The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Weal… (2024)

A great start to the new year! This is a year of action and starting some things I wish my younger self had started, but I can’t dwell on that..now is the time. Emergency fund. Roth IRA. Pay off the little debt that I have this year. My goal is to move out of the apartment we have been in for 9 years. I’m claiming this!!✨

Pretty Good

This is a great place to start if you're wanting to get started on planning for financial independence. I got a few ideas from reading, but as someone already pretty financially literate, it didn't add too much. It was nice to have a personal touch to the topics via Wood's life experiences, but it was clear in the text that access to money in the first place is essential. If you're starting with large amounts of debt, I wouldn't say this is where to start, though it does give helpful tips on addressing debt. Unemployed folks with no income would not benefit, in the moment, from reading this, besides gaining some insight that could be helpful way down the line.

The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom is one of the most accessible finance/lifestyle books I have read. Woods ends each chapter with key learnings, concrete next steps and learning resources to help make large financial goals attainable within the limits of your comfort. The sage advice and research in this book is helpful for people in all stages of their journey to financial freedom, even if you haven't taken the first step. Woods also emphasizes the importance of reflection and moving toward financial freedom in a way that aligns with your values (and provides reflection questions to help you find your values). I will revisit this book regularly to remind myself of the practices and action steps to realize the freedom of a debt-free, financially independent life.

I really wanted to like this book and get something out of it, but I didn’t. This book may be great for teenagers or adults that aren’t the slightest bit financially literate, but if you’re financially literate, I don’t think this book will add anything to you. I was disappointed that Ms. Woods mentioned nothing about how to leverage credit cards to your advantage or how to leverage a life insurance policy for generational wealth and retirement.

I think in terms of practical advice that will help you build and protect your wealth, Increase, Protect, and Dominate Your Money by Tony Jackson is a better read.

Excellent Excellent Excellent... Ladies, do yourself a favor and get this book! It's for US!

The biggest issue: apart of being a very racist and sexist tome, I failed to notice what was uniquely applicable to women, or black people. And ”girl”? Isn't it a bit patronizing? As in slave owner patronizing? Or the author thinks that a 6 year old can work in modern day US?

The second issue: the advice is very very basic. One is far better watching YouTube, or searching on Google, than wasting money on this crap.

The last issue: the author not only failed to retire, but Woods' own method of building wealth is by getting degrees to become a governmental worker, meaning you work, you pay taxes, Woods gets a generous paycheck and healthcare even if he doesn't even bother to work that month.

Side issue: the blurb seems to be written only by leeches that spread the prosperity gospel: as they live off their audiences and not their **** advice.

This is a very helpful book about getting your finances in order. Men and women of any color can learn sound financial advice from this woman.

It's not one of those get rich quick schemes, and teaches regular people financial strategies that may have never been taught to you.

For example, investments including index funds (VTI & VTSAX), 401k/403B retirement funds, IRA, and online saving accounts with better interest.

Also, how to tackle debt ranging from credit card to student loans.

There are many jewels in this book and I plan on rereading it again and letting my friends know about it too.

A great introduction to the FIRE movement, as well as a good introductory personal finance book. Each chapter has reflection questions and work sheets at the end for you to apply the topics in the chapter, which I liked.

Before finishing the second chapter, I had already purchased two more copies for family members. The author does a fantastic job of sharing tips and steps on this challenging topic in accessible language that is easy to follow. I recommend it for anyone (not just black girls) interested in financial freedom.

I like how this book provides concrete advice over mindset tips. Also, as someone who already has basic finances in order, I’m glad that this book goes beyond that into investing.

I really appreciated this book meant for Black women's financial growth! I think it was good gems in this book and I definitely plan to purchase a physical copy to return to all of the suggestions offered. I will say some section weren't as relevant or were a bit elementary for my needs but overall, a helpful book to read!

