Book Description

Mary Hunt is the founder, editor, and publisher of the popular national subscription newsletter "Cheapskate Monthly," which premiered in 1992, author of 13 books, and an expert on "Debt-Proof Living." Here is a collection of tips on saving money and time in the areas of home, auto, travel, clothing, cooking, shopping, finance, kitchen, gifts, special occasions, kids, yard and garden, laundry, health, organizing and more. It contains sound advice for getting out of debt, managing money, curbing spending, finding creative solutions, and "bringing dignity to the art of living below your means." ... Read more

Book Description

Let the fine art of haggling save you hundreds of dollars on everything from stereos, TVs and guns to jewelry, cars and real estate. Old pro Max Edison walks you through the psychology of negotiation, special precautions to take before you buy or sell anything, how to build your case for the best possible deal and more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best $35 I have ever spent
They say Americans don't like to haggle. This doesn't mean you can't do it in almost every purchasing situation. This book inspired me.

Awesome Power available in convenient book form
This book opened my eyes to the world of haggling - I've been paying too much for things in the past!

I like the Author's conversational and realistic writing style... amust read for anyone who buys things.

5 stars, as we can't give it 6! ... Read more

Book Description

In the friendly and inviting style that has become her trademark, Ilyce Glink gives you the lowdown on how to successfully navigate the often perplexing and unpredictable world of personal finance.

It's a jungle out there. Scan the personal-finance horizon, and you'll see a vast and confusing mess of terms and procedures: credit reports; universal variable life insurance; reverse mortgages; unified tax credits; dividend reinvestment plans.

Have you ever wondered:

• How do I calculate my net worth? (See question #4.)

• Should I buy or lease my next car? (See question #19.)

• How do I develop a diversified portfolio that reflects the risk I want to take?(See question #54.)

• How much money will I have when I retire? (See question #83.)

• When should I draw up a will?(See question #90.)
  

With 100 Questions You Should Ask About Your Personal Finances, managing your financial life couldn't be easier. Step by step, bestselling author Ilyce Glink takes you through the sometimes bumpy terrain of investments, mortgages, insurance policies, retirement plans . . . and suddenly it all makes sense. It's like having a trusted friend and adviser by your side in every financial decision you make. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Better Questions Than Answers
This book will inevitably be compared to the newer work, The Road to Wealth by Ms. Suze Orman. Ms. Glink's book has the edge in having a simpler, easier-to-use format which is supplemented by many helpful work sheets. In most other ways, Ms. Orman's book is better as well as having more up-to-date information. Ms. Orman's book has the greatest relative advantage in her section on credit cards.

Like The Road to Wealth, this book will be of most value to those in the 17-25 year-old age group. For most people past 50, this book is at best a two-star effort. You learned most of these things a number of years ago unless you have or had a spouse who kept you away from finances.

The best sections in the book are on buying or leasing a car or truck, buying insurance, determining your net worth, measuring the economic impact of having two incomes, and deciding how much to spend on a home.

I thought that the sections on setting financial goals and investing in stocks were very below par. Both give information and general guidance that miss the mark. Setting financial goals is a small section. That's the most important thing you can do, and there's not enough guidance here. In stock investing, the point is not made that you can outperform over 95 percent of all professional investors by simply buying inexpensive indexed mutual funds. Instead, you get details about all kinds of ways of investing that most people should never do. The advice on how to select professionals to help you was also substandard compared to what you need.

Ms. Glink also emphasizes writing down all of your expenditures to create more frugal habits. Very few people are going to do that. On the hand, she omits the important subject of how to develop your income through your career decisions and actions. I thought the advice was thus imbalanced and impractical. A better thing to do would be to encourage people to write down what they spend on discretionary items and services. Most people could and would do that, and the results would provide most of the benefit with only a small portion of the time investment.

Although most of Ms. Glink's questions are good ones, she occasionally gets caught up in trivia like what a stock split is.

In most of Ms. Glink's sections, the advice is much less detailed than you would get in a specialized book on that subject. So, if you plan to take action in most of these areas, you should probably seek out the top book on that subject. You will see that instantly if you compare this book to Ms. Glink's superb book on being a first-time home buyer, which I highly recommend over the home purchasing section in this book.

Integrate finances into the full fabric of your spiritual, family, and personal life in a way where each supports the others!

The Best of the Bunch
You work hard for your money, and spend it on life's necessities and frivolities. But do you know how to make your money work for you -- to manage it, keep more of it, make it grow and protect it so you can enjoy it? There's plenty of financial information available -- magazines, books, newspapers, radio, television and the Internet. There are hundreds of financial companies trying to sell you their products and services. The problem isn't finding enough information, it's finding too much.

I've checked out many books on basic financial advice and the "100 Questions You Should Ask About Your Personal Finances: And the Answers You Need to Help You Save, Invest, and Grow Your Money" by Ilyce Glink is one of the best of the bunch. For anyone looking for a readable, reliable guide to everything they want to know about their money, I'd say this is the book. And this solid book is a book of answers.

Not what I expected - Dont waste your time or money
I was very dissapointed with this book. I read the whole thing in a weekend only because I was hoping later chapters would have been worth the time and money I invested in this book. I did not learn anything new about finances and "HOW TO MAKE IT". I was hoping for tips and tricks on how to maximize my investments, retirement, and protect my estate from taxes. This is my first purchase of "Personal Finance" material and it was not a good choice. I hope I can return this book for another choice. Maybe I will wait for customer reviews before I purchase the next book on-line.

