Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together (Broke Millennial Series) Paperback – May 2, 2017

This is an excellent well-written informational book with useful suggestions. Some of the interesting information that the author of this book mentions includes the following information: Credit reports and credit scores are different things. Potential landlords may run credit checks. Student loans help build a person's credit score if the person pays on time. There are cases of mistaken death. It is not unheard of for credit bureaus to mistakenly mark someone who is still roaming the earth as deceased. A person's net worth and salary have no bearing on the person's credit score. Renting can be a smart financial move in some circumstances. If a person's financial advisor costs more than 2% of a person's income, he or she probably isn't a good deal for you.

I typically have a hard time finishing any book I start. NOT THIS ONE. I couldn't put it down, and while it called me out on some really poor habits that have put my finances in a really bad place, it did so kindly and I left it feeling really empowered. Not empty, "You can do it, yay! Go you!" empowered, but more "I can do this because I actually have an idea how to now, or at least where to start." It helped too that I was grinning and laughing out loud at least once or twice a page.A little of my story: I grew up with parents who'd been disabled since birth, barely able to support our small 3-person family on nothing but welfare, about $900-$1100 a month. I started working at 13, sometimes pulling three part-time jobs while in school, because the only way we could afford anything for me as I became a teenager is if I went out and earned the money. Now a 27-year-old, in seven short years since starting school I've amassed over $54,000 in debt, most of that in student loans but some in credit card debt - and that debt feels CRIPPLING. I've been focusing on MAKING things happen in life, literally no matter the cost and realize now thanks to this book that if I don't want to slip into bankruptcy I have to switch gears a little bit. I don't make a whole lot, have no familial support and live in a very expensive city, so despite starting to gain traction in my career this debt seemed like this inevitable, immovable beast I'd be forced to live with, forever holding me back from building any kind of wealth or breaking the cycle of poverty. This book makes those factors seem a little less heavy and a little more workable.The strategies listed in this book are incredibly helpful and attainable, just about regardless of where you're starting, and I find myself inspired and ready to slay the debt dragon and start making real progress toward my financial goals. Please read this book whether you are buried in debt, just have a few thousand dollars worth, or are completely debt free. You'll never look at your paycheck(s) the same way again!

This is consistently listed as a must read among the personal finance bloggers i follow. I already have an understanding of many of the concepts covered, so it was a little basic for me. That said, I did learn a few new things! I'd absolutely recommend this to someone needing an introduction into personal finance.

I bought this book because I’m graduating from college this spring and need to start thinking seriously about my future. From job hunting to apartment hunting and student loans to monthly bills, the prospect of adulting was terrifying. Asking my parents was out of the question. As much as I love them, they’re not what I would consider to be great financial role models. (Not to say they aren’t great role models, but finance isn’t one of their biggest strengths!) I scoured the internet for advice and tips and eventually found Broke Millennial.What makes Broke Millennial so different and the reason why I chose to buy the book was because it’s aimed at people like me (aka twenty/thirty-something’s with little to no financial expertise). The topics Lowry covers are relevant to those in all walks of life. Her writing style is fun, witty, and personable while also being very informative. It’s like talking to the mom-friend who has her life together: you can ask her anything and she’s nonjudgmental. I also loved the way the book was set up. You don’t have to read the book chapter-by-chapter to understand what she talks about. All of the chapters cover different topics and only reference each other once in a while; you can read the chapters in any order you please.Overall, Lowry’s advice is relevant and laid out in an easy to understand format. I’ve already implemented some of her advice and it definitely works! I’ve already ordered her other book and will be reading it as soon as I’m done writing this review! Cheers!

I recently finished this book after putting it off for a few months (hey, I'm a millennial!) and absolutely loved it. There are certain chapters I skipped because they weren't relevant but I appreciated that the book was designed with that in mind. There were actionable tips on every page, and each section was summarized with "key takeaways" that were helpful. As someone who has no financial literacy, I left this book feeling much more confident and aware. For those like me who have no background in personal finance, it might be worthwhile to re-read certain chapters to make sure you retain it. The book completed its promise of paying for itself with some of the tips around savings accounts interest that I've started to implement. Her writing style is laid back and consumable, and the example stories were relatable! This would make a great gift for college (or even high school) graduates who don't know much about money, especially about the importance of building credit and smart ways to do that.