Book Description

Save Thousands of Dollars a Year

Jonni McCoy and her family are proof that you live on one income. The McCoys made a successful transition from two incomes to one while living in one of the most expensive parts of America: the San Francisco Bay Area.

Her Miserly Guidelines will help you save thousands of dollars a year on everything from groceries to electricity to insurance and household cleaners—as well as reveal the hidden costs of holding a job and common money wasters. Her practical, proven cost-saving techniques, strategies, tips, and recipes will help you live frugally without feeling deprived. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Good tips and resources
I checked this book out from the library and don't plan on buying it for my home library. This book would be more helpful to an urban, younger woman just starting to save money. Jonni is whiny about scaling back, and doesn't have a clear understanding of frugality. She clearly feels the loss of income and misses "the good life". (Her quote) Her self-righteous attitude about what she has to do without, is odd I think. One has to wonder about her subtle "Tightwad Gazette" put downs too. What's with that? And all that's in the beginning of the book!

Once you get past the "feel my pain part" it's an upbeat and helpful book. It deals more with housekeeping issues, ie: grocery shopping, meal prep, children, holidays etc. So if spending, or wasting food isn't the area you need to work on, you may want to pick another book. The recipes she offers here are for basic foods that most people buy, but could make at home far more cheaply. Ice cream toppings, salad dressings, granola etc. She does not offer recipes that are odd or time consuming. I have tried the recipes for household products and they are good. Her list of resources for other authors/experts is worth reading this book alone. It was VERY helpful. If you're a mom with grown children just learning about saving money, this would be a good start. The BASIC tips offered here are SUPER helpful, her attitude almost ruins a good book. If you're a guy, and would like more "guy oriented" money saving books try Gene Logsdons' books.

Useful and motivating
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I checked it out from the library thinking it wouldn't be worth purchasing. Some of the ideas are definitely ones anyone who reads about frugality is already going to be familiar with (keeping a price book, buying in bulk, etc.) I've noticed other reviewers comparing it with "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" (basically the bible of frugality and a must have.) But this book is a different philosophy than the CTG. She's not frugal because she loves it and finds it fun, it's strictly a means to an end. Frankly I thought it was pretty motivating. Our family is frugal, but not extreme. I felt I could relate to her. The recipes and resource sections are quite useful. There was some things I didn't agree with (getting rid of her freezer.) Over all I liked the layout of the book. It's simple and easy to understand. I think this would be particulary good for someone new to being frugal. I think the CTG book can be a bit daunting in that respect. I would definitely recommend that anyone considering purchasing it should check it out from the library first.

Very helpful book
I found this book to be helpful when I made the transition to being a sahm. I especially like her kid friendly tips (ideas on how to save on birthday parties, crafts ,etc) and her recipes.
I went ahead and bought Miserly Meals because I liked her recipes that much.
I still use this book as reference at least two times a week.

If you are a new sahm this book is for you!!!
We lost 60% of our total income when I quit my job to sah. Prior to that I wasted money like you wouldn't believe. This is a good book to get started in being frugal. I've cut my grocery bill almost in half by following these principles. While I liked Tightwad Gazette the ideas were a little too radical to me that is why I preferred this book since she makes you believe that even a former yuppie can learn to be frugal.

I loved this book!! It's become my sah bible and I recommend it to all of my friends.

A great resource on reducing expenses
For anyone who wishes to stay home with their family, this is a terrific resource on how to lower expenses. The author was once a senior buyer for Apple Computers, among other firms, and you can see this working experience in her thorough and analytical approach to family frugality.

The fact that the book is called "Miserly" Moms may be slightly misleading (it initially put my husband off, which is why I mention this). "Miserly" indicates stinginess, penuriousness, lack of generosity. By no means is this the message contained in this book. Rather, it shows many ways families can cut expenses in order to meet a particular goal: that of having one parent stay home with the child(ren).

In fact, the author's approach is to find those areas where she can make the biggest dent in expenses in the least amount of time. Approximately half of the book is dedicated to saving money on food, since for most families with two parents working outside the home, cutting back on food expenses offers the biggest opportunity to save a lot of money quickly.

Her first principle is not to confuse frugality with depriving oneself. The reason: if you think you're depriving yourself, you cripple your ability to make long-term changes. Rather, she presents frugality as a choice, made every day in many different ways, both large and small. (Example: Would I rather have this Starbucks coffee and muffin now or would I rather do without them, if that is what it takes to be home with my children?) This principle is reflected throughout.

There's also a great chapter in this book on raising frugal children.

I would recommend this book in conjunction with another book called You Can Afford To Stay Home With Your Kids. I felt the latter book was stronger in helping the reader to break down his/her particular monthly expenses and make a budget ahead of time. Also, I felt that book included more discussion on what would-be-stay-at-home-parents can expect once home...while it's true that there are huge emotional payoffs to feeling that you're making the greatest possible contribution to bringing up your child(ren) by being home with them, nothing but nothing is all sunshine and roses. Two funny examples these authors cite are that your children will have more opportunities to drive you bonkers once you're home with them and that if you never liked housework, you will not magically find yourself liking to scrub the toilets and you may find yourself doing it more often.

In my own case, I felt that these two books taken together made a GREAT partnership. You Can Afford To Stay Home With Your Kids has more to offer families prior to making the transition from two incomes to one (in my opinion). Miserly Moms shines in showing many, many specific ways families can reduce expenses without sacrificing quality...which of course is valuable both before and after making the transition.