Highly Recommended
Let's face it, for most of us personal finances is not fun. Not only does it require working with figures that we'd rather not examine, but it also means taking a hard look at who we are and our relationship with money. This book understands these fears and gently helps the reader through all sorts of rough financial terrain. This book is written is a friendly, straight-forward style that doesn't overwhelm the reader. I found the author's supportive one-question-at-a-time approach to be very refreshing. The book's content is clearly divided in such a way that any reader can easily reference information that is applicable to her or his financial situation. ... Read more

Book Description

Looking for Ways to Cut Your Expenses and Budget Without Feeling Deprived?

Jonni McCoy, author of Miserly Moms, offers proven money-saving strategies for you and your family that will save you thousands of dollars every year. Learn how to cut costs on big-budget items including:

Cars
Insurance
Health care
Holidays
Vacations and family fun
Pets

Now in its second edition, this book includes new and updated material. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Helpful book. Lots of useful information.
For families trying to survive on one income in a two income economy, this book is a must. The set of both of McCoy's books should be in every home's frugal living library. I especially appreciated the sections on teaching kids financial responsibility and saving money on pet care. With three kids and four pets, those were topics I needed information about--and quickly! I think a set of McCoy's two books (Miserly Moms and Frugal Families) would make a welcome gift for new parents or even newlyweds. A great way to help them get started on the right track financially.

Stress-Free Family with Frugality
In true miserly fashion, Jonni McCoy makes saving money a trill and an adventure in Frugal Families.

Whereas Mrs. McCoy's previous books (Miserly Moms and Miserly Meals) have focused on how a mom or a person can save money, Frugal Families is a compilation of how an entire family can get into a lifestyle of frugality. I especially enjoy this, as it's easy for one person (the mom) to do what she can to pinch pennies; but it's refreshing to see that life-long learning and behavior is possible with our children. Additionally, Frugal Families offers an extensive resource collection at the end of each chapter, in case you want to look for more information on various topics.

Jonni's book is a great inspiration to those of us who do not use coupons. It details ways to save money in practically every manner of family living. Need window treatments? No problem! There is an entire chapter devoted to beautifying your house on a budget. Thinking about taking a family vacation? Make sure you read Chapter Six, complete with toll-free phone numbers and hotel alternatives. There is even a chapter on how you should budget your money, and how to work at paying down your financial obligations so that you can live a debt-free (and stress-free) life! But, don't stop there! Once you learn how to live more frugally, then you need to read the next section on how to save more of your money and how to invest it wisely.

There are many uncertains in life today, especially with job insecurities, economic recessions and the threats facing the international fronts. But, when you are in control of your money ' and you make living frugally a part of your life, you are able to feel in control of your financial well-being. By doing this, your turn the tables on uncertainty and take your money back into your hands. To do this, make sure you take the time to read Frugal Families, it'll give you many options to taking the stress out of your family finances.

Gotta read this!
I read all of the reviews posted on this page...even the old ones from 1999. I was hesitant to buy the book based on the few bad reviews, but I loved it! The old reviews must be based on an earlier version. This version I bought is very new. It was packed with helpful information, loads of websites, holiday help ideas, pets, kids, etc. It is WELL worth the price.

Featuring a wealth of simple ways to make money at home
Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Frugal Families by Jonni McCoy is a thoroughly "user friendly" budget-conscious guide to saving expenses when celebrating the holidays, while on vacation, when taking care of pets, when buying insurance and cars, and much, much more. Featuring a wealth of simple ways to make money at home and teach financial responsibility to kids, as well as being a highly practical resource to cutting costs without scrimping on fun and simple pleasures, Frugal Families is confidently recommended for anyone seeking to make the most of their financial resources while thoroughly enjoying all aspects of family life.

Lots of tips
Great book on frugal living. However, this book doesn't suggest ways to cut down on grocery costs. Gives several different areas on how to save like Pet Care and Gardening ... Read more

Book Description

The most demanded information from DebtSmart®! How to stop the banks from taking advantage of you, get the best lending deals, get financially organized, pick the right mortgage, make more money, finance your next car, personal stories, Q&A, and much more! Scott Bilker, author of "How to be more Credit Card and Debt Smart," is also the creator of DebtSmart.com and the author of the best-selling book, "Credit Card and Debt Management." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book! Gotta love this guy!
What a valuable book. Read it cover-to-cover yesterday morning -- called my credit card companies in the afternoon and trust me -- I saved far more than the cost of the book ... including shipping! This book should be required reading for anyone who has credit debt. In fact, I think it should be added to all high school and college curriculums. Excellent purchase plus turned me on to the companion website ...

