Tightwads and Spendthrifts

I don't know any relationship that doesn't struggle with money issues in one way or another. Coming from different backgrounds, different family dynamics with money, makes it difficult for couples to navigate these waters. But they need to, not only to have a smoother marriage but to help their children have a healthy relationship with money, too. This book presents some talking points and thinking questions that you can work through on your own or together as couple.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Useful little book. Some generalizations that you have to think beyond in order to make the tips work for you, but a good enough guide to thinking through how to talk about money within your relationship in a productive way.

This book examines the psychology of two groups of people: those who are extremely thrifty with money (tightwads) and those who spend freely, even to excess (spendthrifts). I have an MBA in Finance and spent my career as the chief financial and business officer of a public college. I have a personal tendency to be thrifty with money, as does my husband. This book correctly states that when married couples are mismatched financially this can cause problems, even divorce.
The author does a good job explaining each money style and how having it may affect relationships, including child rearing. It will enable the reader to understand their spending habits and be able to reshape them, if needed. The book would be very useful for singles considering marriage as well as couples undergoing financial conflicts in their relationship. It would also be useful for those who are marriage counselors.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Tightwads and Spendthrifts by Scott Rick is an extensive science-based guide to understanding and transforming how we manage money, both on our own and in relationships.
Scott Rick gives readers amazing advice on how to create a game plan for navigating financial decision people can rely on for a happy life together.
I enjoyed reading this guide. It was honestly insightful and very informative.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

At its core, this book embarks on a compelling expedition into the human psyche. It dissects the underpinnings of our financial decisions with surgical precision, illuminating the intricate web of our choices and their far-reaching reverberations. Readers will find a treasure trove of wisdom that will enable them to decipher the mysteries entwining money and love.

An interesting new angle to help people deal with money problems in a relationship.
I'm a spendthrift. It is exactly what I need.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Summary:
This compact little book – just 8 chapters and a conclusion – discusses the defining behaviours of the tightwad and spendthrift, and how this spending behaviour can impact relationship dynamics. The author discusses how to work on those spending behaviours if they are a source of stress for you and/or your relationships. It also covers the potential influences and impact on children in the relationship. The chapters include lots of great celebrity quotes on finances and tips on how to resolve spending dilemmas.

Thoughts:
I quite enjoyed the author’s informal writing style and his anecdotes, particularly comforting when it comes to traditionally dry topics like personal finances. I appreciated that he approached the discussion about tightwads and spendthrifts without any judgement or criticism, which often angers the listener/reader and precludes any productive discussion or learning. If you are advanced in financial literacy then you won’t find much in this book to enlighten you; however I found it thought-provoking and helpful to reflect on my own behaviour and how my partner views money and spending. I also appreciated the author’s own outlook on money in general – if you aren’t using it thoughtfully to improve your quality and enjoyment of life, then what is the point?


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this copy to review.

Tightwads and Spendthrifts by Scott Rick

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Jack

Tightwads and Spendthrifts by Scott Rick is a very good book. Some people are extremely tight with money (tightwads) and others spend freely, sometimes excessively (spendthrifts). Others combine these traits in various ways.

I enjoyed Tightwads and Spendthrifts for many reasons. It is a science-based guide to understanding our sometimes complicated relationship with money. Scott Rick is a behavioral scientist and this might make some hesitate to give this book a try. But have no fear, the writing style is very informal and non-judgmental. Not the dry, complex style one might expect. I appreciated his explanation of his methods as well as the discussion of the work of others. I also enjoyed his discussions of the various approaches to understanding our financial decisions.

Then, of course, when a couple is involved it gets more complicated. Both members may be similar or very different or somewhere in between. He discusses various options to make financial decisions and handle money. It is important to note the there is not one right answer. But there are many options and the couple must find what works for them.

I found the book a quick enjoyable read and a useful guide to making financial decisions. I highly recommend Tightwads and Spendthrifts,

The book will be published January 9, 2024. I thank both Netgalley (https://www.netgalley.com) and Macmillan Publishers (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280077/tightwadsandspendthrifts) for the chance to read this before publication.

"Tightwads and Spendthrifts" by Scott Rick is a thought-provoking exploration of the psychology behind our financial decisions. Rick delves into the behavioral aspects of money management, unraveling the complexities of thriftiness and extravagance. The book is a compelling blend of research and real-world examples, offering insights into the factors that shape our spending habits. Rick's writing is accessible and engaging, making behavioral economics accessible to a wide audience. "Tightwads and Spendthrifts" is not just a book about money; it's a fascinating journey into the quirks of human behavior, providing readers with valuable perspectives on personal finance and decision-making.

An interesting guide to handling money issues in relationships.Whether your a tight wad or a spendthrift there is interesting information to negotiate your spending.#netgalley #st.martins

As the clock ticked and we flipped the calendar to a new year, many of us immediately wanted to become better versions of ourselves. Tightwads And Spendthrifts: Navigating The Money Minefield In Real Relationships by Scott Rick is one self-help book that would be extremely beneficial as we adjust to this new year and educate ourselves to make change.

Rick is a behavioral scientist, and as such, this book takes on a different perspective than other financial books I have read; as a result, this one worked better for me than any other ever has. The information presented was not based on wealth management statistics, but instead focused on the human side of money. This approach spun the narrative, and allows reading this self-help book to become extremely accessible to those in any tax bracket. Never once did it come across preachy or focus critically on money management.

I was shocked at just how much information this book provided and was fascinated by what it brought to the money and wealth discussion. Not only is it about money and how we spend it (or don't) but it also touches on our relationships with our partner and children (in relation to spending habits). This book truly narrowed in on our individual relationships with money, and how that relationship further affects our partnerships and children.

