Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back

by Karyn Bosnak

Book Overview

Drowning in $20,000 of credit card debt, shopaholic Karyn Bosnak asked strangers for money online -- and it worked What would you do if you owed $20,000? Would you: A) not tell your parents? B) start your own website that asked for money without apology? or C) stop coloring your hair, getting pedicures, and buying Gucci? If you were Karyn Bosnak, you'd do all three. Karyn started a funny yet honest website, www.savekaryn.com, on which she asked for...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060558199
• ISBN13: 9780060558192
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Hillarious Book !!

I could totally identify with Karyn's book. I read it in 3 days and looked forward to reading it. I'm sad I'm finished with it ! Can't wait for the movie. True the book is a little self absorbed, but hey, it's about her life. And she makes it so funny how she justifies spending money on what she deems as an emergency, clothes, make-up, etc. Great book !!!

YAY!

This book is just so much fun! I absolutely loved it. I can't stop telling people to read it. It is so funny and so well written. It's quite the comedy, but also offers some good lessons on money management. I can't wait for the movie!

Read savekaryn.com

Karyn is telling the truth. The truth of how a college educated, level headed young person in America can fall head over heels in debt over night. She worked hard at her job and excelled in her field, yet she outspent herself trying to live the life that society encourages. Her idea to go online to save herself from bankruptcy is fabulous. Karen should be congratulated for succeeding and paying off her bills, instead of giving up as so many people have before. I truly believe the book and movie deal were a surprise to Karyn and never her dream. She wanted out of the dead weight of debt and had the courage to try anything. Her detractors should read her latest posting on the web site. As you should always be up to date on your interest whether it makes you angry or not. Karyn clearly states she is going to donate the $13,000 given to her, back to the community from her book or movie deal money. Not only did she get out of debt and positively change her life forever, now she will hand over a good deal of money to help others in need. Pay it forward. I advise all parents to read this book and explore the web site, www.savekaryn.com, with their teenagers. Teens excited for college and ready to move out, are encouraged to spend, spend, spend everywhere they go.

A must-read for Karyn fans

I followed Karyn's site (still do) and think she is very funny and I love her stories. And, yes, I sent her a couple of bucks when she needed it, because the site was hilarious, so she earned it and then some. The book gives some background on some specifics of her "glory days" of insane shopping and spending and some of her rises and falls with her jobs. It was never clear to me from the webpage where she had worked, what she did, and the like. Some gaps on the webpage are answered in the book. The book is not War and Peace and it isn't life changing, but it's a book you will highly enjoy if you like(d) her website. If you think Karyn is irritating or think she's a rip-off artist, then don't read the book. This isn't a book that will make Karyn-haters like her, it is just like her webpage. If you have never seen her webpage, this is the true story of an upper middle class girl from Chicago who moved to NYC in her late 20's to sort of find herself and start a new life. New to Manhattan, she got totally carried away with crazy spending on clothes and lifestyle spending and ended up about $25K in the hole on credit cards. She details several purchases, a lot of the crazy stuff she blew dough on, and does it in a very funny way. Some of the rationalizations she used on herself to justify things like $300 sunglasses are pretty funny. There's nothing wrong with purchasing $300 sunglasses if you can afford them, but it's items like these. Anyway, at the height of her insane spending, she lost her job. So, broke Karyn puts up a webpage sort of as a joke, explaining her plight and asking people to send her money if they want to, being totally honest about what it is for. She does "Daily Buck" stuff where she tells a story of each day about how she saved money that day, and insights as to why cheaper shampoo, etc., works just as well as the expensive stuff. And you know what, folks, Karyn is right. You also get to know some of her friends, neighbors, her roommate, and her cat and dog. The webpage ends up being a real hit, Karyn becomes somewhat of a celebrity, and then eventually gets enough money from the webpage and selling her crazy items on e-bay and is now debt-free. It's a fun and interesting book if you're into this kind of story-line. I found it very, very funny. If this sounds dumb to you, you probably won't like the book.