Book Description

The Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of the New York Times Bestseller That Focuses on Personal Finance for Every Budget -- and Every Stage of Life

Taking control of your personal finances is the first -- and most important
-- step toward successful investing and a secure future. The Motley Fool You Have More Than You Think, now fully updated and expanded, provides guidance for anyone trying to balance lifestyle aspirations and financial realities. The latest edition of this Motley Fool bestseller covers topics such as:

• Getting out of debt...and into the stock market
• Turning your bank account into a moneymaker
• Using Fool.com and the Internet to learn about all things financial -- from buying a home to getting the best deal on a car
• Saving enough to send your children to the colleges of their dreams

Reviews (14)

They got me excited about investing
The Motley Fool- You Have More Than You Think- is full of sound advice that really got me interested in finaces and investing. The book basically presents two key things- fundamental concepts of investing and saving your money, and information on the best ways to go about doing that, when you don't have the slightest idea on how to do it. The key information in this book could probably be very much compressed down, but it's really not too difficult to make it through the 300 pages. In fact, pretty much each chapter presents one main idea and expands upon it, it's a very easy read. David and Tom Gardner, when not relentlessly plugging their website, fool.com, set out to make the book actually funny and interesting to read, and I think they managed to do it. I never want to have a credit card after reading this book. The biggest strength of the book are definately the step-by-step instructions on how to save money whilst making big-ticket item purchases like cars, homes, and college tuitions. It's a great resource for students and parents.

Great personal finance book
On the cover of this national bestseller it claims to be "The Foolish Guide to Personal Finance," I would have to agree the Gardner brothers have made the subject of personal finances an enjoyable and witty read.

I recommend reading the following chapters of this book:

"And a Bunch of People Want What You Have"

This chapter discusses why casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and credit card debt are hazordous to your wealth. I think this should be required reading for every young adult in america. This chapter needs to discuss smoking, drinking, and drugs as well, but the investment guide for teens already covered that.

"You Can Get and Keep More Than You Think"

This chapter discusses some banking basics, how to get a good deal on a car (well worth the price of this book), how to save money when purchasing a house, insurance information, and funding for college.

"When not to invest" is also a good chapter since it tells us in common sense when we should and shouldn't be in the market.

"The Ten Most Common Investing Mistakes" are highlighted mistakes with good examples which a lot of people do.

"The Fourteen Things You've Learned Here" is an excellent summary of the book, if are considering this book I suggest reading this chapter and the others mentioned above.

In short I think this is a great book especially if you listen to and follow what these brothers recommend.

Reed Floren

A Common Sense Approach
It's amazing that I have owned this book for such a long time and NOT reviewed it. What an oversight as it certainly is one of my most highly acclaimed books regardless of category.

Much of the information still sticks with me today. Whereas the book is about investing your money wisely, it just does not talk about the stock market. Most important of all, David and Tom Gardner (The Two Motley Fools) discuss how to keep more of the money you earn. This can be done by avoiding excessive gambling and overindulgence in your State Lotteries. Also this can be done by failing to pay yourself first as illustrated in the chapter entitled The Ten Most Common Financial Mistakes. Gosh the example of the multiple uses of one's shirt is hilarious.

Although the Gardner's have their biases when discussing investment vehicles, the humor shines through as well as some common sense. Truthfully, Mutual Funds do have their purposes for some people in some scenarios. However, the reasons against Mutual Funds are certainly noteworthy. The approach to constantly research and adjust one's portfolio is strongly encouraged here which a big plus is.

Most important of all, the tone of the book is not filled with heavy jargon. The handy glossary in the back of the book smoothes out any questions that a reader might have. And the light hearted humorous approach makes this book FUN! Therefore, run down to your book store and pick up this gem immediately.

Makes personal finance easy to grasp.
This book is very easy to read and is entertaining to boot. It's full of practical advise on how to invest, handle debt and even buy a car. I used their method of buying a car with great sucess.

You Have More Than You
I found it very helpful and humorous at times. They certainly try to keep learning about your own personal finances informative and proactive. ... Read more

Book Description

This is an easy, yet complete book for balancing your budget.You are introduced to a method of record keeping that is very flexible and yet at the same time thorough. It walks you through the easy steps of determining your past income and spending history. Then it guides you in planning for the next year. Space is included for recording your monthly budget and actual income and expenditures. Makes tax time a snap. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book helped me get my finances in order!
This book is so simple to use. The instructions were clear and concise and before I knew it, I had developed a budget I can live with. What a life saver. If you ever wanted to start keeping track of your budget, this is the book you need. ... Read more

Book Description

Marriage is one of the few personal contracts in which your state dictates the terms -- unless you create your own customized premarital agreement.

Combining Nolo's legal expertise and plain-English writing, Prenuptial Agreements makes a potentially touchy subject easy to deal with while explaining how to create a valid contract. The book covers:

*the basics of prenups *whether a prenup is right for your relationship *how to decide what a prenup should include *every state's laws about prenups and marital property *how to assemble a draft agreement *how to turn your draft into a contract *tips on negotiating and communicating

Prenuptial Agreements provides worksheets to help you and your fiance determine what your prenup should cover, plus clauses for preparing an agreement that suits your needs. ... Read more

Book Description

Did you know that you can generate substantial amounts of cash on stocks without buying or selling them? Are you aware that you can recover losses of 90% or more on stocks using simple" outside the box strategies" that require little or no out of pocket cash. Would you like to turn any stock you own into a winner?

