The Recovering Spender: How to Live a Happy, Fulfilled, Debt-Free Life

I follow Lauren Greutman's blog and have always been inspired by her story. So, I was extremely excited to get my hands on this book, I even pre-ordered it! I loved the first half of the book; getting to know more about her story and the details of the financial crisis she had gotten her family into. It was all so easy to relate to. (Even though it could all be found in blog posts on her blog) I noticed there were a few mentions of her website and the other products she offered. Once we got to the steps, I was really excited. I don't know what I was expecting -- I guess some extremely world changing ideas. Naive of me. The steps are along the same format you would get from any financial course or coach.What really turned me off from the book and ultimately led to me putting it down at Step 7 was the several plugs for her other products. Each chapter seemed to be an advertisement for her Financial Revolution Community. Frustrated, I started to flip back through what I've read and each chapter had a reference back to her website or contained a URL for a product on her website. I felt like I was being sold to, even though I had already made a purchase. On top of that, I ordered her Financial Planner (for $50!) two months ago, and still haven't received it. So, I will be asking for a refund there.If you are truly at rock bottom and have NO idea where to turn and have a few dollars on your pocket, it may be worth the purchase. Better yet, wait for it to be released at your local library. Or I will sell you mine. And rather than pay the $129 to join the community; spend $90 and attend a local Financial Peace University class by Dave Ramsey - THAT is life changing.

The first half of this book was interesting though not all that helpful. The author tells the story of how she got into so much debt and glosses over how she got out of debt. She makes a big case for knowing your values and stresses how her values include staying home with her kids (as if my mommy guilt o er working to pay off our debts wasn't high enough).But what really turned me off about this book is that the second half is an overt upsell. Every single page tells you how great her online community is and how wonderful and supportive the community members are. She gives success story after success story never (of course) telling how many people don't succeed with her program.I think it's totally disingenuous to sell a book for spenders with the guise of helping them to stop spending - and then make a strong upsell in said book. I wouldn't recommend this book to any spender.

This book contained some good concepts for turning your debt around and learning to live a life where you realise that buying more and more does not make you happy. This idea was put forth thoughtfully and convincingly. However, there are several problems I have with the book. First of all, the author instructs you to get rid of every one of your credit cards and cancel each account. It is just not practical to not have one credit card and to put all of your money in cash in envelopes each month to pay all of your expenses. There are a lot of emergency scenarios I can think of where you do need to have one credit card. Your little envelopes are stolen on a cross country trip and you have no way to feed your family and get them home. You become very sick and are hospitalised without a way to go pay your bills. And how are you supposed to pay the multitude of bills each month that come with out of town addresses, such as your mortgage, etc.? These days in many cases if you NEED to buy something that is not in your immediate surroundings you must buy it online. I personally have a chronic illness that keeps me home sick or in the hospital much of the time and in order to survive I do all my shopping and pay all my bills online. You pay your credit card off at the end of the month.In addition, every time you cancel a credit card it reduces your credit and FICO scores. Try getting a mortgage or a car loan then.The other objections I have to this book is first the couponing section. I don't know where the author lives, but I have not seen a store give triple coupons for thirty years. Lastly, but not leastly, it was totally unnecessary for the author to bring her Christian beliefs into the book and model it on the AA principles. If those are her beliefs that is fine, but they do not belong in this book. It's not why I bought it.

After all the five star reviews I was really excited to read this book....hslfway through it she says Figure out what isn't working and try to fix it. ..duh...that's why I bought the book....she talks about money fights amongst married couples but never addresses the single person.she continues to use credit cards and advised the reader to do so.....she sells her home so she can rent....but eventually get secret is revealed :clipping coupons! !!!!!anything by Dave Ramsay is better than this...

I was looking forward to this book, but the first chapter started off with the author talking about how she worked for a pyramid scheme (yet she didn't seem to realize it was a pyramid scheme..), as the chapters went on I also noticed the author never had a job (that's probably a good first step to getting out of debt I would say), and then the last few chapters were basically a pitch and testimonials to get you to buy some sort of course she sells. Also seems contradictory if you're trying not to spend money. Disappointing book.

I really found this book useful. Theres a lot on relationships and money issues but there were also good insights on why we impulse shop and overspend. I paid $4 AUS for it ehich i thought was a good price. And yes the author does plug her blog and course a lot!

I would recommend this book to the many people I know that love to spend money.I'm definitely going to give her budgeting recommendations a good shot.I am greatly impressed. Nothing wrong with this book at all.

I am very happy I purchased this book! Once I started it I could not put it down. It's refreshing to know we all have a story. Thank you Lauren:)

Great tips for being frugal and moving on from financial debt.