PT Money » Money Books

WalletPop Giving Away Copies of Start Over, Finish Rich

PT — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:00:06 +0000

Free Book Download Monday, January 4th Only!

To get everyone on track for the New Year, AOL’s Personal Finance Site WalletPop.com is hosting a free 24-Hour download on Monday, January 4 of new book — Start Over, Finish Rich — by Bestselling Financial Coach David Bach.

Here are the exact details:

“Starting at 12:01 a.m. EST on Monday, January 4, 2010 visitors to WalletPop will be able to download a pdf file of Bach’s book by simply clicking on a button. The book giveaway will last until midnight on the 4th.

Said David Bach, “My goal with Start Over, Finish Rich is to help millions of Americans to bounce back from the recession and regain belief in themselves and their future, both personally and financially. I’m excited to be partnering with WalletPop to bring consumers the encouragement, tools, and information they need to get back on the road to wealth in 2010.”

Designed to be read in a couple of hours, Start Over, Finish Rich offers readers a powerful, take-action plan that spells out the ten most crucial steps that Americans can take to put a secure financial future squarely back in reach, including getting out of debt, fixing credit, rebuilding retirement savings, automating finances, and rebuilding with real estate.

David Bach is donating $1 for each copy of Start Over, Finish Rich sold in 2010 (up to $20,000) to charity: water, a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. His donation will go towards sponsoring a freshwater well and latrines at a school and will serve 1,000 students.”

I love David’s books and philosphy towards money management. I reviewed his book, Automatic Millionaire, one of my favorite personal finance guides. I also reviewed the Finish Rich Dictionary. This is a great opportunity to get another excellent book by David. Make sure you get your free download.

52 Ways to Make Extra Money …Revisited

PT — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:22 +0000

I’ve created a download-able version of my most popular post, 52 Ways to Make Extra Money. This book is available for download right now.

But this isn’t just a rehash of the old post. With the help of some friends I was able to provide much more detail for selected ideas (around 15). The guide also includes 2 bonus ideas, extra money tips, and quotes. Plus, it was beautifully designed by my friend Ryan, of HillThread.com.

Thanks to these friends for their expert contributions to the expanded sections:

J. Money from Budgets are Sexy
Bob from Christian Personal Finance
FFB from Free From Broke
Pete from Bible Money Matters
Baker from Man Vs. Debt
Madison from My Dollar Plan
Jason from One Money Design
Studenomist from Studenomics

Update on the Saving to Give e-book: A week or two ago I mentioned I was writing an e-book focused around the idea of saving more to be able to give more. That e-book is still in the works. I’ve written it. I just need to determine the best way to format it and present it to you. Those that originally signed up with the PT Money Newsletter in hopes for a preview copy will get one soon.

Book Giveaway: The 1-2-3 Money Plan

PT — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:43:04 +0000

This is my review of The 1-2-3 Money Plan: The Three Most Important Steps to Saving and Spending Smart. Scroll to the bottom to find out how you can win a free copy of the book.

About the Author

The 1-2-3 Money Plan was written by Gregory Karp. Gregory is a nationally syndicated columnist, who is famous for his “Smart Spending” Column, which reaches millions of readers. He’s also the accomplished author of Living Rich by Spending Smart. You can also find Gregory blogging daily at gregkarp.com/blog.

About the Book

Gregory lays out the overall money plan in his book using 3 major areas:

Smart Spending Today
Smart Spending Yesterday
Smart Spending Tomorrow

Easy enough. Within each section, Gregory tackles different subjects. Each time leaving you with 3 steps to complete or remember so that you’re armed with the key information for making decisions about your finances.

For instance, in the Smart Spending Yesterday section, Gregory focuses on debt (yesterday’s spending you’re still paying for). He teaches you the importance of understanding your credit and how to use credit cards. Withing those sub-topics you’re given 3 specific steps to complete or concepts to remember.