In this book Dr. Samir Elias will show you how you can use a low risk highly effective system to accomplish these goals and more. After reading this book you will learn how to:

* Generate thousands in cash on your losing stock without having to sell and take losses. The author shows you how you can generate thousands of dollars on the samestock in a single month using actual examples. In one real life example, the author shows how he reduced his cost basis from $10 to $5 while raising over $26,000 and making a 500% profit on selling the stock
* Reduce your cost basis on stocks you own without out of pocket cash. Watch how an investor buys a stock at $93 and comes out a winner as it drops to $30 while raising $21,000 in cash.
* Increase your profits on winning stocks by getting a premium to the market price when you sell. Watch how in one example the author achieves a $14,000 premium over market when selling the stock.
* Generate cash on stocks you do not own before buying them. Follow play by play how an investor raised $20,000 on a stock as he is in the process of buying it. This is an actual example that took place between June and August 2001.
* Ina special chapter you can also learn how use other peoples money to generate thousands on stocks below $5. The amounts of cash you can raise by implementing this strategy will amaze you.
* The author describes simple but powerful timing techniques including: the 102030 test, Tell tale spikes (especially important for stocks below $5), the principle of Fading Momentum and the 75% rule to help you maximize your cash generation. In one of the chapters the author shows 6 real life examples with charts on how to successfully implement these principles.

The author's objective is to show you how to use the tools in the book to make money, so he focuses on applying each and every concept in the book to real life situations with trades that he executed himself.

"You may not have the power to control the wind but you can control your sails." This book will show you how to adjust your strategy to be profitable no matter what this crazy market throws at you. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Absolutely unbelievable profits
I have purchased this book and belong to the author's private chat room and was able to achieve consistent double digit monthly returns. This is based on an earnings squeeze strategy that I have been using by applying the principles described in the book using a combination of option and stock positions.
My strategy involves using the idea presented by the author in the book and chat room on betting against the majority but with the trend. I have used this concept to look for stocks showing a high level of negative crowd sentiment as reflected by a high put volume and short interest but positive technical signals. Such indicators will result in a lethal profit combination at earnings time. So every week I identify stocks reporting earnings that show such signals and then take a combination of stock and option positions using strategies in the book.
I would admit that belonging to the authors private internet chat room ,which is kind of expensive in absolute terms but cheap when you consider the returns, was a big help. The good news is that many investors will be soon able to experience similar returns by belonging to the public version at a much lower cost . I decided not to mention the site name to keep the review objective .
The author is also accessible to the subscribers through e mail and phone. He even has his phone number in the book and I was able to discuss a specific recommendation he made on the chat room with him before taking action. With little practice and experience the ideas presented by the author work and I have my bank account to show for it.

12% monthly returns using selling puts and writing calls
The two most important lessons I learned from this book that worked for me allowing me to achieve 12 % monthly returns for the past few months are (1) To be successfull you need to be a flexible investor. Focusing on stocks alone without options increases your risk and vice versa.Paying attention to covered calls alone without selling puts will also severely limit your profits and risk losing your stocks. Combining writing calls with selling puts resulted in superior returns from my experience. (2) When using options to supplement your investments, timing is critical to determine entry and exit points and more important to decide when to reverse your position from call writing to put selling and vice versa.Paying attention to combining these strategies will insure profitability no matter what direction the stock moves in. This book offers different strategies with actual market examples to demonstrate how the above techniques can work to significantly boost returns.

more than 90 % profitable
This review refers to the Sept 2003 newly published hardcover expanded second edition of the book . In this edition the author goes beyond using options into the art of picking winning stocks. There are quite a few new ideas including : (1) How to use sentiment and price action to pick winning stocks. The author uses two indicators when combined together can signal entry points giving over 100% profitability . I personally back tested and actually traded this approach with over 90% accuracy (2) How to generate quick cash by using a short squeeze and earnings squeeze strategy. This is presented in a stepwise procedure which is easy to follow.(3) How to recognize when smart money is buying or selling .
(4) How to recognize when smart money is buying under the radar without actually affecting price movements. (5) How to avoid being shaken out and selling before a big run up. And more ideas too many to mention. (6) How to quantify fear and combine it with a common technical indicator to spot general market reversals and I could go on and on.
One of the Chapters that I found most useful for long term investors ins Chapter 14 where the author presents a simple system using an easy calculation that you have to do once a week to determine when to sell a stock or buy for the long term. This chapter allows you to recognize pending long term reversals using what the author calls CD chars while a stock is near its high. Real life stock illustrations are given throughout the book.

The author adds a special chapter with ideas on how to apply the concepts in the book to specific situations that are frequently encountered and shows how to cash in on such situations.
What impressed me most is that the concepts are innovative and not accessible in other books that I have read. On the other hand they are simple to follow especially with the numerous real market examples given by the author.