Oh, yeah... I bought both books about a year and a half ago. It took about a year to lay all the groundwork, but I'm home with my two children now. The suggestions in these books helped me to lay that foundation and now that I'm home, to be able to stay there by practicing a frugal lifestyle. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Whether you want to clean stubborn toilet-bowl stains orincrease your car's gas mileage, Tiptionary amasses helpfuladvice for every household problem under the sun. With hints forfamily, food, home, cars, personal finances, and travel, it's likehaving all the advice your mother ever gave you--and you promptlyforgot--collected into one compact volume. Rusty garden tools? Cleanthem with steel wool soaked in soap and then dipped in turpentine.Having trouble limiting your credit-card purchases? Write down thenumber and expiration date for emergencies, then freeze the card itselfin a block of ice. Collected by the publisher of CheapskateMonthly, a newsletter promoting financial responsibility,Tiptionary is a handy and humorous guide to making the most ofyour time and money--and it gives you more ways to recycle used dryersheets than you ever imagined possible. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My new favorite book
I LOVE this book. It's full of great tips on just about anything you can imagine, and not all of them are about saving money. Moms will appreciate the food section because it has a ton of great tips on increasing the shelf life of dairy and produce items. I have been watching my money and my grocery bills for awhile, and I've read quite a few books on the subject, and most of these tips were new to me. If you are a more experienced tightwad and find that most money-saving books don't have much to offer you anymore, this book may just be something new.

So easy to read and find what you are looking for
A Great book!!! You can't believe how many solutions to your problems in every day life can be solved . I myself had a a reason to use one of Mary's answers to a problem. I had put 2 sets of old panty hose in my car repair kit . When my fan belt broke I was able to make a temporary fix with the pantyhose. I have to say again what a great book!!!

Wonderful book! Will pay for itself in a week!
All sorts of tips, the ones about vinegar are really useful to me. Loved it, and would recommend it to anyone wanting to do things simply.

Worth its weight in GOLD!
Have you ever wished you could remember all those great tips your grandmother told you or the one's you've heard somewhere along the line but have no way of remembering? Even more have you wished there was a cheap and effective way to do something? Well here they are--quick tips for how to do stuff. This is the greatest resource I've come across in years. And they're so easy to find. What a bargain! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ric Edelman believes you can't create a truly effective personal finance plan until you really know what you want out of life. In Discover the Wealth Within You he shows how to develop a realistic series of individualized goals for your future, and then how to construct an investment program to help you realize them. Edelman, author of New York Times bestsellers Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth and The Truth About Money, draws on these books to explain why we're ultimately more successful with our financial agenda when we focus on it as a means to an array of unambiguous objectives (such as "see an event in person during the next Winter Olympics" or "have plastic surgery in three years") rather than vague long-range aspirations (like saving "for retirement" or to "buy a house"). In the first section he unveils a step-by-step process for determining the precise objectives that motivate us; in the second he points us toward a mutual-fund-based savings plan that should be easier to capitalize consistently because we know where it's taking us and when we'll get there. Incorporating a profusion of appropriate cartoon strips, inspirational testimonials, persuasive statistics, and an unusual assembly of footnotes that are as amusing as they are informative, Edelman offers a clear and innovative course of action that could turn even procrastinating wannabes into enthusiastic money managers. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Awesome and Inspiring
What a pleasure it is to read someone like Edelman who is not only uniquely qualified to write on the subject of money but also writes in such a breezely easy to read style.

I just picked up this book after reading "What You Need to Do Now" and "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth" by Edelman. The previous books helped me more than anything to overcome the bad advice I got from reading other financial books.

Besides Ric's books, I also recommend "The Road to Wealth" and "The Laws of Money" by Suze Orman. I believe that Ric and Suze are the two best financial authors out there right now. Both are CFP's and Ric's firm is ranked among the top 5 firms in the country by Bloomberg. Obviously Edelman would not have this many clients if he didn't know what he was doing now would he?

Clear, understandable and comphrehensive
Most financial books are boring at best and many times written by unqualified people. This new book by Ric Edelmen is like a fireside chat with a warm and funny advisor. Edelmen's writing style is clear and understandable and the material is comphrehensive and fresh.

In Discover The Wealth Within You, Ric Edelmen willt ake you on a journey to self discovery. Edelmen shows you how to choose fun, enriching and rewarding goals and gives you a simple straightforward plan to achieve them.

You'll discover that creating wealth isn't all that difficult, once you set the right goals. According to Ric Edelmen, all you need to do is decide what you want to do with your money. With enticing personal goals in place, you'll motivate, excite and suatain yourself in your quest for wealth.

After using Ric's worksheets to help you set goals properly, you'll embark on a detailed exploration of personal investing. You'll discover Ric's formula for creating a plan to achieve your goals, build your financial future and finance your dreams--all through his unique, time tested investing strategies.

By following Ric's plans and guidelines, you can achieve a healthy, balanced and richly rewarding life. Anyone can do it, says Ric, with the tools and techniques he provides.

Informative and entertaining, Discover The Wealth Within You is a must read in everyone's personal financial planning and investment libraries.

An easy (and funny?) book on personal finance
This is a book for personal finance. But it only concentrate on 2 main topics - setting up goals and picking up mutual funds. On goal setting, it is one of a few books that give such an emphasis (and proportion) on this topic. It is important, critical, but somewhat over-long. (Imagine listing several pages of places/events that help you to pick up for your goal?) The good side is that the importance of goal setting is applicable is many other areas - not just personal finance. The second half of the book is about mutual funds, and there are some very interesting 'facts' - e.g. Morning Star ratings, index fund, tax benefit, etc. Since the author is quite humorous, it is a very easy read for the 300+ pages. One thing I only like is that some of the footnotes are totally pointless - they are there just for the sake of being funny?? Maybe Ric can consider 2 labelling of footnotes - one is useful and the other is only joke.

Truth, honesty and Integrity
These are the three values that come to mind when I think of Ric Edelman. There are many financial books out there and advisors eager to take your money, but how many can you trust?

Edelman was named the #1 financial advisor by Research magazine for his focus on the individual client. He has earned three Awards of Excellence by Royal Alliance Associates, was named Ace Advisor of the Year by Ticker Magazine, named Financial Planner of the Year three times by World Invest Magazine and named one of the D.C. areas top financial professionals by Washingtonian magazine.

His firm Edelman Financial Services Inc., has won more than 50 professional, business, community service and philantropic awards, was named three times by Inc. magazine as the largest growing privately owned financial company in the nation. awards and has been ranked twice by Bloomberg Wealth Manager as one of the largest independent financial planning and investment management firms in the nation (his firm ranks 6th in the nation). The firm has created and implemented financial plans for more than 6,500 clients, and today Ric and his team manage $2 billion for people across the country.