The Smart Spending Tomorrow section is all about saving. Gregory walks you through saving for the short-term, retirement, and for education. I particularly enjoyed the college savings section since I’m making decisions on what to do in that area. Gregory’s advice was very practical and has motivated me to just dive in and go for it.

The section called Smart Spending Today is where Gregory really shines. He’s obviously a pro at discussing the smart ways to spend your earnings.

By using this simple 1-2-3 approach, Gregory really makes managing your finances seem easy. Heck, anyone can complete just 3 little steps, right?

My Recommendation

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and it left me feeling like I had a good game plan to improve my finances. It was both practical and specific. Like most personal finance books, it’s structured so that you are able to pick and choose which sections you’d need to review. For obvious reasons, my favorite sections were college savings, life insurance, and how to teach kids about money. You can pick up a copy of The 1-2-3 Money Plan at Amazon.

Win a Copy of the Book

I’m tempted to hold on to this book for my personal library, but I know some of you could use it just as much. So here’s your chance to get my copy for free. Simply leave a comment below listing a topic you’d like to see discussed on this blog. I will randomly select a winner this Friday at noon CST. The winner will be notified by email and in the comments. I’ll mail the book using USPS Media Mail. US residents only please.

Stuff from last week: Debt Reduction, Twenty Something Finances, Persona Finance, Money Hackers, Pecuniary Delights, Frugality, Money Stories

The Munny Journey Keepsake Journal

PT — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:44:23 +0000

I was recently introduced to the Munny Journey Keepsake Journal, and I have to say, I’m really impressed. Here’s my review of this really cool product that combines basic personal finance concepts with the hopes and dreams you have for your child.

About the Journal

The Munny Journey Keepsake Journal is modeled after traditional baby keepsake journals. Except it has a focus towards money, or munny. The book is both a keepsake journal, as well as an educational tool for first-time parents. It contains 95 pages, including an area for keepsakes, pictures, your writings, and a fold-out Munny Mountain growth chart.

The journal is filled with wonderful illustrations, and also comes with an audio CD that walks you through some of the concepts in the book.

Munny Keepsakes

The journal has several pages to put some really cool keepsakes. There’s a spot for:

special coins (your State quarter and coins minted in the year of birth),
a place for your baby’s first dollar,
and my favorite, an “On the Day You Were Born” page, where you can record the financial events from the day your child was born.

There are also pages to records your baby’s first savings account, stock, etc. Very cool.

Compounding Interest: Grow a Munny Mountain

From an educational standpoint, you, as a parent, will be the one initially learning the basic financial concepts. While you might not use all the information in the book, odds are your topic of interest is covered. The main theme throughout the journal seems to be the power of compounding interest, and how starting to save early can really make all the difference for your child’s future financial needs.

“It’s possible to create a millionaire by age 65 for just one dollar a day starting from birth.”

The Munny Mountain represents the total of your child’s savings, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. The Munny Mountain can be recorded and tracked on the fold-out growth chart provided with the journal.

Who Needs a Munny Journey Keepsake Journal?

Most new parents will love this journal. And if your kids are a bit older, don’t worry, you can complete most of the pages retroactively. I would highly recommend these for new parents. And these make great baby shower gifts as well. The Munny Journey Keepsake Journal can be purchased straight from MunnyJourney.com and is currently selling for $29.95. They also have a soft cover version for $10.95.

Get 10% off your order. Just use this coupon code: PT89

Who is this Dave Ramsey Guy?

PT — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Although I don’t mention him much, I’m a huge fan of Dave Ramsey. I’ve been following him online and on the radio for at least six years now. He actually played a huge role in helping me get my own finances in order.

I like Dave for the tough, straight-forward message that he brings. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you how it is. Dave does that well. I also like Dave’s application of Christian principles in his message.

Who is Dave Ramsey?

I know a little about Dave’s past; mostly from what I’ve heard him tell though. Basically he was a real estate entrepreneur that made a ton of money, but also racked up a bunch of debt. He went through a bankruptcy, and came out of that experience smarter about his finances and with a passion to help others. He then started his radio show and wrote a book, Financial Peace, which really got him established in the world of personal finance.

