About Getting Good with Money: Pay Off Your Debt and Find a Life of Freedom—Without Losing Your Mind

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 18, 2022)

Paperback: 224 pages

Certified financial coach and mom Jessi Fearon leads the way for overwhelmed readers struggling to get a handle on their finances and lays out the doable steps her family underwent to pay off all their debts–even their mortgage!–and pursue their dreams, all on a $47,000-a-year salary.

Jessi Fearon vividly remembers the day she broke down, knowing that her family could not pay the bills with a second baby on the way. Like many Americans, they were overwhelmed by debt and living paycheck to paycheck, wondering if it was possible to ever get ahead, or even catch up. But on that day, something changed, and she and her husband decided to make a drastic lifestyle change that would put them back on the path toward their dreams. Their decision not only allowed her to stay home with their children, but in two years, they were able to pay off their consumer debt and, in six years, they paid off their home mortgage–all on their $47,000-a-year income. And now she shares what she’s learned with others who are struggling just like she once did.

Getting Good with Money is written for the busy, overwhelmed reader who wants to manage the money she does have while still giving her family a good life, even if she doesn’t have a finance degree or a six-figure income. With been-there wisdom and step-by-step help, Jessi shows readers how to

• take control of their finances with practical first steps to budgeting and understanding debt;
• identify the four different ways people struggle with money and how each one affects the way they manage–or mismanage–their money;
• replace the lies they’ve believed about money with the five Money Truths to overcome barriers and better understand how to make their version of the American Dream a reality; and
• discover various money-saving apps, financial tips, and ideas for generating additional income to pay off debt more quickly.

Getting Good with Money will inspire, encourage, and equip readers to achieve the real-life changes they need. More than just a “how to budget” book, this is a comprehensive roadmap to financial freedom from an average family making things work on a middle-class salary.

My Thoughts:

Getting Good with Money by Jessi Fearon is a smart and valuable read that helps people understand their money and spending habits. Throughout the book, Jessi educates readers on how to create a budget, ways to make extra money, and even how to negotiate your bills.

As someone who tends to just wing it with their budget, I learned a lot from this book. I especially loved learning the importance of choosing a method to pay off debt. In Getting Good with Money, Jessi focuses on two different methods of paying off debt: the snowball method and the avalanche method. As Jessi explains in the book, the snowball method involves paying off debts from smallest to largest while the avalanche method focuses on paying off debts with the highest interest rates. Both methods can be helpful in eliminating debts, but it’s important to pick a method and stick to it in order to see results. Personally, I’d feel more motivated by using the snowball method.

Another thing I love about Getting Good with Money is that it’s realistic and doable. Jessi helps you tackle your debt from where you are. Her techniques are manageable for the average person. Her book teaches you smart money habits that will stick with you. I loved her discussion of making sacrifices and giving up the need for instant gratification. We live in a world of consumerism (us Americans especially) where our wants are constantly being confused for our needs. However, a little bit of self-reflection and perspective can not only help you change and improve your relationship with money… but your relationship with life itself. Getting Good with Money is a great read for everyone. If you’re looking for financial freedom, this book will help kick-start that journey.

Getting Good with Money is available on Amazon and at most bookstores. Grab your copy today!

Thanks to Lisa from TLC Booktours for inviting me on this blog tour. I received a free advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.