His classic book The Truth About Money was named book of the year by Small Press magazine and his five books have collectively sold over a million copies.

Ric has also earned several financial designations, CFS, RFC, CMFC, CRC, and QFC.

Finally the man has three important qualifications: Truth, Honesty and Integrity.

Ric Edelman is not a "me-too" financial author. He stands alone. In the opinion of many, he is the best.

Go for your dreams!
I like Ric Edelman. Not only because he is an acknowledged expert in the field of personal finance but also because he is a excellent writer who mixes humor with facts.Discover The Wealth Within You is not some boring 1,000 page book that is both out of date and boring, but a refreshing look at personal finance that will take you to where you want to g financially.The charts and graphs illustrate Edelmans ideas while the cartoons will break up the reading. This is one of the fewbooks that I read non stop. The book is interesting, informative and funny----most importantly, this book delivers on it's promises. Something that I cannot say about other personal finance books.Discover The Wealth Within You is excellent and I highly recommend it.GO FOR THOSE DREAMS! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

FINALLY! A BOOK THAT DELIVERS
"THIS EASY-TO-USE GUIDE CONTAINS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU"LL NEED TO REPAIR YOUR CREDIT"; THAT STATEMENT IS ON THE FRONT COVER OF THIS BOOK AND BELIEVE ME IT'S A TRUE STATEMENT.THIS BOOK GIVES YOU ALL THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO REPAIR YOUR CREDIT;

THIS BOOK HITS AN INSTANT HOMERUN BEGINNING WITH CHAPTER 1,WHICH IS A WELCOME CHAPTER.THIS CHAPTER MAKES YOU AWARE OF WHAT'S TO COME IN THE CHAPTERS AHEAD AND WHAT YOUR GOALS SHOULD BE.THIS CHAPTER IS A DEFINITE ICE BREAKER.

I'VE BEEN IN THE CREDIT REPAIR BUSINESS FOR A WHILE AND I FEEL ANYONE WHO READS THIS BOOK WILL BECOME HIGHLY EDUCATED WITH THE CREDIT REPAIR PROCESS AND WILL ACCOMPLISH THIER GOALS.THIS BOOK IS SO EASY TO USE,IT MAKES YOU FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT REPAIRING YOUR CREDIT.ANYONE USING THIS BOOK WILL FELL LIKE AN EXPERT AT THE END!MY FINAL STATEMENT,"YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THIS BOOK".

Good Book Overall & Helpful
I thought this book was very helpful. While it wasn't as in-depth as I expected (which is not necessarily a good thing) its attack to a very serious problem and methods of approach were very useful for me. I would definitely recommend this book to others who need help from their credit problems. As long as you don't think that this will be a quick solution to your problems (it took a year of hard work to clean up my credit report), you will be pleased at the end of the process.

BTW, I don't know what these two other bafoons are saying online when they say the author preaches religion to you (I did not see one reference to God) and nor do I see where the author says to stay away from banks with a 'C' in their name. I think they're just 14 year old punks with nothing better to do.

Good Luck!

Simple, easy-to-read & to the point
This is a great book if you need or want to clean your credit up immediately. This book is not extremely detailed which can be good or bad. Credit repair is fairly simple that's why I think its a good book. It has very good sample forms & letters, along with basic knowledge of how credit works. It gives you a step-by-step plan of repairing your credit. Anything else would be a bit too much & make credit repair sound more complexed than it really is. This is a great read

I found more info online for free.
I thought that it would be a little more in-depth. It's very basic and I was not that happy with it. I even found better form letters online for free!

JUNK
This is a waste of time. Spending 15 minutes surfing the net will yield you better and more accurate info than this piece of garbage. ... Read more

Book Description

The Miserly Mom’s Favorite Cookbook from the Bestselling Author of Miserly Moms!

Feed your family inexpensive, delicious, and healthy meals that are easy to prepare. Sound impossible? Jonni McCoy shows you how with step-by-step recipes for main dishes, desserts, soups, and baked goods, plus snacks, beverages, and money-saving mixes. She even includes the nutritional analysis for every recipe as well as a useful kitchen tip. Contains over 200 recipes.

Miserly Meals has an easy-to-use lay-flat binding. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

It's worth having
Some of what other reviewers say is true - there ARE ingredients in these recipes your family may not eat - like the Tabasco sauce. However, what I really appreciate about Jonni's book is that it's a good transition for Mom's trying to get their budgets under control. The fact that she has included Nutrition Information (many of the recipes are low in fat for those of us watching our waistlines as well as our budgets) as well as a 'cost per serving' is very helpful. There may be many readers who are already "pros" at low-cost meal planning but I wasn't one of them. I also appreciate the fact that recipes don't take 2 years to prepare and cook. I, too, am a homeschooling Mom and I found her 2 books - Miserly Moms and Miserly Meals - a real help to get my mind going in the right direction. From these two books, I took 15 recipes for dinners to get started - things my family WILL eat - many of them crock meals which will take only a few minutes to set up and forget about. I look at these 2 books as my springing-off point -- incorporating her principles by looking for new recipes on the Internet etc. I know I am saving money and once I get used to this, I'll refine it further but I would have been knocked out if I had to spend 2 hours a day cooking with homeschooling. For those reviewers who were not very understanding about her shakes and such, Jonni herself said in Miserly Moms she didn't want to live like a pauper but enjoy things at a lower cost, not feeling cheap. If you are going from eating Steak & Elaborate Desserts to Miserly Cooking you are going to feel deprived without a few nice recipes that add variety. One of the biggest challenges I have found as a busy homeschooling Mom is finding good-tasting, lowfat recipes that are quick. Jonni has you do much of the prep in advance that saves you money (mixes etc) and then you kind of throw things together - not a ton of steps. I do like the book and if you are overwhelmed and want someone to just "spell it out for you" go with Jonni. If you are a seasoned bargain shopper and meal preparer, you might want something more advanced.

