Customer Reviews

Are You Being Seduced into Debt?: Break Free and Build a Financially Secure Future

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I almost didn't consider a review, but in my online research for info about Mr. John Cummuta, I found this link and recalled I could submit a review -and felt the obligation; I ordered the course he offers, so I am guessing that the book here is in the course -or is very similar to it, so my review of his course will give you an idea of how the book is. (I did online research to see what was up with his course and if I should return it & get my money back or keep it.)

Anyhow, some "oldie but goodie" ideas include the simple but reliable adage to NOT be in debt. Mr. Cummuta tells the reader (or listener in my case; I had CD's) early on that you gotta cut up that credit card. He makes his case well, and as a person who has used credit cards successfully for many years, in college and since, I say from experience: He is right. Most of the time, I had not problems with using my credit card, but recently some emergencies have pushed my balance up to about 5,000 dollars, and let me tell you: The interest of about $50.oo per month is eating me up because (as I'm sure you know) you don't pay on the principal owed until AFTER you've paid that interest.

Suffice it to say that he is right. After he makes his case, he casually mentions another wise man, Solomon, the author of Proverbs, whose proverbs caution the reader to NOT be in debt. (Yes, I was surprised to here him quote the Bible, even as a person who believes in it, but he is right, and he is careful to acknowledge that some people might have different religious beliefs. He is careful to not offend the reader, but merely offer this as supplemental info for the curious; He does well here!)

The elimination of credit card debt is not the only thing he has to offer, but there were new things in his packet (which may or may not be in this particular book; I don't know). He lists four (4) different ways to supplement your income, and is careful to admit that these are NOT "get rich quick" methods. The four he lists are: #1, An intro to e-bay and online auctions; #2, buying & renting residential real estate (the "landlord" thing); #3, Creating & marketing information products; and, #4, Online affiliate marketing business (that is, click-able referrers on your website).

Those were a refreshing addition which stimulated my imagination, but the **main** focus he makes is to pay off your debts in a "logical" fashion, prioritizing the "most important" debt first. He shows the reader how you divide the balance by the minimum payment that the creditor sets, and you get this figure for each debt, that tells you which one is a priority. I think that the smaller the balance in comparison to the payment, the easier it is to pay off, and should be prioritized, with the other debts receiving the "minimum monthly" payment. This is "logical" because the "spare cash" you'd have after that debt is paid can go to the other debts.

He also has a laundry list of tips to cut corners, and some of them are good, like getting a used car, which would cost much less yet be still almost as good as a new one. I think (but don't recall) that he advocates using a clothing line instead of a dryer, still a good idea.

One of his strengths is knowing when add-ons to your insurance are good, and makes the case that a higher deductible is not unsafe, because the insurance company would NOT insure you if THEY thought you were a risk, and he suggests you trust the insurance company, as it is comprised of experts. (John surprised me with his attention to detail: He correctly points out that using spare money to pay off debt is better than investing it, due to the comparison between the two interest rates!)

Well, they offered a money back guarantee, and I strained my brain listening to this guy's CD's. He sure can talk, and talk, and talk, and he makes sense, so his book is probably not bad.

All in all, since I knew some of this stuff and took notes on the rest, I feel that I don't need his course, but he is "old school," and will guide you right if you need to get out of debt. My online research confirms my feelings that he is trustable.

Although I am returning his course to get my money back, I nonetheless recommend it for you because his ethics are HONEST: His methods is based on the premise that you don't get something for nothing. When he suggests that you put your credit card in water, and then freeze it, to eliminate "impulse" usage (except for emergencies), you will know what I mean: If you don't get his book or course and are still in debt, don't blame Gordon Wayne Watts of Lakeland, Florida, USA -because he has told you -as one who has experience in credit cards -both good and bad experiences.

My review is meant to be helpful, and I sign with my real name to show I'm not some paid advertisement hack. Even though I'm returning it, I am VERY grateful that I was able to review it (and take good notes). Since I am eager to pour over my notes, this is a good indication that my "5-star" review is accurate: Yes, I highly recommend the John C. Cummuta book.

Gordon Wayne Watts, Lakeland, Florida, USA

This is a must read if you are burdening with debt; don't understand how you got there and want to get out.

I am 66 years old, deeply in debt and until I read this book believed that all my financial debts would only be settled by my estate when I die. Having read the book I now know I can become debt free if God allows me to live another 5 to 7 years to use the principles I learned in this book to payoff the debts.

When I admitted to myself that I was too heavily in debt and actively wanted to find a way out, I prayed that God would help me find a way to get out of this financial burder. I then came to Amazon.com searching for books and then bought John Cummata's book, Are You Being Seduced Into Debt?: Break Free and Build a Financially Secure Future.