Taking the stress out of learning about credit!
"I have enjoyed reading it! What I like about "How to be more Credit Card and Debt Smart" is the way it is written is like having a conversation with a friend. Picture it like this, instead of two people but a person and the book sitting at a table with a nice warm mug of Starbucks (that I brewed of
course) and learning about credit issues in a relaxing and easy to remember format."
--Susie Marion ... Read more

Amazon.com

Why do so many otherwise rational individuals make irrational decisions when it comes to money? Financial journalist Gary Belsky and Cornell University psychology professor Thomas Gilovich contend the answers can be found--and the deficiencies remedied--with help from a relatively new science called behavioral economics. Still largely unknown outside academic circles, the field can be traced to research on the impact of rewards and punishments on human judgment and decision- making that first were undertaken at Jerusalem's Hebrew University some 30 years ago.In Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes , Belsky and Gilovich update this pioneering work and show readers how to understand exactly why they invest, spend, and save as they do. More importantly, using examples that everyone can identify with and language that anyone can understand, the authors offer dozens of workable suggestions that can help readers manage their money better. "We believe that by identifying the psychological causes behind many types of financial decisions," they write, "you can effectively change your behavior in ways that will ultimately put more money in your pocket and help you keep more of what you already have." --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (33)

BAD THINKING HABITS "STALL" YOUR ECONOMIC PROGRESS
WHY SMART PEOPLE MAKE BIG MONEY MISTAKES is full of examples of decisions you might have to make. You get to choose an option, and then the authors tell you what you should have chosen. This is a great learning technique to bring home the lessons of this superb book. The authors point out several biases that most people have about money (such as it's okay to blow certain money, but not other money -- all money is really the same), themselves (people always overrate their abilities and get taken as a result), and circumstances (even people who got an A in statistics will usually misanalyze the risks they take). Since money is ultimately about math, a lot of your lifetime income and earning potential is lost in the process of following these biases. This book could make or save you a million dollars. You cannot afford not to read it. I was reminded of a parallel book on the same sorts of problems about bad thinking habits as they apply to work situations called "The 2,000 Percent Solution" which you should also read. If you use the lessons of both books, you will be enormously better off financially in your lifetime. It'll be like owning the casino, instead of losing money in it. Good luck!

It answers some of the whys but does not tell how
This book is quite a smart blending of economics, financial management and trading psychology that targets at the average investors who are supposed to be not knowlegable in the above aspects.

In 203 pages and 7+2 chapters, the authors tell 1) how mental accounting can help you save or cost you money 2) how loss aversion and the sunk cost fallacy lead you to throw good money after bad 3) how the status quo bias (resistance to change) and the endowment effect make financial choices difficult 4) how ignorance about math and probabilities can hurt you 5) why important decisions are based on unimportant information 6) how costly it can be of overconfidence 7) how dangerous it is to rely on tips and the financial moves of others.

The authors on the average spend 3/4 or even 4/5 of each chapter to tell a problem, and the rest to give a summary and several points on the means of correction, which I believe those to be far from helpful. (I always have the opinion that for improvement in behavioral psychology, a systematic approach that guide the readers step by step and in great detail is a must).

To echo on my review, I would like to quote what's written on the first sentence of the conclusion chapter. -----"Life would be a lot simpler if we could summarize the ideas presented in this book with a set of prescriptive nuggest - "The top ten mental moneys secret" or "The seven habits of financially effective people." Unfortunately, there are no easy fixes for many of the issues we've touched upon. Change is often hard won..----My dear authors, you intended to make it happen in this book, but you failed. I am afraid that you had made your readers worse off by reading your book, coz you had already led them into the status quo bias and anchoring you described in chapter 3 and 5.

Solid start to understanding behavioral finance
Belsky does a very good job introducing many of the crazy things people do with their money, a good beginning to explain why markets are not efficient and an important fact to understand.

Overated Book
While some of the book is interesting it is more geared for the beginner in investing. A lot of the issues brought up are nothing more than common sense. I read it in a couple of days and felt let down by the simplistic approach to investing problems and the suggested solutions.

Great Read
It leaves you begging for more. The problem is that at times they talk down to the reader --a little journalistic, more than warranted by the topic.
Still the more readable work on behavioral economics. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you tired of being turned down for credit because of negative info in your files? Now you can learn the secrets used by pros to erase bad credit from your files and start over. This complete guide was written to meet the needs of everyone, including women, minorities, divorced people, military families and those considering bankruptcy. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It may be short, but it's sweet!
Other reviewers of this book here at Amazon seem to feel that the author is skimping on the details, and that he uses the laws we have to live with as filler. I disagree. Personally, I don't have time to read a lengthy discourse on how to get out of debt, repair my credit, or work towards being financially stable. This book contains more than enough valuable information to get anyone with credit woes on the road to recovery. When I bought this book just over a month ago, I had 11 negative marks on one of my credit reports. After taking the sample letters in this great book and modifying them to meet my needs, I have changed 9 of these marks to positive, and am negotiating on the last 2. I found this book to be an invaluable tool, as a novice to the way debt works.

Reviewed by professional credit consultant
This book may be helpful for someone who needs some basic knowledge about credit repair and debt issues. However, Mr Hammond merely added very little updated information and creates another edition to be sold in the market place. More than half of the book consists of credit regulations, and out of date phone numbers for many governmental organizations and creditors alike. It is obvious he does not put in much additional effort in creating new additions. Also, some of his techniques may not work for everyone. If he spends any time practicing in this field (which I feel he have not) he would have written more practical credit repair techniques which may prove beneficial to consumers out there.

Highly Recommended!
Bob Hammond discusses how to reduce debts, repair credit and deal with creditors and collection agencies. He includes tips on negotiating debts downward and sample letters to creditors. The detailed appendix includes the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This book is primarily targeted to small business owners, employees and the unemployed or underemployed who are having debt problems. We [...] appreciate the basic, "do this," tone of voice and the practical approach to helping someone climb out of debt. (While some of these strategies might be useful anywhere, only U.S. law is discussed.)

