I have only a little income management knowledge, partly because like many Americans, I have only a little income. After a divorce and roughly a decade of single parenting, plus some serious illness and even disability, my retirement, savings, and checking account balances are all pretty abysmal. So is my credit score. So I'm always on the lookout for good self-help books about managing one's finances.

This book generally delivers on its promises about the author's system that helped him become debt-free, with the nice feature of the first two chapters focusing not on money itself, but on our psychological relationship to money, desire, and happiness. His ideas here aren't surprising to me, but are well-researched and explored in a tone without judgment or preaching. Later chapters cover his basic system of common sense issues: building an emergency fund, controlling spending not simply by controlling expenses but by focusing on desires and happiness, and learning how debt like student loans, credit cards, and payday loans really work. Much later chapters focus on real estate and stock market indices. I'm much more interested in the latter than the former, so I especially like that I could jump around in the book and not get confused.

My absolute favorite part of his system is his 7 rankings of financial conditions. I have ranged through all but the top 1 or 2, and, due to what I mentioned earlier of my life circumstances, I have found myself hovering near the bottom of the list with a safety net that has big holes in it. It does sound like his system isn't totally revolutionary, parts I've heard before, but his ability to avoid being judgmental nor too formulaic are refreshing.

About my only real criticism is that his $70-$80k salary as premise for creating one's retirement as the "sweet spot" for success does little to help an audience or reader like me. I was a teacher, so I was already getting a low salary before facing my mid 50s in financial distress due to life changes that have overwhelmed any budget I made. Illness left me with less than half of what was already very low income, and I even had to do the unthinkable once and empty out some retirement accounts to live on. Taxes and penalties took 25%, but I was that desperate, when no family or few friends could supplement my income by a few e tra thousands month - and I was working 60-hour weeks. I've never made a salary anywhere close to the $70k figure and may not be healthy enough to ever make even half that much money again. Just once I would like to find a money management book or website that depicts the working and financial situation I am in-with honesty about how much harder it is to save money and build wealth when you qualify for food stamps and are working at or near your physical and emotional limits. (And I have advanced degrees like the author. How would a high school graduate with 2 years of community college view this book? Do-able? Or just nice advice but unrealistic?)

If I can, though, I am going to try to create an emergency savings and try some low-cost stocks, hoping to hold onto what little retirement I have left. His suggestions and ideas will be handy for that at least, and I am looking forward to learning more as I go.

Kicking Financial Ass by Paul Christopher Dumont seems like it is targeted toward millennial generation but really is an appropriate book on how to handle your finances. It is not a get rich scheme on how to shed everything and get rich enough to retire quick. Instead, it is a no nonsense, easy to understand approach to managing your finances including investment advice on Canadian retirement, real estate as an investment, side hustles, negotiating your salary, and basic finances. I love that he encourages having an emergency fund first before paying off debt! That is terrific advice.

Toward the beginning of the book, Dumont lists that there is a financial spectrum and that our goal is to reach the top of the spectrum. It is interesting as a reader to find out where I am at and where I want to be.

Overall this has been a great read, one I will definitely share with others as it has so much information set in front of the reader. Kicking Financial Ass presents great, solid information about the skills that should be taught in high school in order to graduate. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own.

I've read quite a few financial advice books and this one contains similar good advice. I liked the writing style in that it explained financial concepts without making me feel dumb or incompetent. My eyes didn't glaze over while reading it which sometimes happens with me and these types of books.
I picked up a few good tips that I will try to incorporate into my financial life.

A handy book with concrete steps to take towards personal financial security. Not my usual kind of read so I'm hesitant to make any more comments on the style or voice, but good information.

This is a book I would recommend adding to your financial knowledge toolbox; the information and principles of Dumont's book is easily digestible with having a step by step guidance which I find important for success and continued motivation as you work through each step to obtain financial independence.

I think it would be valuable gift for high school graduates, families who are struggling in debt, those wanting to learn how to invest and to pick up advice on how to think more efficiently when it comes to spending money on housing, cars, and insurance.

The highlights for that made the book interesting were the comparison charts, commonly occurring scenarios, using realistic numbers and his end of chapter summaries.

Two unique factors of this book is:
1) He discusses the United States AND Canadian system which helps bring a better clarity on how his principles work on different platforms.
2) Revisits the core of why we are doing this, not just for the money but for our own gained happiness and I think that is important to highlight.

It helps to add that he is also writing from a millennial's perspective and to use his success as a blueprint is motivating as he can relate to the circumstances millennial's face today with finances.

Surprisingly Helpful Book

I think it is unfortunate when an author or a publisher believes that they have to oversell a book. This book is a victim of just such a stratagem. This is actually quite a detailed, well-thought-out, and well-written book about how to get your financial house in order. So I have issues with the title, subtitle, and book blurb. The title suggests a humorous or edgy approach, and the subtitle—as it begins with a rather strange directive—supports this theory as well. The book blurb makes you think that it is going to be more about retiring early or entrepreneurship. While the book does address the former, that isn't really the main thrust of the book. The book is really about getting your financial house in order and aligning what you do financially with your own personal values so that you can live a better present and future.

This book is meant for millennials, but I believe that most people could find benefit from it even if everything doesn't apply to you, because of your age group or for any reason. The book is broadly divided into four parts: foundations, growth, investing, and living your life. The first part begins with getting your money mindset correct by considering your approach two money. This part moves on to take a look at where your money is going and looking at your savings. Then he looks into having an emergency fund before diving into debts. In the growth section, he discusses a salary negotiation and having a side hustle. In the investing section, he looks at index funds, retirement accounts, and real estate. The final two chapters that make up part four step more into the mindset perspective, looking at purpose in retirement and happiness with your financial goals.

