Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees

Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees
Average customer rating:

A helpful beginning

Wonderful Book

Real advice that works!

A valuable book from day one

THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED IS CONTAINED HEREIN...

Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt!: Phone Calls to Banks That Saved More Than $43,000 in Interest Charges and Fees
Scott Bilker
Manufacturer: Press One Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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How to Settle Your Debts

Credit Card Debt:

How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously*: *(Based on the Proven Principles and Techniques of Debtors Anonymous)

To Pay or Not to Pay: Insider Secrets to Beating Credit Card Debt and Creditors

How to Be More Credit Card and Debt Smart (Volume 1): Powerful Financial Management Strategies for Saving Money on Your Credit Cards and Debt!

ASIN: 0964840154

Book Description

Learning how to talk your way out of credit card debt is the quickest, easiest, and most efficient way to start saving money!

It's true! You can call your credit card banks to negotiate a better interest rate and have fees waived! However, it may not be as easy as picking up the phone and asking. That's because bank representatives are trained to deter you from pursuing the deals you deserve. Overcoming their tactics can be difficult when you don't know what to expect.

Scott Bilker, author of Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt, and creator of DebtSmart.com, has spent 10+ years making banks compete for his business. Now, he's sharing his personal phone calls to banks that saved more than $43,000 for himself, his family, and friends! These 52 phone calls, out of the hundreds he has made, demonstrate exactly what worked, what didn't, and why. In each call transcript, for anonymity, banks have been renamed as dog breeds and their reps as bugs.:)

In this book you will discover proven negotiation strategies, and build your confidence, while learning how to: (1) get annual fees waived; (2) lower your current interest rates; (3) shop for the best credit card deals; (4) get late-payment, overlimit, and cash-advance fees waived; (5) compare loan options and calculate savings; (6) dispute charges and get all your refunds; (7) negotiate account settlements; and much more!

Customer Reviews:

A helpful beginning.......2007-08-31

I bought this and then returned it. While I think it would be helpful for many people, it was not as focused (in my opinion) for people over their heads.

Wonderful Book.......2006-08-31

This book is simply amazing! I had previously used some of the techniques Scott teaches, but other things he tells you to do blew my mind! The things Scott talks about are easy to do AND can save you a TON of money! I would highly recommend the book to anyone with ANY amount of credit card debt, or even if you have NO credit card debt.

Real advice that works!.......2005-08-12

I am in the same field as Scott, and have recommended his book countless times to consumers. With credit card companies raising rates, fees, etc. his advice could not be more timely.

I just interviewed Scott today (8/11/05) on my EverydayWealth Radio program on [...] and he told me how he just got a 10 month old late fee waived! That's practically unheard of.

I can't recommend Scott's book highly enough. You'll easily recoup many times the price of the book if you implement his suggestions.

A valuable book from day one.......2004-05-15

I was shopping for a book that would help me with the credit card debt I have accumulated. I chose this book. It has proven to be very bemeficial to me. It contains a large amount of information your banks don't want you to know. My first night of reading the book, I got up to about page 70 and made my first phone call, with the intent of gaining information about the account and possibly getting a fee reversed. I ended up getting a $50 credit to the account, relatively easily. I cannot praise this book enough! If you need to reduce your credit card debt, this book may very well be your solution.

THE CONFIDENCE YOU NEED IS CONTAINED HEREIN..........2003-12-25

I had the same problem most of you reading this have. But after reading this book from cover to cover, I was awashed with a new vigor and confidence to launch a strategic war of words with the credit card telephone handlers. As you read thru the transcripts of the author's actual calls, picture yourself talking on the phone with the same savvy as he. Then close the book, put up your over charged, over penalized, and over interest rated bill and MAKE CALLS! Show them that you are taking CONTROL of your finances and relish the experience of sticking up for yourself.

