Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Financial Adulting: Everything You Need to Be a Financially Confident and Conscious Adult

Rate this book
Perfect for anyone seeking to get a firm handle on their personal finances, Financial Adulting is a must-have resource that demystifies and simplifies complex topics and makes understanding personal finance fun

From the founder of The Fiscal Femme, a popular feminist money platform, and author of The 30-Day Money Cleanse, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley's Financial Adulting: Everything You Need to be a Financially Confident and Conscious Adult delivers an easy-to-follow, informative, and fun financial guide. From budgeting and consumer activism to retirement investing and paying down debt, you'll learn everything you need to know and do to be a financially savvy adult.

In this important book, you'll:

Master fundamental concepts, including dealing with student loans, maximizing your 401(k), and preparing for salary negotiations Use a racial and feminist justice lens to tackle rarely discussed topics in money and equity and better understand deep-seated historic and systemic obstacles Recognize that your circumstances, goals, and values are unique and require a custom approach in order to succeed financially Receive a simple step-by-step guide to reaching your financial goals while living a big, exciting, and meaningful life

ebook

Published February 23, 2022

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley

2 books30 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
86 (48%)
4 stars
51 (28%)
3 stars
33 (18%)
2 stars
7 (3%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Profile Image for Jalisa.
310 reviews
January 22, 2022
This book was such a pleasant surprise. I’ve taken my finances seriously for a few years and so I wasn’t looking for a 101 level book. Though it does lay the foundation for people, there are gems for people who are a bit farther along on the journey and considerations you might not have thought about (like getting a cohabitation agreement to talk about money with a partner you’re not married to, consumer activism, or the importance of disability insurance). So many of the people that I follow in the personal finance space were quoted in the book. It is THOROUGH and I was happy to hear that in addition to investing it talked about insurance, taxes, and estate planning. I particularly like the framing of taxes as not something to find strategies to avoid, but thinking of them as “collective or community support.”

I appreciated that right up front she acknowledged her privilege and how the lack of access to those privileges impacts BIPOC populations financial journeys. I also like that she addresses the racism and anti-semitism that surrounds Jewish people and money writing as a white-passing Jewish woman. These things helped me to feel right from the outset that she was bringing an intentional frame and structural lens to the book. There’s even a whole chapter upfront about equity and personal finance. I have not seen this kind of analysis in books not written by people of color, specifically Black people. Though I’m familiar with the racial and gender wealth gaps, the falsehood of the bootstrap mentality, and the role policies play in incentivizing money to flow to certain populations and away from others, I was excited to know that it will reach an audience who may not have been exposed to those realities. I love that she says “financial adults understand the smart money moves they can make, but they also understand and advocate for the changes that need to be made at the top.” When I read that little history lesson that situated the racial wealth gap in stolen indigenous and Black labor I audibly said “YES! This is about to be a different type of millennial finance book.” Not only does she detail the inequalities that we face, she outlines concrete solutions for them on the systemic and individual levels.
Profile Image for Nicole.
107 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2022
This is like no other finance book out there. It goes deep into the systems that hold so many people back from wealth. It showcases the voices, knowlege, and insight of many experts, not just the author. It's full of facts and information that we all need in order to better understand our money and how we can use consumer activism to help others build wealth too.
Profile Image for Madi Williams.
6 reviews
February 2, 2024
Took me a year to get through but still giving it 3 stars as some of the chapters I just may have to revisit over time! Especially enjoyed the chapter about setting and prioritizing financial goals. Overall, the content is pretty high level/introductory but would still recommend to anyone starting out on their financial education journey!
Profile Image for Lydia.
13 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2022
I've always felt like I should know more about my personal finances but I was too embarrassed to admit it to anyone and had no idea where to start. I'm sure I'm not the only person whose parents only financial advice was to "save as much as you can." I've started reading personal finance books in recent years and this one is a keeper!

It skews more towards breadth - covering everything from the racial wealth gap to prenups and home buying to retirement - than great depth in any particular area so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it if you're looking to become an expert in just one aspect of personal finance (although you would probably still pick something up). But that makes it perfect for those of us looking to know more about, well, everything. I loved that the message of being a "financial conscious adult" is not just a tagline but was embedded throughout; I've read other books that include "look into ESG funds" where it's felt like a throwaway concession to sustainability but Ashley includes really thoughtful suggestions in pretty much every chapter.