This is the first financial planning book I’ve read. Paris broke down the concepts in easy to understand language without it feeling like I was being talked down to. She inspired me to look at index funds and explore the idea of FIRE or mini-retirements. I’ll be thinking more about why I work and what my end goals are! I appreciated her references to other resources to go learn more.

Great tips and read for current times dealing with finances. I am excited about implementing these things. Great audible read! :)

Nothing profound or new in comparison to any other financial book.

Decent book. I didn't gain any additional insight after reading this book, and I don't see how the information in this book is specifically relevant to Black women, besides the very brief mention of scholarships. A lot of what was discussed in the book was knowledge that I'd already acquired over years of basic Internet searches. At times the author came across a bit condescending, particularly where she indicates that if someone "needs" their job, that they're being "controlled" by said job. I don't know anyone these days who doesn't "need" their job?? Overall, I'd recommend this book to a novice looking to get a bit more understanding on how to get out of debt, be a bit more financially savvy, etc. I think it would be good for those graduating high school or college.

When books like this get written I think of the idea that when the least among us are taken care of we all are.
The author takes great care and consideration to recognize that most Black folks don’t grow up with this kind of financial education, and that Black women make less than their male and white counterparts.
And because this book prioritizes Black women’s financial education, it’s a great resource for anyone in an underrepresented minority group.
I appreciate that the author is learning and sharing with us what she’s learning, and not gatekeeping.
I also applaud books that have helpful resource lists or bibliographies.
Really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to share it with others!

For my third deep book of the year, I decided to read The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom by Paris Woods. I wanted to read this book for more insight on how I can improve my financial life in the future and how I can build wealth for myself as I get older. I wanted to be more financially literate, so I thought this would be the perfect book for me, especially as a young black girl. In this book, Paris Woods took the complications out of wealth-building and presents a plan that anyone can follow. My first finance book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, talked about building wealth from the perspective of someone who already had money and that book only focused on real estate, business building, and a little stock investing. Paris spent years working in education and wanted to find a way to build wealth without changing careers or taking the traditional real estate or business routes. Through real-life stories coupled with clear and actionable advice, she helped me learn how to build generational wealth, avoid common financial traps, earn my college degrees debt-free, achieve financial independence, and how to possibly retire early.
Paris Woods is a first-generation college graduate of Harvard University and a lifelong educator, having worked at some of the country’s top institutions. Through years of trial and error and the guidance of numerous FIRE (financial independence, retire early) experts, Paris landed on some simple principles that completely turned things around for her financially and in life. Paris has helped many families with their personal finances, including through her work as a college financial aid officer and as an IRS-certified tax preparer. Paris earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and her master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is currently an executive doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin and she resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The book splits into 3 parts: 1. How to get out of debt 2. How to earn more money 3. Steps to take if you want to retire early. "The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom" offers a comprehensive approach to achieving financial independence, dividing its content into three essential parts.

Firstly, it addresses the challenge of debt by providing practical insights and strategies on how to get out of debt. This section emphasizes the importance of budgeting, managing expenses, and implementing debt repayment plans tailored to individual circ*mstances. The second part focuses on increasing income, recognizing the significance of earning more as a key component of financial freedom. This included advice on career development, negotiating salaries, pursuing additional income streams, or exploring entrepreneurship tailored to the unique experiences and challenges faced by Black women. Finally, the book delves into the steps necessary for early retirement. This section is likely to cover topics such as smart investing, building passive income streams, and creating a sustainable financial plan that aligns with personal goals. By offering practical advice and a culturally relevant perspective, the book aims to empower Black women on their journey towards financial independence and early retirement.
This book had good definitions, she broke down terms that wouldn't otherwise be known to common just starting to get into financial talk. She also expands on the FIRE movement. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is a lifestyle and financial strategy aimed at achieving early retirement through aggressive saving, investing, and frugal living. The goal is to accumulate enough wealth to sustain a comfortable lifestyle without relying on traditional employment.
The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom is one of the most accessible finance/lifestyle books I have read. Woods ends each chapter with key learnings, concrete next steps and learning resources to help make large financial goals attainable within the limits of your comfort. The sage advice and research in this book is helpful for people in most stages of their journey to financial freedom, even if you haven't taken the first step. Woods also emphasizes the importance of reflection and moving toward financial freedom in a way that aligns with your values (and provides reflection questions to help you find your values). Wood’s takes great care and consideration to recognize that most Black people don’t grow up with this kind of financial education, and that Black women make less than their male and white counterparts. And because this book prioritizes Black women’s financial education, it’s a great resource for anyone in an underrepresented minority group. I appreciate that the author is learning and sharing with us what she’s learning, and not gatekeeping.