Money Talks: How to Make a Million as a Speaker

Average customer rating:

The truth about the speaking business
Concepts As Good Now as Then
It's Great, You'll Love It
Great book for speakers
Helpful suggestions about publicity for speaking engagements

Money Talks: How to Make a Million as a Speaker
Alan Weiss
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Speak and Grow Rich
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Get Slightly Famous: Become a Celebrity in Your Field and Attract More Business with Less Effort

ASIN: 0070696152

Book Description

When it comes to speaking for big money, bestselling author Alan Weiss knows what he's talking about. Popular on the pro circuits, he details all the steps on how to go from free speaking to big-fee speaking. Using examples, tips, and checklists, he shows how to target markets, develop speeches, set fees, improve platform skills, use the tools, expand business, fashion a "star" image, and gain personal as well as financial satisfaction. Included is a resource section of books, tapes, Web sites, and other aids.

Customer Reviews:

The truth about the speaking business.......2007-05-21

A friend of mine loaned me this book and I started reading it. By the time I got to the 3rd chapter, I went ahead and ordered it of off Amazon!

No B.S., no sugar-coating it. Just the facts about how to make serious money in the speaking business. What you should do and what you should NOT do (sometime even more important).

The yin and yang of the speaking world would be Speak & Grow Rich by Dottie Walters and Money Talks by Alan Weiss. Both coming from different directions, but both equally as important.

Get it!

Concepts As Good Now as Then.......2007-04-18

Alan Weiss knows his stuff, and delivers it in an accessible and straightforward package. Never one to sugarcoat, his advice to speakers centers on marketing more than delivery. If you are looking into the business of speaking, this book is for you. If you want to become a better speaker, this book is only 'sort of' good for you. But its definitely good for your audiences.

It's Great, You'll Love It.......2007-01-14

Alan is the real deal. He tells it straight. He's really interesting (just like his talks). Read the other reviews--as they capture my experience that this is a great book for those who want to improve every facit of their professional speaking experience. If you're serious, buy the book. If you're not, re-read the other reviews again....until you 'get it'.

Bill Wiersma
Author--The Big AHA

Great book for speakers.......2006-03-21

As a new speaker I purchased this book to add to my collection and it's one of the top books. Weiss holds no punches and just gets real. Not alot of fluff and some wonderful recommendations to continue to help me to think like a speaker. I read the book in one night. I recommend buying this book and Speak and Grow Rich by Dottie Walkters and Lilly Walters to read together. The both give excellent insight into the world of speaking.

Helpful suggestions about publicity for speaking engagements.......2006-03-19

This book had many helpful suggestions about publicity for speaking engagements. Weiss seems to have made high dollar lifestyle from speaking, and leading workshops. He comes across as arrogant and opinionated, but the book is full of good ideas of where to look for speaking engagements, and make top dollars in the business.

Serious Money, Straight Talk About Investing for Retirement

Average customer rating:

Smart Money
A great book to help the non-professional invest
Sound, practical, reader-friendly investment advice.

Serious Money, Straight Talk About Investing for Retirement
Richard A. Ferri
Manufacturer: Portfolio Solutions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0967294304

Book Description

SERIOUS MONEY is a down to earth investment book that is a must read for anyone saving for retirement.

Armed with extensive research and his own professional experience, Richard Ferri dismantles the illusion that stockbrokers, financial planners, and other Wall Street "experts" offer superior investment advice. Ferri finds that most of the investments sold in the mass market consist of high cost products that deliver below average returns. Ferri further explains how index funds and other low cost, low tax investments lead to greater wealth at retirement.

Serious Money is a thoughtful and thorough guidebook that cuts through the clutter and provides genuinely useful advice. It will save you time, money, and headaches.

Customer Reviews:

Smart Money.......2000-04-25

Excellent book with practical, easy to follow advice minus the financial jargon. Mr. Ferri explains financial concepts in a simple, straightforward style and walks the reader through steps to develop a sound, well thought out financial plan. I'd highly recommend this book!

A great book to help the non-professional invest.......2000-02-04

This book was well-written, easy to follow, and really helped explain how to invest your money. Although I read a lot on investing, this book provided a lot of new and enlightening information. Mr. Ferri's book is a must and will really help you invest your money profitably.

Sound, practical, reader-friendly investment advice........2000-02-04

How can investors in stocks gain the investment knowledge needed to plan for retirement? Serious Money covers everything from considering the pros and cons of diversifying a mutual fund portfolio to developing a logical investment style based on real returns rather than dreams. Chapters outline Ferri's particular style of investing and reflect the author's background as a stock broker and financial advisor.

