Getting Loaded: 50 Start Now Strategies for Making a Million While You're Still Young Enough to Enjoy It [Paperback]

Peter Bielagus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 27, 2002

Entrepreneur and investor Bielagus shows how youth can be a major advantage on the road to riches with savvy, entertaining, and comprehensive advice on money: how to make it, how to save it, and what to do with it once you have it. Softcover.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; First Paperback Edition edition (December 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451205928
• ISBN-13: 978-0451205926
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, entertaining, and very concise, April 27, 2005

By 

Pooky (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Loaded: 50 Start Now Strategies for Making a Million While You're Still Young Enough to Enjoy It (Paperback)

This book is wonderful for a young person looking to get on track with his/her finances. It manages to explain the mundane world of treasury bonds and retirement accounts in an witty and entertaining way while avioding jargon. After just a few chapters I was ready to fianlly open up that tax-favored 401k and stuff it with some no load index mutual funds. It's a must read for anybody who's green on investments (no pun intended.)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Financial Life Training 101, February 18, 2005

By 

Eric S. Toya (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Getting Loaded: 50 Start Now Strategies for Making a Million While You're Still Young Enough to Enjoy It (Paperback)

I was impressed by this book. And to be frank about it I was a bit surprised. I am no longer in my 20s (unfortunately), but at 31, still closely relate to many of the issues that he addressed. I have long been an advocate that high schools or colleges need to have some sort of "financial life training" course covering the basics of insurance, retirement planning, mortgages, etc. Pete covers all this more in an easy to read, yet thorough format. This is definitely geared for the twenty something just venturing out of college, and trying to put a few pennies together after that first paycheck. It will make a great gift for a college grad, or if you are that college grad, it is a worthwhile investment (or even better, pick it up used).

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll feel "hung over" for life if you miss this one, January 20, 2003

By 

Anthony S LaSala (West Hartford, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Loaded: 50 Start Now Strategies for Making a Million While You're Still Young Enough to Enjoy It (Paperback)

I've read numerous finance and investing books, and it is clearly one of the best! I would feel terrible, like you do in the morning after "getting loaded" at the bar, if I picked this book up halfway through life, and didn't know half the secrets the author was talking about. Here are some specific comments that will help you decide to buy the book or convince you that being hung over (not reading this book) stinks.

1. In most finance books, the author gives numerous suggestions on what you should do with your money, but ultimately leaves the reader overwhelmed and indecisive. Not "Getting Loaded" because he still explains multitudes of options, but then sorts it out and gives clear advice my 12-year-old cousin could act on.

2. There are very few finance books written for the under thirty crowd. Even though the majority of his secrets (a.k.a. chapters) would still be helpful for any age, it's refreshing to read a book that even writes in a young adult dialect. Don't ask me to explain it, but you could tell the author grew up in The 90's. I would wager that the author is the youngest or one of the youngest finance author's around. There is something refreshing and genuine about reading advice from someone that is actually in the same period of your life, and not someone double your age.

3. Very quick reading because the secrets (chapters) are so short and to the point with clear explanations and examples. Also, the book is extremely organized with a repetitive format and icons, which helps with fast reading and ease of comprehension.

4. Another testament to his age, instead of a "Recommended Books" at the end of most finance books, he has a "Website Directory." Basically, he lists about 50 pertinent websites that are categorized by financial subjects (banks, bonds, car buying, home buying, taxes, legal advice, etc.). This may be worth the book alone. He does mention a lot of these sites in the chapters, but you don't have to go back frantically looking for them when needed. For future authors, this is much more beneficial to the reader since he can freely check out and learn from the sites, instead of having to buy another twenty-dollar book and spend a couple of weeks reading.

5. Since personal finance can be dry, jokes, quotes, and short stories are placed throughout that give the reader a break.

6. Very realistic. Besides the title, which the author explains and proves, there is no hogwash about becoming a millionaire in 3 months.

7. You can tell the author is a real down-to-earth person, by the simple way he writes, and his short stories that anyone can relate to. What I mean is that he is not a genius that pretends to teach people but really keeps all the true secrets to himself. Although I would feel awfully weird and it may be stepping over the line of "read-author relationship," but he even gives you his telephone number. Now after this book gets recognized, his agent may make him change this for his own safety, but he claims a real voice will pick up the phone. That's right, it's not a 1-800 number nor does he say a machine picks up. A REAL VOICE. WOW, that's a real author and person! (By the way, he also gives the standard email address and is very prompt responding).

8. All good reviews need some negativity. The one thing I question is if the author made things to too simple? I know for myself every time I pick up the business section of the paper and start reading about the million types of investments I just get a headache and close it up. Could investing and being so financially secure be as easy as he says and demonstrates? To give the author credit, to write about every investment would bore the death of the reader and would make for a 7,000-page book. Like I mentioned before, I've read at least 5 other finance books and still learnt a lot from this book. It's a great starter book, and then again a great finisher book to get people into action NOW. Lastly, I think the government upon a person turning 18 and becoming an adult should get a copy of this book. Our economy would be bullet proof to a recession. If you are in your 20's, get this book now and get real excited about retiring an easy millionaire (no hogwash) and living a financially comfortable life.