What I found different about this book
As an experienced options and stock trader and investor, I thought It will be worthwhile relaying what I found different about this book. The biggest challenge in attaining consistent profitability in using options is successful stock selection and relative timing.
The first unique aspect of this book is that it offers simple timing techniques illustrated by actual stock charts where you could even come out ahead if the stock moves against your position by 10% or more. The author uses these charts to show you how to maximize your profit by timing your move when most of the crowd is doing the opposite and willing to pay you hefty premiums.
Another interesting strategy in this book is what the author calls "half-half option selling strategy" which allows you to combine option selling and stock purchase techniques to buy stocks below market while generating cash . The author incorporates simple support and resistance in a unique way to enhance cash generation. I have implemented this strategy myself and was surprised by the fact that I was able to accumulate shares of a stock at 25% below the present market value even though the stock dropped 30% since I started implementing this approach.
The author also shows you how to generate cash multiple times per month on the same stock. Take the example of LSI in the book where the author achieves 500% profit by using techniques in this book to reduce his cost basis from $10 to $5 and then selling the stock at $25. The example on MCK shows you how you can turn a big loser into a winner. Even as the stock drops from $93 to $34 using techniques in this book you can end up with a small $220 profit on 1000 shares which beats a loss of $59,000 if you held on without using the techniques in the book or $9300 if you placed a 10% stop loss. These are just two of the many examples in the book.
A third approach is what the author describes as Boxing strategy where you will in effect box a stock between two positions dictated by the timing the author uses. You then close each position as the stock moves in a certain direction with both positions yielding a profit. This is a great strategy that I found useful in raising cash on stocks I own while adding more shares at lower cost.
Another unique approach is the authors examples on how to generate cash on low priced stocks (many around these days) detailed in chapter 11. I always wanted to find a way to cash in on those type of stocks but was rarely successful since they are usually highly manipulated and seem to go in the opposite direction after I got in. This chapter has many interesting strategies to use but the one that intrigued me most was the example on Enron. By recognizing the dramatic increase in put premiums on bankruptcy rumors one could have locked in a purchase price of 80% below the current price and then pocketed the profit on a short term bounce which was bound to come due to short covering. I knew from experience that there is a common thread in stocks undergoing bankruptcy, a high level of short interest with negative sentiment but could not figure out how to cash in. This book provided the missing link! These two facts mean high option premiums and by selling the right option, all I have to do is wait for the short covering and cash in. At the same time the hefty option premium will mitigate any stock drop preventing me from a panic reaction.
This book does not go into extensive detail theoretical details on option probability and pricing. If you are interested in such information I would recommend the book " Guide to probability, volatility and timing". If you are interested in learning practical strategies with charts and real life examples to generate income and enhance profits , this book will significantly advance your way to reaching this goal.

New Ideas For Greater Profits
I have been making a living exclusively trading stocks and options for several years so I am what you would consider an experienced trader. While it is true that most traders lose money, the ones that are successful make a nice living at it. In my opinion the reason why most fail is that they follow the herd and refuse to change their style.
This is where this book comes in; many of the techniques are innovative and different in addition to the fact that they work. Let me give some examples:

Many investors employ stop losses which are a good idea and in fact in the book the author does suggest you do that. The problem is that if you set your stop loss using standard criteria that every one else uses (herd mentality); the market makers and specialists who control most of the trading can trigger a stop loss, which they know where the herd set it at, just to shake weak hands out and then move the stock to new highs. Say you purchased a stock at $50 and set a stop loss at $45 you would have lost $5 +/share if the stop was triggered. However if you followed a strategy in the book using covered calls by selling a $45 strike call you would have gotten $5/share + time premium and you could still have set a stop loss at$45 and exited the position. However in this case you would have made a profit or at least broke even. By using this strategy you could invest the cash you are raising on stocks that may be better picks.
Many inexperienced investors do not realize that for a covered call to be profitable the stock must go down in price at least temporarily. In fact the strength of this strategy lies in being able to cash in on the volatility of the stock. If this was a losing strategy there would not be books dedicated solely to covered calls advocating double-digit returns!

A unique and better idea offered by the author is using fading momentum criteria to trigger taking action to start raising cash or selling a stock. This sets your sell trigger apart from the herd and prevents you from being shaken out just to see the stock come back.
Say you bought a stock at $88 and set a stop loss limit at $80, if you get stopped, you lose at least $8. By paying attention to fading momentum criteria explained in the book which alerts you to a pending reversal even as the price is going higher, you can sell an $85 covered call for say $5/share as soon as you recognize fading momentum with the stock at say around $89. When the stock gets to $85 you can buy the call back, cash in most of the $5 as profit and sell a new call at $80, if the stock hits below $80 you get stopped out but you would have cashed an additional $5. The point is if the stock takes 2 months to drop from $88 to $80 using strategies in this book you would have cashed $10/share even before your stop got triggered and you sold the stock. This is cash you can invest to make more money. Using a stop alone you can only reinvest after you sell the stock, but using ideas in this book cash is available even before you sell.
Another example is the use of put selling as an avenue to raise cash on a stock before buying the stock. This again is an approach different from the majority that tends to buy the stock outright. This technique allows you to buy the stock at below market and pocket cash, which you can invest in other moneymaking instruments while buying the stock. Again a novel technique that most people do not employ. I am sure that anyone who lost money on enron, worldcom and other stocks would wish they knew how to use this strategy. Over 50% of this book involves techniques that do not even require owning a stock.