No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide: Straight Talk on Jobs, Money, Balance, Life, and More

Average customer rating:

No More Ramen Review- Nicole Walker, Penn State University
A MUST READ!
Perfect
Oodles of Noodles
Great resource, don't wait!

No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide: Straight Talk on Jobs, Money, Balance, Life, and More
Nicholas Aretakis
Manufacturer: Next Stage Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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How To Get Into the Top MBA Programs, 4th Edition (How to Get Into the Top Mba Programs)

ASIN: 0977622401

Book Description

Based on 200 interviews with students at colleges and technical schools across the nation, this advice book identifies the biggest concerns and stumbling blocks associated with entering the workforce. Presented in a question-and-answer format—and interspersed with interactive exercises and personal stories from the interviewees—topics include job hunting, pursuing an advanced degree, goal setting, managing money, choosing a health care plan, defining success, and finding happiness. The final chapter culminates in "My Eleven 'Must-Knows,'" and the author's reassuring message that today's 20-somethings are no more uncertain than previous generations, and have all the necessary potential to achieve their dreams for the future.

Customer Reviews:

No More Ramen Review- Nicole Walker, Penn State University.......2007-09-30

Nicole Walker
Senior, 20 years old
Pennsylvania State University

I have to say, I was a little skeptical in reading a book entitled "No More Ramen". It wasn't exactly seeming like it would be very informative but boy was I wrong. I picked up this book and couldn't put it down. It was extremely insightful and surprised me with how true everything in the book was. Nicholas Aretakis takes complicated subjects that are plaguing all of us college age students such as budgets, graduation, work, interviews, co-workers, investing and other topics that most of us are clueless about, and gives advice on how to handle it. The book is also written so it's very easy to read. It's written in a no B.S. style and he really tells it how it is. It includes numerous charts and spreadsheets that will help you map out your goals and plans and even sample charts on how to set up a budget and start investing. He provides answers to questions such as: "How can I get what I want out of life? How do I balance work, family, and fun? How do I gain financial independence? How do I keep myself on track? Why does it feel so overwhelming to be a 20 something heading out into the real world?" These questions and many more are all answered in this book and I really gained valuable insight.

As a graduating senior I'm in the process of looking for a job, planning my future, figuring out how to pay for everything, and planning to live on my own which can be a scary thing but this book definitely give some good guidelines to help get you started so you don't flounder once you leave the safety net world of college. I know I have a ton of questions that I'm sure I wont know the answer to until I actually have to experience them but this book definitely gave me a head's up on how to handle those situations.

Even though this book is geared to 20 something's, I really believe a person of any age could benefit from this book because it speaks to a lot of different topics and concerns that even some 30 and 40 year olds haven't quite gotten the hang of yet. Nicholas Aretakis went cross country and interviews thousands of 20 something's and compiled and analyzed all the data and turned it into this book in an easy to understand format. It really lets you know that you're not the only one panicking and having problems but that a majority of the rest of the youth of the country has the same worries and anxieties that you have. At the end of the book there is the chapter entitled "My 11 Must knows" where he gives a sweeping overview of the book and his last words of advice and he does a fantastic job condensing all the information. He says that there are 4 qualities that make up a happy and balanced life: Freedom, Accomplishment, Money, and Enjoyment. Nicholas Aretakis takes them 4 pillars and explains ways throughout the book on how to achieve them. I very highly recommend this to be on every 20 something's bookshelf and maybe even their parents' bookshelves because it truly is a very useful and insightful book to read. Well done Mr. Aretakis.

A MUST READ!.......2007-09-30

Penn State, Stephanie Kirkpatrick, September 26, 2007

As I was creating my resume to go to the upcoming career fair, I was confused about what I was going to do. I was confused and thought I was the only one going through this pain. So I turned to No More Ramen. The title may sound funny, and ironic that I would read it because I actually enjoy eating a cup of ramen, but it was really a guide to help me with the job-search process. It gave me hope because I was not the only college senior who was trying to find myself. The author, Nicholas Aretakis recognizes all of the struggles there are in not only trying to find that first job, but also finding a career that will bring enjoyment to life. He realizes there is struggle between personal and professional goals.