Dave is now the ultimate “get out of debt” guru. I would guess that no other person has helped more people payoff debt. Dave is the man.

The Dave Ramsey Show

The best way I’ve connected with Dave over the years is by listening to his show. The show has a little bit of everything going on. Dave takes questions from people struggling with money issues, people who are finally debt free, and even throws in some occasional commentary on the economy and politics. If you listen, you’ll end up agreeing with what he says as a whole, but you’ll be left with the feeling that you got punched in the gut. He definitely calls you to action.

You can listen to it over the radio (check local listings), or stream it online. When I first started listening to Dave, I listened to the online podcast. I liked it because I could skip around to the parts that applied to me and skip the commercials as well. Check out his radio show page.

Financial Peace University

If you want to really get to know Dave Ramsey’s approach, sign up for his Financial Peace University (FPU). The 13 week video series takes you through all that Dave has to offer. Plus, you get to experience it with others going through the process. The accountability has to be the best part of this program. The best place to find a Financial Peace University is at your local church or community center. Unless your church is offering to pay, this will cost you around $100. Pete from Bible Money Matters recently shared his experience with Financial Peace University. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re interested in doing the full course.

Total Money Makeover

Dave’s biggest achievement to date has to be the success of his book, The Total Money Makeover. In the book, Dave outlines his approach to helping you get out of debt and the seven baby steps that you need to use to get started. This is likely the best way to approach Dave’s methods if you’re not ready for the full FPU and don’t have him on the radio.

The 7 Baby Steps

Dave’s message can be boiled down to seven steps that you need to follow in order to have financial peace.

$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund
Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
Three to six months of expenses in savings
Invest 15 percent of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
College funding for children
Pay off home early
Build wealth and give! Invest in mutual funds and real estate

Where do you find yourself on the list of baby steps?

Endorsed Local Providers

A big benefit of being a Dave Ramsey fan has been learning about his Endorsed Local Providers (ELP). ELPs are essentially financial companies that Dave has hand picked to endorse. From this list, I was able able to find a real estate agent in my area I could trust. And most recently, I recently used Zander Insurance (an ELP) to help find the lowest quotes on life insurance. Dave gives these ELPs his stamp of approval and holds them accountable for their service.

Dave Ramsey is Bad at Math

Because of Dave’s Debt Snowball (paying down debts using lowest balance vs highest interest rate) he’s been accused of being bad at math, or dumbing-down his methods for the masses. While I don’t personally subscribe to all of his methods, I know they work for the people who use them. Whatever your thoughts are on his specific methods, you’ve got to admit it’s resonating with a bunch of people and truly helping them.

Why Dave Ramsey Works

I never been a strict follower of Dave’s steps and to be honest, I haven’t even read his books. But I’ve absorbed his message over the years through his radio show and been moved to make a change with the amount and type of debt I was carrying. And each day, hundreds more are experiencing Dave for the first time. What they’re getting is an honest, no-gimic approach to getting to financial peace. That’s the best you can hope for, and that’s what Dave brings.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Skinny On Credit Cards, How to Master the Credit Card Game

PT — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:00:29 +0000

I spent just a few hours this afternoon reading Jim Randel’s new book: The Skinny on Credit Cards, How to Master the Credit Card Game

It literally took me less than 2 hours of reading to take in all this quick guide (of around 125 pages) had to say. And I read slow. A faster reader could have knocked this thing out in an hour, I’m sure. What’s the point? The point is we all don’t have several hours each week to devote to understanding the basics of personal finance. That’s probably why you’ve subscribed to this blog. You just want some quick, helpful information a few times a week.

And let’s be honest, personal finance can be a really boring subject at times. But you have to learn it. So, why not pack key subjects into nice, easy-to-absorb books. That’s what Jim has done.

