Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

I have never been very confident with money or money management. It's important stuff, but the whole subject has always been emotionally difficult for me. I've felt that everyone else knew how to manage their money, and somehow I'd just been absent from class the day that was taught.

This book is a refreshing blast of fresh air. It begins by acknowledging that lots of people felt as I did, and then acknowledges that in fact most people never have been taught to manage their money; we somehow expect ourselves to just "know". Of course, that's silly, and this easy-to-read, practical book dispels one myth after another.

The most refreshing and useful aspect of this book is that it is infused with an attitude that respects your emotions and spirit as much as your finances. Your money exists to serve you and your goals, not the other way around. All the smart advice from friends and family - you "should" buy a house, you "must" pay for kid's education, you "need" to save a certain percent - are bogus. What you really need to do is figure out what you want, and then use your money as a tool to help get you there. If that means save, then save. If that means spend, then spend. But do it with your eyes open and as the result of a consicous tradeoff of the costs and benefits.

This book reveals those costs and benefits clearly. When you're done, you'll be able to sit down and draw up a master game plan for your money, and dispense those "shoulds" and "oughts" to the dustbin, replacing them with the moves that are right for you.

I recommend this book highly. It's warm, personal, no-nonsense, direct, and highly readable.

After reading through a few of the myths at the bookstore, I took the book home and read it in one sitting. Since then, I refer to it often, mostly in discussions with friends and family. Recently, a friend at work was contemplating the purchase of a house -- with dread. When I asked him why he didn't want to buy a house and yet was launching a search anyway, he said it was because he saw several other people at work his age buying homes, and thought it was "time." Well, I copied one of the chapters from this book and left it for him on his chair. He came to my office later offering profuse thanks. He wasn't going to buy a house, and he had this book to thank for it. He literally bounces around the office now, with the pressure of homeownership off, and a new sense of financial priorities in place. And that's the effect of just one myth, on just one person. Do you have to fund your retirement fully every year? Should you pay off your house early? Is a tax deduction a good reason to buy a home? Is a home a good investment? Is it an investment at all? Should you stay in an apartment for the rest of your life? The answers are in this book. They're accessible, relevant and enlightening. They may just change your views about your personal finances. Especially if they're all wrong.

As I read "Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong" I felt as though I was reading something I'd known deep inside, but that knowledge hadn't yet made it to my brain. There's lessons I'll need to keep repeating to myself as I struggle to undo in my life the very myths that Karen points out in her book.

I specifically like Karen's approach about not worrying about what you didn't do, but rather, what can you do. It sort of brings things down to the bottom line for me. Believe in yourself and you will prosper!

Thanks Karen!

I particularly like the philosophy of not putting off until tomorrow the needs and desires you have right now. I can see that I have some of the misconceptions that she refers to. I also like how she offers alternatives for ways to look at my money without giving me the feeling that she thinks that I "should" think about money, or operate with my money in a particular way. The end of the book has some excellent practical ways to deal with specific money issues (worksheets, etc.) I highly recommend this book.

This would be a great graduation present for any age group. It clearly dispels any false notions about money and how you can get a handle on your current money situation. Anyone who earns a living should read this book.

In this era of financial planning "sound bytes" that arethrust upon us and the ever increasing skewed morals of what money"should" mean - it is quite refreshing to see someone step up to the plate and "Stop the Insanity". The extra baggage we all carry from the media's guilt driven "supermodel" of what we as a society should buy into is ridiculous at best. The myths that Ms. Ramsey outlines in her book ring true to me as I try to justify my life with or without money. It is a startling wakeup call that points out just what is WRONG with our entrenched philosophy of what money is for. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Ramsey's client stories and felt connected with their journey. An essential "Life" book that should be proudly displayed on your bookshelf as a reminder of why money shouldn't buy everything. Kudo's on Ms. Ramsey's website which cuts to the chase of planning your life with money.

Karen's book has provided the forum to acknowledge truisms found deep in the recesses of my mind but heretofore unable to articulate. She has a unique ability to concisely walk down a path of knowledge by shedding long held myths leading to personal happiness, and replacing them with practical, honest, proven, methods of attaining true peace through financial freedom.