Jean Chatzky
by Ali
Financial Expert
NBC Today Show Financial Editor, Columnist for More Magazine, daily blogger at www.jeanchatzky.com
Author of six books including, The Difference, Make Money Not Excuses, The 10 Commandments of Financial Happiness, and Pay it Down
1. If you were given $100 to use purely to splurge what would you spend it on?
And with $1,000?
I’d probably spend the $100 on a ticket to a Broadway show. I’d use the $1,000 to take a trip…there’s some great travel deals out there now.
2. What are three simple money saving tips that anybody can implement into their lives?
1. Keep track of everything you spend…even the little things. A latte here, a new lipstick there…they all add up. 2. If you’re an online shopper, I’m a fan of Googling the item you’re looking to buy along with the words “Promo code,” or “coupon.” Lots of times you’ll end up with a promotional code for a discount or free shipping. 3. Hunt for freebies. Believe it or not, there are lots of things you can get for free out there. One of my favorites is the free directory assistance service available through 1-800-FREE-411. Sure, you might have to listen to an advertisement, but you’ll avoid the cost of dialing 411 every time you need a number.
3. What should every woman know when it comes to her finances?
Every woman should have at least three months (six months is better if you can swing it) of living expenses in the bank. That financial cushion will be what saves you if you lose your job, get diagnosed with an unexpected illness, or if you find yourself in another emergency situation.
4. We all know you as the financial go-to-gal, and thankfully you make it all understandable, but given the chance what other profession would you love to have an opportunity to explore?
I’d like to try out being a chef…I love to cook!
5. What do you love wearing from your wardrobe right now and what do you hope to add to your closet for fall?
Let’s see…the in-between season can be tricky, so right now I’m all about saving money by accessorizing parts of my summer wardrobe to make them work for fall. Scarves, tights, light sweaters over summer dresses can all help you to do this. For fall, I’m hoping to add a couple new pairs of boots to my closet…but not the over the knee ones that seem to be so popular now!
6. Helping those in distress over their finances can be both rewarding and overwhelming what do you do to zone out, laugh or de-stress?
If I want to de-stress I’ll go for a run. If I want to zone out a trip to the movies usually does the trick.
7. Anything that has surprised you about being in a house with teenagers?
Let’s see…there are lots of surprises. I’m actually surprised at the amount of homework my teens get…I don’t remember being that busy with homework when I was their age!
Me and Jean shooting America's Best Life Changers
Jean Chatzky, award-winning journalist, best-selling author is the financial editor for NBC’s Today, a contributing editor for More Magazine, a columnist for The New York Daily News, and a contributor to The Oprah Winfrey Show. She blogs daily at JeanChatzky.com.
She is the author of six books, including her newest book The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times (Crown Business) and best sellers Pay It Down: From Debt to Wealth on $10 A Day (New York Times and Business Week best seller) and Make Money, Not Excuses (Wall Street Journal and New York Times best seller).
Jean has been recognized as an exceptional journalist. In 2009, the Consumer Federation of America awarded Chatzky the Betty Furness Consumer Media Service Award for her nearly two decades of pioneering personal finance education. She also received the Clarion Award for magazine columns from the Association of Woman in Communications, a Gracie Award from American Women in Radio and Television, Inc. and she was named one of the country’s best magazine columnists by the Chicago Tribune.
In addition to her professional work, Jean is on the Literacy Partners board of directors, lends her support and expertise to women's services groups and is on the board of the Nora Magid Mentorship prize at the University of Pennsylvania, which helps journalism students get a head-start in the field. She is also a member of the Trustees’ Council of Penn Women for the University of Pennsylvania.
Jean lives with her family in Westchester, New York.
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