This is a great place to start if you're wanting to get started on planning for financial independence. I got many ideas from reading. It was nice to have a personal touch to the topics from Wood's life experiences, but it was clear in the text that access to money in the first place is essential. If you're starting with large amounts of debt, I wouldn't say this is where to start, though it does give helpful tips on addressing debt. Unemployed folks with no income would not benefit, in the moment, from reading this, besides gaining some insight that could be helpful way down the line. I was also a little disappointed that Ms. Woods mentioned nothing about how to leverage credit cards to your advantage or how to leverage a life insurance policy for generational wealth and retirement, but I suppose that I could research those topics on my own time.

This book is a great read for those who are just starting their financial journey. The author explains financial concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.

However, her discussion of debt as a shackle placed on individuals by credit card companies is disingenuous. It doesn't encourage personal accountability and instead feeds into a victim mentality. The first step to financial freedom is understanding how unnecessary spending sabotages your success. The author's change in writing towards personal accountability in the second half of the book is in direct contrast to the beliefs expressed in the first three chapters. It seems counterproductive to tell black women that they are slaves to the system rather than their own choices.

Finance is no longer an area where we are forbidden from participating. Instead, generations of financial illiteracy have led us to hold beliefs about money that go against our best interests. If the author intended to focus on financial problems that plague black women, it would have been beneficial to discuss our habit of equating the ability to buy objects with success and happiness. Why do we feel the need to spend money on unnecessary things to prove our worth and status when this action is harming us?

Practical, Moving, Purposeful

I chose 5 stars because of how practically the advice can be applied. I would probably do 4.5 if I could simply because the approach of debt elimination honestly is challenging for me and maybe that is a personal problem. I think it is a great suggestion but maybe not as easy to do at first as the book suggests. Paris makes it clear she had to cut and work to do so, but even so it is a hefty primary suggestion. However as you read the rest of the book I begin to understand her reasoning for doing so. So full circle read I suppose. I like how quick the read is which allows readers to work and apply and not spend all their time inside of the book— though reading is important of course. I recommend this book to everyone especially Black women and girls obviously. Information like this is less practically given to marginalized communities like ours. However this valuable information should be readily available to everyone. Especially young people about to begin their financial journeys for the first time ever. Awesome job, Ms.Woods. Thank you for challenging and inspiring.

🥴 I wasnt a fan of this book. It was an easy read but tbh i didnt learn anything; not even one financial tip that i didnt already know before reading. Alot of the info in this book is generic stuff that any literate person would already know. Im finally getting into learning about how to manage my money so that i can build generational wealth, and i thought this book would give me some good gems to go by. But.. NOTHING! And tbh, from listening to Dave Ramsey on Youtube, she said alot of stuff that he has said.. “Only eating beans and rice etc” and honestly Dave Ramsey doesnt mean that literally.

I was kinda over this book a chapter in. My fiancé has read Dave Ramseys book and has talked to me about some of the things he read in it, and in this book it was the SAME things that he said. 😒 I feel like this book would be good for a 18-22 year old that knows nothing about managing money. But for anyone over that age, everything in this book is common sense and stuff you already know. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Rhema!

Wow, just wow; I’m at a lose for words!
I’m a sucker for a good book (especially a novel) & the preface of this book read like one, so I was hooked! It’s so well written, yet practical. In a word, it’s rhema!

