Beyond Getting By by Holly Trantham Summary

Beyond Getting By is a full-color financial guide focused on intentional living, offering practical advice to help readers align money habits with personal values. It challenges shame-based budgeting, explores systemic economic barriers, and emphasizes work-life balance through frameworks like self-advocacy journaling and redefining financial "abundance". The book combines whimsical illustrations with actionable strategies to navigate modern financial challenges.

This book targets women seeking financial stability without sacrificing personal fulfillment. It’s ideal for those tired of rigid budgeting rules, interested in systemic economic issues, or striving to balance career ambition with personal well-being. Readers who enjoy The Financial Diet’s inclusive, conversational approach will find it particularly valuable.

Yes—it’s praised for blending pragmatic financial advice with critiques of capitalism, making complex topics accessible through relatable examples and visuals. Endorsements from Tiffany Aliche and Erin Lowry highlight its empowering, judgment-free tone. The book is ideal for readers wanting actionable steps beyond traditional personal finance guides.

Unlike TFD’s earlier The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner’s Guide, this book focuses on post-basics financial wellness, addressing systemic inequities and intentional living rather than introductory budgeting. It expands on themes like workplace advocacy, burnout prevention, and aligning money with personal values.

Trantham critiques myths like equal opportunity in capitalism, emphasizing how race, gender, and class impact financial outcomes. She encourages readers to confront these barriers through self-advocacy (e.g., negotiation strategies) and redefining success beyond hyper-productivity.

Key tools include:

• A self-advocacy journal template for salary negotiations.
• Frameworks to calculate the “true value” of time and set boundaries against burnout.
• Exercises to replace shame-based budgeting with values-driven spending.

Ver Hage’s watercolor visuals soften dense financial topics, making concepts like systemic inequality and intentional budgeting more approachable. The whimsical style aligns with TFD’s brand, balancing seriousness with optimism.

Yes—Trantham argues against tying self-worth to career success, offering strategies to prioritize personal relationships and hobbies. She critiques “girlboss” culture and provides metrics to evaluate job offers holistically (e.g., flexibility vs. salary).

• “Abundance is not excess”: Encourages redefining wealth as stability, not luxury.
• “Your worth is not your productivity”: Challenges burnout culture.
• “Shame is a terrible financial advisor”: Advocates for compassionate money management.

While not explicitly critiqued in reviews, some may find its systemic focus less actionable for immediate individual fixes. It prioritizes mindset shifts over step-by-step plans, which may frustrate readers seeking rigid budgeting templates.

It addresses post-pandemic financial trends like gig economy instability, remote work’s impact on career boundaries, and Gen Z/Millennial demands for value-aligned jobs. Trantham’s emphasis on systemic change resonates amid ongoing debates about economic inequality.

As TFD’s creative director since 2016, Trantham draws on years of reader interactions, branded campaigns, and multimedia content. Her shift from blog editing to leadership roles mirrors the book’s themes of career evolution and intentional growth.