About the book: “The 21 Day Financial Fast” by Michelle Singletary is “a field-tested financial challenge. For twenty-one days, participants will put away their credit cards and buy only the barest essentials.”

The whole idea is that you do not purchase anything other than necessities for 21 days. Nothing. This allows you to save money and see where you are wasting money. The idea being at the end of the fast you will have learned how to make lasting changes to your financial situation for the better.

My favorite part was the idea of having both an “Emergency Fund” and a “Life Happens Fund.”  The emergency fund is used for 3-6 months or more of household expenses in the case of a loss of income. The life happens fund is for when the car breaks down or the stove goes out and needs replaced and the author recommends $700-$1000 in that account. It allows you to be thoroughly prepared for both situations.

I did not agree with the way the author presented the material in some cases.  There are sections where the text comes off judgmental (such as the chapter on entitlement) or other places where the author seems to be trying to make the reader feel bad in order to make a change.  I would like to believe that the author’s intent was not to come off this way but it certainly changed my mood and opinion of the book in those sections.

Finally, if you have read “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey or other similar books you will get very little, if anything, new in this book other than the 21 day concept.  I think this concept is worth taking a look at the book and can be a helpful tool to those who have trouble controlling their spending habits or need help shedding some light on their habits.

All in all it is a great concept with potential that came up short.

For further information or to see other reviews visit the book’s page on Amazon.

*Note: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.*