Could have been a pamphlet
The information that you need to start repairing your credit is in here and so is some stuff about reducing debt. The book covers how to order your report, dispute it and follow up with the Credit agencies. It has sample letters that you can use with your own information. It has techniques on working with creditors to have them remove negative information from your report for you.

Overall, I don't feel ripped off, but I am a bit disappointed. There could have been much more detail in the areas of Keeping your credit report from being damaged, building good credit, and strategies for saving money and reducing debts (which are the cause of bad credit in the first place). This type of book would be much more useful in the form of a workbook rather than the front to middle reading it is.

The book gives you what it promises, but not in the best form and with a ton of filler. The second half of the book is just a reprint of Credit Laws which could come in handy if I was working with a lawyer or could understand it myself, but otherwise is just there to add pages.

Judging by the number of books that Bob Hammond has written on the subject, I would say that he is just revamping old work, adding a lot of filler text and calling it a new book.

The information in this book is so rudimentary should be free. But I give it 3 stars because it has helped me get the ball rolling with my credit.

Essential reading for anyone trying to make ends meet.
Now in a fully updated third edition, Bob Hammond's Life After Debt continues to be the most practical, reader friendly, single volume guide to personal money management and emancipation from crippling debt available to the reading public. Hammond tackles the problems of how debt is caused and solving credit problems -- permanently. Readers will learn how to increase their cash flow, reestablish a sound credit rating in less than 30 days, stop collection agency harassment, raise their credit limit, create an "instant" credit history dating back ten years. Life After Debt is enhanced with addresses and phone numbers of consumer credit services, state banking authorities, and other financial stability resources. Life After Debt is essential reading for anyone struggling to make ends meet. ... Read more

Book Description

Free Yourself from the Debt Trap!

Living beyond our means and financing unaffordable lifestyles on the back of credit cards has become synonymous with American consumer culture.Some consumers feel the nagging beginnings of problems, while others are nearly imprisoned by debt.No matter what your situation is, debt issues will drain you mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially.If you're one of the tens of thousands of consumers who feels your debt might be out of control, here is help from someone who has walked the same road. ... Read more

Book Description

Janet Bodnar addresses everything from curing a case of the "gimmies" and determining allowance levels to budgeting, earning and saving. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

great resource - bad title?
I'm not exactly sure what the previous reviewers disliked about this book. I found it to be a frank discussion of money issues related to kids. Maybe the "for kids" in the title was misleading, the content is clearly for parents. With this book a parent can get a grasp on a large number of ideas and resources to help kids manage money. The author has done a good job of putting together a work covering everything from handling money discussions with preschoolers to working out money issues with teens and everything in between. This is a great reference book containing ideas about guiding kids who are making money, and also has information to help kids manage that money and manange the situations surrounding it. There are web sites, a generous bibliography and plenty of ideas and advice for different age kids and different situations. The book is worth the price for the three chapters on savings, investments and kid businesses alone. If you are looking for a well written, no nonsense book about kid finances you would do well to give this book a second look.

fabulous resource
There are a lot of books out there for kids about money. There are tons of books out there for adults about money. But there are suprisingly not a lot of books out there to help parents raise kids who are financially savvy. In a nation where kids have more and more discretionary income, earlier access to credit, are targeted with advertising from a young age and influence on the spending of parents, this type of book is needed more than ever.

You don't need an MBA to read this humorous, down-to-earth style. The advice applies to real life families and real life situations. Many times you will read the question and answer section and wonder if you yourself or at least your kids actually wrote in to the author.

The book does have an emphasis on personal responsibility (which was actually why it resonates so well with me) and teaching your kids to be responsible consumers. Perhaps the people who offered negative reviews disliked this aspect of the book. For example, if your child has spent his allowance and needs money to buy a birthday gift for a friend, is it more caring to let him learn his lesson or do you just give in and give your son additional cash?

The chapter on allowance is worth it alone. I can't reccomend this book highly enough.

Ruthless and Cruel
This woman should be forced to take parenting classes if this is how she treats her own three kids.
Kids learn through good advice coupled with kind hearts and caring parents.

Skip this book. There are more empathetic and useful money books for parents trying to instill values in their kids.

This book is just plain nasty.

A practical and "user friendly' parenting guide
Dollars & Sense For Kids: What They Need To Know About Money - And How To Tell Them by Janet Bodnar (Senior Editor, "Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine") is a practical and "user friendly' parenting guide to the art of teaching kids of all ages how to be responsible with their money. From using allowances to teach hands-on experience in budget and resource management, to helping children balance the responsibilities of a part-time job with schoolwork and other concerns, to coping with teenagers who think they know everything about money already, Dollars & Sense For Kids is a highly accessible and strongly recommended money-management instructional manual for parents at any income level.