As I envisioned who should read this book, I thought about couples reading it together (it would be a great road trip audiobook), so I decided to put myself in that space as much as possible; I challenged myself and only listened to the audio format. (With that said, I am unbelievably happy to have the physical copy to return to, highlight and reach for time and time again.) The audiobook narrator (Stacey Carolan) was well spoken, easy to understand and provided the perfect tone for a non-fiction book; I'm also appreciative that a professional narrator was chosen to voice the book as an author is not always the best choice. My only issue with this audio format: I found it hard to fully comprehend the quiz at the beginning of the book but my solution worked and I simply slowed the narrator, and rewound as many times as needed until I grasped what was being asked.

This is simply one of the best self-help books I have read, especially in regards to this topic of money and how it is presented!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

An informative and interesting exploration of different spending habits - those who have some trouble spending money ("tightwads") and those who have fewer qualms about spending freely ("spendthrifts").

While this is somewhat geared towards couples (and how different money management styles can cause conflict), I think anyone wanting to better understand their spending habits or motivations behind those habits can take away something useful from this.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

TIGHTWADS AND SPENDTHRIFTS by Scott Rick goes straight to the heart of so many relationship issues; our relationships with money--the ones we entered the relationship with and the one we create with one another for better or worse, in harmony or at odds with one another. Beyond the terrible awkwardness of dating a person who calculates the tip with precision rather than offering a generous bounty, money can pervade and poison every aspect of the life we share with another: how we buy, what we buy, how we gift one another, earn our livings. I took to heart the examples he shared, cringing a bit at my own past and yet feeling hopeful and empowered to work with my partner and friends for good. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this one early! I have been in a big financial literacy kick lately and was excited to get a book that focuses specifically on finances in relationships, particularly marriage.

I am wholeheartedly a spendthrift - whoops. And I married a tightwad. So much of this book provides tangible conversations to have or ideas to make your financial health work together - plus I was very interested in all the research they complied and shared.

While I have no interest in having kids, there is a chapter on navigating finances with kids, which I enjoy; I wish I had more financial literacy conversations with my parents while growing up.

Overall, a fantastic self-help read.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

This book was made for my husband and I. I am the tightwad and my husband spendthrift.
I found this book fascinating. Scott Rick has done fantastic research on the psychological reasons we spend money the way we do. Although I knew this he digs deep in explanation to understand deeper. There is also a what kind of spender are you quiz for just in case you aren't sure. Plans are listed to help the spendthrifters. And often both people end up married this book helps navigate the relationship for both parties to try to be on the same page. This book seriously covers it all helping a marriage, helping your children, issues that arise, ways to solve issues, and smarter way to buy gifts. Again thank you to netgalley for trusting me with giving a review.

Dr. Rick defines a tightwad as a person who has difficulty spending money. A spendthrift is a person who has difficulty controlling spending. Research shows that conflict revolving around money is the second leading cause of divorce in the United States, with infidelity being the leading cause.

This book explains why money should be considered when choosing a partner, how money should be handled within the relationship, and how money should be used in raising children. The ultimate goal is finding a balance between financial and psychological well-being.

I chose this book because I tend to enjoy spending money and my husband tends to have difficulty spending. I am not an extreme spendthrift and he is not an extreme tightwad, but we definitely have different spending/saving styles.

The author did an excellent job blending the psychological and financial concepts in this book. Financial beliefs are deeply engrained and have often been in place since childhood. Communication and compromise are required to work out a financial plan that is satisfactory to both partners in a marriage.

I read Chapter 7, "The Secret Language of Gifts", about three weeks before Christmas. It is always hard for me to purchase a gift for my husband. Dr. Rick believes that gift-giving occasions are important opportunities to make our partners feel seen and appreciated. He recommends giving gifts that require some kind of sacrifice. It should be clear to your partner that your gift was not easy to select or obtain. This advice really touched me and helped me choose appropriate Christmas gifts for my husband.

You might be surprised to learn that the author does not believe that complete financial transparency is necessary among financially mismatched partners. He suggests that financial translucency (partial financial transparency) is likely to strike the right balance between financial and relationship well-being.

This is an amazing book that should be required reading for everyone in a relationship that requires the blending of finances. Highly recommended!

Whether you're trying to manage finances as a single person or within the confines of a relationship or family, this book can be helpful. A little generic, but still good.

I am a Tightwad and my husband has spendthrift tendencies so I was excited to pick this book up. This book spends about the first half describing the terms and giving examples but doesn't really get to too much advice until the second half. I thought this was an interesting book but I feel like there is so much nuance to spending. I know with my husband's ADD, he gets little dopamine hits from spending but it didn't really discuss that at all. I also didn't read too much helpful advice for navigating our relationship with the differences. Luckily, we are able to deal with the differences OK but I was excited to get some helpful advice. I did read one thing that I might try to implement for us. But overall, this didn't meet my expectations on helpful, real world advice but it was a quick, easy and interesting read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

It might not feel romantic but this book would make an excellent gift for a couple that you know…even if you, yourself, are part of said couple. It seems to me that it will be especially helpful to those in new(ish) relationships, say two people who are about to begin living together. Reading this could help to avoid trouble spots later in a relationship.

Clearly, people evolve their thinking about money in both conscious and unconscious ways. The author of this book, a behavioral scientist, unpacks how these attitudes influence a person using the categories of spendthrift and tightwad. Early in the book, there is a short quiz (I find quizzes tend to draw people in) that helps a person to acknowledge their overall perspective. 

Following this, are chapters that will, hopefully, lead to deeper understanding and connection between partners. I like that there is even attention paid to how a current generation may influence the one below.

Struggling with a partner about money? Not struggling but don’t want to have to? Either way, take a look at this helpful book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.