book review Archives - Faithful with a Few

Real Money Answers for Every Woman Book Review

I sat down with my copy of Real Money Answers for Every Woman: How to Win the Money Game With or Without a Man not knowing what to expect. In all honesty, it is because I have never deeply considered how my approach to personal finance is affected by my womanhood. All it took was a glance down the table of contents for me to understand why this book is needed. More specifically, I was able to see why I needed to read it!

The book has four sections, with a few chapters within each section. The magic is what happens within these chapters: the table of contents lists questions that are proposed within the chapter topic. Many of these questions resonated with me and many of the clients with whom my husband and I engage. They come up over and over again, a lot of them specific to women of varying demographics.

Reading this book, the author delivers on her promise of real money answers. She doesn’t speak in personal finance generalities, taking a one-size-fits-all approach. I can believe that Mrs. Washington has taken her years of experience in her field, having really heard the voice of her clients and audience, and packaged her most genuine responses in a power-filled tool!

The Tone

Have you ever had a friend that ALWAYS tells you the truth, even though you may not want to hear it? (If you haven’t, you really need to get one of those!) Well, let me help you be prepared if you are going to pick up this book: PATRICE WASHINGTON WILL BE THAT FRIEND!!!!

Her tone is very down-to-earth, very conversational — and equally firm. She is not afraid to let her readers know when their mindsets are just crazy, silly, or wrong!

She writes, “If you’re not really a finance type of person, then make yourself one, and quickly! That type of mentality is not how a wealthy, successful person
thinks. If you’re thinking you’ll be fine, God will provide, you’ll just hit the lottery one day, blah, blah, blah, then this book—all the books in the world—won’t help you. You might be uncomfortable hearing that, but somebody had to tell you.”

I’ll admit, you may have to say “ouch” a few times while reading this, but you will keep on going because you can trust that she is helping to get past your unhealthy mindsets and actually providing you with the information you need to get results. It reminds me of Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”.

She is also extremely open and encouraging throughout the pages. She starts off by sharing her own story, including some of her own missteps and how she had to change her thinking and relationship with money to become financially healthy and successful.

The Treasure

There are many gems in Real Money Answers, but I will just mention a couple of my favorite things.

The detail: Mrs. Washington gives you everything you need to set you up for success (There she goes being that friend again). It’s more than just some useful worksheets in the back – although there are those, but when she answers specific questions, she provides resources to utilize and specific steps to take to get things accomplished!
The scope: As I said already, the author did an amazing job of meeting the needs of her audience. She covers such a wide range of topics where I know people need direction and advice. For example, she tackles how to handle: friends who are taking advantage, entitled children, money questions to ask when dating, and financial recovery after a divorce.

The Takeaways

You need to change your mindset about money! If you don’t change that first, you’ll keep making the same mistakes. The book will help you consider your mindset, how you’ve developed it, and the steps needed to adjust.
Wherever you are in life (single, married, child, elderly, etc), you are exactly where you need to be to make a positive change in your finances. This book has such a wide range of questions and answers, that I am sure women will find the help they need to be financially successful
The time is now! Nothing will change, or things will get worse, in your financial situation until you take action. Real Money Answers for Every Woman is available on Amazon and other retailers.

The Real Money Answers Author

Patrice C. Washington has dedicated her life to moving the masses from debt management to money mastery since 2003. As a featured columnist, television commentator, radio host, author, speaker and leading authority on personal finance for women and youth, Patrice is intentional about keeping her message on money management practical and upbeat.

Patrice’s down-to-earth advise has been featured in numerous articles, quoted in dozens of newspapers and magazines and appeared on hundreds of radio stations and television networks, including Bloomberg TV, Forbes, The Huffington Post, CNN Money and Black Enterprise. Each week, 8 million listeners tune in to hear her “Real Money Answers” segment on the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Radio Show.

As a transformational speaker, Patrice is invited to conferences, churches and colleges nationally to electrify, entertain, educate and most importantly to her, inspire action in thousands of families monthly.