“The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom…” is everything I’ve been looking for in a financial education book and it’s so brilliantly put together, all in one book!

Thank you a million times, Paris, for this roadmap! I’m officially on my way to a mini-retirement with a goal of reaching early retirement within the next 10 years! You’ve given me everything I need to bring it to fruition!

This book will be a Christmas present to everyone on my list this year!

Pretty good book with actionable parts coupled with good information. The steps she mentions after every chapter could really help if the person reading actually takes the steps seriously to move forward to a better financial situation. Book splits into 3 parts (loosely put) 1. How to get out of debt 2. How to earn more 3. Steps to take if you want to retire early. This book had good definitions, she broke down terms that won't otherwise be known to common layperson just starting to get into financial talk. Other wise, good book to read for a young adult starting out. It felt like a really good preventative book. Although she mentions throughout that it's for everyone no matter what part in their finances they find themselves in. Good book overall!

this book is an extremely helpful financial book. Paris does an amazing job at tying everything together, helping you put each chapter in action in your own life. I think she does an amazing job at breaking down the chapters and the financial terminology as well. Growing up with parents who are in the financial world they both thought the takeaways from this book were amazing. This book isn’t just for black women even though I as a black woman love the concept. I would give this book to my brothers, my little cousins anyone who could benefit. I think this book is amazing and useful for anyone at any age.

This book was so good! And I love the representation this book brings for Black women. She provides a lot of information that is easy to digest and you can easily take the information you learn and expound upon it by the resources she provides. She is a living example of stacking your coins and achieving the financial freedom you want to live your best life. She talks about creating the vision you want for your life and she pushes you towards those goals by the activities and activations she has in her book. If you pick this book, you will not go wrong and it will be a consistent resource for you to refer back to when achieving your financial goals!

This is information is something a young person should know before leaving the nest. As the author states, it is information she wish she would have known earlier in life. I couldn't agree more. The author also gives good suggestions on how to get out of debt, save money and retire early. A lot of this information I already knew because of my age and trial and error. Which is why I would recommend this book to someone just starting their financial journey. Highlight parts for me, was not to purchase a brand new car. Omg if that's not the best advice. Or if you have to buy new pay in full, do not finance a vehicle.

Good solid financial advice for beginners

The book was a quick and easy read. It consists of good, solid financial advice for beginners. It's for everyone, not just Black women, but I appreciate the different perspective. I only give it 4 stars instead of 5 because it doesn't address certain nuances such as married couples and dependent children (except for student loans which can be applied to individuals with children). Overall, it's worth reading for beginners young and old in need of financial guidance.

Super quick read I was able to get through in a few hours. Most of it is stuff I already knew about from other books but I give it props for being targeted to Black women specifically. Also there were some valid points I don't hear a lot elsewhere like not over-spending on college but still investing some money into it and thinking through financing cars before committing to high car payments for the sake of that new car smell. Very accessible read for someone who doesn't know much about finance but wants to get their finances in order.

Thank you so much Paris Woods. I desperately needed this book. Please everyone read this!!! I promise you, it’ll help you. It’s not slow or boring. She lays everything out for you with summaries of each chapter at the end of that chapter which I definitely needed.

Have you every struggled with a subject at school and felt hopeless and defeated? I have and I felt like Paris Woods is that teacher everyone needs. She literally explains everything perfectly and I can’t wait to own this book and annotate it!!! (Ebook)

Very helpful. If you don't know where to start in saving or getting rid of debt, this book gives you multiple options and she goes into detail about each method. I do wish she would have went into more detail about investing. She gives a lot of information but I was still left with some questions. At the end of the books she gives you more books to check out by different authors; some were referenced in her book. MUST READ!

Read the book with my sister circle at the end of the year so that we have better financial mindset as we go into the new year. Really helped us to have conversation Nd the action items at the end of the chapter helped us to proactively put things in motion and have conversation. Only downside is most of the book is highly relatable but mostly from an American context which requires a lot more research for your regional context for which you can apply these tips.