A fourth idea which was even new to me as an experienced trader and investor is how to use a contrarian approach employing sentiment and price action to cash in on low priced stocks without buying them or spending any of your own cash. Using a simple twist on this strategy, the author shows you how to recover losses of more than 50%, this alone is a worthwhile reason to read this book. The new techniques in chapter 11 made me a sizable profit on xmsr, amr,ntes,askj, and several others since I bought the book few months ago and I know ,as most people do, how to tell the difference between a profit and a loss!
I can list several more examples on how this book pushes the edges of new ideas but will stop here to keep the review short.
Of course, it is a personal choice whether one keeps doing the same thing and getting the usual results or they open their mind to new concepts and reap their benefits. I chose the latter . ... Read more

Book Description

Many people spend their lives searching for the means to acquire tremendous financial wealth. They look to external resources to give them what they want, and are ultimately disappointed when their dreams don’t turn out the way they had planned. They either become incredibly wealthy at the expense of their spiritual well being, family, and friends, or they never acquire the riches they’ve aspired to, and in their disappointment, they discover they’ve lost all sense of self-worth.

The Wealthy Spirit is the only book that offers an approach to achieving both spiritual and financial wealth. Through a series of daily affirmations that focus on the reader’s internal strength and capacity for change, this book will set them on a path toward personal enlightenment and wealth in body, mind, and spirit.

Using a day-to-day approach, readers will learn six keys:
Think positive.Like mind over matter, mind over money begins with believing you deserve it and can get it.
Send out ships.You can wait for your ship to come in, but if you don’t send any out, it’s going to be a long wait.
Count your money.Money is a game and you have to know the score.The money score will tell you how well you’re doing at steps one and two.
Swim with dolphins.Being "in the swim" will depend largely on who you’re swimming with.Find "your people" and avoid sharks.
Survive the storms.You must weather interior storms as well as exterior ones.Persistence is key.
Seek balance and enlightenment.Only from their perspective will you know when you have "enough."

The Wealthy Spirit offers readers peace of mind to help them build financial muscle and a successful, stress-free life. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

It Really Works!
Chellie Campbell, the author of this incredible book, is something of a legend in this part of the country where she lives (Los Angeles), but for those of you who haven't yet heard of her work, I'd like to share a quick story.

I took Chellie's financial stress reduction class here several years ago and almost immediately tripled my income as she taught me how to "send out ships" and change my relationship with money, which I thought was good to begin with. Over the years my financial picture has only gotten stronger... Her advice is THAT good. This book is a perfect replica of her teachings and her writing is so beautiful that it's nearly addictive. Chellie has written what I believe will become a classic in the genres of positive thinking and money.

If you love Suze Orman, think of Chellie as the ultimate companion. The two are so totally different in their style, but together may just give you the ultimate whole.

This book WORKS!!
After reading this Chellie Campbell's book, I experienced a revelation. The shift in my thinking and actions are profound. It's an easy and enthusiastic read -- I read it all in one very full night and then called/emailed all my friends the next morning and told them they needed to buy this book. And while admittedly I don't do my affirmations everyday, I am still reaping the benefits, financial and otherwise. Since I live in Los Angeles, I also recently signed up for Chellie's 8-week workshop. It came highly recommended by a friend who has taken Ms. Campbell's workshop three times because she says she makes MORE money every time she takes it!I've only attended the first week of eight, but those few hours managed to catapult me into action. Specifically in an aspect of my career that I have been struggling with for years. Read this book. And if you can, take her workshop!!!

a gem
chellie campbell's "the wealthy spirit" is one of the best books on abundance i've ever read because it reveals the true method of creating wealth--from the inside out--and does so through stories showing how others did it. This personally strengthened my own belief in the process of creating "miracles," especially when outer appearances were gloomy. As a former workshop participant of chellie's, i can only say that her class is worth more than the price of admission! If it's available to you, run, don't walk and sign up!

Chellie Campbell Rocks!!!!!!!
This book puts you in touch with your lifelong attitudes and inner feelings about money. While saying our daily affirmations from her book, we become keenly aware of how distorted are perceptions are towards deserving to make money and being able to learn how to obtain wealth. Chellie's book gives us the tools to "mind our money", starting with the most basic of 'thinking positively'. Then we send out ships to prospects and count our money so we track where we are today so we know how much we're gathering along the way towards our financial goal. We weed out the 'sharks' and 'tunas' in our lives so we 'swim with the dolphins', those friends, family and mentors who support our wealthy spirit. For those of you who want to seek balance and enlightenment while achieving financial freedom, read Chellie's daily affirmations, based on case studies of people who took Chellie's 'Financial Stress Workshop Reduction' class and became financially independent. As a graduate of her class, I read her book daily and consider Chellie as my brilliant financial mentor with a spirit of gold.