I loved this book!
This book was a big help in trimming my hubby's and my food budget. I have already made quiet a few of the recipies. Including Chicken and Dumplings that my husband LOVED. I think this book is idea for people like me. I don't do an awful lot of cooking, so the recipies are simple and made with things I already have on hand. The instructions are easy to follow and contain many good tips. This book has already paid for itself many times over. The only problem I have is it came with the binding tape not glued in, where the pages could fall out after much use. When I reordered another book, it was the same. I don't know if this is the way the book is suppose to be or not. If you like to make simple, frugal meals for you family and don't have extensive cooking talent, by all means, get this book! And there are recipies for something as simple as sun tea, but with many different flavor variations that look interesting. Hope this review helps!

Great recipes!!!
My family loves the recipes in this book. Not only are they cheap to make but they are very good. I especially like the helpful hints about food placed throughout the book. They are a big help to those of us new to frugality.

BASIC book...not for more seasoned frugal cooks.
Sorry, no pun was intended! This book is not meant for someone who is resourceful and has read other stuff. Jonni's recipes aren't all that frugal. So it depends on what your idea of saving money is. She is also a bit of a whiner in her books thus missing the mark on the issues. However, the meals offered here are not odd, nor does she seem to be a complusive saver at the expense of her family. This book is a good START to saving money in the kitchen.

OK, but not great (I agree)
I think the author's list of "pantry basics" for the "miserly kitchen" is great. I can match 80-90% of what I have on the shelves with the foods she lists. But I'm doubtful that I would come up with the same results from the same ingredients.

For instance, why do so many recipes in this book call for Tobasco sauce? And sorry but I can't foresee my family would ever accept ground turkey, or anything containing tofu or lentils. And we LIKE butter!

And what's this innovative stuff called "broth powder"? What happened to the good old fashioned (and cheap) method of simply saving the water you cooked the meat in?

The book opens with a chapter of beverages, but I can't help but wonder how they can be called "miserly"? Wouldn't drinking plain water be a whole lot cheaper than some concoction from the blender?

Good points about this book: The desserts look delicious. And each recipe in the book is followed by a helpful "kitchen tip." The tips themselves make pretty good reading.

However, instead of this book, I would recommend an older (and harder to find) book, called _ Good Recipes for Hard Times_ by Louise Newton. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bill and Mary Toohey are about as average as a couple can be. They live in Iowa, pull down about $65,000 a year combined, and have three children. What's not average about them is that they have a net worth of about a half-million dollars. They've paid off their mortgage, and they paid cash for their cars. Their oldest daughter graduated from college with no debts and with money in the bank. How did they manage? It takes a book to explain the particulars, but the executive summary is this: They lived on about half their income, and saved and invested the other half. Part of their plan is simply saying no to impulse purchases such as soft drinks and candy bars. (They show how they accumulated $26,733 in eight years by investing the money they didn't spend on junk.) Their strategy involves, in part, shopping around for the best price on their big-ticket purchases. (They take you step by step through a few transactions, from research to purchase, so you can do this yourself.) But the biggest part is living small. They have a modest house (one bathroom). They don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Their investment strategy is very simple, mostly stock index and bond funds. By never trying to be more than average, they made themselves extraordinary.

It's hard to imagine that many people will be able to follow their entire program--that one-bathroom house will probably stop most readers in their tracks--and some of their ideas about cheap entertainment seem a little far-fetched. For example, if you're thinking of taking the children to the circus when it comes to town, they advise, take them instead to watch the circus troupe setting up tents and feeding the animals. Imagine the family fun when the kids go to school and realize all their friends got to see the actual circus. Still, there should be plenty of useful advice in this Guide to Financial Freedom for any family. Most of it is simple and makes intuitive sense, and the Tooheys' breezy, conversational writing style makes you feel as though you were sitting with them in their (small) living room while they shared it. Best of all, their plan clearly works. A half-million in savings on a middle-class income is a pretty good leg to stand on when offering advice. --Lou Schuler ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Average Family with Above Average AdviceIf
If you ever wonder whether anyone really follows the advice in financial magazines, read this book. Bill and Mary Toohey were avid readers of MONEY but wrote to the editors, suggesting that their advice didn't help families with several kids and a modest income. The editors asked the Tooheys for their best financial tips. This book includes the Toohey family strategy for saving and investing and also for recognizing the importance of traditional family values. The book includes sound and simple advice that works for everyone. The Tooheys write for the majority of Americans who recognize they will never be millionaires.

Exactly What I Needed
This book was easy to read, interesting, and tells me what I need to know to achieve financial freedom. I plan to recommend it to friends and family. If you want freedom and don't know where to start, buy this book.

Excellent ideas on saving and early retirement
I thoroughly enjoyed the book which gives new ideas about how to handle family finances so that a job doesn't take priority over your freedom and family.

In answer to a previous reviewer who wondered how their investments faired in the bear market, according to the book they invested in Vanguard index bond funds which are based on secure bonds like the US treasury bonds so I suspect that they still have their money and some extra as well.

Common sense living in a non-sensical age
I find myself returning to this book periodically for inspiration. You don't have to be a wage slave forever. If you are willing to live well within (or drastically under) your means, you can accumulate enough wealth to chart your own course in life.

The Tooheys give a number of concrete examples of ways to cut expenses. They also call into question a number of the assumptions we make as a result of our brainwashing by modern media. For example: Why does a family really need more than one full bath in a house?

To someone fully immersed in our culture's consumer rat-race, the Tooheys are going to seem a bit radical. We are all a bit too accustomed to focusing on convenience and immediacy rather than long term cost. Try to keep an open mind and remember that the best things in life can't be found in a shopping mall.

end of the bull market?
Obviously, many find this book inspirational. And it is. But remember: the authors had close to $500,000 in winter 1999. I would like to know where they stand now--after 3 years of a down stock market. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Don't waste your money
As a CFP(r) myself, I was very interested and excited about reading this book. My outlook soon changed. This book should be subtitled "WHY you should capture the middle market and increase your profits" rather than "HOW TO capture the middle market and increase your profits". And the WHY should already be obvious. The author makes a compelling argument for targeting middle market Americans for financial planning services, however she falls dramatically short in providing ANY new or insightful marketing ideas on HOW to capture the specific market. In fact the ONE chapter dedicated to actually marketing is redundant of any marketing strategy book one chooses to pick up today, and it covers about 4 pages on how the author designed her own FP logo. In my opinion its another case of a financial advisor needing to stroke their own ego by writing a book - and if you like reading this "canned" praise for the author, you may just enjoy this book after all - it is full of it. The rest of the information, if you are a financial planner, you should already know or be ashamed you don't know it.