One other thing that I can't gush enough about is the online toolkit that you get access to with the book. It would more aptly be called a "treasure chest" because it is packed FULL of templates, links to other articles/resources, and calculators. Honestly, if you get the book and only use the toolkit, it would still be 100% worth it... but read the book too (and if you are like me, be prepared to highlight constantly).
Profile Image for Neha.
2 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2022
I've never felt truly confident about my finances and feel like there is so much I don't know. This book put together the must know information about all aspects of money. After reading this book I feel more confident and am able to walk away with actionable tips. I feel like I still need to do more research on investing to have a better idea of what I want to do, this book does give a good overview to start out with. I'm going to continue to refer back to this book as I make progress in my financial journey!
Profile Image for Belma McCaffrey.
1 review1 follower
March 7, 2022
This book is incredibly informative, well-researched and so, so good! Not only do I feel more equipped to tackle my finances but I have also have a better idea of the systemic issues that we're dealing with. I highly recommend this book! Many notable finance experts call this "the book of our generation" and I couldn't agree more!
1 review
February 4, 2022
Ashley takes complicated topics and breaks them down into understandable and achievable goals in this book. She covers money topics while also covering the important Social Justice issues like privilege and generational wealth, the gender and racial pay gaps, the pink tax and more. She advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves while helping advise people from all backgrounds through her topics and writing. She explains why we need to care about things like saving for retirement or why women would need to consider having a "Walk Away Fund," without belittling or making the reader feel inferior for not having a former understanding of some of the topics. It so amazing how she had fit some much into such a quick and easy to read book! The Chapter that I was most excited about was "Become and Investor for Good" and I quickly identified with the quote, "we can choose to invest our money in ways that (mostly) aren't harmful and can even support the values that we believe in. I had previously reached out to my financial investor to ask for some options regarding ethical or socially responsible investments and I basically stumped him completely. This book even further defines "social responsible investments" and talks about the background of where they come form and how those that are labeled as such may leave certain companies or topics out of investing that I would have originally wanted to support. This alone was such a great takeaway for me to learn. Now I know that focusing on ESG (environment, social, and governance) funds that best reflect my top values and consumer activist criteria are the best way to go. Ashley also walks you through how to set up this list, in Chapter 6. Additionally, the chapter on Buying a Home is an amazing resource in itself! I highly advocate all of my friends to take a home buying class before they begin their home searches and Ashley's book breaks every little detail of what buying a home is like down into understandable materials and almost like a step-by-step process. The whole thing is just so understandable, useful, and practical and I'm so grateful that Ashley is out there to write something like this! I also highly recommend following her on social media as she has a great energy, constantly brings up important social justice topics and their relation to money, and she's just a fun person to be connected to!
Profile Image for Colleen Davis.
20 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2022
*Review for ARC*

This book is great for wherever you are on your money journey and has a little for everyone. If you're just starting out and need to know the basics of managing your money, retirement savings, and negotiating your salary, it's got you covered. But it also handles some intermediate and advanced personal finance topics like purchasing a home, investing, insurance, etc. It's the kind of book you can leave on your shelf as reference and pull out when you get to a new money milestone.

It's all done from a Millennial's perspective- taking into account the financial world that we came of age in, and the one we live in now- which is always refreshing in a personal finance book. Ashley won't talk down to you about how your avocado toast habit is keeping you from buying a home and starting a family- she knows there are many other factors making it difficult to level up.