swimming with the dolphins
Chellie's book and workshop has changed my life forever. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to take the workshop and it has helped me in too many ways to mention in a 1000 words or less. I now send out my ships regularly, swim with only dolphins, and feel ready to grow my business in ways that I did not know were possible. Not only was the workshop worth every penny, but it has helped my business and my clients in ways that will be exponentially profitable. Keep spreading the word, Chellie and thanks for everything! ... Read more

Book Description

Newly revised and updated, How to Administer an Estate is a step-by-step self-help resource that guides you through the entire estate and probate process from start to finish. In clear, precise, helpful language, Stephen Christianson walks you through each of the procedures involved in the process from the first steps to take upon the testator's death, to wills vs. intestacy, to closing an estate. He answers every possible question along the way, such as: -How do you decide to become an executor?
-How do you determine the property of the estate and who holds important interests?
-What needs to be done if a person died without a will?
-How do you "open" an estate?
-How do you take inventory and distribute an estate's assets?
-When is it necessary to call an accountant or lawyer?
... Read more

Book Description

Exposed are the secrets of an affordable life in Hawaii! Gone are the myths of outrageously expensive housing, the high cost of living, and no work available. Learn how to find homes for under $100,000, all the work you can handle, and how to stretch your dollars in every aspect of Island Life.Discover why Hawaii is a retiree's dream come true!And then find out why Hawaii is not everyone's Paradise!

Some of the topics covered include: The Dream & The Realities; Finding Your Own Special Place; The Choices; Your Virtual Tour of the Entire Big Island; Making the Big Move; Arranging Shipping; What-and-What NOT-to Take; Do I Take My Car? What About Pets? Kids and School; Shopping; Income Opportunities, Retirement and More! This is the Second Edition!The first sold out quickly and this edition covers answers to the questions posed by readers of the first edition, as well as an expanded and updated Resource Guide. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Multiply by 2
Just back from a 16 day adventure around the big isle (April '04) and I can easily say that this '01 edition is already way out of date. In most cases you can multiply by 2 on the prices given, so be prepared. Realize that in the last year alone the prices for Hawaii real estate have gone bananas. For example in an article that recently appeared on the Honolulu Advertiser's front page entitled, "Kaua'i housing prices 'insane'" it was shown that the median price for a Kaua'i condo had gone from $227K to $420K in one year! On the big isle, which is the focus of this book, condo prices only went up 38%. Residential property went up 19% As a real estate agent here in Sedona who has already made contacts to be licensed in Hawaii, I was amazed. Using this book and the best guide book of the island, Hawaii, The Big Island Revealed by Doughty and Friedman, we put over 1300 miles on the rental car touring the island. After a week in the the beauty and traffic of Kona (high land prices!), we visited Hawi, Waimea (where I used to live in the 70's), and the Hamakua coast before settling into the constant rain of Hilo. We had 10 inches one day and after 4 straight days of being house-bound we visited Paradise Park and then headed back to south Kona through Volcano for at least the chance of Sunshine.
Affordable Paradise was useful to a point and the author's obvious slant is towards the cheaper housing alternatives found principally in Puna. Even those prices are no longer relevant again by a factor of 2 times for the most part. Just don't get this book and expect to find a paradise home for under $100K that is the value and beauty you may be looking for. That said, we are in escrow now for what we think is a marvelous area - an area this book hardly touches on. The 1/3 acre lots are going for $40-85K and have lots of advantages - 800' elevation, 20-30 inches of rain/year, slower pace. So you can find something and this book will help propel you forward. Also the moving-portion may prove valuable as we are now preparing to relocate. Perhaps the fact that on the next to last day we swam with a dozen delightful dolphins at Hoo'kena Beach makes it easy to see why Hawaii has us ready to return.
Good luck and Aloha!

SIMPLE PLEASURE
BEING FROM THIS ISLAND, I WAS INTRIGUED. WELL WRITTEN AND WITH GOOD INSIGHT FOR THE VISITOR OR KAMAAINA...I ENJOY HIS TRUTHFUL YET POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE...BOUGHT SEVERAL COPIES TO PASS AROUND.

enjoyable and thorough
I had also bought "So You Want to Live in Hawaii", which i thought had a somewhat pessimistic tone for considering moving to Hawaii.
Affordable Paradise seems to have a very realistic and thorough understanding of whats involved both physically, financially, and mentally for considering making the move. It presents both positive and negative aspects for choosing Hawaii, and what to look for in purchasing a home, shopping, and understanding the locals. Very good book.

a pleasure to read
Skip Thomsen writes about a popular Island pastime called "talk story," when a neighbor drops by to talk with you. Life comes to a halt, as you prepare a beverage, & sit down for their visit. AFFORDABLE PARADISE is like that.

Skip Thomsen tells you about life on the Big Island, & in particular the Windward side & Hilo.

As your tour guide to The Big Island, he covers:
The Dream & The Realities
Finding Your Own Special Place - The Choices
Your Virtual Tour
Making the Big Move - Arranging Shipping; What-and-What NOT-to take
Do I Take My Car?
What About Pets?
Kids and School
Shopping
Income Opportunities
Retirement

A pleasure to read, with lots of useful information & honest perspectives.