Aretakis once a 20-something year old himself, used his experiences to answer hundreds of questions that young adults think about when they enter into the real world. He includes self-check lists to guide in important decisions such as rating the employer, rent vs. buy, and the interview prep form. He also includes all the little things including: appearance, first impressions are vital, practice your handshake, email, phone, and voicemail etiquette, importance of insurance, negotiating salary, and living with the parents.

No More Ramen is a must read for every "confused" 20-something year old that is trying to find where they fit into the real world. I recommend every college student read it and use it as a reference as they go through their journey into the next stage of life.

[...].

Perfect.......2007-09-24

This is the book your looking for. I am a recent college grad and finding this book helped me so much. It really is the guide to life after college or at a turning point in your kinda adult life. The author of the book did a great job with his website that supports the book and he even takes the time to write back to you with questions. If you ever felt like you dont understand life, when you just been given a degree and prised by many for your work, dont worry, this book shows you, that your not alone.

This is one book I will let a friend borrow but make sure I get back.

-David Sergi

Oodles of Noodles.......2007-09-18

Ramen noodles, or "oodles of noodles" as my family calls them, are a staple food for college students. As the author of "No More Ramen" suggests, the goal of most students is to reach that point in their life where it is no longer necessary to eat ramen noodles. This so-called "self-help" book contains the critical information, advice, and resources essential to elevating one's status from a struggling, ramen-eating college student to a successful, goal-achieving, filet mignon-eating adult. No More Ramen teaches life-lessons that you can not and will not learn in the classroom. Aside from the book being an easy, useful read, it is eye-opening to real world questions that all college students have about topics such as budgets, job interviews, office etiquette, goal-setting, and others. Another key aspect of No More Ramen is that it is current; the author, Nicholas Aretakis, references many situations and celebrity figures that are relative to the 20-, 30-, and even 40-year age groups. As a senior in college myself, I would suggest No More Ramen as a necessary read for any college student to prepare for and focus on the fast approaching "real world," but the book offers tools - spreadsheets, resources, and tips - that will be highly useful when I actually enter the "real world' in order to maintain my goals, stay focused, budget my money, and organize my time. Whether or not you enjoy self-help topics and whether or not you are preparing for the "real world," No More Ramen is a must read for anyone who wants to be successful and reach their own potential.

Great resource, don't wait!.......2007-08-29

No More Ramen is an excellent resource for college students preparing to enter the "real world." However, it may seem like an ideal gift for a recent college grad but I believe No More Ramen would be most helpful to students still in school, specifically those beginning the second half of their college career when things tend to start getting serious and the future becomes more of a realistic concern. Of all the topics Aretakis addresses in the book, I found the section "I Don't Know Jack About Money" to be the most valuable considering many college students may never encounter budgeting, retirement plans, or insurance policies in their courses while in school. All in all, No More Ramen is a valuable tool for students ready to get serious about life after college.

Take Charge of Your Financial Future: Straight Talk on Managing Your Money from the Financial Analyst Who Defied Donald Trump

Average customer rating:

Clarity and Honesty in Investing

Take Charge of Your Financial Future: Straight Talk on Managing Your Money from the Financial Analyst Who Defied Donald Trump
Marvin B. Roffman , and Michael J. Schwager
Manufacturer: Carol Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life

ASIN: 0806517182

Customer Reviews:

Clarity and Honesty in Investing.......2007-02-02

This book is simply the most complete, clearest, and most honest of any I have read (about 40) on investing.

Average customer rating:

Barbara Kruger: Money Talks
Lisa Phillips , and Barbara Kruger
Manufacturer: Skarstedt Fine Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0970909047
Release Date: 2005-01-02

Book Description

It's "Business as Usual" in Kruger-land, and the artist's familiar text and found image montages still wallop a stinging punch. Her appropriated photographs and provocative text, with their confrontational graphic nature reminiscent of Dada collage and photomontage, address cultural representations of power, identity, and sexuality in the most charged of visual languages. Though the work collected here was made in the 1980s, it has unfortunatley not lost any of its relevance. Big business still rules the world and money still talks. Haliburton, anyone? Political bribery? Advertising prostitution? Money Talks is the first publication to bring together a thematic grouping of Kruger's work, and the subject chosen couldn't be more apt, not only because of current politics and economic realities, but also because it's the subject Kruger has repeatedly returned to most potently.