The book also regularly deals with the concept of her own financial privilege and assessing our privilege (or lack thereof), the racial and gender wealth gap, consumer activism, conscious investing, and other topics that many of our generation and younger consider not only important, but non-negotiable. The resources she provides online are almost worth the cost of admission alone- spreadsheets, templates and tracking tools to implement the strategies she recommends, links to resources she mentions in the book, and guides for improving your credit score and first time homeowners.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to level up their personal finance skills so that their money works for them and stays in alignment with their values.
Profile Image for Laura Snyder.
1 review
January 31, 2022
I found this book very informative, and not just for one specific audience. I consider myself pretty financial savvy (I max out my 401k, have no debt, invest, make a budget, etc) but I still found myself learning new things and taking some notes of good insights/tips from this book. My sister is not as financial savvy, and I will be recommending this book to her as I think it's an even better book for those that consider themselves "beginners" at financial adulting. Ashley's writing is easy to read and comprehend (I liked how conversational she was and the little comments she sprinkled in throughout). I thought the chapters weren't too long and the chapter topics were laid out in a way that made sense. What's great about this book is that I can go back and read certain chapters when they are more applicable to me- for example, the housing chapter when I decide to eventually buy a house. Lastly, I liked that the author brought up privilege and the inherent inequities in wealth throughout the United States (which can be traced back to slavery & systemic racism). It's important to realize that not everyone starts on the same playing field in life, and it's important to give back (or "vote with your wallet") when you can. All in all: highly recommend this book, especially for those earlier on in their financial adulting journeys (early 20s to mid/late 30s)!
Profile Image for Anna.
14 reviews11 followers
March 3, 2022
*Review of ARC copy*

This is the rare financial book that is accessible without dumbing things down, informative without being dry, and empowering without being twee. Ashley is attentive to the historic injustices and stumbling blocks that affect those of us who aren’t privileged to be middle-aged white men and I truly feel like I now have a *plan* that can help me build a solid financial groundwork for my adult life that is not only mindful and actionable, but has an eye toward voting with my wallet and prioritizing my values.

The book is broken down into chapters covering everything from equity to retirement and consumer activism to estate planning. Throughout, the tone is non-judgmental, supportive, and inclusive. I can easily imagine myself returning to this book at different stages of my financial journey, checking in with definitions or action items and reminding myself of next steps. The interviews and resources included with the book are so helpful in providing real-world advice, examples, and solutions and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to complete worksheets and apply the lessons in the book directly to my life and current finances. This is actually the book I needed when I graduated from college and I’m so glad it exists now!
3 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2022
I loved this book! It's a fantastic follow up to Ashley's first book, the 30 Day Money Cleanse. Ashley really breaks down the basics of personal finance, and all with a positive, encouraging, "you can do this" tone. One thing that's particularly great about this book is that she comes at these financial issues - insurance, investing, big purchases, taxes, etc. - with an eye toward equity and social justice. I think it's easy for books like this to assume a certain white middle class baseline and she not only doesn't make these assumptions, but she addresses these assumptions head on. She has a whole chapter on Equity and Personal Finance, and another chapter on Consumer Activism, and these themes are present throughout. And as someone who feels like I'm fairly culturally competent, and fairly financially savvy, I learned a lot from this book and am feeling inspired to make changes. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Maddie M..
6 reviews
January 30, 2022
Without a doubt, I think Financial Adulting is a great fit for anyone who wants to be "better" with their money, at any point in their financial journey. It would have been a lifeline for me 3-4 years ago when I was just getting started, and I still found it helpful reading it over the past few weeks.

Specifically, I plan to use the negotiating tips from Chapters 4 and 13 to leverage a promotion and buy a car this year, and I found the entire section on life/disability insurance from Chapter 10 so illuminating. I know I'll keep coming back to my notes about budgeting with a partner from Chapter 5, and Chapter 14 helped me to put together a plan on how to stay on top of it. On a practical note, I think the book is laid out in a way that really allows you to come back to it as a reference - bold type on definitions and "fun" facts peppered throughout to help readers build their knowledge - but it's still a quick read.