Middle America plus...
Middle to upper middle income America have traditionally been underserved by the financial advisory industry. Yet they typically benefit in the most impactful ways from even basic financial planning strategies. I know from experience as a practicing CFP. Garrett and the planning network she has been building have methods for providing financial planning advice using an hourly billing model. With the hourly model for practicing (clients pay an hourly fee to their planner just like they would to their attorney, CPA or career counsler) the client can buy needed financial planning to at least start them on a path of financial planning realization. They remain in control of the costs of their planning, and it doesn't take long for the results to take hold and justification for the expense is easy. The idea is that paying by the hour and therefore knowing what the costs and scope of the work will clearly be, enough planning can be done without trying to shoehorn someone into some broadly defined, comprehensive level of analysis that simply is not necessary for entry level planning needs. And, because that level of planning is expensive, good folks often can't afford or rationalize that large an expense, especially having no previous experience hiring a planner. So often no planning takes place at all.

This book will sharpen the interest of planners everywhere who are tired of fighting over the much smaller group of wealth management clients, and provide a means for accessing the much larger group of middle-upper middle income clients who will pay a professional fee for an unbiased professional advisor. Why not help clients grow into the wealth management client we all seem to want them to someday be?

The popular media have been all over the Garrett Planning Network in a very positive way. Get the book and see what all the fuss is about.

Practical Advice from a Middle Market Expert
Sheryl Garrett has done a masterful job of communicating her view that a fee-only, hourly approach to providing financial advice can be both personally satisfying and financially rewarding. Sheryl clearly defines the size and potential of the Middle Market, and defines in detail a practice model to serve that market.

I'm impressed by the level of detail Sheryl provides in the book. She not only outlines her practice model, but she presents a detailed look at how she serves her clients. She includes tips and techniques that she actually uses in her practice when dealing with clients. She also does a good job of highlighting various helpful websites.

If you want a good discussion of the future of financial planning in America, this is a great place to start!

Garrett's Guide to Financial Planning
Timely and practicle. This book brings the leading edge of working with the middle market to financial planners. This book is full of practice tips and techniques for being "an all- american financial planner". It's a book that should be on every financial planner's desk.

Great Financial Tool for Individuals and Financial Planners!
I really enjoyed this book and it's "common sense" approach to the confusing world of Financial Planning! It provides a wealth of information for both individuals and Financial Planners about what Middle America is really looking for from a Financial Planner. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent guide to dealing with student loans.
The average college grad "earns" about $11,000 of student loan debt on the way to a diploma.Those who go on for an advanced degree can wind up $100,000 in the hole! This book details what you'll need to know to stay afloat in the sea of student loans. It explains your repayment and consolidation options, and offers strategies for getting and staying out of default. ... Read more

Book Description

Live a Prada lifestyle on a Payless budget.

Urban Girls work hard and play even harder. They have an eye for style that is only slowed by a budgetary bottom line. They live the lifestyles of the not-at-all-rich and the not-just-yet-famous. Soon enough, they will be superstars, oozing savoir-faire. But for now, before they assume the helm of the boardroom table, they still have their secret ways of living the good life.

City Chicis a practical, insiders’ primer on how to squeeze the most style out of a small salary, how to creatively cheat at looking chic for cheap. From food and drink to personal maintenance to clothes to home décor, City Chiccovers everything an Urban Girl needs to know.

o Big-idea decorating for small spaces
o Financially sound fitness techniques
o Cash-saving culinary tips
o Shopping sales calendars—by day, month and season
o and so much more! ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of the most useful books for a girl starting out...
I LOVE this book! I can't help it. It is the coolest thing I've ever seen. It contains sections on decor, fashion, beauty, furniture, really everything imaginable. I can't really think of a single thing not covered here. If you're looking to be stylish, and yet have no money ( an extremely common problem ), this book will solve all of your problems...providing great hope for the future!

Great Find
I don't know what those other reviewers are talking about. I found the book to be a fun read with lots of great, useful ideas. I definitely will refer to it. Plus it's a fun book for people who see it lying around on my coffee table to pick up and flip through for a few little morsels of info. Thanks for your book!

Cute...
If you are in your twenties and have no clue...this is the book for you.

Lightweight, fun, and actually pretty useful
I really have enjoyed reading this book. I'm 33 and live in a large town/small city, but I still found it helpful. The writing is super lightweight, like in a teen mag, but that quality + the hot pink cover makes it fun to read about saving money. I have enjoyed it and have really begun to think a little differently about what is worth a splurge and what isn't. Fun stuff. Recommended.

I love it
Good information, including cheap party receipe.
But some information i already knew..
I recommend to all girls working and living on tight badget. ... Read more

Book Description

Many excellent books teach God's principles of finance. Perhaps one or more of them has helped you lay a strong biblical foundation for carrying out your money management responsibilities. But as you try to apply those principles to making real-life investing decisions, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by jargon and the sheer number of investment possibilities.

Sound Mind Investing is a carefully created "next step" guide that helps you put Godly principles of finance in motion. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced investor, you'll benefit from stepping across this bridge between "theory" and "action". Each user-friendly lesson is written in everyday English and filled with helpful visual aids.

The first edition of Sound Mind Investing was a Gold Medallion Book Award finalist in 1994, and won the endorsements of such respected Christian teachers as Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, and others.