The "Dr. Spock" of kids and money
As the author of this book--which Library Journal has described as a "wise and witty tome"--I was appalled to read a couple of the negative "reviews" on this page. In fact, I question whether they're reviews at all. Based on their similar content and wording, I suspect they have been planted on behalf of another author. They certainly don't describe my book, which is neither "nasty," "mean-spirited" nor "bossy."
Here are a few quotes from "Dollars & Sense":
--"What works for you won't necessarily work for your neighbor."
--"There is a comon theme in how you should teach your kids about money: Be candid, be consistent and use your own good common sense."
--"All the advice I give has been used successfully by some parent--though not necessarily by me. Like any family, we've had our successes and failures."
--"My aim is to offer reasonable solutions in a readable form that real people will find useful--and even entertaining."
--"Kids are people, too, and they deserve to have their questions taken seriously and answered thoughtfully."
Are my own kids "quaking in their boots"? Hardly. They are quite secure, and have a great sense of humor about having a mother who writes about kids and money. They've also picked up a thing or two along the way. My oldest went off to college this fall, and I'm confident he won't bounce any checks or run up a big credit card bill.
My thanks to the two reviewers--both unknown to me--who obviously took the time to read "Dollars & Senses" and gave it five stars. The reviewer from Boston thinks it's "worth the price for the chapters on savings, investments and kid businesses alone." The reviewer from Washington finds it "direct and to the point," and invites readers to "look at the content. Good stuff."
I second that invitation. I also invite readers to come to our Web site, www.kiplinger.com, and read my weekly column on kids and money.
By the way, the previous edition of this book, published as "Dr. Tightwad's Money-Smart Kids," was chosen by Amazon as one of the year's top-ten business books. And the audio version (read by the author) has won awards from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and the Audio Publishers Association. Good stuff! ... Read more

Book Description

Where did all the money go? Budget! It's Not a 4-Letter Word will help you answer that question and more. In just a few hours with this book, you'll set a budget and learn where your money goes each month, compare your spending to national averages, calculate your net worth, set attainable financial goals and create a plan to achieve them. Using a few simple forms, step-by-step instructions and a bit of humor, this book and its interactive website help you take control of your money and live your life to the fullest. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Easy to use!
This book is one of the best I've read because it doesn't go form crazy.If I had the time and energy to fill out 30 different forms every month, I wouldn't need help with learning to budget!This book is easy to use, doesn't talk down to you, and is just funny enough to make an interesting read. ... Read more

Book Description

In the bestselling tradition of The Wealthy Barber, a nuts-and-bolts financial planning guide for the rest of us

Five years ago, a butcher from Portland, Oregon, named Paul Petillo was frustrated by the lack of financial planning insights available to working stiffs like himself. To fill this gap, he created The BlueCollar Dollar.com, a website offering straight, simple money advice for people who don't have a lot of it to spare, or to lose--in other words, most of us. The site quickly grew in popularity and now attracts more than a million visitors a year.

Petillo's first book, Building Wealth in a Paycheck-to-Paycheck World is packed with safe, proven wealth-building strategies. It covers all the major components of a balanced financial plan, including:

• Straight talk on mutual funds, bonds, real estate, and annuities
• Techniques for avoiding financial disasters
• Tools to help readers track their debt and create a plan for staying out of it
• Road maps to buying a home and saving for college and retirement

Book Description

The everyperson’s easy guide to budgeting—with 75 worksheets!

Do you reach the bottom of your checking account before you reach the end of the week? Are you looking to have "more" with less cash? Budgeting doesn’t have to be drudgery. These days, everyone is looking for smart, practical ways to make every dollar count. The Everything® Budgeting Book is for anyone who is trying save for their future—whether it’s for a house, a child’s education, or something on your wish list, such as a new car or dream vacation.

Filled with practical tips and advice you can use immediately, The Everything® Budgeting Book can be used time and time again as your life—and financial picture—changes. Whether you need to restructure debt, save for retirement, or are just looking for ways to trim costs on everyday expenses, this book will help you get in the black fast. Featuring 75 worksheets that you can copy and use over and over again, this user-friendly guide will help keep you financially healthy for years to come. With this hands-on book, you’ll be able to balance your checkbook without acrobatics, free yourself from pre-payday panic, and have money for the things you really want.

The Everything® Budgeting Book gives you:

·Advice on how to assess your spending patterns

·Easy-to-follow worksheets

·Numerous debt-consolidation resources

·Practical strategies to economize on everyday expenses

·Common sense tips on budgeting for the future

·Savvy ways to prepare for unexpected events ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great book to jump start your budget...
I was discouraged and ready to throw in the towel on the familly budget. After reading this quick little book I gained a new vitality to get my finances back in order...Thanks for your wisdom Larry...

One review does not a rating a make
C'mon Amazon. Let's be rational about reviews. Does one review from one individual constitute a review? I think not. Let's not blow the opportunity for others like myself that have no clue as to how to start budgeting or how to get control of finances. This book is written in a Chritian context from a Christian Author. It places the focus of stewardship/finances where they belongs. A book this small reads to the large part of the problem: If one does not have a budget by now, chances are they don't want to get bogged down in pages. This is a great place to start and an insight regarding the real source of all that we have! Let's make the rating on this book "not rated" until we hear from more readers.

This book should be titled a guide for Christian finances.
At the back of the book, you will find 6 charts for budgeting (all related) that are of minimal use.The remainder of the book is strong on Chrisitian preaching and bible quoting! I wasn't looking for a lecture on how a Christian family should budget, tithe or keep their family close---I was looking for a meaty and helpful budget guide.I found nothing I didn't already know from general budgeting information except that my checkbook was down a little!If you have strong Christian beliefs this may be for you, but if you want a simple no-bull guide for budgeting---save your money and pass this one by. ... Read more

Book Description

BudgetYes! is a step-by-step, exactly "how-to" create a customized personal budget. It is a complete budgeting education--where you learn not just to track what you've done, but how to actually "run" a real budget, with emphasis on how to plan in-advance for spending. It does not focus on the outdated paradigms of "diet" and "deprivation," but approaches the topic from a perspective of organization and finding more money in your life with budgeting. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Life Changing
This was a fabulous book. I am addicted to BudgetYes. It changed my life -- I paid off $10,000 of credit card debt in 6 months and actually look forward to paying my bills each month. For anyone who doesn't necessarily have money "problems" but who knows they ought to learn to live within a budget and wants to set a good example for their children, this is the perfect book. I've given a copy to my sister and my mother. If I could find a diet book that worked as well, I'd be in heaven.