Option Talk: Puts and Calls for the Series 7

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Option Talk: Puts and Calls for the Series 7
Daniel M. Marrs
Manufacturer: Series 7 Specialists LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

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Series 7 Exam For Dummies (For Dummies (Career/Education))

ASIN: 0977446204
Release Date: 2005-10-19

Product Description

Option Talk shows how to successfully complete options questions prospective stockbrokers face on their licensing exam, the NASD Series 7. The book uses conversational tones as it covers options, step-by-step. Each idea is illustrated. Tools are developed which allow the Series 7 candidate to remove all guesswork in arriving at correct options test question answers. Although the book focuses on core competencies required to pass the licensing exam, its easy to read style will provide a potential options investor with a firm knowledge of how options strategies work and why. The book offers no timing or trading models, focusing instead on the characteristics, risks, potential returns, breakevens, applications, etc. of various strategies. Recommended for anyone who needs to take the Series 7, or for prospective options traders who want a better understanding of the core workings and parameters of listed options.

The Money Shot: Trash, Class, and the Making of TV Talk Shows

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Read if you're curious what's real & what's fake
Going Back Stage
Television Talk and Blow-by-Blow Commentary

The Money Shot: Trash, Class, and the Making of TV Talk Shows
Laura Grindstaff
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0226309118

Book Description

He leaped from his chair, ripped off his microphone, and lunged at his ex-wife. Security guards rushed to intercept him. The audience screamed, then cheered. Were producers concerned? Not at all. They were getting what they wanted: the money shot.

From "classy" shows like Oprah to "trashy" shows like Jerry Springer, the key to a talk show's success is what Laura Grindstaff calls the money shot—moments when guests lose control and express joy, sorrow, rage, or remorse on camera. In this new work, Grindstaff takes us behind the scenes of daytime television talk shows, a genre focused on "real" stories told by "ordinary" people. Drawing on extensive interviews with producers and guests, her own attendance of dozens of live tapings around the country, and more than a year's experience working on two nationally televised shows, Grindstaff shows us how producers elicit dramatic performances from guests, why guests agree to participate, and the supporting roles played by studio audiences and experts.

Grindstaff traces the career of the money shot, examining how producers make stars and experts out of ordinary people, in the process reproducing old forms of cultural hierarchy and class inequality even while seeming to challenge them. She argues that the daytime talk show does give voice to people normally excluded from the media spotlight, but it lets them speak only in certain ways and under certain rules and conditions. Working to understand the genre from the inside rather than pass judgment on it from the outside, Grindstaff asks not just what talk shows can tell us about mass media, but also what they reveal about American culture more generally.

Customer Reviews:

Read if you're curious what's real & what's fake.......2005-06-15

I found this book very informative, and it answered my many questions about the truth behind talk shows. The author presents the industry from all angles, from studio audience to home audience to guests to producers. The only drawback is that I found some parts of the book overloaded with "big words" that are not necessary, and are distracting from the substance of the book. For example: "Such practices do not guarantee fireworks and drama, but they help because they locate the potential for dramatic interaction in the strategic juxtaposition of participants rather than (or in addition to) individual performative competence." I consider myself to be fairly skilled when it comes to vocabulary, but I found myself having to reread paragraphs on many occasions. If you're genuinely interested in the topic of talk shows, as I was, it will probably be worth your while to read. It will probably answer all of your questions, if you're willing to pluck the answers out from behind the excess wording.

Going Back Stage.......2002-10-23

I am, unabashedly, a talk show junkie. At some level my interest is undeniably scatalogical. Still, as a sociologist, my real fascination is with the culture of such programming and its impact upon American culture. Grindstaff's ethnographic exploration of two American talk shows answers many of my questions about how such programs are produced (the mechanics), the people involved ('ordinary' guests, 'expert' guests, those working behind the scenes, and the hosts), and offers insight into why we are hooked on this type of spectacle. Her treatment of the subject and those involved is even handed and avoids the obvious pitfalls of stereotyping and villifying.