This book can help you chart your financial future by using the same concepts that have made Austin's newsletter America's best-selling investment newsletter written from a biblical perspective. Whether you invest a little or a lot, these biblical principles apply to you. In short, he's made learning about investing as painless as it's going to get. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Managing Money with a Sound Mind
In the foreward of the third edition of "Sound Mind Investing", Larry Burkett writes "...I endorse the integrity and honesty of Austin Pryor. Obviously you, the reader, must evaluate his advice yourself. No one individual has the right advice for everyone, and anyone can, and will, be wrong in the changing economy we live in. But if you will spend the time to read carefully the counsel Austin provides in this book, you will find it both time and money well spent."

I agree wholeheartedly. After having read numerous introductory texts on money-management from a Christian perspective, this book is the most comprehensive and readable text of the lot.

Austin's book is divided into 6 Sections:

1) Getting Debt-free. The author considers this the first level of financial fitness, an equivalent of laying a proper foundation upon which to build. At this early point in the text, he discusses the importance of tithing in your plan. Austin writes "we are not commanded to give generously. Rather, our giving is a test of sincerity of our love and our willingness to trust in God's utter faithfulness" (based upon 2Cor 8:8,9:8). Austin goes on to say "When you pray about your giving, may I encourage you to give to the full measure of your gratitude and cheerfulness. And continue to ask God to enlarge your heart toward Him so you can eagerly embrace the sacrifice needed to give all the more."
In addition, budgeting as well as the dangers associated with the misuse of credit cards are discussed.

2) Saving for Future Needs. This includes the principles of saving money in a secure, low-risk emergency fund (financial planners recommend 3 to 6 months living expenses; Austin recommends $10,000) as well as in an accumulation fund for big-ticket items that you anticipate purchasing within 1 to 5 years. He also includes advice on preparing to help your children to finance their college or technical education. He believes that, if parents have the financial means, they should consider helping with the expenses of a college education for their children. Emphasis is given to the benefits of investing for your children's education as early as possible. Powerful examples are given. Note that Austin believes that children should be responsible for a portion of their educational expenses as well. Advice on where to invest this money is given, including but not limited to Ed IRAs and 529 plans.

3) Investing Your Surplus. Once you are debt-free and have adequate savings in an emergency fund, the author believes you can then begin to take educated risks by investing your surplus in mutual funds. This section is a primer on investment basics and mutual funds.

4) Diversifying for Safety. Austin is a strong proponent of building an age-appropriate,diversified portfolio through mutual fund investing. For the typical investor, he advocates "dollar-cost-averaging" or "value-averaging" strategies versus market-timing strategies, although he does admit venturing into market-timing strategies in his personal investment approach (He did this professionally in the past, but does not recommend market-timing for the average investor. Reasons are given). This book includes a short quiz that enables the reader to see what their personal tolerance is for investment risk. Once you determine your tolerance level, Austin leads you through determining your appropriate portfolio mix and shows you how your mix should change as you go through the various financial stages of your life.

5) Retirement Countdown. Austin wants his readers to have a realistic view of their needs for retirement. He discusses how to properly lower your investment risk as retirement approaches.

6) Investing that Glorifies God. The book ends with a section entitled "Investing that Glorifies God, a Biblical Blueprint for Building Your Financial House on Solid Rock". This section is priceless. Austin essentially reminds the reader of the importance of an eternal perspective, and that our investing should glorify God by acknowledging His sovereignty, valuing His majesty, building His Kingdom, upholding His righteousness, seeking His wisdom, and enjoying His blessing.

Please consider the counsel given in this book. I have and it has changed my financial life.

Highly Recommended
This is an awesome book! It is helpful for the beginner as well as someone who already has a "foundational" knowledge of finance. It is easy to read and understand and yet gives you a wealth of information. I read it cover to cover and even now often find myself using it as reference for making financial decisions. A must have for anyone interested in getting their financial house in order in a manner that is honoring to God. Worth every penny and more!

Sound Mind Investing is great
After trying to invest on my own,with mixed results; I've come to have a real admiration for the years of solid experience and great insight in Sound Mind Investing. The market perspective, great research and wonderful world view rate this book tops for me.

SOUND MIND INVESTING HAS HELPED OUR FAMILY
Austin Pryor teaches all of the basics of investing in this one book. The principles he teaches have already helped me. I trust his wisdom and knowledge. This book is well worth the money you'll spend for it.

Take control of your finances and your future (and have fun)
This easily surpasses all the financial "do it yourself" books we've read yet! Finances from a Biblical perspective, presented in a fun, easy-to-read format. Not only that, but once you've digested the information, the book teaches and inspires you to actually get moving and make the changes that need to be made!

What we liked best: (1) looks at finances as a whole (debt, savings, investing, budgeting); (2) not afraid to go against conventional wisdom in order to teach the best way to handle money; (3) shows you how to do your OWN investing so you don't pay ridiculous fees to an advisor just trying to earn a commission off you (at the lowest cost possible); (4) includes lots of web resources for us internet users; and much, much more! We also decided to sign up for SMINow, the Sound Mind Investing web site, and have found it to be a great value.

Get this book, read it, and buy more copies for your family and friends, especially those who are just starting out...I wish I had this book in my hands 15 years ago! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on over sixteen years of ministry at Willow Creek and other churches, Good Sense is a field-tested, proven resource for teaching, training, and changing lives and hearts in the area of finances.The Good Sense Budget Course includes a Leader’s Guide, a Participant’s Guide, a PowerPoint CD-ROM, and a 45-minute video on both VHS and DVD for 6 sessions. ... Read more

Book Description

Revolutionary and life changing, the "voluntary simplicity" movement is about achieving financial freedom and living well for less. Now Getting a Life shows how real people have leftthe rat race for a more meaningful--and financially manageable--life that reflects their owntrue values and individual goals. Written by a couple who used the nine steps in the bestselling Your Money or Your Life to transform their own relationship with money, Getting a Life offers proven, practical ideas on how to use each step of the program. With honesty and humor, the authors and more than two dozen families and individuals share their personal experiences on such issues as paying for health care, raising children in a materialistic world, and breaking the link between what you do for a living and who you are. Getting a Life shows you how to adopt voluntary simplicity in your own life and what to expect once you do. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good price but not very useful
We read Duane Elgins excellent book Voluntary Simplicity decades ago, and would simply caution that this book Getting A :Life will probably appeal to those who have lots of money and really do not have to worry about making ends meet. For those who are on some type of a fixed income. or those with middle class incomes in a precarious economy it doesn't have much useful information. And I agree with those reviews that note the "yuppy" element.

