Drowning in $20,000 of credit card debt, shopaholic Karyn Bosnak asked strangers for money online -- and it worked
What would you do if yo... read full description
reviews
Nov 01, 2007
Jamie
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I had a hard time with this one. The premises is that the author moves to NYC from Chicago, runs up 20 grand in credit card debt, and then creates a website (savekaryn) asking for donations to help her pay it. In the end, she did get about $13,000 from random people who sent her money. She also starts selling some of her things on ebay, and contributes her own money as well. She found herself between a rock and a hard place when she lost her job as a producer after 9/11, and from what it sou
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Feb 17, 2010
Meaghan
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This was a fairly good memoir, straightforward and honest. It was interesting to read how Karyn convinced the world to send her money to pay off her bills. However, the story as to how she got in so much debt almost made me hate her, because she was such an idiot. "I'll cut up my credit cards and keep just one for emergencies...omg I have a date and nothing to wear, this is an emergency and I must charge a $200 outfit!" I wanted to grab this woman by the shoulders and shake her. I ho
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Sep 06, 2008
Melissa
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This book wan't terrible or great. I picked it up mostly because I was curious as to what kind of person would have the balls to ask strangers to pay off her debt accumulated by buying crap she didn't need and couldn't afford. Basically, her spending habits were enough to make me nervous just reading about them. The writing was very basic, not all that funny, and she used "anywho" a few too many times for my taste. It was interesting and I do like memoirs, so I don't regret having
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Aug 16, 2009
Kayce
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What to say... Well, the author is funny and there were several parts of this book that made me laugh out loud. And while I realize that everyone carries debt at some point in their life, I can't relate to the NEED for big ticket items. I could never justify spending $700 on lingerie or several hundred on one pair of shoes. But just because I can't relate to her shopaholic ways, the book was still entertaining. Maybe because it seems so foreign to me to rack up that kind of debt without panic. I
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Jul 27, 2011
Stephanie
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I'd really wanted to love this book. It started off well, despite the less than stellar writing. I liked Karyn, but some of her financial decisions baffled me. I have debt myself, and I totally understand the morale boost of shopping. However, it was difficult to sympathize with her constant need to purchase insanely expensive items while she was upset over her extreme debt. $700 for 2 outfits? Ahhh!
I enjoyed the stories about her cat, Elvis. I also liked her determination to get herself More...
I enjoyed the stories about her cat, Elvis. I also liked her determination to get herself More...
Jun 26, 2009
Christina
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I read this book as last month's book selection for a book club I belong to. It was intended to contrast the very sad "Billy" that we read...a contrast it was! Overall, I liked the book. I did think her narration of the shopping sprees was a bit long. And, like other critiquers on this site, I cringed at her spending habits as well as her rationale. (I mean...who goes on shopping sprees, yet fails to purchase a lock for the door!?) But the book was cute. I got annoyed at how every othe
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Nov 26, 2008
Chade66
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Warning, this a pink, girly girly book.
I struggled with this book. I am one of those people who does not understand why on earth someone would pay $600 for shoes or $12,000 for a purse. I would buy a car for $12,000 maybe, but not some fashion accessory that will be out of fashion in four minutes.
Not only that, but the author doesn't learn her lesson in college when she uses her TUITION money to buy clothes. WTF? $1600 for clothes in one blow ("but they were cut More...
I struggled with this book. I am one of those people who does not understand why on earth someone would pay $600 for shoes or $12,000 for a purse. I would buy a car for $12,000 maybe, but not some fashion accessory that will be out of fashion in four minutes.
Not only that, but the author doesn't learn her lesson in college when she uses her TUITION money to buy clothes. WTF? $1600 for clothes in one blow ("but they were cut More...
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Oct 13, 2011
Tracy
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This book is the story of Karyn Bosnak's plunge into debt when living in NYC, her downfall when she loses her job and the website she set up to solicit strangers from the internet to help her pay off about $20K. I remember hearing about this and thinking it was so weird? Who would send her money? The book could have used a good edit and probably could have been about 100 pages shorter, but I enjoyed the story. She really changed after having to live on practically nothing WHILE paying off he
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Jul 28, 2009
Tameka
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Apr 11, 2010
Lindsay
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This is the second time I've read this book, and I swear, as the years go by and I get a little more smarter, when I reread books, I understand them a bit better. And the fact that I can relate to the endless shopping and worrying where the rent money is going to come from, it just made the story seem more realistic. It's a true story of a girl who got into a great deal of debt and thought up the idea to start up a website asking people to help her pay it off. And it worked. Of course there were
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Dec 01, 2010
MsSmartiePants
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This is my second attempt at reading this book. The first time I attempted it, I didn't have patience to get into her writing style and found it frustrating. Since this book was recommended by Jen Lancaster, an author I adore,I put this book on my shelf for another try.