For those interested in popular culture, American ethnography, issues of authenticity, and cultural studies, Grindstaff's text should find its way to your bookshelf ASAP.

Television Talk and Blow-by-Blow Commentary.......2002-08-24

Grindstaff has produced an excellent book exposing the underbelly of daytime talk show production. Her profuse detail gathered through extensive ethnographic fieldwork pays off in an effective account explaining the production process associated with the talk show. We see how the offbeat topics are formulated, guests recruited, and production secured on numerous talk show episodes. We are taken behind the scenes and understand that it is a small miracle that the television format manages to survive on a daily basis. The writing is precise and the volume is well annotated.
A fan of these talk shows will gain greater appreciation of how the process is structured and the impact upon producers, talk show guests, and studio audience members. This is a magnificent analysis that should be read by everyone curious about the talk show phenomenon.

Let's Talk Money: Your Complete Personal Finance Guide

Average customer rating:

If you are buying one financial book this year, this is it.
A personal financial guide that's like talking to friend
Let's Talk Money
A must read for people getting their act together...
A simple and easy to follow "how to" for financial security

Let's Talk Money: Your Complete Personal Finance Guide
Dee Lee , and David Caruso
Manufacturer: Chandler House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1886284407

Book Description

In Let's Talk Money, readers get the same top financial advice sought by the national press. The book's authors comment regularly in The Wall Street Journal, Money, Fortune, Forbes, Smart Money, and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. The reason? They give easy answers to tough money questions in a breezy conversational style that covers everything you must know, should know and want to know about managing your money - from the basics of figuring net worth to the details of estate tax planning.

Customer Reviews:

If you are buying one financial book this year, this is it........2003-04-22

As a practicing Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chairman of the Financial Planning Association of MA, I am asked quite often to recommend a book that touches on one's finances without being too technical or boring. "Let's Talk Money" does the job better than any other book I have come across. (And believe me, I've read and reviewed more than you can imagine). This book touches on a variety of topics that effect 99% of the public. Sure there may be books with catchier titles like..."How I made a million dollars in 3 weeks" but if you are looking for real practical advice that's actually fun to read, this book can't be beat.

A personal financial guide that's like talking to friend.......2000-05-07

I happen to be a Certified Financial Planner licensee, and one component of my business is educating employees of corporations across the country on a variety of personal finance subjects. During, or at the conclusion of workshops, I am often asked by employees to recommend a good book that will assist them with taking control, or learning more about personal finance. Until now I never felt there was one particular book that actually approached and explained the subjects in a way most people can relate and would motivate them to learn more. Most other personal finance books, though they may be comprehensive, are dry and aren't written in a style people who are not in the profession can relate to. This is not the case with Let's Talk Money! Its nice to have a book that I can strongly recommend. Kudos to the authors!

Let's Talk Money.......2000-04-07

What a wonderful book! The structure is such that you can read it straight through or just reference a particular area of interest. It is so easy to read, too. Not something usually attributed to a Financial book!

I would recommend this book to novices and savvy financial people alike. For the novice, it is a wonderful guide to getting started. Many people feel overwhelmed when veiwing their personal financial lives, asking "where do I start"? This book will get you started in a very straighforward manner and then give you great tips for how to proceed.

At the same time, Let's Talk Money is very helpful for people who are more fiancially savvy. It serves as a reminder of things they should do, may give them some new ideas, and serve as a reference guide going forward.

Either way, this is a must read! I enjoyed it immensely!

A must read for people getting their act together..........2000-04-06

I am not someone who wants to spend hours on end figuring out how to make my money work for me. Being a single mom, I need the facts and easy steps to get me through how to make my family stable. Chapters 1 - 4 made things simple and easy for me to figure out where I was and what action I needed to take next.

A simple and easy to follow "how to" for financial security.......2000-04-04

As a financial planner, I often browse the bookstore section on financial planning to see what is offered. This section has exploded, as financial planning seems to have become the hot topic in this age of growing retirement funds and stock options. How does the buyer in need of help choose the right book from so many? The answer is Let's Talk Money: Your Complete Personal Finance Guide by Dee Lee and David Caruso. This book is different.

