Book Description

Reviews (12)

Mary Hunt's the Complete Cheapskate : How to Get Out of Debt
I found out about this book through a friend of mine. Five years ago, she was in debt, driving a 9 yr old car, and having some problems with finances. Last year, after paying off her new car with cash, she purchased a condo. I asked how she changed so dramatically. She told me about this book.

Last year, I sent this book to my sister who was 20K in debt. She was worrying about her finances every time we talked. Within a week of reading this book, her whole attitude changed and her worry was gone. She started the system in the book. Today, her debt is reduced to 14K and she is very confident in eliminating her debt in the near future. The results I have witnessed have been phenomenal!

I have always been a saver but have always wanted to help my sister who was troubled with her finances. I tried to help her but the only result was more frustration. Sending this book to my sister was the best thing I have done for her. And I won't hesitate to send it to anyone else in my life that needs this type of help.

This book is right on target for those in debt
I was unfamiliar with Mary's work prior to purchasing this book. Her thoughts on debt and money management hit me right between the eyes. We are giving ourselves a money makeover using Mary's ideas to get out of credit card debt.

This is an easy and enjoyable read (despite the subject matter). Mary has conquered a personal debt of $100,000 without declaring bankruptcy and it is nice to hear from someone who has "been there, done that". Her tone is non-judgemental, her ideas practical and her approach non-threatening even for financial novices.

I highly recommend this book!

Moneysaving Tip #1: Don't Buy This Book
I cannot believe this book exists.

First of all, she spends a good half of the book with this weird, overkill, convoluted little accounting system where basically you hide your own money from yourself but later get to find it again. Frankly, anybody who can't get a grip on their cash flow and spend within their means is NEVER going to be able to do the bookeeping needed to apply this "system". So half the book is a waste of money right there.

The rest of the book is just this littany of Betty homemaker moneysaving tips, most of which are either already obvious to even a dilettante moneysaver or you could probably find by Googling for a couple hours on the subject matter of your choice.

It is also bespeckled with patronizing little pieces of advice that are just-plain off-topic. For instance: stay out of the fast lane when you're driving because it's dangerous.

So like I said, your 1st step toward a cheapskate lifestyle involves not buying this book.

There. I just saved you $10. :)

Ingenious way of approaching common-sense money management.
Simply put: this book changed my life. I couldn't put it down once I started it. I have since begun my money makeover and things are looking better than they have in years. The book is a Godsend for those like me who found money disappearing every month. She uses common sense techniques, but the key is the way that they all work together. Also, don't discount this book if you're not a religious person. Even though she emphasizes God and tithing, you can give your money to ANY charitable organization and still follow her program.

This book is not perfect, and although my complaints are minor, I do have a few.

1. My main complaint was that she ignores past-due debt when doing the money makeover. I had MANY past due bills and they just didn't fit into the makeover anywhere. My solution was to postpone opening my Freedom account for 3 months, and use that money to pay off as many past due accounts as I could. I also started my savings & giving at a lower percentage at first. It will work, just be VERY careful not to let total outgoing money exceed total income. Open your Freedom account as soon as possible, it is wonderful and essential to keeping on track.

2. She recommends dealing with cash. I found that dealing with cash was one of the reasons my money kept disappearing. I am electing to deal with as LITTLE cash as possible, so it's much easier for me to keep track of where I'm spending my money.

Even with complaints, I still rate this book 5 stars because of the radical positive impact it had on my finances when I followed her program. I highly recommend it.

A Bit Disappointing
I guess if you are really unable to handle your money, this book may help you. But most of the stuff is plain common sense you'll figure out in ten minutes if you just sit at a table with a pen and a paper and start counting your income and outcome and think about how should you use your money.

There are three aspects about this book that I'll consider:

1. The advice on how to get out of debt is adequate. But it is not as sound and clear as that in Your Money Or Your Life. Hey, you can even get similar results by just reading The Richest Man In Babylon and doing everything it suggests and you won't be let too far behind. What I found disappointing was that this book is only well applicable by an american. It is not impossible to transfer the advice to other countries, but you'll have to rethink most of the math and tables yourself.

2. The end has some advice on how to live cheaper than in the past. There are some good tips here, but about half of it is just plain common sense like "buy in bulk and freeze it", "strecth your juices", "buy a used car", "shop second hand if possible", "if you need desperate money, sell something"...

3. I believe in God and all, but c'mon I didn't buy this book to read a lecture on God and charity. There is _way_ too much stuff about faith, religion, worshiping god, "giving the tenth", the Bible and such stuff. It is also not that good stuff. The same stuff is better told in The Power Of Your Subconscious by Murphy. ... Read more

Book Description

The new 4th edition of It's None of Your Business is truly the best yet. Written for the average person who wants to maintain their privacy and freedoms, this book is packed with practical tips and strategies for keeping all your records, personal information, and private affairs really private. New sections include what say to authorities, how to deal with dating, hiding valuables, Internet threats and how to thwart them, encrypting your files, and the latest on off-shore tax havens. This is a book for everyone wanting to take control over their life, but without living like a criminal or moving to a third world country. Single people, women, the elderly, business men and women, or those who use the Internet especially need to have this newest 4th edition of It's None of Your Business. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very Well Written
In a field of poorly written and researched books, this one has an abundance of detailed info on what's going on in the world of personal privacy. Maybe he includes a bit too much revolutionary political zeal, but I found a great deal of practical guidance I can use to secure my private life in these rapidly changing times.

- Jimbo

Worth every penny!
This isn't for the paranoid. Its for those who aren't paranoid enough.

This one is a keeper.

A user friendly guide to privacy!
I have read and re-read this practical and very useful book. I continue to reference it regularly and have implimented many of the techniques Sontag recommends. His suggestions regarding computer security have been particularly useful and his in-depth knowledge of banking and finance are right on! I highly recommend buying this valuable book.

