Love Is Not Enough: A Smart Woman's Guide to Making (and Keeping) Money [Hardcover]

‘Essential Reading.’ Harper's Bazaar

‘Putting a deep pink picture of a girl buying shoes on the cover of Merryn Somerset Webb’s “Love is Not Enough” only partially disguises the fact that this is a book about money…But since Kate Middleton was seen with a copy, even a picture of Inland Revenue stooge Adam Hart Davis would be unlikely to halt sales. Subtitled “A Smart Woman’s Guide to Making (& Keeping) Money”, Webb’s book covers all the bases, from our shopping compulsion to pensions, investments and pre-nups. She edits the financial magazine Moneyweek, so she knows her stuff; plus, she’s got a child and has negotiated the whole dilemma of working motherhood. Money is scary, but not thinking about it just makes it worse; so take a deep breath, feel the fear and do it anyway.’ Laura Tennant, The First Post

Let’s face it! Prince Charming and his bank balance, just aren’t coming to bail us out financially. ‘Love Is Not Enough’ – the definitive lifestyle, financial bible for sassy women – will teach you not to care, and show you how to face the future with security and know-how. Better than the Spice Girls for Girl Power!

Money may not buy you love but it certainly helps with life's other little luxuries. From shopping sprees to pension plans, ISAs to investments, money plays a crucial role in our present and future comfort. We may not like to admit it, but diamonds – or cold, hard cash – really can be a girl's best friend.

So why, when women have much to celebrate, are we reluctant to talk about it? Why, when we have more wealth in our own names than ever before, do women take less interest in money than men? And why do we still feel that demonstrating an interest in finance is somehow…unfeminine? Because let's face it – for most of us, Prince Charming and his bank balance just aren't coming. If we want to secure our futures we're going to have to do it ourselves.

The good news is that it's not hard to do. Dealing with our personal finances is much, much easier than the financial industry would have us believe. Women tend to make better investors than men too – our instincts, so to speak, are on the money. All we need is a bit of know-how and the confidence to put it into practice.

Combining years of financial expertise with a healthy dose of scepticism and an easy sense of humour, Merryn Somerset Webb's sharp, witty and appealing guide to personal wealth for sassy women provides the answers. Whether you're drowning in debt, negotiating a higher salary or tackling the thorny issue of a pre-nup, just one read through and you'll be in a position to sort your finances out for good, transforming them from a constant worry into a source of peace of mind.

It's not the same any more.

Soaring taxes, debt and living costs, ridiculous house prices and the
partial collapse of the pensions system have shrouded our financial futures
in worry and doubt.

And even though it's nice to think that we'll stumble on a get-out clause -
a rich partner perhaps - there are absolutely no guarantees that we'll be
lucky enough to find one.

As Merryn says, women simply can't rely on other people to take control of
their finances any more. Women have to take control of their finances NOW.

Love is Not Enough provides a smart, pain-free and entertaining guide for
you to do just that, whatever stage of life you are at.
John Stepek
Deputy Editor, MoneyWeek

The one tip that could add at least £285,000 to your pay packet over the
course of your career - p. 23
* 11 smart ways to get paid what you are really worth - p.25
* The 4 simple investing rules that most people get wrong - p.164
* The 7 `must-have' insurance policies you just don't need p. 78
* The TV debt trap thousands are fooled by - don't let it happen to you -
p.118
* The one thing you need to ask before you ever use an Independent
Financial Advisor (IFA) - p.189
* The horrible news about women and their pensions - and the decisions you
should take now to give yourself the retirement you've always dreamt of -
p. 197
* 53 extra money-saving tips - p. 357
* Plus much, much more.

Money may not buy you love but it certainly helps with life’s other little luxuries. From shopping sprees to pension plans, ISAs to investments, money plays a crucial role in our present and future comfort. We may not like to admit it, but diamonds – or cold, hard cash – really can be a girl’s best friend.

So why, when women have much to celebrate, are we reluctant to talk about it? Why, when we have more wealth in our own names than ever before, do women take less interest in money than men? And why do we still feel that demonstrating an interest in finance is somehow…unfeminine? Because let’s face it – for most of us, Prince Charming and his bank balance just aren’t coming. If we want to secure our futures we’re going to have to do it ourselves.

The good news is that it’s not hard to do. Dealing with our personal finances is much, much easier than the financial industry would have us believe. Women tend to make better investors than men too – our instincts, so to speak, are on the money. All we need is a bit of know-how and the confidence to put it into practice.

Combining years of financial expertise with a healthy dose of scepticism and an easy sense of humour, Merryn Somerset Webb’s sharp, witty and appealing guide to personal wealth for sassy women provides the answers. Whether you’re drowning in debt, negotiating a higher salary or tackling the thorny issue of a pre-nup, just one read through and you’ll be in a position to sort your finances out for good, transforming them from a constant worry into a source of peace of mind.

Merryn Somerset Webb studied History and Economics at Gonville and Caius College prior to becoming a Daiwa scholar and completing an MA in Japanese language at The School of African and Oriental Studies, London University. In 1992 she moved to Japan to continue her Japanese studies and to produce business programmes for NHK, Japan's public television station. Returning to the UK in 1998 she became a financial writer for ‘The Week’ magazine before taking on the role of launch editor for the respected financial weekly ‘Money Week’. Today she continues to edit ‘Money Week’, has columns in the ‘Sunday Times’ and ‘Saga Magazine’ and is a frequent radio and television commentator on financial matters.