The Smart Cookies' Guide To Making More Dough: How Five Young Women Got Smart, Formed A Money Club, And Took Control Of Their Finances

What I loved most about this book is that even though I already knew some of the information within it's pages, I didn't always apply it to my everyday financial decisions. It really helped me to assess and to put into perspective my spending habits and how I should be setting myself up for success. I highly recommend it to every woman, regardless of your financial background. It's an incredible way to empower yourself financially.

This review is a posting from my blog. I am writing about my quest to become financially fabulous now that my debt is gone. Please check me out! http://financiallyfabulous.blogspot.com/

This came recommended by my BFF /fellow Sporty Spice. It gave me the motivation to open my Visa and take control of my finances because I finally realized that I could have any life I wanted if I took the time to manage my money and think about my long-term goals. It is written from the perspectives of 5 ladies who all have interesting careers (PR, marketing, social work) and are at different stages in their relationships (single, divorced, engaged), but were charging up their debt in an effort to maintain an appearance or handing over their financial control to the men in their lives. Who can't relate to that? By sharing their financial situations with one another, the women found motivation to pay off debt and establish money-managing plans for their goals. The book includes budgeting techniques, tips on being a smart spender, and advice on how to make more "dough".

The advice on budgeting seems strict at first as it encourages compartmentalizing all upcoming expenses and paying in cash using "money envelopes". None the less, last July I had nothing to lose so I opened up my Excel, planned my first 4-wk rolling budget and started my envelopes: e.g. household purchases ($100/month); groceries ($120/week); and fun money ($80/week). Obviously the fun money was my favourite envelope! After taking the time to budget all my upcoming expenses and debt payments, I determined that I could afford $80/week for fun. I use the cash for anything I want - coffee at work, dinner out, a botte of wine, a fun nailpolish, or a little dress from Winners. The trick to the "fun money" is to establish an amount that you can afford and not to feel guilty about spending money it. After all, you're taking the time to make sure everything else is paid off so this is a small personal indulgence that lets you feel empowered about your shopping and not feeling deprived by your budget.

The Smart Cookies Guide is relatable and is an excellent first-step to becoming financially fabulous. It is also Oprah-approved as one of her favourite things. The bonus? The women are Canadian so all the financial tools that they share are practical for us Canadian chicks! The hard-cover edition is a bargain book at Chapters right now for $6.99, so I'd classify this book as an amazing investment.

This book is great for beginners..... I did do most of the stuff already, but it gives you some great ideas at the end like checking with phone companies to see what better deals they have.....you just have to ask....

This is the financial bible, every young women should own a copy. Easy to read, relate, and understand.