Must-have for any one concerned with privacy in their lives
This eye-opening and extremely informative book accomplishes two things. First, it alerts the reader to the incredible amount of privacy we sacrifice in our daily personal and business lives. More importantly, you will learn what to do about it! The revelation for me was the fact that privacy and convenience are usually inversely proportional. So some of the tips and techniques will have you saying "oh darn - I can't do that anymore!" However, when you truly realize that most of your life is an open book for anyone who wishes to pry into it - you'll feel enlightened and empowered by the vast amount of information this book contains. It runs the gamut from issues regarding privacy at work, financial affairs, computer, communications, and more. There is also an excellent resource section at the end to enable you to explore further into the world of privacy. Whether you're concerned about Big Brother, being stalked, or simply of the mind that in this technology age it's increasingly vital to keep one's business private and secure, None Of Your Business is a must read.

A "must have" book for anyone concerned about privacy!
This book contains such a wealth of information, that it is impossible to do it justice with a short comment. "It's None of Your Business" is packed with pertinent information for anyone who is concerned with personal security (and everyone should be). It describes just how easily it is for someone to gain access to your bank records,and your identity. Then there is the matter of medical records. Just how private are they? "It's None of Your Business" describes these matters and more in great detail. This is not boring reading, however, since the author has a definite sense of humor, which makes this book hard to put down! I give "It's None of Your Business" a definite "two thumbs up!" ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Long-Term Care Planning
As a retired teacher, I decided to begin a new career where I could use my skills in a seminar format to help others plan for retirement. During question and answer periods, the topic of long-term care would always be brought up. I soon learned that if my seminar was to be worthwhile, I would need to be educated in all areas of long-term care planning. During the past years I have taken courses, listened to lectures, and have read much literature on the subject, but nothing has helped me more than Marilee Driscoll's ...Guide to Long-term care planning. Marilee's guide is thorough, and written in a style that makes an otherwise complex topic clear and easy to understand. Her sense of humor permeates every page, which makes reading a joy. This book has become my primary reference. Recently, I attempted to purchase some of Ms. Driscoll's products via the internet. I called a phone number, and a recorded voice indicated that someone from the company would return my call. To my delight, it was returned by Marilee herself. She enthusiastically answered all my questions, and gave me some wonderful suggestions and advice. It was like conversing with someone I had known my whole life. Her upbeat personality which shines through in her literature, is available in buckets when you speak with her. In short; I loved reading her. I loved speaking with her. I can't wait to see her video, hear her audio, and use her other products. I whole-heartedly recommend her book Complete Idiot's Guide to Long-Term Care Planning, which has become a "Bible" to me. It is definitely worthy of a 5 star rating, and more.

I want to be Marilee when I grow up!
After reading Marilee's book, everything became crystal clear. I had to call her! Who is the person who thinks like me?! No one thinks like me!

Seeing (some of) my ideas in the pages of a book come to life, gave me a confidence that I never thought was possible!

LTCI (Long-Term Care Insurance) is a HUGE issue for retirees and those thinking about retirement. And it is important to families now, more than ever before.

Marilee breaks down the very complex issues regarding LTCI in a way that helps most 'regular' folks understand with ease. She tells you the good stuff and the bad stuff that can hurt you when purchasing LTCI.

I have read a lot of books about Long-Term Care Planning. Marilee's book, without a doubt, has made me a better Advisor to my clients....not just a salesperson!

Thanks, Marilee! Can't wait for your new book!

Long Term Care - What you need to know.
This book is a must-read for the baby boomers looking either to protect their assets or to provide some level of comfort that you will have the funds to live in a facility of YOUR choice should you need it. Don't wait another year before reading this book.

What a relief!
Without this book I wouldn't have had the courage to face long-term care planning. I perceived the topic as impossibly complex, and frankly, terrifying. The book is amazingly readable for such a dry topic, and it clarified and simplified the issues for me. When I met with my insurance agent, I had a long list of questions about the options in the application. He knew I wasn't a pushover, and actually, I don't think he ever had a client who asked so many solid and informed questions! Considering the devastating cost of nursing homes, this book has potentially saved me many (many!) thousands of dollars. I highly recommend the book to anyone "of a certain age" who knows (or suspects) that they should be worried about long-term care. If you don't know where to start, or you want to sanity check your existing plan, don't even think about it. Just purchase this book!

Cutting Through The Clutter
It seems that most books about long-term care are either written by someone who really isn't familiar with the subject or by someone with an ulterior motive (i.e. an agent writing a book to boost his credibility to sell a certain product). Marilee's book is different -- it provides an unbiased reference guide for long-term care to help consumers make the best decision for their own personal needs. Thankfully, this book has been finally published. ... Read more

Book Description

If continuing corporate collapses, Wall Street lies, and economic uncertainties have left you wondering whom to trust and what to do with your hard-earned money, the time to take action is now. Immediately stop any losses, get on a fast track to recovery, and potentially make more money in the next few years than most investors made in the 1990s.

Author Martin Weiss has built a national reputation as a fiercely independent critic of Wall Street practices and as the one advisor showing hundreds of thousands of investors how to make solid profits even while most others are losing their shirts. His previous bestseller, The Ultimate Safe Money Guide, gave readers the know-how to invest wisely and cautiously. Now, in Crash Profits, Weiss arms you with the tools and techniques to profit both while the market is falling and when the market recovers.

Crash Profits gives you . . .

• The proven methods to profit from a stock market crash
• Seven practical strategies for building wealth in any environment
• Fifty stocks you should sell immediately–plus advice on how to sell
• Six steps to take right away to protect the value of your home and real estate
• More than seventy-five safe alternatives for your money, so you can sleep nights
• Practical ways to protect your job, reduce debt, and save more
• Specific instructions to turn economic disasters into great opportunities for profit

The message of Crash Profits is original, powerful, and comprehensive. Pick up this book and learn how to win in the market and the economy while nearly everyone else is losing. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Well-written description of bearish scenario
By combining fiction with non-fiction, Dr. Weiss' had made his extremely bearish outlook a page turner. Advice on protecting yourself from loss during such a crisis is coupled with stratgies allowing you to prosper.

By now, it is common knowledge that many in the financial community gave bad advice to public investors with the sole purpose of lining their own pockets. Weiss' description of those abuses is worth the retelling, as it offers an additional warning to all of us.

Whether you agree with his outlook or not, there is much to be gained from reading this book. His suggestions on keeping your assets in the safest banks, money market funds and brokers is sound advice for everyone. Weiss provides lists of those safer institutions.