We run a small simple living group in the Sierras, that is like the ones we ran in Alameda and San Joaquin counties here in California. So we are not new to the live simply and get out of debt ideas. And I note that there is a big difference between spoiled brats needing to learn what is really important in life and those who know what is important in life and want to know even more about how to simplify their lives.

The Intenet be it google searches or Yahoo groups has a whole lot more free information that is useful than this book. Amazon[.com]offers a whole lot more books on the subject that I would recommend.

Not even close to YMOYL
Should be subtitled, "How Two Seattle Yuppies Retired Early on 3.5K a Month". This book contains some helpful info, but I was hoping to see someone with a negative net worth pay off their debts and become FI. What I got was the story of a couple of yuppies saying, "Whoa, were worth a bundle and if we refuse to pay for our kids' college we can retire early". Not too impressive to me. I would not read this book if I were looking for material on voluntary simplicity. Why does Vicki Robin endorse this book?

Not as good as Your Money or Your Life, but still good
After reading Your Money or Your Life by the late Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, Getting a Life: Strategies for Simple Living Based on the Revolutionary Program for Financial Freedom Your Money or Your Life seemed to be a natural progression.

This book *does* offer some very helpful examples of individuals who used the advice in Your Money or Your Life. However, after reading the original book, I was somewhat disappointed by these authors' inconsistent choices in areas of voluntary simplicity. For example, they talk about how they cut their food bill down to just ($) a month for two people, and I know many couples who are into voluntary simplicity who can easily spend much less than that in a month. They also mention that they kept Call Waiting because they only have one phone line, which made me think, What did people do in the past with only one phone line when people were trying to call them? It just seemed inconsistent with some of the other advice they give in the book. Another annoyance was their example of a family who decided to go without health insurance, and just put money away in savings every month in the event of health expenses down the road. This would seem to me false economy. What would happen to this family if after saving a few thousand dollars they were hit with a serious accident or illness? Such an event could easily wipe out all of their savings.

In spite of the inconsistencies, this book does offer some good advice as well as list plenty of helpful resources for anyone interested in voluntary simplicity. The epilogue does a follow-up of the individuals listed throughout the book and tells you where they're at now in their lives. The epilogue is followed by a section of resources listing foundations, books, newsletters, organizations and other helpful resources for those interested in voluntary simplicity and financial independence.

Very satisfying.
I recommend that you read 'Your Money or Your Life' (YMOYL) before you read this book. I waited about 2 or 3 months to give YMOYL time to really sink in before I read this. When I started reading, I found myself trying to read very slowly so that I could absorb everything. It is very inspiring and englightening to read about other people's experiences following the YMOYL philosophy and the ways that they have integrated this into their lives.

I think your experience with this book will closely follow YMOYL. If you liked YMOYL, then you should find this book inspiring and very interesting. If you didn't, then you won't. If you want more detail on how YMOYL has affected people's lives, then you will enjoy...

Very well done
After reading "Your Money or Your Life" twice I wondered if there could possibly be a sequel to match it. "Getting a Life" was not disappointing at all, but it's hard to beat "Your Money or Your Life."

My overall impression of this book was very good. According to the authors, you don't need to read "Your Money or Your Life" before reading this book. I disagree. Read "Your Money or Your Life" first and then this book. You'll appreciate it a lot more.

This book consists of stories of people who used the principles of "Your Money or Your Life" to change their lives. I got a bit bored at certain points of the book as people's stories dragged on and on, but I still liked the stories because they gave a human face to the principles of simple living and freeing yourself from the rat race of earning and spending day after day, month after month and year after year. Much of the information is repeated, but the different viewpoints filled in a lot of missing pieces for me.

Here is my favorite passage from the book: "If you didn't need to work for income, what would you do with your time? What was the last thing you bought that you really didn't need, and why? If you had no money, would you still have the same friends? What would you estimate to be the total weight of all your possessions?"

Probably the most important thing for me with this book was the distinction some people made on how to live without a traditional job. In "Your Money or Your Life" the recommendation was to get your expenses down low and then live off interest from Treasury Bonds. It can be done, but that disappointed me. I was hoping for something a little more aggressive like a mix of dividend paying stocks and other investments. I was pleased to read the story of the man who did just that. He adjusted his life where he had a mixture of various investments producing passive cash flow, and he did just fine. That was a relief for me. I've been working on financial freedom for a while now, and the thought of living off Treasury Bond interest for the rest of my life, although safe, just doesn't appeal to me.

I also found some really good practical information in this book. The common misperception in this country is that we all have to buy a new car every few years. I was pleased to read stories of people who owned their cars for many years and just kept them in good running condition. There were many other tips regarding wasteful spending that I've never thought of before. I probably paid less than 10 bucks for this book. What a terrific return on my investment.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because I appreciated the real life stories it contained. It made everything very practical for me, and now I can see how it all fits into my life. Of course it can't match "Your Money or Your Life" as that was an extraordinary book. Still, if you liked that book, by all means read this book as well. You can't get enough of a good thing. ... Read more

Book Description

For recently widowed women, times are hard enough-without having to worry about money. Unfortunately, many women are left in financial chaos after a spouse's death-and become vulnerable to costly mistakes and even outright scams. With this in mind, one of today's foremost financial experts has put together a step-by-step guide specifically for widows. Thorough and accessible, it addresses a wide range of legal and financial issues, including estates * taxes * IRAs and 401(k)s * government benefits * business * budgeting * re-marriage * investments * scams and frauds * housing and more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Discussing estates, taxes, IRAs, 401(k)s
Financial expert, commentator, and magazine columnist Nancy Dunnan presents, The Widow's Financial Survival Guide: Handling Money Matters On Your Own, a no-nonsense practical guide written especially for women who outlive their spouses. Discussing estates, taxes, IRAs, 401(k)s, common scams and frauds, the financial aspects of remarriage, government benefits, common financial mistakes, choosing an executor, dealing with tuition bills should the widow wish pursue higher education, and more, The Widow's Financial Survival Guide is a thoroughly "user friendly" instructional financial management resource of the highest quality and recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

Get control of your finances!