Happily, I am 3/4 of the way through this memoir of one young woman's journey into deep, deep debt. I believe that her path is the way many people follow, happily purchasing things the "need" and "can't More...
Happily, I am 3/4 of the way through this memoir of one young woman's journey into deep, deep debt. I believe that her path is the way many people follow, happily purchasing things the "need" and "can't More...
Jul 17, 2009
Nic
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I've never been the type to blow money quite so frivolously as Karyn; I tend to be more cautious, buying sale/clearance items, or the store vs. name brand, any way I can to save money. However even I get sucked into a shopaholic frenzy at times, just not with designer clothes!
So in a way I could definitely relate to Karyn, especially with just how easy it is to charge something instead of paying cash for it. There were times when I couldn't believe what I'd just read, the silly thing More...
So in a way I could definitely relate to Karyn, especially with just how easy it is to charge something instead of paying cash for it. There were times when I couldn't believe what I'd just read, the silly thing More...
Jun 20, 2009
Marcia
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This book has a slow start, but an amazing ending. Bosnak racked up over $20,000 in credit card debt,then created a website to ask people to help her pay it off. It worked! Yet, fairly lackluster writing (the most repetitive sentence structure I've read in a long time)didn't do this story justice. Unlike on her website, Bosnak's book lacks cleverness and wit. Plus, she's just too self-absorbed for my taste. Still, I learned that it really is true: "Ask and ye shall be given"...as long
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Aug 21, 2008
Melissa
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The third of my "gal about town" novels set in NYC.
God help me, I remember this girl when she launched her website, I even sent her a buck, a packet of kool-aid, and a Target gift card with something like $2 on it. She annoyed me, but charmed me at the same time.
So too goes this book. She carries you, wide-eyed and naive from downtown Chicago to NYC. You want to scream at her "stop!" when she buys her first pair of shoes for "only $170," bu More...
God help me, I remember this girl when she launched her website, I even sent her a buck, a packet of kool-aid, and a Target gift card with something like $2 on it. She annoyed me, but charmed me at the same time.
So too goes this book. She carries you, wide-eyed and naive from downtown Chicago to NYC. You want to scream at her "stop!" when she buys her first pair of shoes for "only $170," bu More...
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Sep 13, 2007
Shay
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I like "chick lit" - it's taken me a very long time to admit that. I find it fun to live vicariously through these women who seem to always have it together with great jobs, loves, and style. Save Karyn started that way then actually came through with a point and a lesson - for that I loved it.
It started out being silly and frivolous with the heroine - Karyn - shopping like crazy and spending foolishly on purses and shoes racking up a huge debt of $20,000. She finally reali More...
It started out being silly and frivolous with the heroine - Karyn - shopping like crazy and spending foolishly on purses and shoes racking up a huge debt of $20,000. She finally reali More...
Jun 11, 2007
karen
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Although I do not have a gi-normous credit card debt, I could definitely relate to Karyn. I am also a 20-something girl living in NYC and have definitely felt the push and pull of living here. At the same time, I was amazed at what she was spending. Her salary was at LEAST three times what I am making now and yet I somehow manage to survive without eating ramen and frapuccinos for meals.
I think Karyn would have been a lot better off if she had more friends in the city in her income b More...
I think Karyn would have been a lot better off if she had more friends in the city in her income b More...
Jul 01, 2009
Maria
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The book is exactly what you'd expect it to be, a shopaholic's account of getting in debt up to her Gucci eyewear and digging herself out one payment at a time. I wish my debt was as glamorous......my Visa statement is full of moving expenses and vet bills!
I was tempted to start a drinking game on the number of times the author transitions to a new paragraph with the term "anyhoo" -- I lost count at 20.
Anyhoo, it is a quick and enjoyable read and anyone tha More...
I was tempted to start a drinking game on the number of times the author transitions to a new paragraph with the term "anyhoo" -- I lost count at 20.
Anyhoo, it is a quick and enjoyable read and anyone tha More...
Jan 01, 2010
Gina
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I couldn't relate to her story at all. If I splurge, it's like $20, not $700 and her seeming inability to stop just made this a stressful read for me.
What I do find interesting is that this all happened before blogging/facebook/twitter, etc. became so huge. Word of her website spread quickly in 2002, but what would happen today? There are so many bloggers with ads or donate buttons. I think she would probably still be paying off that debt.
What I do find interesting is that this all happened before blogging/facebook/twitter, etc. became so huge. Word of her website spread quickly in 2002, but what would happen today? There are so many bloggers with ads or donate buttons. I think she would probably still be paying off that debt.
