Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Unlike most financial books, this one is based on real life experience, not just some financial advisor's theories. All of the strategies are from the author's real life experiences, and they are guaranteed to work - even if you're not over 40.

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Disappointing	Customer Rating:
I was disappointed that this book dealt very little with late retirement planning. It mostly concentrates on getting out of debt.

Feeling ripped off

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After many sleepless nights worrying about how I will ever retire with my current debt structure and absolute lack of any savings, I began researching the subject. The title caught my eye, as it's my predicament too. I thought I would get some sage advice or at the very least a few tidbits to get me on the right track. Unfortantely, this book does not deliver. I already bought a new car. The old one cost over 7,000 a year to maintain. It was a Volvo. I have no access to a 401k. The book is just worthless and a waste of my money. I see the only way out is to self-publish. At least I've done enough investigating to see what a person must do. I suppose I could now publish a worthwhile book explaining what we can do and more importantly, how. If I could have given 0 stars, I would have.

Great practical advise - must read for college kids starting out

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This is a great book and the advise contained in John White's book has never been more timely and applicable then now. Written from true life experiences the author lays out very practical advise to extract yourself from a life debt and living "hand to mouth". No macro-economic mubo-jumbo just straight forward logically laid out financial advise for getting on a sane finacial track. I believe if young people apply the principles laid out in John L. White's book they can avoid many of the consumer credit/debt pitfalls that are ruining the US economy. I feel so strongly that I'm insisting my college age kids all read John's book.

Take control of your paycheck!

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A great book that is both entertaining and easy to read, yet teaches you the important life lessons that you usually don't get in school or at home. The author shares his experiences from a wide variety of jobs so that most readers will be able to find something to relate to. I especially liked how each chapter ends with some advice or insight that the reader can put into practice immediately. I had never thought about the idea that I am selling hours of my life to an employer so I can get a paycheck. How I choose to spend that paycheck will determine whether I control my financial destiny or whether I will be a slave to my "stuff". Can't wait for the next book from this author!

Beware of Self-Published "How To Books" - and this is one of them!

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As a freelance writer myself, the first thought that occurred to me before I was halfway through this book was, how in the world did this guy find a publisher? At the very least, any "how-to" book worth half its salt should provide specific, detailed instructions on how to go about accomplishing the task set forth in its title. Instead, this book strays off topic. Instead of explaining how to get out of debt, most of its pages discuss how to buy a used car, an existing home, used furniture, and cut down on simple expenses such as candy bars and cable tv. Nevertheless, I perservered through it before making a final judgement. After finishing it in less than an hour, I am thoroughly disgusted. This book offers so little in the way of practical solutions, I feel entitled to a refund. A quick search online reveals that the publisher, Everlove and Bohannon is owned by the author, John White, and apparently has produced only one title - this one. What does this tell you? If anyone can write a truly valuable book on the topic of digging out of a middle-aged financial crisis, they will be able to sell their proposal to the highest bidding publisher, rather than self-publish. The only saving grace of this book is that it doesn't offer any really bad advice. It offers a lot of good sentiment about the mindset of frugality, and the appendix lists some very good books on money management. For anyone who is in serious financial trouble with a steep ratio of unsecured, high interest credit card debt and little in the way of assets (i.e.; home equity), however, I strongly urge you: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY buying this book!! If you can avoid this and 9 other books like this one, written by self-proclaimed and self-published experts, you will have saved yourself $150. Note to the author: Mr. White, as a writer myself, I normally adhere to my grandmother's sage advice - say something nice or nothing at all. You have written on a subject that is too important, however, and it affects millions of people - debt management is far too complex and life-changing to be to be skimmed over and treated with platitudes. If you ever want to rewrite and revise, I strongly suggest that you offer the reader a basic threshold diagram explaining debt to income ratio, and the tipping point at which bankruptcy (Chapter 7) must be carefully weighed and considered, as opposed to seeking help through Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Otherwise, your book is akin to a first aid manual that makes no mention of CPR.