Plain simple language, just the facts
This book is the BEST one you'll find that could be "Bubble Economy 101" or "Bear Markets for Dummies".

If you've felt betrayed and blindsided by the stock market declines since 2000; if you have ever felt the least bit intimidated by the economists, the Wall Street pros, and the guests on financial TV and assumed they know more than you do; if you have been arguing with yourself over whether to sell your stocks; if you have been debating over whether to buy a house; if you have wondered if the yields on corporate or muni bonds are a good deal; if you've ever wondered how our economy has gotten itself into the fix it is in; if you've looked around and felt like we aren't "bouncing back" and wondered why; READ THIS BOOK!

The book is practically worth it alone for the discussion of the government bond market, and why confidence MUST be maintained in it.

The author has a "followup" website at www.crashprofits.net.

Misleading title, but story interesting in the beginning
The title of the book is probably the most misleading one I have come across for a while, as it has nothing to do with the books contents. The cover would have you think this is a book about how to make money and give you the strategies promised on the back cover. It isn't. It is a storyline about a CEO and some friends who get caught up in some financial tricks and end up blowing the whistle in a financial thinktank called CECAR. It is designed to be a lesson in macro and micro economics. The problem is that the story is interesting at the start, but drags on and on with the unplausible existence of the thinktank (as no-one would fund such a thing) that grows in size, profile and importance to the point where there is a meeting with the US President. Get the drift ? I read all but the last 40 or so pages. My recommendation is not to buy this unless you want a few pages of an interesting story on how financial cover-ups can work.

Crash Profits
Truly a worthless book written by someone who has little insight into how the capital markets really work. Comments on high yield bond and guidance about which stock in your portfolio to sell demonstrated that the author is devoid to any true investment knowledge. My credentials to make the judgments: Certified Financial Planner, MBA Degree, fee based financial advisor.

1 star is too generous
By way of explanation, I read an excerpt from this book in a popular tout sheet and bought it merely to pad my order to get to the free shipping level. What a mistake. (The lesson here is to just pay your shipping charge and be done with it).
My own personal view of the equity markets is one of a longer term secular bear market and I've been trading options for a number of years so I should be sympathetic to Weiss' thesis. However, all of Weiss' insight in this area is summarized in 15 rules covering 4-1/2 pages. While mostly accurate, there are some glaring errors, e.g. Rules 3 and 4 advising you to avoid contracts of a certain price range. Option prices are based on the cost of the underlying shares so to avoid contracts over $500 is to limit yourself from companies with high share prices with potentially the most room to fall.
Perhaps I was expecting him to elaborate on some other bear option strategies, but all he offers is buying puts. As for directly short-selling (the only other way to benefit from 'crash' markets) all he says is 'don't do it'. He fails to sufficiently describe the time decay problem with long options in his 15 rules. E.g. with respect to the interminable Japanese bear market, simply long puts may not have made you any money because of the graceful but inexorable decline punctuated with sharp rallies. You would have needed a bear-neutral strategy. The problem is that with a preponderance of contracts at a certain strike, the market makers may ride the underlying shares past the expiry so that they all close worthless.
The rest of the book recounts recent financial scandals such as the $6k shower curtain, but I found myself skipping over several chapters at a time because I'm one of those odd people who remembers what they read in the paper or saw in the news.
There were some odd chapters on real estate and moving your money to a safe bank, which suddenly struck me as the same stuff Prof. Ravi Batra was writing in the 80's (to wit 'The Great Recession of the 90's'!). To his credit, Batra caught the 'Great Recession' of 1991 (as did your local evening news) but by 1992, the stuff was all nonsense.
Could anyone benefit from this book?
Those interested in the subject would probably already be in the bear camp, but the book is insufficient as an introduction to options trading so there is little practical value. And those unfamiliar with his filler material probably don't read the newspaper, so why would they read a book?

For any practical benefit, this book should have been published 3 years ago. So perhaps publication now is actually a contrarian indicator?
BTW some of the rave reviews are just bizarre, one guy recommending "9 Free Secrets of New Sensual Power" in the same breath. I can't comment on that selection, but if you're trying to pad your order to get free shipping, that is probably a better choice. ... Read more

Book Description

A book about retirement that leaves financial worries to other books and simply focuses on enjoyable ways to spend time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Different styles and genealogy
The authors would like to note that their suggestion of a college course for people interested in genealogy will work for those people who prefer to learn with others in a group setting. There are also many excellent website resources in addition to books,...Also, about another...the Social Security Death Index, there you can click on Order Original Application to send for a copy of your ancestor's original Social Security information (you can also use the information in this index to obtain birth, death, and employment records). Although the Social Security Act was created in 1935, a computer system reporting death benefit claims did not exist until 1962. Most of the records date from the 1960s. Many of these people were born late in the 1890s. So in 100 years, depending on how young a family reproduced, there could be as few as 5 generations (if they married at 20) to as many as 6 or more generations (married at 16). So you really could be looking for your great grandparents.

Needs an accuracy check
I haven't read this book so can't judge it as a whole, but I did read the single paragraph on genealogy. I found three glaring errors/omissions there that make me wonder how much of the rest of the book is any good. First it tells you to go to your community college and take a course on genealogy in order to learn how to do it. I think that's a bit much, frankly. Get a book at the bookstore or library, or even browse the web for information, and you can save yourself the time and expense of a college course. Then it tells you to "Find out where your great grandparents were born through the Internet" by using the Social Security Death Index on ancestry.com. First of all, the SSDI does not give birth places for anyone. The closest it comes is to give the state where they first filed for their social security number. Secondly, anyone retiring today has great-grandparents who were most likely dead long before there ever was such a thing as social security numbers. I'm many years from retirement and even my great-grandparents aren't in there.

Enough said. The rest of the book may be wonderful, but these errors would make me distrustful of anything in the book. The third edition hopefully will at least correct these errors.

Excellent resource!
Being newly retired at age 53,I figured I'd better find a way to keep out of trouble.This book is it! There are so many things,even little things,that I had not considered as part of my retirement activities. I have been engrossed in the book since it arrived,and as soon as I get organized,I will be off and running.I would recommend this jewel of a book to anyone who might need a little help getting used to a new life..retirement!!