The One-Page Financial Plan Book Review

By // by Sherrian Crumbley

I enjoy learning and discussing personal finance. The day-to-day things like budgeting, credit decisions, debt repayment. Where I start to get a bit intimidated is matters of investing. So, I admit, when I learned that The One-Page Financial Plan was written by financial planner, Carl Richards, I was a bit apprehensive about reading it.

Once people start talking stocks, bonds, derivatives (blah blah blah), I totally shut down, and I had no clue how to avoid the ‘shut down’ when I have to review the book!

I think I spent a few days just poking it with a stick. Once I finally got over my fear of touching it, upon a quick glance, the first thing that stood out to me was that One-Page Financial Plan was around 200 pages long. That alone made me feel a little less intimidated.

Also, as I flipped through the pages, I noticed there were a lot of very simple sketches and some on napkins (Yes – even less reading) and I felt even a little more comfortable taking it on.

What was really helpful was actually reading the books tagline: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money. As I read through the pages, the one thing I felt very confident about, is that the author delivered on the tagline.

The author says:

My goal in writing this book is to pull the curtain back a bit: to show you how real financial planning works, to give you an experience of what it’s like to work with a real financial advisor. Whether you’re working with an advisor or on your own, this book will help you understand the basic steps for creating a personalized plan that takes into your account your unique values and goals.

One-Page Financial Plan Review

Boy was I pleasantly surprised and never more happy to be wrong! It is evident from my fear that I had no idea how real financial planning works … I mean, they don’t just start talking about stock options? Firstly, I really like the author’s writing style. It is very simple, making the subject matter approachable.

Secondly, he does a great job of walking the reader through the steps of making an individualized financial plan without making it seem like a rudimentary to-do list. Each step is wrapped in relevant stories and makes sure to delve into the reasoning behind making choices.

In One-Page Financial Plan, the author talks about his own financial missteps, and I really appreciated the humility and openness. And I have to tell you, he does eventually get to the bad ‘i’ word – investments, and it wasn’t painful! I didn’t scratch my eyes out and I didn’t just close the book and figure I’d ignore writing about it in this review.

Just like the rest of the book, what he does share is done in such a way that anyone can understand. It wasn’t bogged down with jargon and really helped me to feel more confident with investments going forward. Also, he doesn’t tell you what to do, but he does give the reader really good guidelines to do what’s best for their unique situation.

One-Page Financial Plan – Takeaways

A couple of things I learned:

1. It is important to know why money is important to me. (And not in a generic way, but to really get to the root of it)

2. I want to make sure my values and my goals align. It’s clear to me know how those bump up against each other in my life.

3. As with everything else … as we’ve always known … discipline is key.

If You Need Some Guidance

A lot of times, in areas like finances, the problem is that we know we need to get to point B but we just need some guidance to get there. For anyone, in any financial state, One-Page Financial Plan will help you to do that. After reading it, I felt like some of the jumbles in my mind got sorted out. I guess that’s what a financial advisor is supposed to be able to do for a client. Mission accomplished.

Carl Richards is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and the director of investor education for the BAM ALLIANCE, a community of over 130 independent wealth management firms throughout the United States. He is the creator of the weekly Sketch Guy column in the The NY Times, and a columnist for Morningstar Advisor. Carl has also been featured on Marketplace Money, The Leonard Lopate Show, Oprah.com and Forbes.com.

Get Your Money Right By Kembala Evans – Book Review

By // by Sherrian Crumbley

It can be easy to read a book offering personal finance advice and expect to see the same recycled information such as budget worksheets, money envelopes, and debt snowball plans. As I read “Get Your Money Right: The 7 Keys to Unlocking a Better Financial Future” by Kembala Evans, I expected more of the same, and I was thankfully incorrect in my assumption.

Not that the book does not offer familiar advice, but Kembala’s means of delivery offers much more than regular personal finance fare.

Kembala Evans: A Voice of Reason and Guidance

The author is a coach and motivator, and that certainly shines through in her writing. I was trying to find a good way of describing her way of communicating (I tend to think in pictures or situations), and Kembala had the perfect example in a scenario she shares in her book.

