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

This book really makes you think about yourself and how you shop. Do you look at things and go OH I GOTTA HAVE THAT just because you think you do? It's interesting to see how well you can relate to Karyn and how hard it is for her to overcome her problem with spending money.

It is a fun read though to see her reasons why she buys things and how she thinks about in her mind to justify why she did it (I needed a new date outfit, the guy was cute so I signed up to join the gym, etc etc)

But it is funny to see how she is successful in her website to overcome debt, but she faces problems and challenges along the way.

These events also take place during and after 9/11. So it is interesting to see how the New Yorker deals with the 9/11 problems and how 9/11 really hurt her job hunting and her job she had before.

I say this is a must read!

I don't know. Maybe it's just me but I found this book to be ... how do I put this? ... a big waste of time. I'm glad I got it through PBS because I wouldn't want to feel as though I was supporting Karyn's habit. Yes, debt is a habit. She might have been manic depressive or bipolar the way she bought (crazy) things. After three chapters, I started to skim through the book and just looked at her bills. I found it laughable. First, she moves to NYC without doing research. Where to live, what to buy, what to bring, etc. Three hundred dollars every month to go to a salon? For what? NYC is NOT that expensive. If you live within your means, you'll be able to survive. I have a friend who lives in the Gramarcy Park area and he's a school teacher. He lives within his means. Cooks most meals, brings lunch everyday, doesn't spend outrageous money or anything except vacations. Oh, and he's gay so he knows where to shop, get his hair done, get his manis and pedis, where to get good facials, etc. I just ... I can't fathom ... it's too much for words. I don't understand how someone can get this way. I hear it everyday at work, people living beyond their means, living in big McMansions, getting personal services every two weeks, buying designer clothing, driving expensive cars. Then when the hoped for OT or raise doesn't come through, the complaining starts. Do a little stretching now so you can enjoy later. Stretch that haircut to 10 or 12 weeks, get manis every month, go to the Aveda Beauty Salon Schools for cheap treatments, go to thrift stores in the ritzy neighborhoods, go to outlet stores, buy a used car. Live low so you can splurge on the important things like vacations or dining out or something designer. I can't believe anyone helped this girl. I wonder if she stayed debt-free or if she reverted to her old ways. Personally, I don't care!

Kind of irritating that the world bailed her out of problems that SHE was completely responsible for, but it was a GREAT read! Very fast and very entertaining. I kept having to remind myself that it was non fiction because seriously? How does someone get that far in debt when they make THAT kind of money? I loved the reference to the court show 'stringers.' That is exactly what I do for a living. Kinda cool! :)

I have read the shopaholic series, and Jen Lancaster's books. In fact the true life Karyn sounds just like the inspiration for the 1st shopaholic book, only I liked Karyn better. I even liked her better than Jen. I hope most of you go into reading this book knowing that she got herself in debt and set up a website to ask strangers to help her get out. Knowing that I would hope readers would be less judgmental about her choices. I think she learned a great deal. Hit rock bottom due to unemployment. She handled her failures in a fun spunky way. She had a lot of haters from all over, and she returned their hatred with kindness and humor. I really loved this book, and didnt feel the least bit negative about her debt and choices. She seemed real and sweet, and fun. I wish I had read this along time ago. Those of you in debt and struggling will feel like you are not the only one.

I found this book to be very fascinating! I see a little of her in me when I go to Target. LOL I think she was pretty amazed herself that that her website generated any money, let alone howw much it helped her. I would recommend this to anyone to read.

Well, I read this book because I love Jen Lancaster, and she had mentioned it in one of her books. All I can say is that I am very glad I got it through PBS because if I had paid full price for this book, I would have been seriously irritated. First, the book is POORLY written. Her use of simple sentences, and her habit of telling every single thing that is happening does not make for good reading. Perhaps it bothers me more than most, but I had a VERY hard time reading the book simply because of poor writing and multiple mistakes in mechanics. Second, Karyn shouldn't be boasting about how she got herself into heaps of debt and then had other people pay it off. I know she sold her things to help pay it off, but the majority of her debt was paid by strangers. I just don't like the message this book sends. Sure, Karyn may have actually learned her lesson, but it says to others that it is okay to be stupid because someone else will bail you out.