every friend who opens up to me for money advice, for every niece and nephew as they go into high school, and is now a mandated read in my own household.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, let’s be real—I knew nothing about money before reading this book. Like, I knew I needed it, I knew I was supposed to “save” it, but beyond that? Clueless. Budgeting always felt like a chore, credit scores were a mystery, and investing? That just seemed like something rich people did. I used to avoid checking my bank account like it was a horror movie because I just knew it was bad news.

Then I picked up Money Out Loud, and Berna Anat completely changed the game for me. She talks about money in a way that actually makes sense—no boring finance-speak, no judgment, just real, honest, and funny conversations about how to get your financial life together. It felt like I was sitting down with a big sister who actually gets it and wants to see me win.

One of the biggest things that stuck with me was how she breaks down financial shame. Growing up, money wasn’t something we openly talked about, so I always felt like I was behind. This book made me realize I’m not alone in feeling that way, and more importantly, it gave me actual steps to start fixing it. And for the first time, I want to know more. I finally understand the basics, and instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel empowered to take control of my money.

If you’ve ever felt lost, intimidated, or straight-up scared of dealing with money, this book is a must-read. It won’t make you feel bad about what you don’t know—it’ll make you feel like you can figure it out. And honestly? That’s exactly what I needed.