Get your money right
Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together
by Erin Lowry
Personal Finance
TL;DR
This book isn't about magic money trees; it's about getting real with your cash flow, ditching dumb debt, and making your money work harder than you do. It breaks down how to budget without crying, invest without feeling like a Wall Street bro, and save for big goals like not living in your parents' basement forever. It's your financial glow-up guide for when adulting hits different.
Action Items
Download a budgeting app (like Mint or YNAB) or open a spreadsheet and track every single dollar you spend today. No excuses.
List all your debts, their interest rates, and minimum payments. Pick one to focus on and make an extra payment, even if it's just $5.
Set up an automatic transfer of $25 (or whatever you can spare) from your checking to a savings account or investment account for next payday.
Write down 3 financial goals you want to achieve in the next year. Make them specific and put a dollar amount and a deadline on each.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - Budgeting: Your Money's GPS
So, you think budgeting is for old people with spreadsheets? Nah, fam. This book flips the script, showing you how to make your money do what you want, not the other way around. It's not about deprivation; it's about conscious spending and identifying your financial "fuck-its" – those impulse buys that drain your bank account. You learn to track where your cash actually goes, not just where you think it goes, and then allocate it strategically to hit your goals, whether that's paying off student loans or finally affording that avocado toast without guilt. It's about taking control and building a money system that actually works for your chaotic life.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Money's GPS
(AKA: Budgeting)
Description:
Figuring out where your cash actually goes so you can stop wondering why you're always broke.
Explanation:
Imagine your bank account is a leaky bucket, and you're just pouring money in, hoping for the best. This method is like putting a damn sensor on that bucket to see exactly where the drips are happening. It's not about cutting out fun; it's about knowing your financial "vibe check" so you can make smarter choices. Think of it as giving your money a job instead of letting it wander off to buy another overpriced coffee.
Examples:
Tracking every single dollar spent for a month using an app or spreadsheet.
Categorizing expenses to see if you're blowing too much on DoorDash or impulse Amazon buys.
Setting spending limits for "fun money" vs. "adulting money."
Today's Action:
Download a budgeting app (like Mint or YNAB) or open a spreadsheet and track every single dollar you spend today. No excuses.
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