Most books on financial planning talk about what the consumer should do, with a lot of theories about how to manage money. The consumer still does not know where to start or what to do next. This book goes beyond theory and provides a road map, with checklists and easy to use forms. The organization of the book allows the buyer to use any section independently to solve a financial problem or to use the whole book to put a game plan in place. It is this versatility that makes it a great resource for the financially confused.

This is also a book written by practicing financial planners, and it shows. The authors used their experience with clients to answer the most commonly asked questions and to provide clear and easy to follow solutions. All in all, this is a book for anyone trying to make sense of the many financial decisions that we all face today.

Cheap Talk with the Frugal Friends: Over 600 Tips, Tricks, and Creative Ideas for Saving Money
Average customer rating:

Useful at moments but mostly tacky

Cheap or tacky?

Good information, new ideas

Don't agree with knothead11

Useful, but lacking.

Cheap Talk with the Frugal Friends: Over 600 Tips, Tricks, and Creative Ideas for Saving Money
Angie Zalewski
Manufacturer: Starburst Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

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ASIN: 1892016583

Book Description

A collection of the very best tips and tricks for stretching the family dollar from celebrity thrifters.

Customer Reviews:

Useful at moments but mostly tacky.......2007-06-26

I checked this book out at my local library and I'm glad that I did. That meant that I didn't spend a dime on it (very frugal, by the way)!

I found the section on grocery shopping useful but that was about all. While there were some gems to be mined here and there, overall the book reminded me over and over again that frugality can easily slide into miserliness over time. Not only was the virtue of dumpster diving extolled but the authors seemed to expend more energy in pursing questionable bargains than those bargains seemed to warrant. For instance, if someone decides to go dumpster diving behind the local Sears, you might find something, but is it worth it to get all nasty and dirty, subject yourself to discovery and subsequent loss of dignity, all for the mere chance of snatching a free pair of half melted Nikes? I think that while pondering the art of being frugal, the authors should have included the cost in energy and time versus the product they hope to gain.

I give this one two stars for its section on grocery shopping and the other two or three suggestions I found useful. As for the rest, it was either bad (dumpster diving at a frat house..are you just looking for a drunk, beardless youth to humiliate you?) or else it was all advice you would know from either being alive or having read anything in the last ten years.

Cheap or tacky?.......2003-06-23

I was looknig for tips on saving money and found mostly common sense items and a few downright tacky suggestions. You can be frugal without being tacky. While some of the ideas are great for people with a lot of time on their hands, time is money also and if it takes you all day to make homemade fruit snacks, what are you really saving?

Good information, new ideas.......2003-01-20

Cheap talk was full of good ideas that I had not heard or thought of before. I had been reading alot on frugality lately and was glad to finally get a book with some fresh, useful ideas. Borrow it from your local library today!(being frugal are we are)

Don't agree with knothead11.......2002-11-08

I don't agree with the review knothead11 wrote. She (or he) stated a couple suggestions that may not be very useful (for her). I believe this book is loaded with many valueable bits of information and great ideas in saving money. Not all ideas are for everyone. Everyone has different levels of thriftiness, and if you are very frugal, you may have already learned many of the tips in this book. However, I believe the higher percentage of people truly need this book and will find a great deal of the Frugal Friends tips very very useful.

Useful, but lacking........2002-06-22

I found this book quite useful and helpful in certain respects, but in some areas, I would question the practicality and truthfulness of the authors' claims. For instance, in the 'Beauty on a Budget' section, one of the tips is that no beauty products can prevent or reduce signs of ageing. While I understand that many beauty products on the market probably do not do all that they promimse, I do think that good moisterizers will go a long way in preventing ageing. The authors also say that it is not necessary to buy a separate moisterizer for face and body, but I have found that body moisterizers are often too rich for faces, and often cause breakouts and greasiness. I also expected to find help on issues that were not covered -- utility bills, for one, are a place where I would have welcomed tips on saving money.

I found the sections on buying food and household cleaners to be very helpful.

Be warned that if you're already pretty thrifty, this book probably won't change your life.

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