This book is a keeper!
I borrowed this book from the library and liked it so much that I had to buy it. It has ideas, quotes, resource leads, and an index. This book will continue to serve throughout life. ... Read more

Book Description

Popularized by such motivational writers and speakers as Anthony Robbins, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) is considered one of the hottest techniques for accelerating learning, mastering thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and breaking out of habits and patterns of behavior that stifle creativity and fulfillment. This long-awaited new edition cuts through the jargon to introduce the basic techniques for gaining control of one's business and personal life. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Eureka! A book about NLP that everyone can understand!
Eureka! A book about NLP that everyone can understand AND practically use. Congratulations to Sue Knight for making this amazing science of communication accessible to so many. NLP at work provides anyone who is interested in applying NLP the practical means to do so. After personally having read many NLP texts this is the first that explains this amazing science of communication in a way that makes sense to those of us who do not have a background in psychotherapy. NLP at Work is precisely that. Sue uses many examples which everyone can relate to with experiences of their own both at work and home. It really is a guide on how to allow NLP to work for you. I strongly recommend anyone interested in NLP to read this book first and anyone already familiar with NLP and interested in explaining it to others to use Sue Knights book as a guide on how to do so.

A great holiday read!
I took this book on holiday with me and when I picked it up for a quick flick through I was amazed that I couldn't put it down! The only problem was that I was constantly drawn into the book by wonderful revelations about how to improve your personal effectiveness and there is so much in the book that deserves really thorough study, like the "thought provokers" at the end of each chapter. It will take me a long time before I have really extracted all the goodness from this remarkably accessible book.

NLP at Work is delightfully free of jargon. The style and language Sue uses are very attractive, and an excellent example of how to deliver messages effectively. She illustrates points with mini real life case studies. The stories which punctuate the book are delightful in themselves, but also rich in wisdom and wonderful catalysts to greater understanding.

Sue invites the reader to explore their heart's desire, and to understand that whatever they desire, they are capable of achieving. "What you think is what you get." Achieving potential, both one's own, and that of those around us, is a very attractive proposition. Sue leads the reader through a wonderful journey of exploration. She helps us to understand ourselves and our own individual map of the world in a new way. She shows us how to be more effective in our business and personal lives. She helps us to acknowledge our own true values, and to ensure that our lives are in harmony with them.

NLP at work is satisfyingly well constructed and laid out. It is delightfully surprising and entertaining, and it is deeply rewarding and helpful to anyone wanting to learn and grow.

Not enough deapth
The author has touch on many a NLP techniques and has not talked enough about them to enable the reader to learn those techniques.

A Good Read!
Neuro linguistic programming, which sounds like a diabolical technique straight out of A Clockwork Orange, is actually a relatively straightforward method of paying attention to the verbal and non-verbal messages that people constantly emit. By noting the inflection, body language and eye movements of others, you can glean a better understanding of what they are really thinking. Conversely, by controlling the signals that you send, you can make sure that people are getting the right message. With the caveat that many elements of NLP are straight out of Communications 101, we from getAbstract recommend this book to anyone in business whose communications skills could use an upgrade.

Clear and informative
This is a well-written book on NLP in the workplace. The author's style is clear and easy to follow. There is little jargon and an emphasis on getting ideas across in plain English. A very good overview of NLP and its applications. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Buying a car is never easy. Besides spending a sizeable amount of money on this investment, your liveliness probably relies on this vehicle. You need to know that your car will get you from point A to point B in a timely and safe manner—so buying a lemon is not something you can afford to do.

Buying A Car For Dummies is for you if you need to find out how to buy, sell, insure, drive, protect, or rent a vehicle. It doesn’t matter how old you are (as long as you can legally drive and have a license), this book can make your experience with cars a smooth ride.

Buying A Car For Dummies can help you save a truckload of money over the life of your vehicle as you find out all you need to know about new and used car ownership in this entertaining and informative reference guide. This dependable book covers all avenues of buying and owning a car, from negotiating a fair price to finding reliable insurance to saving money on routine servicing. You’ll stay in the driver& #8217;s seat as you discover how to:

• Calculate how much you current car really costs you
• Weigh the pros and cons of buying new or used
• Get the best trade-in, resale, or donation value for your vehicle
• Pick out a cherry and avoid lemons—expert advice for buying a reliable used car
• Determine what features and options you really need in a new car
• Get the straight scoop on financing or leasing your car
• Find an insurance policy and company you can trust
• Protect your automotive assets—from steering wheel locks to full-blown security systems

Reviews (2)

a good refernce book for making a car purchase decision
a good reference book for making a car purchase decision. we utilized a non-profit organization listed in this book to guide us through a safe car purchase

It helped me
I read this entire book and when it was time to go and buy my first car it helped me a tonm it was defanitly worth every cent that i payed for it.

BUY IT! ... Read more

Book Description

Feeling overwhelmed by your debts? If you're ready to regain your financial freedom, this book is exactly what you need! Step by step, Attorney Robin Leonard shows you how to:

*prioritize debts
*create a budget
*negotiate with creditors
*stop collector harassment
*challenge wage attachments
*contend with repossessions
*respond to creditor lawsuits
*qualify for a mortgage
*rebuild credit

To make the process easier, Money Troubles also includes sample letters to creditors, as well as worksheets and charts to calculate your debts and expenses and help you create a repayment plan.

With the completely updated and revised 9th edition, learn how to deal with identity theft, choose a reverse mortgage, opt out of telemarketers' lists and defend your property from creditors who are collecting a debt. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

just an ad for their other books
The phrase I encountered most in this book was "for more on this subject see our other books." There was very little in it that was helpful and it was biased toward the creditors, not the debtors.

Too Basic
This book is very basic and gives advice about how to manage money. However the one mistake the book makes is that it assumes that collection agencies and/or creditors are legitimate and offers no recourse to how to dispute charges from less scrupulous companies and agencies. The text for dealing with credit reporting bureaus is very basic. There are more precise texts to tell how to clean up your credit report (naturally after you have closed the accounts).