Concepts that work
In BudgetYes! you will find solutions to your problems of wandering funds, missing money and unorganized finances. A well explained, detailed and illustrated book that lays it on the table and will help you to get organized with your money and account for every dime. Inside you will not only find well orchestrated instructions, but examples of all of the different layouts you will need to begin to get a grip on your finances. The concepts used here are very similar to the principals of accounting, yet they are explained in a way that you don't need to be a C.P.A. to understand them. I highly recommend this book for anything from getting a grip on your money to setting up a complete household budget. Well done! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Useful, easy read but didn't apply to me
I love Mary Hunt's Debt Proof Your Marriage. So I thought this would be great too. However, I already know how to make crafty things and create gift baskets. I know how to shop day-after sales. My Christmas ornaments have been slowly collected. Many issues she deals with seem to be those who regularly go out and buy total house decorations every year--I don't. I expected better suggestions than shop all year, make homemade gifts, etc. I did really enjoy the chapter where she suggests funding sources for your Christmas fund. She had great ideas I never dreamed of--that made the book worth it to me. It's a good book that was useful but just disappointing in some areas.

Another good book from Mary!!
Get this book!!! I've already started rereading this book in preparation for the upcoming holidays. Since money's going to be tight this year, I've already gotten ideas from this book and started getting things ready. If you ever thought Christmas was too commercialized and want to downsize, read this book!!! It's done wonders for my attitude - and my budget, for that matter.

Easy to read, easy to apply....
Mary Hunt, editor and publisher of The Cheapskate Monthly newsletter, has taken up the challenge of helping her readers find ways to celebrate the holidays without facing the New Year strapped with unnecessary consumer-related debt. Hunt takes her readers through a step-by-step plan for a debt-free holiday season. By examining personal values and attitudes, she enables us to identify what we really want from the holidays. In her own words, she wants to help us celebrate "Christmas by choice, not by chance." Included are numerous practical ideas for saving money at the holidays on everything from food to gifts to family fun to decorations. Whether you're just looking for further frugal ideas for the upcoming holiday season, or you're truly dreading another after-holidays debt hang-over, "Debt-Proof Your Holidays" will be beneficial to read. So put away your credit card and prepare to have the happiest holiday ever!

Fabulous!
A delightful and practical resource. After reading this little gem straight through in one evening I am so motivated and inspired to change the way I've always "done" Christmas in the past--with a stack of credit cards. This book is packed with hundreds of reasonable and do-able alternatives to creating holiday debt. What a gift! ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides a user-friendly introduction to the spirituality of magic. Written for the person newly interested in magic, as well as the veteran Witch, it helps the reader discover the power and beauty of magic through eternal values such as love, compassion, hope, trust, and practicality. This is not a book full of spells or lists of magical ingredients. Rather, it reveals the principles of magical energy and power, helping the reader to understand what makes magic work and why. After mastering the spiritual principle, the reader will be empowered not only to work effective spells, but to also find happiness and joy-with or without a spell. With a warm, friendly, and positive tone, Before You Cast a Spell invites readers to think carefully and make their own thoughtful decisions about the role of magic in their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

AWESOME
After purchasing this book, I can now cast fireball spells. Yesterday, this man was pissing me off, so I threw a fireball at him...and he thought that I was just carrying a walking stick - I bet he won't make that mistake again! Anyways, if you have an interest in being able to shoot fireballs out of your hands, I highly suggest this book. Dragons and warlocks don't even stand a chance against me now with my newly acquired powers. This is a very impressive guide for those interested in an extremely practical approach to casting spells, whether they be fireballs or ice bolts. Don't try and do this yourself without guidance, get the book!

