Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.)

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).

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.

I bought this book because of its great ratings. After reading it now I actually can't believe that all those reviews are actually from real customers.

The book is written in a very bloated style. It is a good thing when an author makes a dry subject interesting. But Peter Bielagus overdid it in my opinion. While there are some very good and original ideas in the book, they are spread far too thin: My textmarker came to use only every five pages or so - and even then mostly only for one sentence.

The 400 pages of Bielagus' book could easily be condensed down to 80. Even with entertaining examples and stories added the book could at least be half its size.

To be fair I have to say that Bielagus obviously had teenager readers in mind when he wrote the book. I am 25 and I've already read a lot of other books on the subject, so I might just not be the perfect fit. However, neither title nor cover text say anything about this being a book for teenagers. That's why my expectations were quite high - and now I'm quite disappointed with the purchase.

This book will actually give you a multitude of tips you can actually use for those who are financially clueless. So many things in the book were explained simply, easily. Everything in the book helps you save or get more out of your life and money. Its also NOT boring. While I couldnt really speed read the whole thing...this is something you want to read a bit everyday, then go back and review. If you want to not have to worry about money later in life or now, get this one. Its worth it.

Why wasn't this book around 25 years ago. It's cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars!!!

Seriously, the book is great. I picked it up at the local library's booksale for $.50 (Ha! I learn fast).
While aimed at the 20-30 something crowd, where it's advice will do the most good, (time really IS money, apparently) it does have a slew of practical "secret's" that will save anyone with patience and commonsense from uberconsumerism.
It's quick pace, short chapters and witty writing style pretty much ensures that when I pass this book on to my 24 year old son he'll actually read the thing (or else!).

I am fixing to turn 20, and i picke dup this book te other day as i began thinking about my future and how to make sure it would be a bright as possible. I was surprised to find a book that was written just for someone in a similar situation. This book really helped me understad why getting into your retirement planning early is better. It also explained in a very entertaining way how you can change your lifestyle in a few simple ways and increase your overall quality of life.
Definitely Recommended!

Awesome book! Highly recommended for financial novices and experts alike. This book is very well written and arranged in a logical manner to help the beginner build a good foundation of personal finance without insulting the intelligence of the financially astute. Filled with wit, humor and thought-provoking cynicism, Mr Bielagus serves up a short-order lesson on how to cut through the complex financial world without being intimidated. A great way to benefit from a financial expert's many years of research in less than 400 pages! An absolute "must-read" for anyone on the road to financial independence.

After scouring through endless personal finance books, I can finally say that I have found a book that easily relates to the young investor. In comparisons to the other personal finance books, from Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (which is more of a philosophical book rather than a 'how-to' book and should be taken that way instead of following his dangerous advice), to Making the Most of Your Money by Jane Bryant Quinn (overall excellent), to Road to Wealth by Suze Orman (estate planning is excellent), and to Personl Finance for Dummies by Eric Tyson (investing plan is very good), just to name a few top rated books, this book deserves recognition. A smart, young adult looking to secure their financial future early in life can easily relate to the topics he discusses and can take action immediately. I recommend this book to anyone, especially to the younger generation.

What a great delivery Peter Bielagus uses in this book! You will not be bored, you will be entertained and you will learn everything you need to know about getting your money to increase for you. Not having this financial knowledge is like having a giant hole in your wallet and *letting* money fall through it.

I spent an hour looking at financial books in the bookstore and this is the one I decided to buy. It was clearly the easiest to read and understand with a ton of tools and multitude of options I could apply in my life immediately. Bielagus humor had me laughing out loud in the middle of the store and people were beginning to look at me funny.

I read this book in one day because it was that good. I could not put it down. I am hoping Bielagus writes more books.

This is one of the books you should definately own. You would be a fool not to at least check it out if you have any interest whatsoever in being finacially free and prosperous! If you are the type that has money and doesn't know what to do with it, or if you never seem to have enough money like a lot of us, this book will tell you what you need to know.