5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appealing, Homespun Advice for Improving Household Finances, December 26, 2000
This review is from: The Finance Doctor : An 8-Step Prescription So You Can Stop Chasing Your Bills & Start Chasing Your Dreams (Paperback)
This book comes across like a cross between Will Rogers and Tony Robbins in helping you take charge of your financial life. It has a personal, in-touch feel that will make thinking about your finances more interesting and comfortable . . . even if you have some serious issues. The advice is consistent with the most advanced techniques, but presented in a way that is easy to absorb and apply. This book can be effectively used by most middle income households headed by someone with at least two years of high school education. The typical family using this approach should improve net worth by many hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next three decades. Buy it, read it, and live it!
This book would be fun to read, even if you weren't interested in household finances. The writing and the slant are very appealing.
Dr. Dink is a charming fellow. He admits all of his own weaknesses and mistakes in a totally disarming way. While many "experts" on personal finances try to elevate the subject, the effect is to make people feel embarrassed by their mistakes. Dr. Dink has a fundamental respect for others and for himself that make you feel right at home.
Dr. Dink, by comparison to the media stars you see on television every day telling you what to do financially, comes down to your level (wherever that may be) with sympathy and understanding, points out that you are okay and can succeed, and helps you to see your own way to accomplishing what you want.
Three aspects of the book are particularly commendable:
1) The decision process of Q-Q-Kachoo. The book describes the process far better than I can here in a few words. The essence is to use three perspectives simultaneously: total cost carefully quantified over time; looking at the pros and cons of a decision (a la Ben Franklin); and checking your gut (seeing how you feel about the decision). If all three point in the same direction (positively or negatively), chances are that you have made a good decision. Many very sophisticated decision-making techniques apply these same fundamental concepts, just in more complicated ways. If you are interested in learning more about that subject, see Smart Choices.
2) Creating comfortable ways to draw your attention to the main areas where you can increase your income, reduce your expenses, save and invest money better. This is not rocket science nor brain surgery, but the details can easily get lost . . . and bad decisions follow. Dr. Dink gives you a simple, quick way to spot those opportunities and find your own, pleasant solutions.
3) Providing detailed examples from a variety of perspectives. Many of these will hit home for you. Everyone, for example, will resonate to the idea of paying green cash for things as a way to save money. We all spend less when we have to dole it out, bill by bill, than when we can use a credit card or a check. You don't have to do pay in cash, but you will appreciate the power of the example . . . and perhaps sometimes you will use this approach to your advantage when it makes sense.
As you can see, Dr. Dink's strength is that he has great common sense and a wonderful common touch about human psychology and finances. He doesn't do this kind of work to build himself up ego-wise. He is truly a servant of clients. Very nice, Dr. Dink!
After you have finished applying the lessons of this book to your own finances, I suggest that you become a Dr. Dink, Junior, and share the lessons with someone else you care about. In helping someone else learn these principles, you will reinforce and extend your own learning.
Keep your eye on your financial vital signs, and a long, healthy financial life will follow!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, October 2, 2000
This review is from: The Finance Doctor : An 8-Step Prescription So You Can Stop Chasing Your Bills & Start Chasing Your Dreams (Paperback)
Let's face it! We have all have racked up some debt in our lives and most of us could really use some more money. Often times our financial "hassles" bring on unnecessary stress that can rob us of our energy to complete the tasks we are most passionate about. This inspiring book combines fun stories with easy and realistic ways to improve your financial well being. Final word: Dr. Dink's prescription for financial health is easy to swallow!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty, practical and persuasive...three cheers for Dr. Dink!, November 18, 2000
This review is from: The Finance Doctor : An 8-Step Prescription So You Can Stop Chasing Your Bills & Start Chasing Your Dreams (Paperback)
Dr. Dink's prescription for financial wellness really hit home...even for a guy with a Masters in Business Administration in Finance. His book would definitely be valuable for someone trying to gain some basic knowledge of financial management. However, what really distinguishes Dr. Dink's book from others is his ability to bring abstract financial concepts down to earth and help us to understand how often our financial situation drives our decision-making regardless of how much money we make. In challenging us to "stop chasing our bills and start chasing our dreams" he reminds us that life is too short to allow credit cards bills to stand in the way of happiness. By setting his financial program within a very practical context, Dr. Dink did a great job of keeping me interested and his witty stories and useful examples were the icing on the cake. For anybody interested in taking back their life from banks and credit cards, Dr Dink has the financial cure for you.
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