Explains in the simplest form
Carl McColman offers us a simple, easy to understand book on the ethics, laws and logistics of working and using magic in spells.
The book is well laid out, contains some wonderful pearls of wisdom and some basics that will benefit the beginner and those not acquainted with the practice of magic and spells.
The 'Thirteen Myths of Magic' covers some of the most commonly asked questions from the novice and offers some very basic and practical answers to most of them. While there are one or two points I would question, for the most part the reasoning is good and the approach logical from a simple perspective.
The 'Thirteen Laws of Magic' covers some of the most commonly asked questions from outsiders and novices and again, while a couple of the answers pose more questions than satisfaction, from the novice perspective, the answers are clear and simple.
"The Ethics of Magic' is a good addition to this book and are very well explained and very clear.
The experienced worker of magic will see some flaws in the thinking of some of the material offered here. Things are not always simple and personal approaches to magic and personal paths are not covered in many of the answers Mr. McColman gives. Mr. McColman sees this book from his perspective and offers answers that are on a level that he can answer from his view point. Not all aspects are covered, not all situations are explained and the fact that there are many paths that do not believe the fundamentals that Mr. McColman believe in is not even approached in this book.
However, if you look at this book as a very basic primer meant for someone who is not familiar with magic or spell work and who wants something to reassure them that the first steps they are taking are not leading them into danger or off the path of good and right, then this book is a good choice. It would also serve as a 'mostly harmless' type of introduction to spell work for those who are outside our path and looking at what is going on in a very simple and basic way.
Mr. McColman also includes some discussion material on the purposes of spells, on working with Deity and personal spirituality. He offers a few chapters on his ideas of magic and its purpose. He looks at the involvement of Deity and spirituality in magic and allows the reader to think on this and contemplate higher existence.
There is an appendix of material for study, a virtual 'do it yourself' collection of older books by some authors not well known in our community, with the exception of Robin Wood and her book on ethics. There is also the practical advice on finding a teacher which is good advice in any book. There is a basic glossary of terms and keywords, and an index for quick reference.
For those who have walked their path for many years and are experienced in their own practice or path or Trad, this book will probably not be a good choice. This book is meant for those who have no background. It is a stripped down offering of the simplest and most basic of information and explanations
This is a well thought out book from that perspective, good for those who are still leery of what part magic and spells will play in their spiritual path. It may also be a good tool for those who are unsure if they want to include magic in their path or a basic book for those who have relatives or friends who are not involved in our way of life and are questioning the purpose or ethics of magic by those who do practice.

Excellent!
What can I say about a book on magic that has no spells in it, no rituals, no guided meditations and no instructions on how to cast magic on the cheerleader so she has warts?

I can say "Well done". I can say "Bravo!" I can say a heck of a lot.

Carl takes the position of "teach a man to fish" rather than taking the safe course of "give a man a fish" that most current spell books take. It is not the recipe of the spell that you need to know, but all the discipline and knowledge behind the spells.

Many magical-training courses seem to take the fish giving stance; the Masons, the Rosicrucian and Wiccan covens for some examples. This book is what every book of spells in current publication attempts to do, but can't given their space limitations. Instead, the current crop of spellbooks take the attitude of giving the reader what will sell and become, in effect, fishmongers. This book, by cutting out all the "recipes", is able to deliver instruction that every student of the occult must have.

Those that hate the "k" on magic will be pleased, as Carl does not follow standard practice.

I could write a hymn of praise for this book, but there are actually some things that are problematic. My major concern with this book like many others of this type, is the author's confusion of Witchcraft and magic with Wicca. Yes, there is the (by now) standard injunction that the Rede and the Threefold law apply to all magic. The author even states it applies even if you don't believe in it. I am heartily tired of seeing this particular statement.

If one can ignore that, this is an excellent book. I like the chapter bursting the common myths of magic, like "magic will make you happy" and "magic is a shortcut to fulfillment". There is a section on the "laws of magic" which would help someone who is just starting their studies and will help the student crystallize exactly what they want from magic.

The section on ethics focuses rather heavily on the Rede and Threefold law, but excepting that bias, everything else rings true. This is the kind of information I am giving in my classes to my students. Other than the gaffe with the Rede, the information in this book is in the above average class. It is needed, it is accurate, and it is excellent.

The author spends some time examining the two sides of occult practices, magic and mysticism. He believes and states that they are two sides of the same coin, and bear the same relationship to each other and to the practitioner that the Lord and Lady bear to each other and to the student. He also spends time talking about the Chakras and their uses in magic. He makes valid cases for his points and taught me some things about them. Carl states the Chakras bear a relationship to the forces in our life. The lower three are used when one wants to focus on money, sex and personal power. The upper four are the "higher" Chakras and as used in magic when one is focusing on romance, creativity, brainpower and intelligence and the magician's connection to the higher planes. This is a connection I had not made in my practices, and one I WILL be using in the future.

Throughout this work there is common sense and a lot of home truths. If you can ignore the Wiccan bias in this, it's an excellent work and sorely needed. In all, I'm giving this book 4 stars out of 5. The only reason it's not a 5 out of 5 is that Wiccan Bias. Ignore that, and this is one of those works that will last well into the next century (and yes, I'm talking about 2100). I plan on adding this to my recommended reading resources for my magic class as soon as I can.

An Essential Overview of Magic!
BEFORE YOU CAST A SPELL is the book every magical practioner needs to read first -- before they make some of the most basic mistakes. I love the way this book so clearly points out the most common myths about magic, and proceeds to explain what magic is really all about.

I especially love the way BEFORE YOU CAST A SPELL outlines the differences between magic, meditation, and ritual, and the way it describes how the way you interact with the chakras in your body make a huge difference in what happens in your life.

While BEFORE YOU CAST A SPELL doesn't teach how to practice magic, it is clearly the most essential guide book for anyone beginning a walk down the magical path. I give this book my highest recommendation!

Cynthia Sue Larson

-- author of "Aura Advantage: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success" ... Read more

Book Description

Shop, Save, and Share is a streamlined program to help you save hundreds of dollars a month on groceries and household supplies and have a bounty to share with people in need. While the Food Economic Review says the average family of seven spends nearly $1000 a month on food, Ellie Kay spends only $200 a month for the same items plus diapers, toiletries, and cleansers. And in one year she donated over $1000 in groceries to needy families!

Using the simple principles of Shop, Save, and Share, most households can lower their food budgets 50% to 85% under national norms. A smashing success on 120 Air Forces bases worldwide, Ellie Kay's Shop, Save, and Share presentation has been made available to more than half a million people.