Reader friendly coverage of all the consumer credit basics.
Get out of debt and rebuild credit with the aid of this revised 6th edition of a classic, which tells how to take control of finances and repair credit. From repairing a bad credit rating to reducing alimony and responding to lawsuits, Money Troubles provides all the basics involved in consumer credit issues.

Comprehensive, practical, authoritative, reader friendly.
Now in a fully updated and expanded sixth edition, Robin Leonard's Money Troubles: Legal Strategies To Cope With Your Debts continues to be an invaluable instruction manual and guide for consumers seeking to pare down their debts by negotiating with creditors and prioritizing financial obligations; rebuilding personal credit; stop collection harassment; respond effectively to creditor lawsuits; learn effective alternatives to bankruptcy; determine if and when bankruptcy is the correct response to debt; and much, much more. Accurate, reliable, practical, comprehensive, and truly reader friendly, Money Troubles is an outstanding, highly recommended compendium of advice, counsel and strategies for dealing with credit cards, bill collectors, credit reports, credit bureaus, judgments, wage garnishments, repossessions, foreclosure, property liens and levies, refund rights, bounced checks, consigned loans, budgeting, and credit counseling.

Absolutely the best!
This book has to be the most comprehensive and most helpful book for people who are having credit and money problems. It's easy to read (like all the Nolo books I've read) and the information is detailed and excellent. The state-by-state charts of current laws are really useful. I can't recommend it highly enough -- and I've recommended it to a lot of people. ... Read more

Book Description

The newest edition of this comprehensive directory and reference book for investors includes a 5,000-term financial dictionary, an analysis of 30 key investment opportunities in today?s uncertain financial market, explanations for laymen on how to read corporate reports and interpret financial news, and an up-to-date directory of 600 publicly traded corporations in the United States and Canada. Readers will also find the names and addresses of all brokerage and mutual funds firms, banks, savings and loan companies, insurance companies, federal and state regulators, and major investment publications. Here is an all-inclusive financial reference volume that belongs on the bookshelf of every serious investor, both professional and private. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Investor's Dream
After reading this book, I went out that day and made $50,000 buying stocks, bonds and real estate. However, I blew it all the next day investing in rare coins and beanie babies. Maybe I should stick to CDs and money market funds.

Easy come, easy go.

An invaluable, up-to-date reference
This book, useful for both the novice and the more advanced investor, provides a thorough overview of almost every type of investment (including bonds, annuities, life insurance, etc.) and an comprehensive glossary of investment terms. It is handy when it comes to looking up unfamiliar terms and is an enjoyable overall read. The book also contains a listing of brokerages, banks, etc. with phone numbers and addresses. It is probably the authoritative volume on investing, which is to be expected coming from Barron's. It's definitely well worth it!

useful and valuable
Being a beginner of an investing guy, this book is very useful for reading any article about economics, investment and finance. You can look up all the specil terms in this one. A perfect handbook!

Maybe the best investment guide ever written...
Do you want a book that will naswer all your questions about investing and finance? Then this is the one. Written as a guide, the first section covers over 30 different investment opportunities- from stocks,bonds and futures to real estate, collectables and mutual funds. Each investment description includes risk, tax, economic and liquidity considerations.Other sections include: How To Read A Financial Report, How To Read The Financial Pages and the Dictionary of Finance and Investment. This $25 book well may be one of the best investments a beginner ever makes.

Maybe the best investment book ever published.
Do you want a book that will answer all your questions about investing and finance? Then this is the one. Written as a guide, the first section covers over 30 different investment opportunities- from stocks,bonds and futures to real estate, collectables and mutual funds. Each investment description includes risk, tax, economic and liquidity considerations.Other sections include: How To Read A Financial Report, How To Read The Financial Pages and the Dictionary of Finance and Investment. This $25 book well may be one of the best investments a beginner can make. Why do you think it is on backorder! ... Read more

Book Description

This book will show you how to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. Although no one can promise that you won’t be victimized, because your personal information is readily available on myriad databases, the information in this book gives you the expertise to evaluate your own privacy risks and identity theft exposure so you will determine the changes you need to make in your daily life. The user friendly guide with bullet point easy to follow steps will serve as your "personal privacy audit" to establish your strategy to shield you from the epidemic of identity theft. You’ll learn:• The insidious tricks fraudsters use• How you can be targeted • How businesses and agencies expose you to risks• How businesses themselves become victimized• How our society and this information age facilitates this crime• The detailed immediate actions to take today to formidably defend yourself, your family, your workplace or your own business from the exposure to fraud.• Successful tools for guarding yourself at home, at work, on vacation, while shopping, in business situations and when using your computer and other technology. • How to take the 20 crucial steps to get your life back, if you are victimized.• Straightforward positive steps to gain peace of mind and ensure your most valuable asset, your identity! "In today's world, information is gold, and this book is about building your own Fort Knox. Just like good privacy laws, Safeguard your Identity puts consumers in control of their personal information. It's a consumer survival guide and emergency action plan that spells out easy-to-follow steps for both avoiding and recovering from ID theft. Truly essential reading."

California State Senator Jackie Speier,author of the California Financial Information Privacy Act,Sacramento CA. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Buy this!
Identity theft is a scary situation! This book is a complete guide to protecting your identity.The book is well-organized, the explanations and instructions are clear, and there is a great list of further resources.Highly recommended!

A must-read for protecting yourself in the information world
Mari Frank's book is a great step-by-step guide for preventing identity theft and protecting your personal information from misuse.And for those, like me, who have already had their identity stolen, "Safeguard" can be an excellent tool for rebuilding your life.

Frank is an expert in the field of identity protection, who combines the experience of a triumphant victim and the knowledge of a seasoned attorney.But she writes in a style that is easily understood and enjoyable to read.

