When I heard that Clare Seal, the woman behind the anonymous viral Instagram account @myfrugalyear was writing a book I couldn’t wait to read it. 

I have followed Clare on Instagram for a number of months now and I really value her honesty when writing about her journey out of £25k of debt. 

When my copy of Real Life Money* arrived I hoped that the book would be written in the same understanding and non-judgmental tone of Clare’s Instagram posts. I was not disappointed! The tone of the book is perfect – empathetic and not at all preachy.

Part memoir, part guide Real Life Money allows the reader to adapt the information to their own needs and circumstances. It is full of useful advice on how to set budgets, how to deal with anxiety about money and how to negotiate repayments with your bank.

Although I love the useful tips and advice, I have to say that the thing I loved most about Real Life Money is the insight it offers into why we feel the way we do about money and how we can use that knowledge to improve both our bank balance and our mindset in a realistic and bearable way.

I also really appreciate how much Clare delves in to the psychology of spending, and I found the sections on understanding our feelings towards spending and debt really informative and helpful.

Some of my favorite advice in the book is around spending mindfully. Clare encourages us to ask ourselves these questions when we find ourselves about to make a purchase:

• Does it have a purpose?

• Do I really want or need it?

• Why do I want it?

• Will this purchase cause damage to my future mental health or finances?

The key is to double check that you are spending with a purpose, rather than spending to fill an emotional need such as or boredom, jealousy, tiredness or low mood. 

In short, I think there is something for everyone in this book. Even if you are fortunate enough to not have to worry about money, this book will provide you with the tools to support anyone around you who might not be so fortunate.

Have you read Real Life Money? What did you think? Have you got any other recommendations for other useful books about money? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. 

As always, thanks for reading. 

Love,

Chrissy x

*Gifted PR Sample

Further information 

Follow Clare on Instagram

Buy the book on Hive here