Get Financially Naked Review: Talking About The Biggest Taboo: Money!
By Mike
The most taboo topic of this century will probably be money. You probably know most of what needs to known about your family or your best friends, but do you know about how much they make, how much they have in debt or how much they spend each month? This is so taboo that even couples are reluctant to “open their books” to their better half.
I have recently received a copy of Get Financially Naked by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar. Since I have enjoyed this book and I truly believe that any couple should team-up their personal finance, I have decided to review the book and giveaway a free copy (see below for more details).
What is “Get Financially Naked” About?
This book has been written mainly for women that are looking to talk about debt, savings and how to manage money with their spouse. While the book is primarily written towards women, most advices found in this book can be applied by men too.
This is a perfect start for people who are not too sure about how to manage money in a couple and what to say to make sure that the discussion doesn’t turn sour.
What I Really Liked About This Book:
Throughout the whole book, you have access to several exercises (including visualization, questions and a question grid). I like those kinds of books because it gives you the opportunity to think about what you just read and start practicing what you just have learned. On top of that, you can write in the book so you are sure to not lose your notes when you are done reading.
Before thinking of discussing money with someone else, I think it is a great idea to really determine your relationship with money. The first part of the book is dedicated to exercises that will help you understand how you see your own personal finances.
When you know what you are talking about, the book concentrate on communicating with your spouse about money. It really helps open up the discussion about money and includes answers to question such as “when is it okay to bring up money with my mate?” and “What if my partner is not receptive?”.
Once you and your spouse have agreed, the book leads you to a small guide on how to manage your money. It explains 5 steps to manage your money correctly:
#1 How much home can we really afford
#2 How much car can we comfortably afford?
#3 Will we ever be able to retire?
#4 The stork has arrived, are we financially prepared?
#5 What financial obligations do we have to all our loved ones?
Final Thoughts
While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I find it very practical and useful, I would have liked to see more information about savings and investing money. Overall, this is a great book for those who are not sure about their relationship with money and how to discuss it with their spouse.
Now the Giveaway!
Please add your comment if you want to win a free copy of Get Financially Naked. I would like to know if you are talking money with your spouse?
The winner will be announced next week.
Author: Mike.
January 14th, 2010 at 11:51 am
This sounds like a great book and something I would love to read. My wife and I are pretty good talking about money, we have a budget and fun money set up too but it would be nice to check this book out and get even more comfortable talking about money.
January 14th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Though my wife and I are quite transparent about our finances and other issues, I am always interested in building a stronger foundation of trust and teamwork between us. We have our first child on the way, so as you can imagine, we are constantly seeking helpful advice as we face this new chapter in our lives. We would love to have a copy. Thanks, and God bless!
January 14th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
What a great book geared toward women to be able to open up about finances, any tips and pointers to be completely honest would be welcome reading.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Sounds like a good book. My hubby and I are fairly okay with talking about our finances. It’s a work-in-progress.
January 14th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
We’ve been married for 7 years and we’ve talked about money and how things are going to be paid. Last year though my husband decided that I should handle our savings due to an error he made which didn’t affect me but affected him for a month or two. I think this book will improve conversations about the future—having another child and retirement.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
We are pretty open when it comes to discussing finances, but things can always be improved.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
My wife and I have always shared financial responsibilities. However, I have learned in the last few months that she sometimes stresses about some of our obligations. We now sit down at least once a week to look at where we are and what needs to be taken care of over the next few weeks/months. This is good for both of us. We have refined our priorities and have a better understanding of where we want to go, and how we plan to get there, financially.
January 14th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
My hubby hides his finances. I have a clue of his credit cards and they are in baaaaaad shape. I will really like to get to help him out. in the past i have helped in paying off some of his debt but once it is paid off he starts to pile them up again and hide them. he says cause he does not want to hurt me. I think the solution now is for him to live on a budget and not me helping him pay off his debt all the time. I have talked to him and reminded him i am here to help all he says is okay if you want to help me pay off this debt … I smile at him… it hurts. I am praying for him cause we plan to have kids in the future and I dont want to be the one to financial take care of them if he is in debt all the time.