Highly recommended for everyone. ... Read more

Book Description

THE SPIRITUALITY OF SUCCESS
Getting Rich With Integrity

"I hated myself and dreaded what I represented and had become. What a loser. But the path takes time to develop. Don't judge a person by the moment they're in - their life isn't over. I don't feel sympathy or the need to judge others. It's our destination that counts. One of the best things, for me, was to become an addict. At the time I was in it I was in Hell, but who I am today is partially based on being who I was. Out of the process, I became this new person. Would you rather attain success and skip the process of the pain, sure, but if you like the result now, you can't deny the path. There are reasons why we go through what we do." - Vincent Roazzi

Vincent Roazzi is not your everyday success story. Before he started accumulating a net worth in the millions and gaining a reputation as a top-notch sales trainer, he grew up in Brooklyn as a car-stealing gang member. He was a product of his environment in the rough and tough Fort Greene section. He went to school, but never got better than a C in an English course. His dead-end beginning goes from bad to worse, with a once-in-a lifetime shot at redemption.

After spending ten years to build up several family-owned businesses and not believing there was anything left to conquer, he self -destructed. At age 32 he was a cokehead. But it took a few years to catch up to him. He was a burned out gambler. His marriage (and five kids) was on the rocks. He eventually lost his business, went broke, and went on welfare. By age 36 he entered rehab, or else, as he puts it, "I would have utilized the only other option left to me -- to take my life."

His recovery odyssey would take him to a construction company where he enjoyed the refuge of manual labor. He was able to turn the corner when hitting 40, going back to a life of sales by working for Cornerstone. He rose up the ladder quickly, becoming their Executive Vice President. But it's Roazzi's candid reflection on his fall and rise that make his new book, THE SPIRTUALITY OF SUCCESS, a rather uniquely appreciated volume on what it truly takes to be successful in life and in business.

THE SPIRITUALITY OF SUCCESS is broken into 35 small chapters that are intended to be absorbed one chapter per day, so by month's end you will have absorbed the universal laws of success. He demonstrates how success is a science and details his ideas with proven examples. He dispels many popular myths or misconceptions about achieving and redefines what success is all about from a spiritual and scientific approach. "The main theme," says Roazzi, "explores why authentic personal financial freedom is more a result of who you are than what you do. This leads to the realization that success is not a condition of life, but a state of mind, a state of being."

Roazzi exposes the truths and fallacies of today's popular success formulas, highlighting the scientific principles behind many achievement techniques, such as visualization, focus, and positive thinking. The book is sprinkled with his one-line nuggets of wisdom, such as:

·People are so busy trying to create reality that reality passes them by.
·You can change your life, and its outcome; by changing what you "know." Unfortunately, many people go through life never questioning what they think they know.
·Those who are successful see things differently. They create their own reality.
·Success is only possible through other people. You cannot be successful by yourself.
·As you perceive, so shall you achieve.

"Once you know who you are as a person and no longer feel you have to prove anything to anyone - or be a victim of the conditioning society imposes upon you - once that is taken care of, then you can discover who you are," advises Roazzi. "I get great pleasure in helping people now and it just so happens I have the gift to do that. If I deny who and why I am, then I experience a different reality. It's i ... Read more

Reviews (37)

Integrity is the Key word in this Title
I have read many personal development books on the subject of Success and this one sums it all up for you. Vinny is an excellent author who has taken the time to make this book an enjoyable read. The chapters are short and too the point and he gets the message home. So far this book has changed my life for the better. Reading it gave me the courage to make some drastic changes in my life and I am forever indebted to him.

rich and integrity in the same title? is it possible?
I didn't know what to think when i picked up this book. i was intrigued by the title of it. i found that the most difficult part of finding success in my career is how to balance a spiritual life with a lucrative life. Vincent uses the basic laws of the universe to explain the science of success. Some of the principles are drawn from the avedic traditions and others are modern ideas about business and money. the two come together to analyze how success works in the modern day business world. He also incorporates newtonian principles and a little physics lesson to further his points scientifically. I've read many success books and this one goes beyond any of them, into the realm of the spiritual and scientific worlds. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in why people become successful as well as anyone who is interested in bringing their spiritual ideals into the business of making money. buy it, it's worth more than its cover price.

a life-changer!
I'm very selective about what I read and not easily impressed. When I heard Vinny on NPR I knew I had to buy this book. I have recommended it numerous times already as one of the most important and helpful books I have ever read. This book shows how to be a successful person - not just businessman. It's principles are simple and timeless - and what is particularly great - really gleaned from what the author learned in recovery (a 12-step program). A reviewer said it was a good book, but without much practical help. That couldn't be further from the truth. This book was worth a $1000. seminar. It guided me and motivated me, and truly saved me when everything in my life was changing - including work. Thank you Vinny! You're da man!

More than chicken soup for the soul
To say that Spirituality of Success is chicken soup for the soul would be too cliche`, yet that's exactly what it is. If you're willing to be brutally honest with yourself, I'd recommend Roazzi's book because it can make an improvement in your life as it did in mine. All my friends to whom I've recommended it have thanked me. One of the encouraging things I learned from reading this book is that if you're one of those people who have always felt like the "odd man/woman out", take heart. We're the ones who are right! The rest of the world is screwed up.

The Best Investment I Could Have Made
A few months ago I turned 20 years old. I really began to examine my life under a microscope, and I was pleased. As a child I always pictured myself being alot further in life then I was. I could not figure out what was preventing me from accomplishing the success I seek. I thought I was doing everything right, building and expanding my business, going to college full time, investing, going to personal and business development seminars and much more. No matter how hard I worked, I still felt as if my accomplishments were minimal.
I finally came across one of my best investment opportunities, and of all things it was a book. It was the smallest and best investment I ever made. Within my first night of reading "Spirituality of Success" I realized what I was doing wrong. After all of my efforts I over looked a simple key element, the formula for success. Author Vincent Roazzi sums up this formula in an exceptional, up-lifting manner... I spent on this book it thought me everything I was missing in business, life and myself. What you will get out of this book is priceless. Learn how to make better decisions, increase efficiency and most of all learn the formula to success. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beardstown Ladies, move over. From the sassy, wisecracking wife of pro hockey player Phil Housley (and mother of four) comes an investment-club how-to for all those postboomer, pre-X women who not only bring home the bacon (in an SUV, most likely) and fry it up in a pan, but who want to find greater financial autonomy and profits than mutual funds can provide--and in the process do some "You go, girl!" bonding that would put those chatty gals of The View to shame. Granted, when you cut out all the schmoozing and gabbing in here, the actual take-home advice and guidelines on group online investing could be reduced to the size of a TV-listings blurb for Ally McBeal (to which Housley refers with near-obsessive frequency).