The Skinny On Books

The Skinny On™ book series is here to help those of us with little time, who are in need of quick, solid information. So far there’s a book on credit cards, one on the housing crisis, and another on will power. The idea for the style of the books came from the Japanese style of writing called manga. The book uses a story line and pictures (stick figure drawings) to illustrate the concepts around credit cards. It’s very fun and easy to read. Throughout this book you follow Billy and Beth as they discover the secrets to mastering credit cards.

The Skinny On Credit Cards

The book covers all you need to know in order to help you master the credit card and the game that credit card companies try to play. Specific topics include:

How to get rid of credit card debt
How to teach your kids about credit card debt
How to avoid late fees and identify credit card company tricks
How to take advantage of 0% credit card balances transfers
How to improve your credit score
and more…

The book includes advice from notable authors Liz Pulliam Weston, David Bach, Suze Ormon, and others. I also really enjoyed Jim’s 20 key points on the FICO credit score.

I found the book to be a good way to introduce your spouse, who may be allergic to financial books, to the basics of credit cards. In fact, the book follows a couple who struggle in their relationship because one spouse isn’t on board with the financial plan. Both of them get a good education in credit cards though. And you will too with this book.

Win a Copy of this Book

You can get it using the link above or in ebook form direct from The Skinny On website. Jim also gave me a few extra copies of his book to giveaway here on the blog. If you live in the U.S. and would like a copy, simply leave a comment below. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. I’ll randomly select a winner this Friday, May 8th. Good luck.

The Finish Rich Dictionary: Book Review and Giveaway

PT — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:34 +0000

The Finish Rich Dictionary

Time for another book review and giveaway. Today I’m featuring The Finish Rich Dictionary: 100 Financial Words You Need to Know by David Bach. You know David. He’s the author of The Automatic Millionaire. Which just happens to be my favorite personal finance related books.

What do the terms retrench, shadow price, and greenmail have in common? They’re all words you likely don’t know but should, and they’re in this dictionary.

I know what you’re thinking…if David Bach is such a successful writer, why has he turned to churning out dictionaries? Well, thankfully it’s not entirely a dictionary.

Throughout the book, David shares mini-chapters on basic personal finance topics, like “How to Buy a Home” and “The Top 10 Money Mistakes People Make“. Each are solid, quick reads full of advice.

I can definitely see this book being a solid reference piece of my library for some time. I’m keeping my copy, but I have one copy to give away.

Win a Copy of The Finish Rich Dictionary

Leave a comment in the box below this post by March 6th to be entered into the giveaway. One entry per person and U.S. only please. I will randomly select a winner and announce it on the blog the weekend of March 7th. Good luck!

An Interview with Larry Winget, Author of People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It!

PT — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:02:49 +0000

Larry Winget Interview

I recently had the chance to interview personal development speaker and writer, Larry Winget, with a few questions about his new book, his take on personal finance, and his career success. Enjoy the interview:

Hi, Larry. I’ve been hearing a lot about your new book, People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It. What kind of person should go out and buy this book?

Anyone who is brave enough to admit that they sometimes do stupid things that create stupid results in their lives. Anyone who is tired of just saying that they want more money, better health, better relationships and more success and are ready to actually achieve more of all of those things. Anyone who is willing to recognize that they are sabotaging their success and want to move past it.

While this is the most obnoxious title of any of my bestselling books, this is the most positive book of all in terms of giving the reader real how-to’s for turning their life around.

How did you get started in your current speaking/writing career and why do you think you’ve been so successful?

I have been speaking professionally for nearly twenty years but the last ten have been where I experienced the most success and when my books starting showing up. I have been successful because of my willingness to be authentic, call an idiot and idiot, admit my own failures and the lessons learned from those mistakes.

Add to that my willingness to step away from the pack of motivational bozos and tell people it takes more than a positive attitude to change your life. People are ready for a dose of reality and someone who won’t mince words. I’m that guy: A unique voice with a unique look and a unique message. Read Larry’s Blog

PT Money and Larry Winget Agree: Don’t Be a Financial Idiot!