For anyone seriously considering a move to Hawaii
Affordable Paradise: The Secrets Of An Affordable Life In Hawaii by long-time Hawaiian resident Skip Thomsen is a practical, straightforward book about living economically day-to-day in one of the most beautiful and sunny of America's 50 states. From finding a serviceable house for less than $100,000 to work and retirement opportunities, Affordable Paradise is an indispensable reference to consult for anyone seriously considering a move to Hawaii for the best of what island living has to offer, yet needing to live within budgetary constraints. ... Read more

Download Description

You're no idiot, of course. You're financially independent: You pay rent, utilities, and loans all out of your own paycheck. You realize that your parents had to cut the cord sooner or later, and you're proud of how well you've adjusted. But when it comes to saving money for the long haul, you feel like an astronaut whose oxygen cord has been cut. Don't drift into a financial black hole yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s gives you an edge so you can get through financial hardships now, invest for the future, and even afford a luxury item once in a while. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good foundation for learning money management skills
As a member of Gen-X with absolutely no personal financial management skills, I was delighted to find this book. Despite being a reasonably intelligent person, I didn't know how to budget or balance my checkbook, much less tell the difference between an IRA and a mutual fund. Personal Finance turned out to be an invaluable resource. It explains things clearly and concisely, and has information from the most basic topics (like budgeting) to purchasing homes and building retirement funds. I'd be lost and much worse off financially without this book.

However, there is one fundamental flaw: while the book's target market are those in their 20's and 30's, oftentimes the book comes across as meant for a much younger audience, and manages to be extraordinarily condescending and trite as a result. Especially in the beginning chapters, the tone often slips from being impartially informative to a desperate and misplaced effort to be "cool." Fisher and Shelly would have done much better to leave the outdated jargon and simplistic metaphors out.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for the financially incompetent. It takes a little to get past the juvenile references, but once you do, it proves to be a great starting point for learning how to manage your money.

A good guide to personal finance
Fisher and Shelly have written a great guide to personal finance, covering bank accounts (and how not all banks are the same), credit cards, renting a home, getting a car, savings, budgets, savings, investments, taxes, insurace, retirement, financial advisors, and buying a home. While it talks about a lot, the authors consistently try to use simple and easy-to-understand examples and lots of examples.

Some of the topics I felt didn't relate to me at this time (e.g. buying a house), so I either skimmed them or skipped them. What's great about this book is that you can just pick and choose what you want to know about. I recommend the chapters on bugeting, investments, savings, and credit cards. Some of the chapters overwhelmed me (e.g. those on investments and mortgages) but I did learn the basics. And if I forgot what some things were, I could easily look at the glossary or skim through the chapter again.

The book also includes useful websites, books, magazines, and periodicals.

The main point that Fisher and Shelly focus on is that it is never too late (or too early) to learn about personal finance and that while you should live your life, you should also worry about the future. They don't tell you what to do and try to give the pros and cons for different options (e.g. of mutual funds, stocks, and bonds).

You should definitely read this book... Let it be the start of your journey to a better financial future, but not the end.

Great starting point
Great for anyone who has to try to navigate the world of benefits and finance in this crazy world...buy it before you lose anymore money.

Excellent for Gen-X
I think this is the absolute best book out there for members of generation X. The ideas are presented in a clear and easy to understand way. I have purchased three copies of this book and keep loaning it out to friends. I have read many others including Personal Finance for Dummies, Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Rich, and Investing for Dummies, but this is the best by far. If you are looking for a personal finance book and are under age 40, try this one.

Financial Guidance for me¿the 24 year-old Idiot¿
Okay, I am not an idiot by most standards. I do have a Master's Degree and certificates telling me honor societies let me join them. However, despite all my specialized studies, I learned very little about finances, investments, and economics. Since I try not to discuss things I know little about, at parties I avoided these topics. However, party-talk aside, the major benefit to knowing about finance is that it can help you plan you and your family's future.

Fisher and Shelly have compiled a very easy to read and direct book. I am a beginner, and felt as if I grasped most of what I read. Some of the material was even basic for me. They discuss bank accounts (compound or simple interest?), credit (annual fee or not?), personal budgets (do you need that $.70 Coke out of the machine everyday?), investments (CD here is not compact disc!), Housing, and much more. They cover every important aspect of personal finance for younger people approaching middle age. They make use of some quizzes so you can evaluate your financial know-how. The book will even pay for itself if you follow the 40 ways to save 10 dollars a week section. I have used many of their tips already. I recently (finally) got a credit card in order to establish my credit, but was sure to shop around using the web pages they provided.

Overall, this is not an advanced book, but it does cover the basic points. Some points might seem very simple and commonsense, but many of us have not had any education in financial matters. If you are in your 20s and 30s and feel like you have no financial guidelines or knowledge (as I did), this book should get you started in the right direction. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Good addition to your frugal library
Once you start acquiring a few of these frugality books, you see some overlapping of content. However, I consider this book part of the "Thrifty Canon," along with Amy Dacyczyn's Tightwad Gazette and Larry Roth's Living Cheap News. Covers lots of territory--from eating on a budget to spending less on entertainment.

Do what any good tightwad would do--borrow it from the library first to see if many of the advice could apply to you. If you find you'd like to keep it as a reference (mine is filled with highlighted words and passages), go ahead and buy it--it's money well spent!

