Rob Carrick of The Globe and Mail is one of Canada’s most trusted and widely read financial experts for over 15 years. He’s written quite a few books in the past, and his latest book consisting of some great financial advice is specifically targeted at young adults graduating from university or college and moving into the workforce, into the housing market and into family life. The book is a very simple and straightforward read and totally intended for those with new financial beginnings or those looking for a fresh start.
I had a chance to read the book earlier over the past few months, and yes it’s taken me a while to read it sadly, but I was impressed with the realistic advice offered in the book on the financial challenges and opportunities facing young people today. Rob’s book is a great guide for a young person to financial empowerment or for parents preparing to send their kids off into the real world.
About the Author
Rob Carrick has been around personal finance for over 15 years, and has become one of Canada’s most widely trusted and respected financial experts as a business, economic and personal finance reporter. He has previously worked on both Bay Street and Parliament Hill before becoming the personal finance columnist for The Globe and Mail, a position he’s held for the past ten years.
About the Book
This book is comprised of nine chapters, each taking a look at a financial topic through the eyes of a young person as well as their parents. One of my favorites parts of the book are the chapter case study interviews with young adults as they strive towards accomplishing a milestone. The book focuses on the basics of budgeting, finances of a student, and the life after school – marriage, kids, and buying your first home. If you’ve read any of Rob’s articles, you might have realized that he’s quite opinionated and to the point – which is refreshing in a day and age where many outlooks, opinions and dreams are simply unrealistic. For example, Rob’s big belief is that you’re much better off owning a home than being a renter – an opinion I equally share.
The Chapters
As mentioned earlier, the book consists of nine easy to follow chapters and a total of 222 pages. Here are the chapters in the book:
- Affording College or University
- How to Handle Debt, Both in School and Afterward
- You and Your Bank
- Saving, Budgeting and What to do if you have to Move Back Home
- Looking to the Future: RRSPs and TFSAs
- Cars and You
- Buying a Home
- Weddings and Kids
- Insurance and Wills
My Thoughts
Rob Carrick has spent over 15 years talking to people of all ages about money. He offers advice from his own past by saying he’s learned well from his mistakes so that you don’t have to. He even admits to moving back in with his parents for a period of time. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would consider it a must read for young personal finance enthusiasts, especially those just starting out of school or looking to buy their first home. One of my favorite parts of the book is that Rob admits that today’s generation of 20-somethings have it harder than their parents did decades ago, yet the parent’s can help guide their kids to financial independence rather than handing everything out.
Enter to Win You Free Copy
The book publisher got in touch with us months ago, and was generous in offering Finance Fox readers two free copies to be given away. Enter the giveaway through Rafflecopter below. Good Luck!
Thanks for the contest.
Sounds like it would be an incredibly helpful book for young adults or their parents to read. Hopefully the title is catchy enough to interest young people to actually read it. At that age they usually aren’t too interested in reading up about personal finances. They are often so full of confidence that they will be making so much money that they don’t need to learn anything extra about money.
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First, there is nothing wrong with moving back in with your parents!
Rob is great and I have read parts of the book – very good advice and young people need to realize that they cannot have it all at once – it takes time.
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I would love to give this book to my daughter. She will be back to school soon and is in the early stages of developing her financial habits.
Im digging the title. I haven’t read it but based on the chapters outlined, it looks like he covers all of the basics.
I think several of my husband’s stepsiblings could use this – they’ve all moved back in with his Dad and step-Mom at various times!
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I have a friend who’s considering moving back with her mom to save money… she might like this read :)
Ah, great topic. I love this topic b/c it is becoming so common place, yet still so taboo.
I wonder if today’s 20-somethings really have it harder than 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago?
Doesn’t the internet make things easier, or no?
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Well i can say its good one
Been there, done that… but I’d love to read about how to stop others from making the same mistakes I did.
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Reading the title, I felt that the book is in negative tone. But once I saw the contents I am amazed with the amount of useful information it has.
Looks like a good book to have for reference!
If it’s Rob Carrick’s book , then I would love to read it even before my son reads it ! Thx. for the giveaway.