This book is chock full of ideas and things for you to think about in your approach to your finances both now and in the future. The author freely admits that most of these ideas are not his own. He does have an MBA and is a certified financial analyst, but he also states that he has gathered information from various places online. Honestly, there is much that will help people here, both in mindset and in practicalities. It will get you thinking about what you do with your money now, what you want to do with it in the future, and why you want (or shouldn’t want) to do all these things. If you want financial freedom now and years from now, I would recommend reading this book—whether you are a millennial or not.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read & review "Kicking Financial Ass" by Paul Dumont.

Well written, easy to understand, Mr Dumont has provided not only his insight, but that of others he has read. He shares his thoughts and experiences, as well as others, in an easy to follow format designed to help the reader take control of their financial life.

The chapters are concise and do not need to be read in order. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a refresher, or, ideas and suggestions to get ahead with their finances. Written for Millennial's, but applies to all.

This book was received as an ARC from Paul Christopher Dumont in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Finances is a topic that gets taken for granted because it is all about keeping up with the Jones' for some people and its all about what you own. But like $$$ once you spend it, it's gone and then you are left with mounting debt that will be troublesome in your life. Paul Christopher Dumont examines all the strategies of getting out of debt, saving money and how a low income if done right can be your greatest asset in retirement. I was blown away by this book with all the comparisons and with all the tips and tricks that got me motivated to try to help me get out of debt for good and have money be the least of my worries.

We will consider adding this title to our Business and Finance collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Kicking Financial Ass by Paul Christopher Dumont
Mr. Dumont seems to have covered all aspects of Finances in this book. Starting off with happiness and quoted Epictetus "Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants"
This book is geared towards millennials but is helpful for all ages. My personal takeaways are: having an emergency fund(of $1000 to start), doing the 60-40 budget(spend 60% of your income and save 40%), going through all of your expenses and see if you can lower them and to be happy, to ask ourselves...What would excite me?
There is information on all facets of finances...not that all of us will ever reach them.
This is a book that I wish I had had in my 20s...my finances would have been in a better state now if I'd had it...but as it is now, I will focus on the items that I am able to do.

I have read a lot of self-help books on Money and this is up there with the best, easy to understand steps that EVERY person can use! Not whole lot of new information per say for myself but more detailed for those that need to hear from multiple sources.

A nice look at both American and Canadian finances and what can be helpful to those in one of those countries, or if you live partly in the other. A number of topics introduced to you. Can see what may be beneficial to you.

Every college student should read this book! It is very readable, filled with excellent suggestions on how to make smart financial decisions, and will be great to help them avoid making bad financial decisions.

This has some good information in it, but the big answer is not here. The author is Canadian and writing mostly for a Canadian audience, whether he realizes it or not. Americans have to wait until 65 to retire because health care costs will bankrupt us if we try to retire before we are eligible to enroll in Medicare. Like every other book in this vein, there's no advice for this problem without a solution.

Kicking Financial Ass by Paul Christopher Dumont is easy to understand finances for reaching finance independence. I found the book included a lot of information in an easy to digest format. The book is divided into four parts: Foundations, Growth, Investing, and Living your Life. Most of the books on finance or retiring I've read focus on foundations and investing but leave our growth and living your life after retirement. Having these two additions made this more of a book about early retirement. Within each part the book had chapters that covered topics from getting your finances in order (out of debt), knowing how much you need to retire, growing your income and keeping expenses minimal, investing in index funds, and then realizing that after you retire you will need to create a life outside of work for yourself. If you are looking for a book with all of the basics on financial independence I would recommend this book. It doesn't go into great detail, but it is easy to understand and provides the tools you need to start done the path to financial independence.

Kicking Financial Ass is well-written and engaging...if you are very new to planning financial success. That is the reason for my four-star review instead of five stars. For the novice planner, this offers very easy to follow examples. However, for a person who is older and closer to retirement, most of the information may be already known or learned. I would highly recommend this to any person in his/her early 20's just starting a savings plan, but not so much for an older individual with a savings plan already in place.

To be able to live within your means, budget, and save for retirement requires a certain perspective on money, and Kicking Financial Ass starts with your attitude towards money.

Essentially it is a guide for people interest in Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) and from budgeting to brainstorming your side-hustle Kicking Financial Ass, really kicks ass.

I think overall this book is clearly and engagingly written. This is a good guide for anyone who wants to learn how to master their money situation and build a healthy financial plan for themselves. Though the retirement planning chapter is skewed toward a Canadian audience, the calculations did not factor for healthcare expenses. Which may not be a problem for Canadians who retire early, but can be a major financial obstacle for Americans who wish to retire early.

Honest and in-depth advice for reaching your full potential. This advice is presented in easy to follow language that can be broken up and applied in pieces at a time.

This was a well written, timely and necessary book. While some of the specific information doesn't apply to me, because I live outside USA and Canada, I think the principles are the relevant. This is exactly what I wished they taught us in school. The information was so easy to understand and it covered, home ownership, investment, saving, budgeting etc. I really appreciated that after every chapter there was a summary.

Kicking Financial Ass is a summary of several financial resources bundled into one convenient book. For people who have been improving their financial literacy and working towards early retirement, the tips may not be new, but they're good reminders. Dumont has clearly read some popular finance books, and he even references Mr. Money Mustache's blog. The thing that sets this book apart is the detailed look at both the US *and* Canadian markets. Dumont's book is far more inclusive than the average finance book, and he's always sure to say that if you don't live in North America, you should look at his guidelines, then see what you can do given the laws and markets in your own country. This is the main reason I rated the book so highly, but I took off a star because, at the end of the day, the information is not particularly new.