The unique BudgetMap® system fits in your checkbook and replaces your check register as you continue to use your existing checks.Each BudgetMap® set includes 3 specialized check registers and a 36-paged workbook.

— Effectively organize and control your spending

— Instantly see where you are in your budget as you make each transaction

— Complete freedom to customize with any budget

— Fits in your check register - take it everywhere

Most personal finance and budgeting systems only look backward by tracking what you spend. The BudgetMap® system also looks forward. Know how much money you have and how you want to spend it at all times! BudgetMap® leads you to your financial goals.

The simple and flexible BudgetMap® system works with all types of transactions — cash, checks, credit cards, or any combination. It also works with any spending plan. If you do not have a budget, the BudgetMap® workbook will help you make one.

"With the BudgetMap system, I’ve been able to control our family’s spending and savings for the first time in our 17 year marriage! The BudgetMap system is the most innovative, profoundly simple financial tool I’ve ever tried, and I’ve tried many," LeAnn Bonds, Homemaker.

"I give one to each of my students in my personal financial management class. The BudgetMap system is easy to use, visually portrays the financial picture, and does not take a lot of time to keep up. I give the Budgetmap an A++ for the best financial management tool available."Joyce Blowers, Lima Christian School, Lima, NY ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Spending plan made simple
BudgetMap is a wonderful tool for keeping track of your spending plan. You can see at a glance the balance in each category you've created. There are separate pages for checking and savings. For us, one BudgetMap book holds six months of entries and we have lots of debits. This system is great - it's like an envelope system for your checkbook!

Excellent budgeting system
The system is easy to learn. Plus your budget is in your checkbook; you can see if you're "on budget" as you enter every check, charge or withdrawal. ... Read more

Book Description

EASY BUDGETING SYSTEM THAT FITS IN YOUR CHECKBOOK ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I really liked this book
Obviously the previous review was biased against budgeting in general. Budgeting is hard, it requires discipline... especially for those of us who struggle to make ends meet. Its not as easy as the previous reviewer seems to think... sound principles and good tools are required to get your financial life in order.

I really liked this book. It teaches sound principles and is a very easy read. The methods taught are manual and require discipline to implement, but if you stick to the program it will get you on top of your finances. You dont need to buy his tools to implement the principles, but for the non-computer savvy folks, this is a very good method of tracking your categories.

I hate this book...
I hate this book (but I hate budgeting even more) and this book is full of the "b" word. Yes, that's right the word b-u-d-g-e-t is evil. Basically theses guys want you to keep track of every single purchase you make over these 25 broad categories and then adjust your spending to live under your means.

The categories are:

Allowances
Automobiles
Cleaning and laundry
Cothing
Contributions
Debt payments
Family Advancements (what the heck is that suppoused to be?)
Gifts
Groceries (shouldn't food be near the top?)
Housing (see above)
Insurance (just buy term - whole life is a rip off)
Investments
Maintanece & improvements
Medical, dental, drugs (no, not the illegal ones)
Miscellaneous, petty cash (why not just send it to me ?)
Recreation & entertainment
Savings
Subscriptions
Utilities
Vacations, trips

Now you tell me, who in the world would really do that every time they purchased something, also why couldn't someone just estimate?

Another thing that I don't like about this book is it is basically a selling tool for their proprietary budget keeping kits that they make it sound like you have to have or you won't be able to budget anything. Come on I'm sure if someone really was interested in budgeting they could use something like Excel.

One more thing, if you just would live within your means (not spend more than you earn - a good way to do this is to just use cash and not use credit cards) and you wouldn't have to budget anything.

Reed Floren ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Get a copy for each member of your family!
This is an excellent book. It is less than 120 pages. It reads like a story. Starting with man hacking his fake Xmas tree to bits and ending with financial freedom, a real friend, and a new lease on life! I loved it! I have sent copies to family members who have actually thanked me and implemented what they read! I plan to send out more this year. It's a funny, no-nonsense look at getting out of debt. I think I'll go and re-read it again!

best debt-reduction program available at any price!
Take an evening to read this (it's only 100 pages). It's an easy read, but be warned: if you put the 4 laws into practice, it will change your life! As a financial advisor, I have read dozens of books and attended many seminars on debt reduction (some good, some bad); NONE of which could match this book's simplicity and applicability to ANY person in ANY situation (without changing your income!). That's no exaggeration. If brevity is the sole of wit, this book is a tome of wisdom that should be required reading in every high school and college. It's a faithful adaptation of the amazingly basic, yet often overlooked principles of sound financial decision making. The examples are realistic, and the instructions easy to follow. Your greatest challenge will be re-training your brain to set your priorities differently, but believe me, it's worth it! I have given copies of this book to clients, friends, and every member of my family. Truly the most life-changing book I've read since Stephen Covey's "7 habits of highly effective people".

Cheap, simple and effective.
This book was well-written and very helpful. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a simple, but effective way to put a good dent in your debt. Don't be mistaken into thinking that it's easy. It takes a great deal of discipline, but it works and it won't empty your pocket.

Great Book easy to read and understand!
Found the book to be understandable an enjoyable to read! Liked how the authors used a game of chess between two people to convey financial lessons, that everyone needs to follow.

Simple but Effective
This book lays it so simply - how to get out of debt, including paying off your house mortgage, in five years or less. I now see how it is happening for me! And what is great is that you don't have to earn more income, it doesn't make any difference how much you earn, it's all about how you spend your money. Great book for everyone, and get the teens to read it now! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best $11 Bucks I've Ever Spent!
Finally! A book on personal finance for the average person. This book is filled with easy-to-understand advice about managing your money. You can read it from cover to cover or just browse through it and pick the topics you're interested in right now. The budgeting and credit card debt chapters are great. Even though it's geared towards those of us in our 20s and 30s, most of it is good advice for anyone trying to get ahead financially. Best $11 bucks I've ever spent. ... Read more