Reading the book helped me understnad how much of an impulse buyer I. Soemthing I did not believe, let alone admit to before.

More importantly, John's strategy for getting out of debt in 4 - 7 years has given me a plan to follow and hope in the future to be debt free. Also, now knowing more completely my penchant as an impulse spender I can control futre buying.

Thanks John for your great advice and information in this book.

I am constantly looking for ways to help my employees have a better life. We employ more than 350 great people around the state of Wisonsin. The majority of these people live from paycheck to paycheck. I get many requests for financial help and I hear sad stories from many of my co-workers about the debt lifestyle they live. I have given hundreds of small loans to my employees over the years.
After reading " Are You Being Seduced into Debt", I realized that some of our workers were never going to be able to escape their current financial mess until they understood how debt can ruin their lives.
John Cummuta has changed my outlook on debt through this book. I have made it required reading for anyone who comes to me for financial help. Donald B Knapp

I don't think the first comments made on this sight are very fair to the author of this book. If this was such basic information that anyone should know then why are so many people in such terrible debt?! This book makes the idea of getting in too deep easy to understandand and the way out easy also. So many people really need these simple examples to help them out of trouble. As a teacher I am happy to see someone who is willing to talk to all people and not only to those who already understand the world of finance.

Like the majority of Americans I was excited to think that I had found an "answer" to my mounting debt. And after being exposed to the advertising hype concerning John Cummuta, I had high expectations from his work.

Though Seduced into Debt is an easy read, Cummuta's writing style is a bit hard to digest. The book tends toward over-simplified language, repetition, and multiple metaphors that only sometimes work. And while his Christian values seem to succeed in his own financial life, they are too much stated as fact for a diversified audience to feel comfortable.

But Cummuta never claims to be a writer. He asserts himself as a financial expert, and as such, the book is most definitely worth reading. He presents some very sound and logical advice and offers a revealing and refreshing perspective on the nature of credit. While many people may not follow his plan in the detail he outlines, his philosophy will most likely impact most reader's financial habits, enabling them to make better financial decisions on their own.

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who is seriously in debt, or headed down that road, and doesn't know where to start. And that is the key to the usefulness of this book - it is a good start. I certainly would not rely solely on the advice of this one voice to determine my financial future; everyone's life situations are different. Seduced into Debt is a very good foundational concept to build upon, and a place to learn where else to seek advice.

Cummuta paints a rosy picture; follow his advice and you will waltz your way to wealth. We all know that between the lines of Seduced into Debt real life is going to happen. His calculations of how long it takes to pay off debt don't take into account that the kids rack up emergency room bills, the car needs fixing, and the refrigerator has to be replaced. Adding a few years to his simple calculations would be more realistic.

Still, his concept of financial freedom is achievable and extremely seductive. But don't let this seduce you into spending more money you don't have on his products. The basis of what he has to say is here, in his original work. Luckily I avoided being seduced into spending $349 on his Transforming Debt into Wealth System Package as advertised on the radio. Instead I ordered this book, used and out of print, through Amazon.com for less than $10. This serves however, to prove his point that those who try to get us to turn our hard-earned money into their profits only appear to work in our best interests - himself included.

The investment information in the second half of the book might be helpful for some. However, if you follow his plan and pay off your debt first, the time when this advice will be useful lies far down the road. And chances are, by the time you get there, the advice will be outdated.

To expand on Cummuta's own Oz metaphor, his proposed path is much like the yellow brick road. For those who are lost and dazed, the path starts out small, happily and full of promise. As it progresses, it will inevitably be wrought with dangers, obstacles, ambushes and pitfalls. In end however, it is a life-changing experience to pull back the great smoky curtain of credit and reveal the egotistical and self-serving little man pushing all our buttons.

This book is a must read for every person, no matter where you fall on the income scale! It's easy to read and understand. It not only tells you the problem but, guides you through the solution. People are in for a rude awakening , if they don't begin to understand these dangers and start doing something about it right now! Bravo for John Cummuta for bringing us the answers and guiding us down the road to a brighter future. You've given hope that we can get out of the mess we've gotten ourselves into with debt. And you've done it an entertaining way. Thanks!

I almost didn't consider a review, but in my online research for info about Mr. John Cummuta, I found this link & recalled I could submit reviews & felt the obligation; I ordered his "course," so I'm guessing his book here is in the course -or is very similar to it, so my review of his course will give you an idea of how the book is. (I did online research to see what was up with his course and if I should return it & get my money back or keep it.)