Great Ideas
This book has a great variety of ideas for frugal living without sacrificing quality. I keep mine as a catalog, so to speak. Not all of the ideas apply to me, but many of them do. This book was money very well spent -- which I am sure will make the authors happy!

Living well without breaking the bank!
This book is an excellent source for anyone who is trying to accomplish their goals which require a great amount of money. Not only do they offer tips and experiences, they also make the reader feel more at ease without the fancy grammar used in some books for living well.

Something for everyone
For over a decade I have loved reading YANKEE magazine and this book from the editors of YANKEE magazine is a gold mine of useful information.

Close to 400 pages that cover everything from Secrets of a Debt Free Life; Easy Ways To Increase Your Income; Spending Less on Furniture; Personal Care for Pennies; Frugal Ways to Deal with Financial Emergencies; Celebrating On a Budget; Holiday and Gift Giving on a Budget and Thrifty Travel and Vacation Ideas.

Now I cant use everything in the book, but I picked up enough helpful ideas I never knew about, to consider it a good investment and the nice thing is the Library now owns the book so think of all the others who will get advise as well. ... Read more

Book Description

"For anyone who needs to understand different types of life insurance, as well as considerations for purchasing and managing policies, this book should be on your nearby reference shelf. If you’ve frequently found yourself fumbling around with terminology, such as the differences between variable, universal, and variable universal life (VUL) policies, you’ll finally see some light through the haze." - MorningstarAdvisor.com

Life insurance doesn't have to be complex or intimidating. Ben Baldwin's completely revised and updated guidebook makes it clear and logical, discussing how to analyze insurance products based on their investment merits and best overall financial returns. This clear, authoritative resource for consumer insurance information covers the pros and cons of Internet purchases, techniques to use capital within a policy, the fixed premium feature, insurance for different stages of life, and the new emergence of "immediate annuities."

Reviews (14)

For anybody that calls themselves financial advisor
This book is for any life agent, financial advisor, CFP, CPA, or anybody who specializes in the financial services industry. This book is for agents who still sales whole life or universal life ,variable universal life can do anything that fixed insurance product can do and more. This book is also for those who sale the VUL, it will help you understand what it is and how it works, It is a hell of a lot more than just Life insurance. This book is also for buy term and invest the difference people, after reading this book you will understand that term investing the difference is a foolish mistake and a amiture one as well. If you are giving financial advise and not looking to see if the VUL can fit into their portfolio in some cases you might be leaving your client an incompleate financial plan. I would ask for all those specializing in these areas to please read this book. As of today there isn't a financial product that can do what the VUL can if structured properly. Please email me if anybody finds a better and more productive product.

It's like an insurance salesman in your living room.
I think it is a very detailed, organized, and thought out sales pitch for variable universal life insurance (VUL). I came to the conclusion that the product could be useful some a few people with long term need for life insurance, a higher tax bracket, probable estate tax liabilities, and success at finding a policy with low fees. There are a lot of fees associated with the VUL policies which this book primarily pushes. Good investment performance would also be needed. I came to the conclusion that VUL would only make since for me if estate taxes would be an issue 30 to 40 years from now. Otherwise the buy term and invest the rest strategy would probably win out. He made a strong pitch for buying through an insurance professional (his profession), but it is my opinion that this would result in excess fees which would off-set much of the tax advantages. In my case I would already need to pay a for the preparation of the life insurance trust to give me the estate benefit I wanted. He also proposed that VUL was a much better choice than a non-deductible IRA (book was written pre-Roth IRA) because of all the trouble or cost for the paperwork required by non-deductible IRAs. Seemed to me there was as much paperwork involved with VUL, although much of it may be prepared by the insurance company. They should do something for those fees. It was a well written book and read well. Easier to put down though than it is to get an insurance salesman out of you living room.

Not what I was expecting, too biased
If you're looking for an objective presentation of life insurance choices, this is NOT the book. This is biased towards Variable Univeral Life. I'm returning this book.

Decent
Although Mr. Baldwin did a nice job explaining the various insurance products, he came across as too much of a salesman.

I also found a portion of what he said to be misleading. He talks about how if a person is happy paying their premiums (and expenses) with after-tax dollars, then term insurance is good for them. He then states that by using a VUL product, a person can pay their fees with before-tax dollars. This is misleading in that the premium you pay to the insurance company IS AFTER TAX!

The best thing to keep in mind while reading this book is that Ben Baldwin is an insurance salesman!

powerful info!!!
This is a wonderfull consumer friendly book! It puts in english all the information on the various types of insurance.
It dispells many of the mis-conceptions regarding variable universal life. Refering to it as the swiss army knife of financial products sums it up!!!
Mr. Baldwin is an extremely respected person in the planning community-- this books is well worth reading for anyone!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Money management from a Christian perspective
An important fact to note about the author is that he is the "founder and president of Christian Financial Concepts, Inc., a ministry dedicated to teaching God's priniciples of financial management." (from the back cover) This doesn't affect the quality of his advice, but it may affect whether you buy this book as gift for someone else who may be an atheist or follow a religion other than Christianity.