Financial well-being is about taking small, consistent steps towards your goals. Financial Adulting lays out those steps in an accessible, realistic, and (dare I say) fun way. Highly, highly recommend.
February 3, 2022
I’m about halfway through the book and really grateful already to have been introduced to Ashley’s writings by a friend. What I love about this book and Ashley’s style is her ability to mix important lessons with great humor and joy so you leave feeling empowered and excited for the future – not easy for a personal finance book! She tackles very timely topics like some of the driving forces behind our growing income inequality and I think succeeds in creating a non-judgmental space for people, regardless of where they might be in their financial journey. She is intentional in her desire to speak to a diverse audience which I appreciate. I’ve grown up with old school ways of thinking about wealth accumulation and am enjoying hearing a more inclusive perspective. Kudos to Ashley for taking on these often tough topics and being brave enough to expand in the discussion.
Profile Image for Leah Ginn.
2 reviews
February 1, 2022
It’s the financial book I didn’t know I needed. I love how Ashley touched on tough topics: gender bias, racial inequality, and the hardships that minorities face through the lens of finances. It truly offers a perspective that I’ve never seen in any financial book. I left with the tools to not only make my personal finances better, but the tools to make my community a better place too. The steps are manageable, easy to understand, and easy to implement. Ashley is a great coach. This book is a must-read for anyone crossing over the “adulting” threshold (and isn’t that really all of us?) Reading this book gave me the motivation and encouragement to keep trekking along on my own financial journey and opened my eyes to the disparity and inequality that’s all around. Even if you think you have it “all figured out” – I promise this book will add another layer to your understanding!
Profile Image for Eva.
3 reviews
Read
February 2, 2022
I was able to preview Ashley's latest book and absolutely loved it! Getting serious about your finances can feel like a daunting task; but with Ashley's perfectly sequenced chapters, she is able to break everything down into manageable steps (with exercises!) that build upon each other as you progress throughout the book. I highly recommend getting this book for a new graduate, because knowledge is power and the earlier you get started the better off you are in the long-run! I especially appreciated the chapters on "Consumer Activism" "Buying a Home" and "Equity and Personal Finance" and will be using her tools for years to come as I continue to financially adult. I encourage everyone to read this book and break down barriers, because it's not taboo anymore to talk about money, in fact we should be talking about it more!
February 3, 2022
Listen, I have read a lot of personal finance books and even had my own little YouTube channel focused on the subject. But this book was so refreshing. Not only does it head on bring to light the systematic issues that cause many people - specifically women of color - to have barriers to wealth but it contains so much helpful down to earth information that is doable for most people I know. Seriously, it's not just another finance book, it will be my reference boom as I pivot finances away from survival to thriving. All while using her tips to raise people and causes up with me! Real talk-Heart Aligned finances. So good.
February 2, 2022
I have to say, I’ve followed Ashley’s blog for just about a year now. The money tips she shares in her blog and in this book are fabulous. She helps you take a hard look at how and why you think and feel about money. Ashley doesn’t just give you money tips, but she also explains the history of how certain wealth gaps came to be and explains that everyone is in their own journey with money and investing. There isn’t a one size fits all answer for everything. Her book goes into detail on how you can mend your relationship with your finances and not have your blood pressure spike each time a financial issue comes up in your life.
1 review
February 3, 2022
Financial Adulting takes finances back to the basics and is written in a format that is very easily understood. Reading the book makes you feel like you're having a kicked-back chat with your good friend over a nice glass of Vino. Before you think of your next question, the book has already answered it. Not only does it cover the basics of finances, but it touches on very important topics such as the racial and gender wealth gaps. I would consider this book a great foundation for a bright financial future.
February 1, 2022
Truly a great book to read. Very simple read with definitions to uncomplicate the complicated. I love the step by step guidance. The best part of the book is the honesty. She really speaks on the gender and race gaps affect on the BIPOC community as well as gives tips and suggestions on how to navigate and help close the gap. Well thought out writing with so many credible sources from the female/BIPOC community. Financial Adulting is definitely one to keep on hand to help along the journey as well as share with others.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
97 reviews18 followers
January 25, 2022
I have never been a fan of books about finance, mostly because don't want to read them, because money is scary. But I took the plunge with Financial Adulting and I'm glad I did. Ashley made everything in the book not scary and everything had very easy steps to follow to accomplish the goals. I also have a much better understanding of things that were always foreign to me like life insurance, estates, and investing. All things that used to foreign to me, I now feel like I have the tools to be able to have an educated conversation on these topics.

I also applaud Ashley for not shying away about being honest about how it is harder as a BIPOC woman to achieve the same level of financial success as most of our peers. The fact that the one of the early chapters of the book was about equity floored me in a good way. There are very few white authors who would actually take the time to acknowledge the racial inequities that come with the way the financial system is built.

