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My Money Matters Kit Thinks You Have Self-Esteem Issues
My Money Matters Kit reminds me of my college roommate. Every morning she wrote little messages to herself on the bathroom mirror in red lipstick that would say things like Today will be a good day! and You are beautiful. The only problem was that at the end of the day she was still a manic-depressive with an over-eating problem. All of which is to say that her Dior-Rouge- Nectar-scribed affirmations were as beneficial to her self-esteem as My Money Matters Kit is to my finances.
The $24.95 kit consists of four parts: money tips written on index cards, work booklets, a money journal and what else? Affirmations! Including priceless wisdom such as I am not afraid to take charge of my own finances and I am open to receiving prosperity and abundance.
The press release for the kit says that this product is for women who have “been intimidated and overwhelmed by money issues.” Apparently the plan is to appeal to these types of women with bright colors, floral accented affirmation cards, and girly font. The press materials proudly point out that the entire kit can comfortably fit into a pocket book! How exciting!
What this kit is trying to tell me is: We know you’re insecure and afraid of complicated things like money that men typically deal with, but don’t you worry, women can do it too!
All this from a woman who got an MBA in finance, worked for Bear Stearns and launched her own business. The kit is authored by Gina Gichon, founder of Down-to-Earth Finance, a company that offers financial advice to women. We’re guessing she doesn’t find money all that scary.
Besides the fact that the feminine packaging and uplifting affirmation cards are offensive and condescending, the kit isn’t even that useful. Sure, the money tips offer some basic advice like enrolling in a 401K and obtaining a credit report. But who wants to be sitting around filling out work booklets about this stuff?
Most of us just want someone to tell us how to put together a 401K and which mutual fund to choose, not obvious things such as “Pay your bills on time.” (Thanks, My Money Matters!) And the handy “My Money Journal” in the kit is really just a notebook where you write down what you bought and how much it cost. You can get the same thing without the carefully divided columns for $1.69. It’ll even fit into a pocketbook.
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It goes to show you what an MBA is worth, and that Bear Sterns will hire anybody (then again, I used to work there).
The first paragraph of this is priceless.
I disagree. As a 30-something woman with more letters after my name than most of my colleagues (but not an MBA) I found this kit both educational and user-friendly. And it’s way better than the thick wonky reports I get from my 401(k). I trash those.
Being able to address vitally important financial matters in manageable chunks–who has the time to sit through a massive tome on mutual funds?–is a genius way to teach financial concepts.
I plan on buying these kits as gifts for my accomplished, brilliant friends–women and men.
