Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

Happy New Year readers! This month, we are reading about a resourceful cleaning lady who falls in love with a Dior dress and her adventures in Paris in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. This short novel is the perfect kick-off to the new year, as many of us dream about what can be and plan to meet our goals.

Discussion Questions
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Creating a Savings Policy Reach Your Goal

There are several ways a person can reach a savings goal. This class discusses methods to save to reach your goals and how to manage multiple savings goals at once with a personal savings policy statement to keep you on track.

 

Discussion Questions

Reflect on these questions as you read the book, and feel free to join the conversations on these themes in the Challenges section.

  1. Desire: Harris is obsessed with meeting her savings goal. Have you ever been obsessed with making a purchase or having a specific experience? If so, what was the item or experience, and if you reached your goal, how did you do so, and how did it feel? Do you have any items or experiences you are just dying to have now? What makes this item or experience so alluring?
  2. Supportive Friends/Family: Butterfield is skeptical of Mrs. Harris’s goal, but she is supportive of her endeavor regardless. How important do you think it is to have moral support from friends/family when working toward a financial goal?
  3. Fish Out of Water: When Mrs. Harris arrives in Paris, she is met with skepticism and sometimes disdain by all those around her. She also recognizes that she is surrounded by people and in places where those of her income level are rarely invited. Have you been in a situation where you felt like you didn’t belong due to a difference in wealth? If so, did you find this experience encouraging or discouraging, and why? If not, how do you think you would have felt in Mrs. Harris’ situation when arriving in Paris?
  4. Widowhood: Both Mrs. Butterfield and Mrs. Harris are widows, and through the book, we get the chance to see how they have navigated their lives after their husbands have passed. How did their spouses’ deaths impact their financial lives?
  5. Simply Pleasures: Through the book, we learn of Mrs. Harris’ love of flowers. She prioritizes flowers as a hobby and a fixture in her home regularly. How does Mrs. Harris’ love of flowers reflect her values? Do you have any simple pleasures that you regularly enjoy?
  6. Ending: Despite the outcome of Mrs. Harris’ quest, do you think the experience was worth it? Why or why not?