I’m going to admit that I have been living under a rock for years, probably because I went to college in the middle of nowhere and any day that we weren’t mistaken for animal poachers was considered a good day.

Anyway, I have to make the embarrassing confession that I had no idea who Suze Orman was until I started getting serious about my finances, which was pretty much last week.  Sure I had seen her around, but my knowledge of her stopped at “Wow, she’s really $#*^%@# tan!”

Since I guess I’m an adult now (I know, scary) I have been sifting through a ton of financial and Gen Y blogs on my free time. I found that a lot of the financial blogs were way over my head, while some of the Gen Y blogs never seemed to tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do with my money now. Quite frankly, as a 20something part-time employee/self-employed freelancer I needed a money plan that was specific to my situation (AKA Holy shit I have no idea what I’m doing!).

Enter Suze Orman’s The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke.

If I ever heard someone say that Suze Orman saved their financial life I now know that they would not be exaggerating. The woman makes sense! She has literally laid out a crystal clear blueprint for us clueless young people who don’t know a high-yield savings account from our ass.

Two days after reading the book I paid off ALL of my credit card debt (I am now what credit card companies call a “deadbeat”), found out that I actually have a pretty good FICO score,  locked my credit card in a drawer, set up an emergency fund, and started a second savings account for a move, a down payment on a house, or whatever comes first. I also started researching my options for IRA’s and future investments, which Suze Orman explained in the most straight forward manner I have found to date.

I even ended up explaining how a trust works to my parents so that after they die my brother and I will get our childhood home without having to go to probate court.

There is a light at the end of the financial tunnel and I am finally starting to see it! My mind is so much more at ease now that I have actual plans instead of sporadic ideas. The idea of adulthood is finally starting to sink in.

If you are young and fabulous and have yet to figure out your finances, I suggest picking up Suze Orman’s book. I know it seems like a daunting and overwhelming task to start figuring this stuff out at such a young age (trust me, I put this off for MONTHS), but it’s better than having a panic attack in your 4os because you didn’t deal with it sooner. So buck up, order the book at a good deal on Amazon, and start getting your shit together.

Great GMW Reads

Amanda Abella

Amanda Abella is a freelance writer and language instructor based out of Miami, Florida. She has been writing professionally since 2009 and holds a degree in English Literature from Ave Maria University. Amanda Abella is available for freelance work, why not hire her?

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