Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want [Hardcover]

Karen Ramsey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

If only I had more money, I'd be happy.

I have to pay off my mortgage as soon as I can.

I can't go on vacation because I can't afford it.

My kids need the "latest thing," brand new.

I'll have the life I want later.

Any of these sound familiar?Of course they do--they're notions that are so well established in our minds, they feel like common sense. But they're all wrong.

For most of us, money is a taboo subject rarely discussed with our friends, family, or significant others. We think everyone else knows more about this important subject than we do -- so like sex, we joke about it and avoid dealing with it. Our lack of knowledge leads to faulty ideas that drive our lifestyle decisions -- often in the wrong direction.

Now, Karen Ramsey, an experienced, fee-only certified financial planner, shatters those myths and shows anyone how to take control of their finances and realize their dreams. Divided into two parts, Everything You Know about Money Is Wrong begins by exploding our twenty-one biggest money myths. Do you think you should pay off your mortgage as soon as possible? Do you have to save, no matter what? Do you think that it's mandatory to fund your children's college tuition? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you need the insights and wisdom Ramsey delivers, using examples from her clients' own lives.

In part two, Ramsey outlines her proven, easy-to-follow personal spending plan that will help you get your financial life on track. You don't have to put off living, depriving yourself of a dream vacation or sticking with a terrible job just to pay the bills. There are other options if you have a plan.

Let Karen Ramsey help you find the road to happiness and financial security -- without deprivation.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Karen Ramsey, a certified financial planner for more than 14 years, believes that Americans are financially stymied by the things they think they know about money. She takes a somewhat unconventional approach in her Seattle-based practice by first working to separate clients from these various misconceptions before setting them on the proper paths to fiscal happiness. Accordingly, in Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong, Ramsey begins by debunking 21 deep-rooted notions that she says are the cause of our poor national spending and saving habits--including notions such as "More money will make me happier," "I have to pay for my kids' college education," "I should buy a home because it's a great investment," and "I have to fully fund my retirement plan every year." She then follows up with commonsense suggestions for creating a realistic financial plan. "This isn't a book about how to become a millionaire or how to act like one when you're not," she writes. "It's about transforming your relationship with money so it can become a friendlier presence in your life." --Howard Rothman

About the Author

Karen Ramsey is the president of Ramsey & Associates, Inc., a Seattle-based financial consulting firm. She speaks regularly, teaches workshops, and runs a Web site.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 205 pages
• Publisher: Regan Books; 1 edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060392738
• ISBN-13: 978-0060392734
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,520,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book solved most of my money concerns instantly!, May 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want (Hardcover)

Wow! This book is so much more than I bargained for. I bought it in my never ending quest to see how I could earn more money. But the book gave me insights about why I don't think I have enough in the first place! This book really broke the blind cycle that we're all in about spend-consume-spend-consume and still be dissatisfied. It also gave great advice about helping to build character in my kids by setting limits regarding what I will and will not buy them and requiring them to participate in earning money for what they want. This book could be called "Everything You Know About A Lot of Things is Wrong!" I loved it and have sent it to six people already.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just good advice, but a new attitude about money., April 27, 1999

By 

J. P. Kelley (The Pacific Northwest, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want (Hardcover)

This down-to-earth and refreshingly non-prescriptive book helps put the whole money issue in perspective. The author shows you how to question your existing assumptions and separate out common emotional responses to financial decision-making -- some of which may actually be preventing you from accomplishing your most cherished and deeply held goals in life! In addition to the sensible advice, the client stories add a lot of heart and depth. And I particularly appreciated the notion (explained in detail in the second section) that if you understand what your goals are, and clearly understand your spending habits, you'll change your behavior, not because you *should*, but because you *want to*, in order to make your dreams happen. This is a gift. Highly recommended. P.S. This author is a great speaker and if you get a chance to see her in person, jump at it. You'll be entertained and amused, and come away much wiser as well.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart, humor, no-nonsense. Surprisingly intimate., April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want (Hardcover)

This book brings a lot of heart, humor and no-nonsense good sense to the matter of putting money in its proper place in one's life. Karen Ramsey communicates her messages both directly and through many stories of experiences with her clients.

Beginning with the admission that most of us were never explicitly taught much about the basics of money, and maintaining that the value of our lives comes from within each of us, Ramsey takes us on several adventures at a very personal level.

Though I expected some kind of "how-to" advice, I was surprised at how moving and inspiring were the real-life stories of people accomplishing what they'd thought was not possible. As I read, I couldn't help but notice how so many of the concerns we have are so similar, yet so often held privately. I found myself more powerfully related to money and it's role in my life.

Reading this book can make a distinct difference in your financial well-being.