But having said that, it's admirably straightforward and explained in plain English, especially for a genre glutted with so-called "easy-to-follow" volumes that are nonetheless incomprehensible. And, since this is a guide to starting and maintaining a fun and social investment club as much as it is to mastering the stock market, it's got just as much kitchen-table advice on putting together a gang of gals, convening them via Internet bulletin boards, and keeping club communication and camaraderie alive as it does on picking the right stocks, finding a broker, following their progress against the S&P 500, and knowing when to buy, sell, and hold.Housley's writing style is caffeine-charged, bordering on insane, and the bulletin-board conventions and online meeting notes she shares from her own group are so full of references to maternity due dates, hectic suburban-mom itineraries, and free-floating cravings for everything from Quarter Pounders to Tom Cruise that you sometimes feel like you're trapped in a programming loop from the Lifetime Channel.

In truth, though, it's that very jotty, gabby style that actually makes the book as least as much fun to read as Housley makes starting up a club sound like. And lest you're thinking only the wives of NFL hockey players have the spare cash for such hijinks, Housley actually gears most of the book toward women who can only invest as little as $50 a month. If you can't set aside that much toward your future financial autonomy, you're probably putting it all in the hands of some man who's gonna stiff you anyway, girl, Housley seems to be saying. And it's that blend of sisters-doin'-it-for-themselves practicality and pop-level empowerment that makes Chicks the kind of smart, fun group-investment guide that even some of us NYSE-illiterate roosters out there would do well to read. --Timothy Murphy ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Empowering, Fun Read of Interested Investor Wannabes
I wish you could read my review first. I fit right in with Chick Karin's target audience. I must, because I LOVED this book! Not only did I get easy to understand investment concepts, but also the author gave me bonus information on what tax forms are needed and how to do an investment club tax return. I mean, really, how much more could I want?!

Additionally, just when I needed a break from the technical stuff, (which again, was painless to read,) I got to meet the Chicks -- not face-to-face, but through the Chick Chat provided in each chapter. I found myself wanting to discover more about Chick Cheryl and Chick Jana's pregnancy rather than the Russell Index.

I'm hoping this review will help you decide to read the book. If you read the other reviews, from Amazon and Publisher Weekly, you'll see for your own eyes that everything you need is here, in a lighthearted, entertaining prose.

Truly, if you've wanted to invest and never have had the courage or personal belief, now is the time to do so. Buy the book, and then contact your friends and their friends. I know I'm going to do so - I'm ready to take control of my financial future, thanks to you, Karin Housley!

Chicks Rule!

Inexpensive, Fun Ways to Experience Stock Investing
Millions of investing books are bought or read by people who never get around to buying any stocks. Karin Housley, busy mother of four and wife of professional hockey player Phil Housley, found that the solution for her was to form an investment club with her friends across the country. Occasional face-to-face meetings would be supplemented by having a bulletin board on-line, regular e-mail, and now they have a web site where you can visit to keep up-to-date with them and share their results.

The book is the first simple explanation I have seen for how to take all of the little steps needed to start an investment club. By working together, individuals can have a good time, try their hand in the market, and get a lot accomplished with little money and time spent. If you like company when you make financial decisions, an investment club is much less expensive than a full service broker.

I graded the book down by two stars for two reasons. First, Ms. Housley strongly argues for trying to beat the market averages and crows about how easy it is. Seeing the club's stocks, I suspected that things had fallen down since the book was printed. As of April 10, 2001, the club's stocks had lost 16.56 percent while the S&P 500 had lost 7.27 percent. So the club members during the bear market greatly underperformed, having significantly outperformed during the waning days of the bull market. Only time can tell how they will do in the long run.

I think that most people should have almost all of the money they plan to invest in stocks in indexed, no-load mutual funds. Since this investment club is just a small part of the member's total investing, no harm is done.

However, do take the crowing here with a big grain of salt. Most people would not even claim to have outperformed the S&P 500 with a track record of less than 5 years. This club has been going for less than 3 years.

Second, the book is very badly organized, poorly written, and hard to follow. There are brief summaries at the ends of chapters, but the material is very circular. Brief lists of key points at the end of each chapter help. The book has a solid glossary. Now, I did not grade the book down more because any book by the typical head of a newly formed investment club would probably have similar problems.

On the other hand, I do recommend that you read the book if you find it hard to get started with stock investments. I think you will find the book helpful, and I do not know of a better book to steer you to concerning investment clubs. There is an organization you should know about, The National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) based in Michigan, which can help you get started as an individual or as part of an investment club.

Here are the book's strengths. First, it explains financial concepts reasonably clearly. Second, it suggests investing principles that some successful investors use (such as the Gardners, Warren Buffett, and Peter Lynch). Third, it has a fine glossary. Fourth, it is interesting to read about the women in the club, so there's a personal story line that adds zest. This also gives you a flavor of the personal benefits of being in a club, aside from your investing results. Fifth, the book doesn't assume anything. You get help with everything from purchasing a computer to figuring out who to invite into the club to how to file your tax returns. I admired the thoroughness of how the small details were handled.

The club was formed in part because Ms. Housley feels that women need to be able to handle their own finances and develop their own financial security. I agree. So the book is pro-female. The terms used make it sometimes sound like women are being put down. I don't think the book is intended that way, so give her the benefit of the doubt.

In the book's comments, Ms. Housley refers to owning a mutual fund and trailing the averages as a bronze medal. Well, that's the level of performance they have now. She describes the indexed solution as the silver medal. Beating the market is the gold medal. I see almost everyone I know get bronze medal performance by trying for the gold medal. It's not easy to achieve gold medal performance. Less than one professinal investor in ten succeeds.

After reading this book, I suggest that you consider where else having friends to do things with would encourage you to get started. Exercise? Learning a new skill? Finding a better job?

The best way to learn is to get some experience. Start now!

Don't waste your money!
The first problem I had with this book was the incredibly condescending attitude by the writer. Just because *she* was completely clueless about their family investments doesn't mean the rest of the *housewives* in the country are. She continually talked down to her readers and spoke absolutely horribly about her children. Whether she was joking or not, I found her style extremely offensive. This breastfeeding, clothing diapering, homeschooling mother who happens to love her children didn't fit into ANY of the stupid examples she used.

