With the cost of living crisis, like many I’ve been searching for ways to save money and streamline my outgoings so I was excited to be invited to the tour for Gemma Bird’s The Money Journal by Random Thing Tours.
Book Review: The Money Journal by Gemma Bird

Title: The Money Journal
Author: Gemma Bird
Publisher: Octopus
Genre: Financial non-fiction
Release date: 2nd February 2023
Blurb:
If you are worried about the cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel bills, heating or eating, being able to afford birthday and Christmas presents and holidays – then this is the journal to help you to take back control of your bank balance!
The problem with saving money is that many of us don’t know where to start. And with so much shame and secrecy around the topic of finances, it can be difficult to ask for support. However, Gemma Bird aka Instagram sensation @MoneyMumOfficial is here to help you tackle your money mindset and bank more money! Because money isn’t a secret recipe that only rich people know, it’s a mindset and an attitude that anyone can have. All it takes is a little every day to build your funds!
Imagine knowing you have all your money problems sorted: bills, Christmas, holidays, the baby fund, school uniform – you have enough put aside to cover it all! The Money Journal goes beyond your typical budget planner and dives deeper and tackles your mindset and financial anxiety at its core. Discover bank boosting tips and learn how to tailor your savings goals to your own lifestyle by formulating a personalised budget plan. With this practical handbook, you can also keep on top of your monthly spending, so you always stay on track.
Inside this journal you’ll find:
✓ A spender quiz to help you discover your money mindset
✓ A guide to setting your savings goals
✓ A checklist for getting out of debt
✓ A monthly to-do list to help you reach your targets
✓ Space for taking notes and reflecting on your progress
Let The Money Journal empower you to take back control of your bank balance and achieve
your money goals.
My Thoughts
Every New Year, I vow to keep a tighter rein on my finances but like many the last year has made it crucial and searching for ways to cut outgoings and save money. Every year, I stumble as the spreadsheet on my desktop remains unopened. This convenient sized journal sat on my desk, in sight so therefore used. It is a twelve month journal but because it isn’t dated it can be begun at anytime not just in the New Year’s resolution rush.
The high accessible format and language makes it easy to use. I may only be a couple of months in but it has helped me focus on my finances and saving rather than putting it off for another day and then panic as the bank balance goes down. With a slant towards exploring the mindset around finances rather than just pounds or pence in the account, I’m finding it enlightening. From asking questions about your saving type to planning no spend days (harder than it sounds) and make money days it made me consider not only my spending but other ways to boost my bank balance.
Each month provides monthly saving checklist with different tips to try, a budget review and spend tracker and space to write own thoughts and successes. Colouring pencils and stickers came out to personalise my journal too. Alongside small but useful tips which do help bit by bit, there is a bigger varied topic spotlighted e.g gratitude and ISAs. By having set goals and checklists, it was nice to feel more in control than completely overwhelmed which is a win for mental health.

Would I recommend?
If you’re looking for an effective journal to keep track of your finances and give yourself a nudge into saving, this could be one for you. Easy to understand in a clear layout, it does exactly as describes (as long as you use it).
Author Biography

Instagram sensation Money Mum Official, aka Gemma Bird is a hard-working mother of two from Essex. After years of working
multiple jobs at once, from picking mushrooms to working as an estate agent, Gemma never earned more than £25k a
year and yet managed to pay off her £225k mortgage. To achieve this, Gemma had to come up with some careful and creative
methods of saving every penny.
Gemma Bird launched @MoneyMumofficial on Instagram to help others save cash. She now regularly shares
money-saving tips to her 225k loyal followers. As her platform has continued to grow, brands like Amazon, Pampers, Tesco,
Compare the Market, Wilko, Poundland, Superdrug, Febreze and McDonalds have reached out to partner with her.
Gemma’s first book Money Mum Official: Save Yourself Happy has sold over 14.5k copies since publication in January 2022 and
was a Sunday Times bestseller.
Instagram.com/moneymumofficial
Thank you Random Things Tours for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.
Love