"Ellie Kay's tips were conceived in shoe leather walking the aisles of the supermarkets and shops of the city. Shop, Save, and Share will definitely save you big bucks and point the way to sharing your secrets with others."

Pastor Jack D. Brock, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church

"Ellie Kay's book challenges families to take charge of their finances, simplify their lives, reassess their priorities, and share with others who are less fortunate. Her simple yet revolutionary program changes families daily."

MG Lawson W. Magruder III, Commanding General, U.S. Army

"One evening with this extremely practical book will change your whole approach to balancing income and expenses. On ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Entertaining reading while learning how to cut daily costs.
I laughed often while I read about a "half-wit," as Ellie calls herself in her most comical moments. I could relate to her life she so openly shares and thus found that she was a normal mother. This gave me encouragement that I could save money like she did. Even though I have been couponing for over a year now I learned new and important information. I have already shared her coupon exchange box suggestion and was very excited to learn how every dollar I saved was infact worth a dollar and thirty since because I did not have to pay the taxes as I would if I had earned it on the job! I look forward to her next book as she does have the gift of story telling!

Fabulous, easy read with great ideas
When you're facing financial difficulty, the last thing you should be doing is buying consumer products like books, right? Except maybe this one and one by Mary Hunt on managing money. I remember my mom cutting coupons but I never exactly studied the science of it. Ellie Kay breaks it all down for you. you get taught about ways to save money I had no idea existed. It's a quick, easy read that you can gain skills from and immediately apply. It is the kind of lesson where you can use the tools you gain slowly then apply on a larger scale after you master some steps. It is definitely worth owning, reviewing, and referring to. I actually was directed to this book by another of Ellie's books I received upon becoming engaged--The New Bride Guide. That was a surprisingly refreshing, honest, and useful book--and believe me I read dozens of them! That one was not cliche either. Anyways, definitely pick up Shop,Save,and Share. It is worth your money and time--I promise whether you plan on cutting brand buying out of your habits or not. The beauty of learning the actual science is that you can apply it to your lifestyle at a level of stringency that is comfortable for you and your family.

A whole new revolution to saving!
I am so thankful to find such a Treaure! Ellie Kay has really done a work in educating the beginner to the novice shopper on saving and sharing!
My first jaw dropping moment was when I went to Wallie World and my total was $111.09 and after my coupons my total was $46.97! WOW.... I felt like doing the running man right there at the checkout! The cashier looked at me and said, "I want to go shopping w/you!" It was a really GREAT moment! I would've saved even more money if I had went to Meijer where they double coupons up to .50. But at the time Wal-Mart was my comfort zone. Even though Wal-Mart redeems your coupons at face value, Shop, Save, and Share teaches you to use your coupons in conjunction. For example, I had 3 coupons for Huggies: two $5 OFF coupons for diapers [got these by simply calling Kimberly-Clark and telling them what I thought of their product, Ellie teaches you this too] and 1 coupon for free wipes with the purchase of 2 packages. I never thought to do this.
Another thing I incorporated from this book was to call every manufacturing company and gave them feedback on their product, I received so many coupons, coupon booklets [all at higher price value and longer expiration dates - if any], put on their mailing list and received samples - just by calling! My shopping time has been cut in half, because she also teaches you to make your grocery/shopping list in aisle order of your store. My family has also incorporated giving to local charities, neighbors, and our local church on items that I receive free w/my coupons and items that only cost me a few pennies. For example Dog treats were on sale for $2, I had a coupon for $1 that doubled to me getting them FREE! I gave them to my neighbor and it blessed them and me too!
Although, I am a much better saver now, I still refer back to the book.
Thank you Ellie so much for all the help! You've helped me save money, spend more time w/my fam - instead of in the store and to simply bless others!

A stay at home mom's dream-- it really works!!!
I must admit I was a bit sceptical when I first purchased this book. Couponing seemed an unlikely way to save any substantial amount of money. Boy was I wrong! This book has truly impacted our finances for the better. I am a new stay at home mother and this book really does work! I cannot believe how much money we save (or how much I wasted before). It does take time and effort to really make it work, but the savings are phenomenal. I now feel like I am contributing to our family's financial well being while staying home with our child as well. Who could ask for more! I strongly recommend this book!

Shopping now has a whole new meaning!!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who does the bulk of their grocery shopping. Using many of the principles in Ellie's book I was able to purchase $91.82 worth of groceries and toiletries for only $28.73!! Many of the items purchased were not necessarily things that my family uses but because I was able to get many of them free I felt good knowing that I would be able to help our local food pantry.
And not only does this book help you save money but the stories are inspiring, and Ellie's own personal stories are hilarious. ... Read more

Book Description

In this easy-to-use book, readers will learn that not all debt is bad debt and figure out which debt to keep, which debt to get rid of, and how to get rid of it easily. New chapters for the 2nd edition feature current information on:

€ The new bankruptcy laws
€ Cleaning up credit reports
€ Handling college loans
€ How to deal with predatory lending practices
... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beating Debt
Excellent book! Very easy-to-read. I was clueless as to
how the world of credit actually worked. After reading
this book I felt a sense of relief and came away with
a sense of confidence in my knowledge about credit,
credit repair, credit scores, financial tips and much more.
If your cluesless like I was, this is a definite must read. ... Read more