Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want

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Summary: She's So Right
Review: After reading through a few of the myths at the bookstore, I took the book home and read it in one sitting. Since then, I refer to it often, mostly in discussions with friends and family. Recently, a friend at work was contemplating the purchase of a house -- with dread. When I asked him why he didn't want to buy a house and yet was launching a search anyway, he said it was because he saw several other people at work his age buying homes, and thought it was "time." Well, I copied one of the chapters from this book and left it for him on his chair. He came to my office later offering profuse thanks. He wasn't going to buy a house, and he had this book to thank for it. He literally bounces around the office now, with the pressure of homeownership off, and a new sense of financial priorities in place. And that's the effect of just one myth, on just one person. Do you have to fund your retirement fully every year? Should you pay off your house early? Is a tax deduction a good reason to buy a home? Is a home a good investment? Is it an investment at all? Should you stay in an apartment for the rest of your life? The answers are in this book. They're accessible, relevant and enlightening. They may just change your views about your personal finances. Especially if they're all wrong.

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Summary: If only I would have read this book sooner ...
Review: In this era of financial planning "sound bytes" that arethrust upon us and the ever increasing skewed morals of what money"should" mean - it is quite refreshing to see someone step up to the plate and "Stop the Insanity". The extra baggage we all carry from the media's guilt driven "supermodel" of what we as a society should buy into is ridiculous at best. The myths that Ms. Ramsey outlines in her book ring true to me as I try to justify my life with or without money. It is a startling wakeup call that points out just what is WRONG with our entrenched philosophy of what money is for. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Ramsey's client stories and felt connected with their journey. An essential "Life" book that should be proudly displayed on your bookshelf as a reminder of why money shouldn't buy everything. Kudo's on Ms. Ramsey's website which cuts to the chase of planning your life with money.

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Summary: This book helped me think about making money work for me.
Review: Karen has done a great job of presenting the human side of spending and saving. This book has helped me to put money to work for me - for my particular needs and temperament. No longer do I need to look at saving and spending from just an investment standpoint. I can feel good as I weigh how my spending and saving feels to me. As a behavior consultant with children, I consider her advice to be sound for parents trying to teach their children how to save, spend and contribute to the world at large. What a fun and easy read!

Rating:
Summary: This book helped me think about making money work for me.
Review: This down-to-earth and refreshingly non-prescriptive book helps put the whole money issue in perspective. The author shows you how to question your existing assumptions and separate out common emotional responses to financial decision-making -- some of which may actually be preventing you from accomplishing your most cherished and deeply held goals in life! In addition to the sensible advice, the client stories add a lot of heart and depth. And I particularly appreciated the notion (explained in detail in the second section) that if you understand what your goals are, and clearly understand your spending habits, you'll change your behavior, not because you *should*, but because you *want to*, in order to make your dreams happen. This is a gift. Highly recommended. P.S. This author is a great speaker and if you get a chance to see her in person, jump at it. You'll be entertained and amused, and come away much wiser as well.