Mar 12, 2009
Kkalmoni
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Based on the true story of shopaholic Karyn who moves to NYC and racks up $20,000 in debt. After having difficulty paying off her debt she starts selling off her stuff on ebay & starts a web-site savekaryn.com asking for donations from strangers. Interesting & amusing, particularly when one considers how epidemic debt has become. I liked her creativity to paying off her debt & how she takes responsibility for it.
Jan 17, 2009
Enjoli
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Karyn Bosnak is hilarious in this charming memoir about her ease into retail therapy and struggle out of the debt that soon followed. She resembles a lot of how people convince themselves that they need things they really don't and how they justify the purchase until the bill comes. But to read this book is a coin toss, you either love her or you hate her, but one thing is for sure, we can all relate to her.
Jan 30, 2012
Birgit
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First things first - yes, I only give this book two stars, but that's not to say I didn't like the idea behind it and Karyn Bosnaks determination to to get out of debt.
That said, the author presents herself as a shopaholic in best Becky-Bloomwood-Style and she's spending and spending and spending. Singing songs of praise on Saks & Co. (and the likes) take up a good part of the book, seasoned with the odd date with men who'll disappear as fast as they appeared.
With the idea of creating More...
That said, the author presents herself as a shopaholic in best Becky-Bloomwood-Style and she's spending and spending and spending. Singing songs of praise on Saks & Co. (and the likes) take up a good part of the book, seasoned with the odd date with men who'll disappear as fast as they appeared.
With the idea of creating More...
Oct 26, 2011
Amy
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Honest, & sometimes funny this book is the perfect cautionary tale of buying things with money you don't have. Book was choppy in parts - read like a blog or journal entry sometimes. Begins new thoughts or paragraphs with words like "anywho" which I found annoying.
Bottom line: I'm just pissed I didn't think of her tactics and concept first.
Bottom line: I'm just pissed I didn't think of her tactics and concept first.
Jun 24, 2011
Jennifer
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I liked this book! It's written in a "chick lit" style, so if you don't like that, you probably won't like this book. She likes to say "anywho" a lot, which can get quite annoying! It moves at a fast pace and it was fascinating to read how someone making $100,000 per year got lost in debt. She made a lot of dumb decisions that made me want to scream at her... like going out to eat at a Zagat rated restaurant EVERY SINGLE DAY. I do find it irritating that she created a we
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Mar 04, 2011
Liz
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I can't properly review this book as I only got about 50 pages into it because I felt that the writing was terrible and it drove me nuts! I was really excited to read it, as I have had much smaller-scale shopping issues and am a blogger, and it was recommended by my favorite author Jen Lancaster. I am terribly disappointed!
Dec 24, 2007
Keris
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The book begins with Karyn's move to New York and how she got into so much debt - buying clothes, bags, shoes, cosmetics and using credit to pay for day to day living expenses like food and transport. (This is easily done - when I moved to London I did the same thing. Luckily because it was 1989 and credit wasn't the terrifying behemoth it is now, my Barclaycard limit was only £400. Still took me about five years to pay it off though...) Each chapter begins with her American Express and, later,
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Dec 19, 2011
Chynared21
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Enjoyable read about a woman who ended up with $25,000 worth of debt and how she "paid" off said debt. It's written in the Confessions of a Shopaholic flavor which is why it was a fun read, though this was non-fiction.
I enjoyed her writing style so much, I may check out her first novel, 20 Times a Lady.
I enjoyed her writing style so much, I may check out her first novel, 20 Times a Lady.
Jun 27, 2011
Kerri
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Loved this book. Karyn was brutally honest in her revealings of how she became a shopaholic, coming to terms with her addiction, and pioneering/unique efforts of recovery and helping others overcome their addiction to buying stuff. Written with humility and modern day wit from a layman's perspective.
Jun 04, 2011
Andrea
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What a great book. Though I couldn't get over how she just charged everything to her card without worrying about the consequences, I found the book fun and inspiring. Makes you think about how much money is wasted on non-essentials. I stayed up til the early hours cos I didn't want to put it down and walked round with it most of today. Going to check out her website next to see the latest developments!!
Nov 15, 2011
Kim
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I liked this book as it detailed what could easily become just about anyone's life . . . I'd rate it higher but I did come across a couple of typos and that makes me crazy. THe story was great though and I love how Karyn chronicled exactly how her debt happened.
Jan 07, 2009
Natalie
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This is one of my favorite books! I want to read it again soon. It is a hilarious story and completely true! Karyn tells her story in an interesting and entertaining way. Makes you think too. I highly recommend.
