Adam and I read this book chapter by chapter, finishing a chapter and then speaking about the steps asked of us by David Bach. There were two big things we took out of the book. First, obviously, talking about money with your spouse is the most important thing in a relationship. As two people who have been talking about money together since, honestly, the first month we met, this was nothing new for us. But, we did enjoy the exercises that asked us to talk about our long term goals, and how we would actively plan, save, and execute them. The second big thing we took away from the book was I finally signed up for my 401k. I know, I know, it's something you're just supposed to do, especially since I work for a company where they offer a 401k AND even contribute! But, I simply couldn't see the value in taking money away from what always felt like a too small paycheck to begin with. But Bach did a great job of explaining the benefits of putting away 10% of my income into a 401k that I finally grasped the importance. And after my first 401k payment went out of my paycheck, simple math showed that I was still coming out way, way on top. I think if nothing else, reading this book with your significant other, and talking about it together is a right step. Even if it inspires you to do nothing else but talk frequently about your financial future. So thanks Bach, and here's to Adam and my future as early retired millionaires....

This helped my wife and I reach up and make the sacrifices and smart moves to get our finances and retirement on track. Worth reading- especially if you are a young couple trying to figure out how to fund things like college, retirement, and how not to be eating Ramen noodles for the rest of your life.

I thought this book was great! Very simple steps that make sense! i really think every couple, young and old, should read this book. I used to work in the financial sector with 401k accounts and it always amazed me at how little people care about their financial futures. Planning your financial future together is so important, otherwise what are you working for? I am considering making this book my new wedding gift to couples!

A family friend gave me this book shortly after my husband and I got engaged - what a gift! The author’s approachable writing style, his logical suggestions, and his humor made a tough and overwhelming topic - how do we combine our income (and our debt) to build wealth together as a couple? - easy to talk about. This book guided us into making strong financial decisions (we’ve seen great results) and made household finances FUN. This books is so much more than budgeting, and worth the read whether you’re in relationship or flying solo. I’d rate more than 5 stars if I could because it’s now my staple gift to all newlywed friends.

A solid guide to finances, especially if you're like me and don't know exactly where to start.

my mom gives me lots of books on how to save your money. maybe she should save her money instead of buying me books. seriously though, good tips. This guy copyrighted "the latte factor"- about how a little spending here and there adds up.

Great book on personal finance and how we can manage to plan it within a relationship. Style of writing is simple and easy to understand. The author also coaches us how to negotiate our annual salary, to create a budget, to plan our dream/goals depending on our core values. Definitely recommend.

This was a great book for helping us to get all of our financial stuff in order and to know what was important to keep and what wasn't. I liked the other David Bach books I read as well. Easy to read and so informative. I liked the style it was written in and I didn't feel like he was busy trying to sell me on the way he did things the whole time I was reading. (I've felt that way with other financial books that I've read.)

Smart Couples Finish Rich... an excellent beginner's and intermediate guide to investing money as an individual and partnered couple. This book serves as a guide to encourage couples to discuss finances, take charge of planning for the future, establishing values and goals in life, health insurance, wills, all leading to commitment to investing. The book offers suggestions to research IRAs, 401Ks, index funds, mutual funds, and stocks. Diversification and investing early is encouraged.

Recommended by my boyfriend's cousin, a professional financial advisor. The emphasis on in-depth communication and the risk of different assumptions is certainly worthwhile. The rest didn't seem as relevant to my own life and patterns as many of the other financial advice books I've read, however. It really feels like it's for yuppies. There's quite an emphasis on saving for big-ticket expenditures. Which many people do need, but not me right now. And the values project just didn't click, especially such a vague way of defining values. He does address debt and retirement and emergency funds, but not in a new way. If this was the first financial book I'd read, it would probably make more of an impression.

This book, while giving some sound advice, is heavy on the relationship advice and lacking in concrete financial advice. It's geared toward the touchy/feely, rather than the practical - which is fine, but not for me.

OK, so Bach has the typical problems self-help writers have of using excessive exclamation points, somewhat annoying cheeriness, etc. But I really like his approach of fitting your financial plan into your values and goals, rather than having a one-size-fits-all financial approach. And he does make finance very accessible to the lay person, and I like that he emphasizes making gradual progress, rather than feeling so overwhelmed by the big list of things to do that you don't do anything.