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We’ve probably all felt envious at one point or another. I know I have. And as often happens, I soon came across something that helped me understand my feelings: a book called Green with Envy (affiliate link) by Shira Boss. It’s a personal finance book from a different point of view. It discusses the feelings surrounding money, and the things that most people (with the exception of some of us bloggers) don’t usually talk about. You know, like where people get their money, how they are affording things, whether or not they are in debt, etc. It was a great read. And at just over 200 pages, it’s a pretty quick read too.

The most important thing I got out of the book is that it’s human nature to compare yourself to others that you view as being similar to yourself. So while I’m fine with touring the houses of millionaires, and I’m at least not envious after visiting someone that lives 5-to-a-1-bedroom singlewide in a bad neighborhood, seeing a significantly nicer house than mine that belongs to a person that I view as having an extremely similar background to me naturally makes me wonder. Am I good enough? Did I do something wrong? Are they just lucky? Can they afford it? Hence the funk. But I feel a lot better having figured out why.

The book contains seven chapters:

1. Green with Envy
2. The Money Next Door
3. Keeping Up with the Joneses
4. Capitol Secrets
5. Baby Boomers Beware
6. Behind the Hedges
7. Conclusion

Chapter one (Green with Envy) is a fascinating explanation of how the book came to be. We’re introduced to the author’s former next door neighbors, and into an honest glimpse of the kinds of thoughts that we all have but might be loathe to admit. The Money Next Door details the truth behind those neighbors. Keeping Up with the Joneses talks about a couple that woke up one day and found that they were hopelessly in debt. Capitol Secrets lets us in on some of the details of what life is really like as a congressperson working in D.C. (I had no idea that one of my own congressmen, for example, regularly sleeps on an air mattress.) Baby Boomers Beware discusses the disconnect between what the baby boomers felt their future would be like and the reality. Behind the Hedges gives us a glimpse into the problems and feelings that the ultra-rich have regarding money. (Yes, even billionaires have problems relating to money.) The conclusion points out new, empowering ways of viewing money.

Check it out if you get a chance — it’s an eye-opening read. You can also take a look at the Green With Envy web site if you’d like more details about the book.

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