I was lucky enough to be able to read an advance copy of the book, but I have already gone out and ordered a copy for myself and a friend so that that I can share this knowledge with others and I have a copy for myself as a reference in the future.
1 review
February 1, 2022
This is a fantastic book for taking control of your financial life. It was an enjoyable read with worksheets and a digital tool kit to help you take action. From deciphering credit and managing debt to understanding insurance and practical approaches to investing, the book demystifies complicated financial decisions and breaks them into bite sized steps. It is the first money book I've read that acknowledges that we don't all start out in the same place or have the same advantages financially. This is a great gift for a new college or high school graduate.
1 review
February 2, 2022
I was very impressed by this book. There are so many out there that claim to tackle all adult-related money topics but really just focus on budgeting and paying off debt--not this one! I liked how broad the topic list was: budgeting, negotiating your salary and other benefits, how to save for larger purchases, purchase decisions, investments... it's extremely well-rounded. I have read a lot about money management, but still learned new things from this book. Thank you!
February 3, 2022
I was through the Preface and into Chapter 1 before I even realized I was learning! This is definitely a book I'm going to keep coming back to over and over!

I have learned so much and I'm sure I will continue to do so. I wish something like this had been required reading back when I was in high school but at least it's available now so I can read it and share!
January 28, 2022
I give this book 5 stars without any doubt!
I am a 27 year old who can’t seem to get a grip on my finances. I was set up to fail by my mother who stole my identity and ruined my credit. I was trying to get my financials down pact with 0 knowledge. This book has taught me so much about what it takes to be be successful at “financial adulting”. This book empowers woman to be successful and also quotes many successful woman. There’s a brief history on how woman have been discriminated as well as other ethnicities. If you are a beginner to getting your finances in check or need a refresher I recommend this book. Ashley writes in a mellow tone where it is teaching as well as being laid back to enjoy all of the new information being read.
February 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I wanted more help in understanding how to manage my finances and have an eye towards the future. Different chapters help you with understanding how to think about budgeting, saving for retirement, and investing. The investing chapter was my favorite.
Profile Image for Lindsay.
193 reviews
January 28, 2022
Ashley has written a really accessible and comprehensive book on all things personal finance and money management. If you liked James Clear's "Atomic Habits" and want to start building some personal finance habits, this would be a great book for you. I think this book would make a great graduation gift for any young person starting out on their own, or a good gift for anyone approaching a life change (e.g. new career, combining households with a partner, saving to buy a home, paying down debt for a fresh start, etc.).

Thank you to Ashley and Wiley for the eARC of this book! Opinions shared here are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Danielle Conlon.
56 reviews
January 25, 2022
As someone who has a read a good amount of financial literacy and financial advice books, I was excited that Financial Adulting covered not only "basics" in good detail with tangible advice, but also expanded into more advanced financial topics in a clear way that was easy to understand. I made changes in so many areas of my finances from reading this book - from updating my savings goals to starting estate planning.

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley's voice in this book is knowledgeable while still being down to earth and approachable. I also appreciated how she talked about racism and equity within finance. This topic is desperately needed and missing from all other finance books that I have read.

Highly recommend this book for both personal finance beginners and those who are more advanced. If I had read this book at the beginning of my personal finance journey, it would have been a lot clearer and I wouldn't have needed to read so many other resources.
Profile Image for Diana.
10 reviews
January 22, 2022
Ashley put together an easy to read guide to personal finances that recognizes the privilege in the system that puts us all at a different starting place. A push for transparency in equity and how to vote for values we hold politically and as consumers is a very refreshing addition to this book that transcends all sections. In addition, Ashley has the most straight forward way of defining common investment lingo and insurance options I have come across yet, especially within ESG investments and life insurance. I cannot wait to keep revisiting chapters and expanding my growth and budgets during my money parties; personal check ins where you see how you are doing and expand or change your goals.
Profile Image for Jen Flanagan.
1 review
January 23, 2022
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to learn more about every aspect of financial wellness! Ashley does an amazing job at covering financial wellbeing from so many angles, whether you want to learn more about investing and saving for retirement, to the home buying processing and insurance, and more of the basics like setting money goals and different types of income. She does all of this from a lens of equity and interviewing all types of individuals (including BIPOC guest interviews) to broaden the scope of her advice beyond her perspective as a cis, able-bodied, white woman. She's very empathetic and aware of everyone's unique situation and educates without shame. A must-have for financial newbies and old pros alike!
7 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2022
It's so hard to find financial books out there with advice that feels like it takes different situations and backgrounds in mind. That's where Financial Adulting separates itself from the pack. What I like about the book is that no matter your situation, you can walk away with a pearl of wisdom you can use in your everyday financial life. I was especially excited to form my money goals, get a better feel for my outflow, and learn about investing for good. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to form better financial habits, whatever they may be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.