Rating: 
Summary: Bought a car for 60% less!
Review: We purchased a luxury (1997 BMW) automobile for a fraction of a new (and nearly exact) model.Following the advice in Financial Self Defense, we set up a 36 month financing plan with our local credit union. We also said no to all the gimmicky junk like extended warranty and credit life.Further, as advised in Financial Self Defense, we sold our old car ourselves in lieu of trading it in.We took the profits and invested in no load mutuals.Great strategies.
Rating:
Summary: I almost missed it
Review: When I first heard of Charles J. Givens, I quickly dismissed him as a "get rich quick con man." Here was this handsome multi-millionaire with a beauty contest winner wife had the most popular tv show in America and practilly owned the NY Times best seller list for nearly 4 years with blockbuster after blockbuster books. It simply sounded too good to be true.Then somebody handed me this tape "Financial Self-Defense" and I decided to try some of the techniques only to prove how wrong my friend was and save her from losing her money. Lo and behold I found the advice by Givens actually worked. But I was still skeptical. After all I was a student of personal finance. I read the news magazines and the books by Tobias, Silvia Porter and Anita Van Gaspel, the only visible financial authors other than Givens. But I was also willing to be corrected and was in for a major financial awakening. I found that I had been getting the wrong advice by so called "professionals" like people who sell you certain products. It never occurred to me that these guys get extra money based on incentives and commissions. Seriously, is it to their advantage to show you how to cut your life, auto and homeowners insurance? Does the loan officer at the bank benefit if you make small extra principal payments on your mortgage and pay your mortgage loan off in half the time? The answer of couorse is no. I almost missed the opportunity to turn my financial life around. My friend is doing quite well too with a paid off mortgage, rental properties, mutuals, tax liens, discounted mortgages and other investments all purchased with the savings from reading Financial Self-Defense and More Wealth without Risk. For me it all started with this tape. Thank God my friend shared it with me. And thank God for Charles J. Givens!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful!
Review: Where do I begin? I had a tiny, home-based business at the time, when I bought this book. I lived in a tiny house in a miserable Northern State that I will not mention. At that time, 10 years ago,I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing when it came to my money. I needed serious help! 10 years ago, I bought this book. This book, along with Charles Givens other books, "Wealth without risk" and "MORE Wealth Without Risk" have been my financial bibles for the past 10 years. Along with my own hard work and determination, my business has grown substantially and these books have seriously played a role as a building block for what I now have today. A beautiful home and a pool in sunny, tropical FL. My dream life and dream home. I cannot believe this book is out of print! I still refer to this book today. A few of the topics are outdated for 2000 but the overall message is unavoidable and timeless! "Financial Self Defense...Financial freedom" is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. It simply covers the financial basics in simple English and is well written. I am guilty of a short attention span and the chapters of "Financial Freedom", "Wealth Without Risk" and "More Wealth Without Risk" are short and to-the-point. Everything from uncrupulous car dealer and life insurance schemes to advice on taking business deductions. I have learned from this book! Scads of simple, down-to-earth answers to common questions you were afraid to admit that you did not know. Alternately, in my opinion, Givens lost his steam with "Super Self". I bought it and was wholley disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Don't think you're too young!
Review: Wow, what a read. As a mid-twenty, married, father of two, I owe it to my family as the leader of my household to prepare myself for the long road ahead. This book lays out the route you'll want to take once you venture into areas such as buying cars, homes and all types of insurance, including the afor mentioned. EDUCATE yourselves while your young and not too far behind the eight ball. I praise God for being so patient through those times of both spiritual and financial ignorance, and not allowing me to sink too far into debt. Looking back in hind-sight, I see that it's so true what the Bible says about your finaces being under a curse, when, as believer, you're not obedient to the Lord. This book has been a real blessing to me so far and I'm sure it will be to you as well. Another very insightful read is, "The Millionaire Next Door". Peace to you and God Bless!!!
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