Book Review – Enjoy Your Money

Referred to as the “Counter-Culture Club”, the book – Enjoy Your Money: How to Make it, Save it, Invest it, and Give it by J. Steve Miller – chronicles a group of young friends who, interestingly enough, met during in-school suspension.

In trying to learn more about each other, they come to the realization they all had one thing in common – a general lack of understanding about money. Having parents with poor financial habits and seeing them struggle, they looked for guidance. This came somewhat unexpectedly in the form of an older, Social Studies teacher no one paid much attention to.

What followed was a series of breakfasts at a local diner where the group learned everything from saving for retirement to car shopping. The group even picked up an additional member, one of the wait staff! The group entertains a host of guest speakers – people they never would have thought were financially successful until they heard their stories. Most of the individuals came from meager means, but were able to build wealth through education and sound financial principles.

As the book progresses, the reader sees the shift in mindsets and those “ah-ha” moments when each person realizes the potential of proper money management. Catching myself off guard, the book becomes very “real” during a brief kidnapping. Of course, the perils of not properly managing your finances become evident.

Concluding the book with highlights of where each person is today, all of them are financially successful in one form or another. Probably the biggest take-away from the story, this idea that anyone and everyone has the ability to live a very fulfilling financial life even if they lack academic or professional “success” in the traditional sense. None of the members were struggling with debt, and all were pursuing careers that mattered to them. Ultimately, isn’t this what financial freedom entails?

Written in a conversational tone, this writing style is easier to follow and makes the reader feel more connected with the stories. Following an almost group discussion format, the book could be very useful among teachers of high-school students. Each chapter concludes by recapping the main ideas along with providing a list of questions to think about for the next discussion.

While some of the suggestions may not be for everyone, the underlying theme of the book is very clear and applicable to everyone – EDUCATION. It’s also one of the main themes promoted on this site. Whatever you’re financial goals for the future are, your success is directly related to your pool of knowledge. And how knowledgeable you become is something under your control.

Instead of a giveaway, this book will be donated the local, public library in my area.  You may order from Amazon (the link above) or to check out more reviews and read free sample chapters, see the press page.