But I muddled through those first few chapters to get to the meat of the matter - The Chicks Dozen. This is the all-knowing formula that one must run each potential company through before buying the stock. The problem? It worked fine when the bulls were running full steam last summer and they went with primarily tech stocks. Now? Their portfolio is a total loser and they were hit hard. I mean HARD. I notice they don't even publish the numbers on their site any longer.

As it is now, I don't think ANY company would fit into their standards and, in fact, they've changed strageties completely (I mean a COMPLETE reversal!) and are now going with mutual funds. There was page after page in the book BASHING mutual funds and now they've realized that putting all your eggs into single stocks in this bear market just doesn't wash.

They may have beat the men on Wall Street for ONE YEAR, but they sure aren't clucking now. So save your money and check out their website to see their current strategies because they've changed their tune. You'll also notice that one of the members has already left.

Didn't anyone at the publishing company *read* this book with it's hogwash advice before publishing it?

Great for Beginners
This book is written in a coffee klatch style, with great ideas and simple explanations. While there is a lot more chatting than content, it keeps the book from being dry and boring. And the content IS good, especially for those who are starting at the very beginning and need the basics explained. I recommend that you read the excerpts to see if her style is okay for you. If so then buy the book!

Chicks laying groundwork
It sounds to me like people either loved or hated this book. I'm in the middle. The content was excellent for beginning investors. Even though the math may have been a bit elementary, sometimes a refresher is needed! Skip over the examples if you have just graduated from Harvard.
I am going to be starting an investment club and have read a few books on it now. This one is very light-hearted, even if you don't think her humor is. It does, however, allow one to read more than one chapter without falling asleep, a problem I did have with another book.
What is comes down to is this -- this book is full of IDEAS, a place to start. Some of us ARE middle-class stay-at-home moms and some of us aren't. It really doesn't matter either way. She is showing us what worked for her and her club. It is up to us to decide which information we would like to use and which information we could care less about.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in forming an investment club, or just learning a few of the ways to go about researching, choosing and following stocks. ... Read more

Book Description

Let's face it... in today's world, senior citizens and their families face more complicated financial, legal and personal planning decisions than ever before--and making the wrong decisions can be catastrophic. In this book, Steven J.J. Weisman, renowned estate planning attorney and host of the nationally syndicated radio show "A Touch of Grey," offers you practical, simple guidance on every one of these issues. Written with simplicity and humor, Elder Planning uncovers strategies and loopholes for retirement, health care, long-term care, asset protection, investments, taxes, social security, housing, Medicare/Medicaid, estate planning, substitute decision, and more. This book is easy to read and easy to use, making it the indispensable resource for anyone needing to protect themselves, their parents and their heirs.

Reviews (2)

Elder Planning Review
For each generation it seems that a reference book comes along that becomes the universal guide for the audience it intends to reach. Examples that come to mind are the Farmers Almanac and the Guinness Book of Records. For their intended reader these books are the starting and ending points of the information sought.

Steve Weisman has filled that void for those considering elder planning issues. The book's fund of knowledge takes pains to begin at defining terms and strategies and, only then, provides the advice needed by all. To best illustrate the breadth of topics contained in the treatise, the issues range from asset protection to planning for your pets. The book is of value not only to the elderly but also to extended families facing elder planning issues and provides methods for non-elderly adults to maximize their assets throughout their life. As with any great book aimed at helping the populace, the use of clear, concise language is remarkable. In reviewing the book, I am left with the old refrain, "why didn't I think of that" but I can happily report that Steve Weisman did think of that and his efforts benefit us all.

Aging can be humorous
Who would have thought that a topic as seemingly dry and dull as financial and legal planning could be handled in such a humorous fashion while still providing a great deal of helpful information and suggestions for personal planning? This is a book that has important information for everyone, particularly older people, presented in a style that will make you smile. ... Read more

Book Description

Because wealth management encompasses a variety of disciplines--the management of personal risks, prudent investing, reduction of income taxes, and ensuring appropriate estate distribution--traditional performance measures are misleading and ineffective. In this landmark book, Ross Levin presents the Wealth Management Index T M, an innovative tool for financial advisors to quantify their clients' success in financial planning. The index helps financial advisors establish rational goals with their clients and measure their progress toward achieving goals. Wealth Management Index includes: Guidelines and strategies for determining your clients' unique needs; A detailed discussion of each section of the index--asset protection, disability and income protection, debt management, investment and cash flow planning, and estate distribution; Step-by-step procedures on how to implement The Wealth Management Index TuM in a financial planning practice. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Required reading for anyone concerned with enjoying life.
Ross Levin's Wealth Management Index is a paradigm shattering exercise. Almost all investors (and many professionals) keep their eyes glued to the wrong benchmarks (i.e. investment returns). As a result, they significantly increase their risk of failing to achieve their goals. By assisting the reader see the "forest instead of the trees," Mr. Levin provides thoughtful guidance and a detailed process for developing a system of measuring success unique to the needs of the reader. Mr. Levin, Certified Financial Planner, has been one of the nations leading financial planners for the last 20 years. He has served on numerous national professional organizations, the last as President and Chair of the International Association for Financial Planning; the world's largest professional financial planning organization. With this experience, it's not surprising that he has written a book that should be read (and reread) by anyone serious about the quality of the balance of their life ... Read more

Book Description

It's typically the biggest expense you will encounter in a lifetime. The right choice can make you ecstatic, and the wrong one can leave you burdened beyond belief. Buying a home requires extensive information; the more you know increases the chances that you'll live there happily ever after. The Unofficial Guide to Buying a Home presents readers with unbiased, street-smart advice that helps them assess their options. How much home can you afford? How do you find a realtor? Where should you buy? What type of mortgage should you apply for? How do you make sense of all those fees? And how do you make certain that you're really purchasing your home sweet home? This is the first guide to truly address the anxiety that goes along with the purchase of a lifetime. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Waste
This book is a waste of time, especially if you have anything complicated in your home-buying transaction (and who doesn't?). It's also sexist - th