Book Reviews

Financial Intimacy Book Review

by Pam on May 22, 2010

Financial Intimacy: How To Create A Healthy Relationship With Your Money And Your Mate by Jacquette M. Timmons

Financial Intimacy is quite different from any other financially focused books I have read thus far. I discovered this new book in our local library database and I thought I would check it out.

I read it from cover to cover and found it interesting. The author first presents stories of several women from varying backgrounds, ethnicities, and income levels, and shows how their relationship to money affected their relationship with their mates.

The author points out throughout her book that a person’s relationship with money really dictates the rest of their lives. In fact, she suggests that it’s really not about money at all, but how you relate to money is really all about choices and lifestyle and beliefs. It’s important to note that most women want to feel taken care of and she refers to this as the “Prince Charming Effect”.
[click to read…]

Fight For Your Money – Full of Great Money Saving Tips

by Pam on October 4, 2009

Fight For Your Money: How To Stop Getting Ripped Off And Save A Fortune by David Bach

learn ways to save money by reading David Bach's Fight For Your Money David Bach’s book Fight For Your Money is a must read for anyone looking for smarter ways to use their money for traveling, car rentals, banking, car repairs, health insurance, and many other aspects of daily life. It’s easy to read and is organized by subject so you can easily find the information that interests you.

The book covers information on buying a home, mortgages, and remodeling and would be a good section to read if you are looking to buy or build a home in the near future. Bach also discusses topics surrounding credit such as your credit score, credit cards, and he also touches on identity theft.

If you are into cable TV or satellite TV, you will find Bach’s information useful. He discusses ways to save money on your cell phone service as well.

I especially enjoyed reading about his tips on traveling. He listed several websites that he recommended for finding good deals on airfare such as www.priceline.com and www.hotwire.com. He also advised travelers to ask a lot of questions as the airfare now has so many added fees for everything that it’s important to know what you are paying for.

For parents saving up for their children’s post secondary education, there is a very informative section about RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans) that Canadians will find useful. Bach provides tips on not being too conservative, and recommends that you start saving as early as possible instead of waiting until your children are older.

I highly recommend that you check out this book as it is informative, practical, and easy to understand. Bach uses everyday language to explain each topic and all the topics he discusses are relevant and timely. There’s something in this book that will interest everyone whether they are young or old.

I will likely be writing more articles around things I’ve gleamed from this book in the near future. Please share your thoughts on this book when you get the chance to read it.

Thrifty Fixes – Home Decorating Ideas That Will Fit Your Budget

by Pam on July 25, 2009

The Little Book of Thrifty Fixes For The Home by Bridget Bodoano

Thrifty Fixes is a really neat book. It takes about an hour to read the whole thing and it is jam- packed full of interesting tips on how to decorate your home without spending a lot of money. Especially right now when people are living on tight budgets, it’s a must-read for anyone looking for a reference book on home decorating.

The thing I like the most about this book is that it gives you practical advice on how to use what you already have around the house rather than encouraging you to go out and buy more! The theme is to do more with less and to not discount old furniture, lamps, etc, but to improve them instead. The author also provides tips on how to get the most for your money when you do purchase things for your home.

The author provides tips on everything from flooring to walls to storage. She discusses ways to make your room look larger and many other interesting topics. I liked the way she wrapped everything up by talking about ways to ensure your home is energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Here are just a few tips found in the book:

1. Smarten up your bathroom simply by buying matching towels. They can be purchased at large supermarkets and they don’t have to be expensive.

2. Economy furniture is often made of less material and can look skimpy, so when purchasing furniture, be sure to choose “robust and chunky” over thin and skimpy.

3. Don’t always buy the cheapest products as although it may solve current budget deficiencies, it could turn out to be a false economy. For instance, if you buy a sofa, consider its durability and how long you would like it to last.

4. Fashions come and go, so buy the classics that will outlast the fads.

5. Don’t worry if all of your pictures don’t match. Using a single style of frame will unify a mix of prints, paintings, and photographs.

Shameless Shortcuts – A Great Book of Ideas to Save You Money & Time

by Pam on June 13, 2009

Shameless Shortcuts: 1,027 Tips and Techniques That Help You Save Time, Save Money, and Save Work Every Day! Edited by Fern Marshall Bradley and the Editors of Yankee Magazine

Most of us don’t have a lot of extra time and money to waste, so when I heard about Shameless Shortcuts I decided to check it out. I am totally impressed with this book! It’s divided into 18 chapters each discussing a different theme.

Examples of some themes include:

“Shop Smart, Shop Fast” , ”Don’t Forget To Exercise”, ”Going Places Without Going Crazy”, ”Managing the Morning Madness”, ”Great Garden Shortcuts”, and ”Hassle-Free Holidays All Year Round”.

As you can see from some of the chapter titles above, the book discusses a wide range of topics compiled by experts from various fields. There are some great tips for getting exercise, for cooking quick and healthy meals, for yard work and landscaping, and much more. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for ways to save time and money.

Here are just a few tips in this book to get you started:

-When shopping at a garage sale, don’t act disinterested or you won’t get the best price, because the seller won’t know that you might be receptive to a better offer than the listed price. Just tell the vendor what you are looking for and if they don’t have it they may be able to steer you towards someone who does.

-If you are sick and tired of having to remove snow from your vehicle windshield, all you need to do is drape a heavy-duty garbage bag over your entire windshield and hold it in place by closing the front doors on the edges. If you do this before every forecasted snowstorm you will never have to brush off your windshield again.

-Spray your dog’s paws with cooking spray before taking your dog for a walk in the ice and snow. It will provide a protective coating and keep snow and ice from accumulating between the toes.

Save Money & Make Your Home Safe – Read Organic Housekeeping

by Pam on June 1, 2009

Read Organic Housekeeping Organic Housekeeping: In Which the Non-Toxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family, While You Save Time, Money, and, Perhaps, Your Sanity by Ellen Sandbeck

Have you ever stopped to think about the cleaning products you use around the house? Or about the chemicals you use on your lawn to get rid of those nasty dandelions? Believe it or not, a lot of the products we use are highly toxic, and some have been known to cause cancer and other health problems. If you are interested in learning about alternatives to these toxic products, check out Organic Housekeeping.

Organic Housekeeping is full of great ideas for keeping your home clean and poison -free. There are tons of tips on food preparation, cleaning, landscaping, and a whole lot more. The author provides expert advice on how to prevent fungi, mold and mildew from growing in your home, as well as provides fire prevention and safety tips. The book is easy to read and somewhat humorous, too, which makes it interesting as well as informational. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning about keeping your home clean and safe through the use of primarily organic products. A lot of the tips found in Organic Housekeeping will save you money and time, too, which is an added bonus.

To give you an idea of the type of information found in this book, here are some excerpts:

-”Fatty foods such as cheeses and meats will absorb some of the plasticizers from plastic wrap and plastic bags. If you want to minimize your exposure to these chemicals, when you bring your groceries home, remove the plastic packaging and wrap all your cheeses and meats in freezer paper or waxed paper before putting them in a plastic bag or container.”

-”Don’t buy precooked lunch meats, cooked shellfish, or smoked fish that are displayed in the same case as raw fish or meat. The cooked food may have become contaminated by the raw meat.”

-”Many common foods can double as cleaning products. Vinegar, salt, baking soda, lemons, cabbage leaves, potatoes, mayonnaise, olive oil, apple peels, ketchup, and vodka can all be used for cleaning. If it’s safe to eat, it’s certainly safe to clean with!”