Customer Reviews

Don't Waste Money, Spend it!: Undecided

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

 

 

I've always considered myself frugal and very wise in my spending. Lisa Wysocki's book opened my eyes to some very creative money saving tips that even I the queen of frugal had not thought of. She presents the information in a very funny and enertaining format.

Don't Waste Money, Spend It by Lisa Wysocki is a must read for everyone! It's an easy to read, smart and witty guide to spending money wisely. It is filled with sound advice on building the all-important nest egg. Ms. Wysocki's step by step approach will make the most ardent spendthrift repent.

Through her many tips and anecdotes, I feel empowered as a consumer. I will no longer cower and accept inferior service or merchandise. I will continue to use this invaluable book as a reference to help me reduce waste and fight for my rights and my money.

I was looking forward to reading this book because I had read and heard such positive things about the book and Ms. Wysocki. But well into Chapter Three, Ms. Wysocki was still giving a preface, and assuring the reader she would get to the nuts and bolts of her strategies any minute.

By the time I got into Chapter Three, I saw that the book is so laden with glaring grammatical errors and typographical errors that I began to wonder about the accuracy of the text. Examples: laundry "shoot" and "Suzy" Ormond; "parent's" when the plural was meant; James Clavell's "Nobel House," the spelling of which is repeated in the same paragraph. (It should read "Noble House.") There are one to three such mistakes on almost every page so far.

I made my living as a proofreader and editor for many years. It's tedious work but someone has to do it, and I love it and am very good at it. I still "informally" proofread any book I pick up. There are so many word usage and spelling errors in "Don't Waste Money..." that I can't "read through" them.

If Ms. Wysocki's manuscript is loaded with sound advice and is factually correct, she was done a great disservice by those who readied her book for publication. It's a shame, because her style is appealing and her credentials sound. Perhaps her advice is, too, but I wouldn't know and am probably not going to find out.

I received "America's Cheapest Family" on the same day, and am much more satisfied with it.

I read this book cover to cover and found it one of the best set of guidelines for spending wisely. Unlike many financial advisors, this book doesn't advocate you become a miser, rather shows you how to spend on quality, not quantity - provides simple tools for assessing real need - and provides insight into money saving techniques I never thought existed. I started using the author's advice the very day I finished the book - and saved about $200. For example, I had no idea you could negotiate your physician's bill.

I especially enjoyed the techniques for "money recovery" -- how you can give your money a second chance if you happen to waste, not spend. If you're a parent, or an uncle (like me) there's a special section on kids you won't want to miss.

Ms. Wysocki is down to earth, practical, respectful of her audience and doesn't admonish them for being wasteful in the past, rather what they can do, starting today ("Remember, I'm on your side" she states near the end).

It reads almost like a novel - showing you how to spend by illustrating of real-life events, situations and stories - many are hilarious. If you like to laugh, you'll love this book. If you want to spend while you save, read it today.

The fun little stories gave good solid examples of how Lisa Wysocki came to acquire the knowledge she shares in her book. I found myself laughing out loud to myself on more than one occassion. Although some of the information is the same old advice recycled (only buy the stuff you really need), other information was less "common knowledge." I enjoyed the book, and hope she writes another.

I teach a class on frugal living and bought this book in hopes it would offer new insights and things to share with my students, most of whom live in poverty. I really feel like I wasted the $10 I paid for this poorly written and edited book. I read the entire book in less than two hours and was still waiting for the "Madcap adventures in frugality" when I read the last page. A very big disappointment, and if I were to follow her advice, I would write to her and demand my money back.

..Then this is the book for you. The author says there are some things you just don't try to save on-'last year's Prada shoes are better than this year's Nine-West', and other important distinctions. She even advises you on how to save money by packaging your own parcels for the Post Office.

For those of us in the other 99%, I think we're looking for more practical advice. To the author- you can save money by cutting your child's hair. There are fantastic videos at the public library that show you how do it.

For me-a wasted inter-library loan (I borrow rather than buy first).

If comic genius David Sedaris and financial wiz Suze Orman had a child it would be the funny and finanically savy Lisa Wysocki. Her book offers hilarious, yet very pratical advice on ways to save money that are painless and yet add up.

You don't need to understand stock futures and she won't tell you how to turn "no-money-down" into a financial real estate empire, but rather she imparts smart and practical advice to spend money wisely and cut corners in a way that every family member can understand.

I was so inspired by her ingenuity and entertained that I ordered 9 copies for every woman in my very well-heeled women's group. I'm sure that by following Lisa's counsel, we will all find a way to squeeze another pair of Manolo Blanik shoes out of our budget.

And, I laughed myself all the way to the shoe department!

This book offers the reader a refreshing, fun and creative perspective to reach your financial goals. The author's style is very personal and witty, making this book an easy read. Loaded with personal anecdotes - you feel as if you are having a cup of tea with the author while listening to her many fun tales of saving money. No "bang you over the head" lectures here! An inspiration to this former spendthrift, let me assure you.

I received this book 2 days ago and have read it cover to cover. It was quite refreshing and NOT the same old frugal tips that you read over and over. Thanks to Lisa I am now over my guilt of returning unwanted or inferior products and I am focusing more on creating that "nest egg." I recommend this book to beginning frugalites as well as those that are well seasoned. The author is quite witty and it is a straight-forward easy read. I'm sure I will refer to it and reread sections to inspire myself when I fall off the frugal wagon.