Very Helpful for College Students with budgets
Larry Burkett's Managing Money book was wonderfully helpful. I am a college student and was really struggling with budgeting my money. By using this book, I was able to really see how my money was being spent, ways to change my spending habits, and ways to be smart about the money I have. I would recommend this book to any college students, high school students, or young adults who are struggling with using their moeny wisely. ... Read more

Book Description

Over two million copies in print of the classicpersonal wealth parable

Millions have been helped by the famous "Babylonian parables," hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on thrift,financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as the Bible's, this modern classic shows the way to the road to riches. ... Read more

Reviews (227)

An Old Book with a Fair Amount of Wisdom
I often give this book out as a gift whenever a person younger than me asks for my advice on money. I always present this book to them saying "if you read it and do as it says, it will work magic." It really contains excellent, time tested advice, and would make a good gift for someone in their early 20s who is on their own for the first time, and struggling.

The book is a series of parables about money written in the 1920s by George Clason. They were written as individual essays of a few thousand words, but the theme throughout them is consistent -- save 10% of your money, give 10% away, use 10% to reduce your debt load, and live on the remaining 70%.

The stories in the book are entertaining; they are reminiscent of some of the parables in the Bible, such as the Prodigal Son or the story of the Workers in the Vineyard. I think this is intentional on the part of the author; certainly readers in the 1920s had an appreciation for "old fashioned stories with a moral" that people today seem to have lost. I enjoy the book greatly, though, and any thoughtful person who reads the book should find it interesting, especially if they are trying to get their finances in order.

This knowledge is Golden and Timeless
This book is so beautiful in its simplicity. It provides the quintessential, capitalistic concept that the majority seem to miss- on saving and investing. This book is not the in-depth 21st century read about investing wisely in today's markets, rather it is the all time read to acquiring and investing your wealth. It shows how everyone, even a lowly trashman can one day retire comfortably as long as he learns the "ways of money". It provides the basic concepts and you apply your current scenarios. Every time, without fail, you will come up with one thing: how to build your wealth. This is the TRIED AND TRUE method to increasing your worth. This IS NOT the get rich quick book you might be expecting. This book teaches you how to save, make your money work for you and in general how to be a lord of your wealth (or wise in the ways of money), as opposed to your money ruling you. Timeless and priceless knowledge that every single person not living under totalitarian or communistic rule should know so that they can seek their own financial freedom.

Timeless, simple truths...
This incredible little book was recommended to me for many years because of the texts inspirational qualities, in terms of offering timeless simple truths concerning thrift, financial planning and the value of a good work ethic. The formula offered for financial independence is highly practical and workable. Promoted as success secrets of the ancients, the text is written in parable form, similar to the bible, which gives the entire work a credible quality. I know from personal experience, that with persisitence, a good work ethic and a strong will to succeed; one can achieve a modicum of financial prosperity. Which, by the way, includes enjoying the fruits of one's labours. "Enjoy life while you are here. Do not overstrain or try to save too much...live otherwise according to your income and let not yourself get niggardly and afraid to spend. Life is good and life is rich with things worthwhile and things to enjoy." (20) In other terms, the lesson offered is a practice in moderation, not letting one's behavioural pendulum swing too far either way, but earning well and living well in the mean is a key to achieving a happy life. If you read any 'financial success' book this year, let it be this one.

Simple wisdom but SO powerful
First published in 1927 this is a parable, a story set in ancient Babylon, focusing on the simple ways to set yourself up for financial success. Excellent book.
Lori
www.communecate.biz

A book worth reading over and over
I think that some people underestimate this book due to it's small size. This is NOT a book that you will want to read only once and put away, you will NEED to read this over and over untill the ideas saturate both your conscious and subscious minds and untill the ideas become habits. Then you will achieve some real results. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete guide to planning an estate under today's tax rules

When it comes to your estate—no matter how big or small it may be—you shouldn't leave anything to chance. Proper planning is necessary to protect both your assets and your heirs. Estate Planning Law Specialist Harold Apolinsky and expert financial planner Stewart Welch III know this better than anyone else, and in the Revised and Updated Edition of J.K. Lasser's New Rules for Estate and Tax Planning, they offer valuable advice and solid strategies to help you plan your estate under today's tax rules as well as preserve your wealth. Packed with up-to-the-minute facts, this practical resource covers important issues, such as:

• How new legislation will impact inheritances and trusts
• Estate and generation-skipping tax planning
• The role of wills, executors, and trusts
• Treatment of charitable contributions
• The do's and don'ts of gifting
• Life insurance and retirement planning

Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this book will show you how to efficiently arrange your estate today so that you can leave more to those you care about tomorrow. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

For Making Sense of Investing Today...the Fully Revised and Expanded Edition of the Bestselling The Motley Fool Investment Guide

Today, with the Internet, anyone can be an informed investor. Once you learn to tune out the hype and focus on meaningful factors, you can beat the Street.

The Motley Fool Investment Guide, completely revised and updated with clear and witty explanations, deciphers all the new information -- from evaluating individual stocks to creating a diverse investment portfolio.

David and Tom Gardner have investing ideas for you -- no matter how much time or money you have. This new edition of The Motley Fool Investment Guide is built for today's investor, sophisticate and novice alike, with updated information on: