Customer Reviews

The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couples Can Take to Make the Most of Their Money--and Live Richly Ever After

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I'm not married with children and planning for their college savings or a well-off magazine editor engaged to an equally-fabulous investment banker, but I can still benefit from the financial lessons in The Big Payoff: 8 Steps Couple Can Take to Make The Most of Their Money - and Live Richly Ever After, the first book written by CNBC personal finance correspondent Sharon Epperson.

The Big Payoff is billed as a resource for middle-class couples, but as a single, young professional, I found the information in the book relevant to my life and circumstances. I viewed the book as a way to prepare for my future as it gave me advice and real steps I could take to build a solid financial base to support me now and for years to come.

Epperson wrote an easy-to-understand book that's broken down into eight action steps any individual or couple can follow. The steps are divided into chapters that cover topics such as buying a house, emergency planning, college savings and estate planning. The Big Payoff can benefit all people too - from the working poor trying to learn ways to maximize their dollars and build a legacy of financial literacy to pass down to their children, to the middle-class trying to stretch their earnings and provide a comfortable lifestyle for their families. Everyone needs to know about savings plans, budgeting and saving for college and retirement.

Epperson's book makes complex topics palatable and helps people introduce financial literacy into their every day lives and practices. I'm living, breathing proof that the Big Payoff works. One of the best features of the book is the exercises and worksheets that accompany most of the chapters. One of the first things I did after reading the Big Payoff was to write out my short- and long-term financial goals. Then, I drafted a personal budget. The budgeting process is probably one of the hardest, most honest exercises a person or couple must face. It makes you accountable for yourself and your spending habits. Even harder than that, is sticking to your budget. I'll admit, even after a week, there were a couple times when I just didn't feel like keeping track of my receipts. But, I did. Now, I am able to put into perspective my actual needs versus my wants and I've been able to save more money and feel good about the prospects for my future. Sure, I'm at the baby-step phase in this process, but it's a personal triumph for me to at least have taken steps to do something about planning for my future.

The Big Payoff is a plan to help people of all ages get their financial lives back on track or help others take the right path from the beginning.

Although the title of this book is geared toward couples, I think it is an excellent read for anyone who wants real world advice on how to capitalize on their earnings to live comfortabaly in all stages of life. Ms. Epperson has written a book that is filled with good common sense, exercises and rules that are clear and easy to follow. The book reads like you are sitting down talking to your very wise, alpha mom girlfriend, who has put all of these rules into practice, and she is sharing her success with you dear reader, so you can do the same. A great wedding, engagement and gift to all of your friends who are looking towards reaping future rewards for all of the hard work they are doing now.

I have read numerous financial self-help books,but found this one facinating in its focus on couples. Nine years into our marriage - we are still searching for the right financial formula that works for us both and this book provided some practical steps to save, build realistic plans for emergencies and things that we need to consider as a couple. I also enjoyed the empathetic tone of the book in communicating the reality of many two income households and the struggles we still have to make ends meet. I felt refreshed after reading this book - I have more direction to help our family get on better track with our savings plans as a result of reading it.

As a woman in her early 30's, I wish I read this book in my early 20's. It explained all the financial concepts most people want to understand in clear concise language. This book has everything, it shows ways to save for your child's future, explains the differences between CD accounts and Money Market accounts and much more. I'm going to buy one for all of my girlfriends!

If you don't live in New York, make over 100,000 a year and your biggest financial burden isn't private school for your kids (mentioned every couple pages) this book is almost a complete waste. There are much better personal finance books. Don't bother with this one.

I was hoping that the book would actually focus on coupled finances based on the subtitle but it doesn't. Why market it that way when its also geared to singles and doesn't delve into the issues really that couples face.

The Big Pay Off has already been a BIG help to our family. My wife and I have found it to be filled with easy to implement advice. Its well written, straight-forward, and even funny at times!

Despite the title, single persons should not shy away from this book. There is very little particularly "couple" oriented about it that would not also be relevant to an individual. This is not the book I would recommend to someone as their first book about personal finance since it tends to skim topics, offering an overview without much detail to explain why it advises X,Y, and Z. For a first read, I recommend Suze Orman's "The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke," or Dave Chilton's, "The Wealthy Barber, Updated 3rd Edition: Everyone's Commonsense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent." This book is a great review for those with a little education already, however. I enjoy that it doesn't get bogged down in the details. For example, the brightest gem in this book is its reference to MSN Money's "60% Solution" for overall money management: Live on 60% of your income. Of the remaining 40%, invest 10% for your retirement, 10% for long-term savings, 10% for short-term savings, and allow yourself 10% fun money. Their model is clean and describes the big picture in a way anyone can understand and immediately apply in their plans. The authors then dive into a little more detail about that 30% of savings, discussing college savings plans and other options. Unusually for a personal finance book, these authors advocate Cash Value life insurance plans rather than Term. They skim this topic like most others, however, and I felt that they presented only a slight case in favor of Cash Value. If you're looking for an overview and place to start developing your own questions, this book is great. You may need to look elsewhere for the answers once you get a little information here, however.

This book is a fabulous resource not only for couples, but savvy singles looking to make the most of their money! It's a real eye opener - not too preachy, but just full of solid, and often amusing advice that's laid out in an easy to understand format. A must read for anyone who wants to retire someday...