Anyhow, some "oldie but goodie" ideas include the simple but reliable adage to NOT be in debt. Mr. Cummuta tells the reader (or listener in my case; I had CD's) early on that you gotta cut up that credit card. He makes his case well, and as a person who has used credit cards successfully for many years, in college and since, I say from experience: He is right. Most of the time, I had not problems with using my credit card, but recently some emergencies have pushed my balance up to about 5,000 dollars, and let me tell you: The interest of about $50.oo per month is eating me up because (as I'm sure you know) you don't pay on the principal owed until AFTER you've paid that interest.

Suffice it to say that he is right. After he makes his case, he casually mentions another wise man, Solomon, the author of Proverbs, whose proverbs caution the reader to NOT be in debt. (Yes, I was surprised to here him quote the Bible, even as a person who believes in it, but he is right, and he is careful to acknowledge that some people might have different religious beliefs. He is careful to not offend the reader, but merely offer this as supplemental info for the curious; He does well here!)

The elimination of credit card debt is not the only thing he has to offer, but there were new things in his packet (which may or may not be in this particular book; I don't know). He lists four (4) different ways to supplement your income, and is careful to admit that these are NOT "get rich quick" methods. The four he lists are: #1, An intro to e-bay and online auctions; #2, buying & renting residential real estate (the "landlord" thing); #3, Creating & marketing information products; and, #4, Online affiliate marketing business (that is, click-able referrers on your website).

Those were a refreshing addition which stimulated my imagination, but the **main** focus he makes is to pay off your debts in a "logical" fashion, prioritizing the "most important" debt first. He shows the reader how you divide the balance by the minimum payment that the creditor sets, and you get this figure for each debt, that tells you which one is a priority. I think that the smaller the balance in comparison to the payment, the easier it is to pay off, and should be prioritized, with the other debts receiving the "minimum monthly" payment. This is "logical" because the "spare cash" you'd have after that debt is paid can go to the other debts.

He also has a laundry list of tips to cut corners, and some of them are good, like getting a used car, which would cost much less yet be still almost as good as a new one. I think (but don't recall) that he advocates using a clothing line instead of a dryer, still a good idea.

One of his strengths is knowing when add-ons to your insurance are good, and makes the case that a higher deductible is not unsafe, because the insurance company would NOT insure you if THEY thought you were a risk, and he suggests you trust the insurance company, as it is comprised of experts. (John surprised me with his attention to detail: He correctly points out that using spare money to pay off debt is better than investing it, due to the comparison between the two interest rates!)

Well, they offered a money back guarantee, and I strained my brain listening to this guy's CD's. He sure can talk, and talk, and talk, and he makes sense, so his book is probably not bad.

All in all, since I knew some of this stuff and took notes on the rest, I feel that I don't need his course, but he is "old school," and will guide you right if you need to get out of debt. My online research confirms my feelings that he is trustable.

Although I am returning his course to get my money back, I nonetheless recommend it for you because his ethics are HONEST: His methods is based on the premise that you don't get something for nothing. When he suggests that you put your credit card in water, and then freeze it, to eliminate "impulse" usage (except for emergencies), you will know what I mean: If you don't get his book or course and are still in debt, don't blame Gordon Wayne Watts of Lakeland, Florida, USA -because he has told you -as one who has experience in credit cards -both good and bad experiences.

My review is meant to be helpful, and I sign with my real name to show I'm not some paid advertisement hack. Even though I'm returning it, I am VERY grateful that I was able to review it (and take good notes). Since I am eager to pour over my notes, this is a good indication that my "5-star" review is accurate: Yes, I highly recommend the John C. Cummuta book.

Gordon Wayne Watts, Lakeland, Florida, USA

I get tired of reading the same old lines about how to become financially independent. While many publications offer some good advice, but mostly platitudes, I find this debt-free plan to be one of the best. It worked for me, as well as members of my family, and business associates. I am a retired financial planner, and I have promoted this plan to many of my clients.

This book thoroughly explains the renowned "Transforming Debt into Wealth" and "Debt-Free & Prosperous Living" program available from the same author. I highly recommend this book.

Since you say this book is simple basics that pretty much anyone with a brain should already know, then it is safe to assume you must be extremely wealthy. Congratulations! For those of us who have been seduced by the credit card companies and found themselves floundering in a sea of debt to deep to get out of, I find you remarks highly insulting. Thank God for writers like John Cummuta who show you in simple to understand terms the traps and the escape routes. Thank you Mr. Cummuta...

I bought John's book and I recommend that you do the same. His advice sounds so simple because it really is simple. Buy the book and follow his advice. It works! I also recommend his debt free and prosperous program. I followed John's advice to the letter and I am debt free, own my home and vehicles and am able to live a semi- retired life at age 40. Thank you, John, you saved my financial life! One more thing, your program has allowed me to be able to drive my kids to school, go to all of their events and spend the summers with them. This is more rewarding than the money! Thank you again, John! I can never repay you enough.