Larry, I’m a big fan of your work on A&E’s Big Spender. I love your straight-forward approach to helping people with their finances. What have you found is the most common reason behind people’s inability to live within their means, and what’s the solution?

Your money always goes to what is most important to you. If looking cute is the most important thing to you, then your money will be spent at the mall. If having a financially secure future is the most important thing to you, then that is where your money will go. Stop saying what is important to you and instead investigate the truth by tracking your spending.

Just look at where you have been spending your money and you will know the truth about your priorities. At that point, set some new priorities and make sure that is where your energy and money go. None of this is that hard. However, 40% of society still spends more money than they make, that is stupid! So STOP THAT!

Larry, you’ve obviously seen great success with your career in personal development, both speaking and writing. What’s next? What can we expect from Larry Winget in 2009 and beyond?

You will see a lot more of me on television. I am in the process of working on a couple of new TV ventures that will show up soon. And there are two more books to be released in the next year. One is a “best of Larry” daily reminder type of book called, No Time For Tact and the other is a parenting book, called Stop Raising Stupid Kids. I’ll also continue to appear on stages around the world speaking to corporations and associations.

Bottom line: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

Larry Winget’s Other Books

Larry has also written, Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Better Life and You’re Broke Because You Want to Be.

If there’s a personal finance author you’d like me to interview, please contact me.

Book Winner Announcement and the Primetime QuickHits

PT — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:00:43 +0000

It’s time to announce the winner of my latest book giveaway. The winner of the advanced copy of How to Be the Family CFO: 4 Simple Steps to Put Your Financial House in Order, a book by Kim Snider, is…

Nick D.

Congratulations, Nick! I hope you enjoy the book. Thanks to everyone for participating. If you didn’t win this time, have no fear, there will be another book giveaway early next month.

QuickHits

Here’s a few other contests you can get in on:

2009 Financial Resolutions Blog Contest: Win a Free 6-Month Subscription to the Wall Street Journal @ Pecuniarities
Your Take: Your Best Money Saving Tip @ Blueprint for Financial Prosperity
Let’s Start Off 2009 With a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate! @ Your Money Relationship

Other Articles:

The 25 Most Helpful Articles Written by PF Bloggers @ Christian Personal Finance
Interview With Blogger And Certified Financial Planner Jeff Rose @ Bible Money Matters
Just Enough is Not Good Enough @ Free From Broke
Grocery Store Tactics That Get Us to Spend @ Milk Your Money
I Lost $1000 The Last 2 Days Somewhere Outside My House @ My Investing Blog
What is Frugality? @ Remodeling This Life
What Are Good Deals at Sam’s Club? @ Sense to Save
Home and Auto Insurance Best Rates @ Moolanomy
Student Loan’s Place in the Debt Snowball @ Frugal Dad
How to Save $10,000 in 2009 @ Your Money by Liz Weston
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Attending University @ Studenomics
As Long As You Can Make the Payments – You’re Fine @ The Happy Rock
I was in the Money Hacks Carnival last week.

Have a great day!

Book Giveaway: How to Be the Family CFO

PT — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:39 +0000

Book Giveaway

It’s time for another book giveaway. I’m giving away one advanced edition of How to Be the Family CFO: 4 Simple Steps to Put Your Financial House in Order, a book by Kim Snider. Read my review of How to Be the Family CFO.

Here’s a quote from my review of the book:

…overall the book is a great read and I would recommend it for its novel approach and broad coverage. Plus, if you desire to learn more on estate planning (and Kim Snider makes the case that anyone with kids should have one), it will provide much benefit.

How to Win a Copy of How to Be the Family CFO

You can win a copy of this book. This giveaway is only available to my subscribers, so subscribe today. Everyone who is subscribed by RSS feed or email subscription will see a secret code inside the feed or email that you need to email me to enter. If you don’t already have my email address, use my contact form.

I will announce the winner next Sunday, the 18th. U.S. residents only please. Good luck.