She explained that one day on the subway a total stranger decided to ask her a financial question, and while she was speaking with this woman, a group of people gradually became drawn into the conversation with a lively Q and A taking place her whole 45-minute ride.

This is EXACTLY the picture in my head – a scenario with a lot of voices speaking, but slowly and surely the whole room starts gravitating to the singular voice that makes the most sense. Kembala Evans is that voice. She skillfully balances a very detailed, professional approach to financial matters, while inspiring her reader to act.

Get Your Money Right

From the first few pages it becomes apparent that this book is not just about a plan to get out of debt, it’s about the mindset of the person behind the monetary decisions.

Many Americans are still in debt, still living from paycheck to paycheck – or worse, living on credit to get by. There are many reasons we got to this point, but the fact is, we are HERE and we need to do something to get ourselves out of this mess.

Get Your Money Rightis not another system. It is a practical look at what we all face on a day-to-day basis in regards to money, the mistakes we make, and how, by well-informed decisions and actions, we can take every aspect of our financial life and make it work toward our goals.

This book paves that path by taking the reader by the hand, giving them the courage to move out of their current situation, and providing them with the primary tools they’ll need to make sure they never go back to a debt-ridden life again.

As far as motivation, Kembala gives: examples from her own life, words of wisdom, case studies, inspiring quotes, and success stories. These are seamlessly weaved throughout each chapter to help cement the reader’s resolution to change.

The chapters also give basic instruction on budgeting, saving, goal mapping, and credit wisdom. Along these lines, Kembala is extremely specific in her coaching and advice. She does not just say, “open up a savings account”, but she discusses the different savings options, goes over important financial vocabulary you may encounter, and gives you a website where you can compare interest rates! With every nugget given, there is great care taken to allow the reader to feel secure in the next step.

What I appreciated in her communication is that her attention to detail is in no way condescending; it is more of a testament to her proficiency, and her care that her readers succeed. She repeatedly provides phone numbers, websites, and names resources so the reader can grow in their financial education and understanding.

My Overall Impression

As you can probably tell so far, I am really excited about this book. One of the reasons is that as I was reading I could begin to picture people in my life that would respond well to it. There are many books out there that one could read, but people are drawn to a ‘voice’ (eg. Some people love Dave Ramsey’s aggressive, “in your face” approach).

I think Kembala’s book, with its motivational style, coupled with her obvious expertise, and its “no-excuse” care and detail, makes it one that the most finance-leery person may be willing to read, and hopefully utilize to change their situation.

One of my favorite things about reading this book is that it made me want to recheck and reinforce things that I am ALREADY doing! For example, in the section on ‘Watch Where Your Money Goes… Literally’, I had to fight the urge to put the book down and start calculating the most recent pay stub to make sure every penny taken out was correct. It really is that motivating 😀

The only part about the book that I did not particularly like was the “Develop the Mindset” chapter. While I agree that it is necessary to have the right mindset to achieve any goal, I don’t personally prescribe to the idea of positive thinking and the power of words to the extent the author presents them. Although this is the case, I think Kembala does a fine job of explaining her beliefs on the subject, and presents the reader with common ground where it is clear that having the right mindset and a positive outlook is essential to successfully achieving goals.

Get Your Money Right drives home the fact that caring about your money does show care about yourself. When we neglect our finances, and put ourselves in debt bondage, it speaks volumes about our priorities in terms of our own lives, our families, and our futures.

Although we may all know people that are afraid to look at their finances, I am sure those same people care about the future of their families. I think those people should get a copy of this book, it may just be the thing to get them over that hurdle. It’s that good.

Kembala Evans is the Founder of KP Evans Financial, a personal finance education and coaching firm focused on educating, motivating, and empowering people to take control of their financial futures. She has a bachelor of business administration in marketing and management from the University of Miami. Kembala also has 12 years of business consulting experience working at Accenture. As an experienced executive, she managed multi-million dollar programs and worked with many Fortune 500 clients to improve their business performance. She left Accenture to pursue her passion for helping everyday people improve their personal finances.