I am really praying he gets a change of heart.
I would love to read the book. Maybe I can find some other way of approaching the matter.
PS. all his debts are consumer debts.
January 14th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
My husband and I have (finally) just started talking about it; your blog (with a few others) have really helped that process along.
This book would really fit the bill! :)
January 14th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Well, we talk about it but it always end up in an argument and/or a lingering feeling of frustration for both of us. We have come a long way on how we use to deal with our finances together. Let me put it this way, I can advise you on all the things that don’t work. I’m real good at those. I always learn things the hard way but we continue to work at it and get better.
January 14th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Money is one thing that my wife and I can almost never discuss. Anything I bring up is interpreted by her as the same as “you spend too much!”
I could use this book!
January 14th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Let me just say, that my girlfriend and I have had it out when the money issue has come up. This sounds like a great book. I hope the right person wins!
January 14th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I am in charge of all the finances. We talk, but we are not on the same page. I am always trying to get caught up or stay even, and his thought is we will always have debt. I do not always tell him when we have extra cause then he just thinks that we can spend it. We have our own very small business( we own or own semi and we farm a whoppin 70 acres.) So I am always trying to figure out how to pay those big bills that come with the small business. I am wondering if this book would help him and I.
January 14th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
I would love to read this book. Any springboard to communication about finances can’t hurt. :) Thanks for the opportunity!
January 15th, 2010 at 6:57 am
well, we’re talking (and occasionally yelling) hopefully aside from his Student loan we’ll be debt free before taxes are due this year!
I finally convinced him that we needed a budget last year and we’re still hashing out whose priorities are what and which are OURS not just his and mine. (i.e. he thinks that we should wait til the last minute of the grace period to pay…that’s where the yelling often comes in…)
January 15th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
The book looks great. My husband and I have worked hard the last 5 years and are thrilled with were we are with communication and finances (and communicating about finances :) in our marriage. I just love personal finance books and, of course, free ones are the best kind.
Thanks for the give away.
Trina
January 15th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Although my husband handles most of our financial matters, we do discuss them.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
sounds like an interesting book. DH and I discuss money and we are both getting better about not spending it.
January 17th, 2010 at 10:08 am
My wife and i talk more about how to save money at the grocery store, than investing.book would be a great assest to always trying to improve those comunications
January 18th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
We talk finances a lot and share the responsibilities. We are currently trying to become debt-free, so we’re on a mission together!
January 18th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I can get use of this book lending it out to my female clients.
January 18th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
My wife and I try to have a “Money Date” every month or so to discuss how we are doing financially and just stay on the same page. Communication is key to a healthy relationship and we think this is a good way for us to draw closer to each other.
I keep track of all the finances and help others to do the same on http://financialsecrets101.com, but if I am not filling her in our money, then things can get a little messy.
She is great at looking for deals and using coupons every where so it’s nice to be able to trust her.
January 22nd, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Since we got married 10 months ago, we have tried to be very organized with our money. We had very different spending habits, but when we got together, we have had to start “our” own style of money management. Now, it is not about my money or her money, but our money. We have a lot of dreams and projects, and we just started to pay our mortgage. We have “money talks” frequently, and we would really love to have a copy of this book, to work better together.
Thanks!
January 25th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
My husband and I talk about money now more than ever. We still struggle, but we are getting there.
February 12th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Susan Orman talks a lot about a person’s relationship to money in her books. It is usually based off of how our parents communicated about money. This is such a big issue in marriages and one of the top causes of divorce. I am sure the book would be a great asset to any marriage.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Hi, I think its very important to discuss money. Susan Orman has great information on money issues. Good common sense.
Joan of nyadoptees
I help adoptees and birthparents to reunite.