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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Build--Don't Demolish--Your Financial House, February 24, 2004
This review is from: Getting Your Financial House in Order: A Floorplan for Managing Your Money (Paperback)
Our culture screams, "Spend!" and the bank account groans from overload. Crave a new financial road? Hope is on the horizon. Getting Your Financial House in Order beckons, "You can change your financial situation; here's the plan!" Whether one's financial house needs a little remodeling or a brand new foundation, David and Debbie Bargonier with Kimn S. Gollnick offer sound plans to meet anyone at any stage of the financial building process. At first, I wondered how this book could be different. What help could it offer people like me who get glassy-eyed when the word budget is spoken? What options are available to flounderers in the financial sea? The answer -- plenty! I was not overloaded in the first paragraph with guilt or an unrealistic set of goals. Instead, the authors invited me to sit on the porch, take inventory, and assemble the proper tools for the venture. The eye-catching sidebars offering plumb line principles, captured my attention; I could scan the highlights of each chapter without missing the heart of the message. Practical personal examples and strategies are tacked liberally on the pages. This plan is workable! I can record applications chapter by chapter. In the back of the book I can sum up any commitments and action goals. I don't want any wasted space in my financial floor plan; therefore, Getting Your Financial House in order will serve me well now and in the future. A great choice for anyone!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent and comprehensive financial manual, November 1, 2003
This review is from: Getting Your Financial House in Order: A Floorplan for Managing Your Money (Paperback)
The authors use a word picture of building, repairing, and maintaining a financial house, making money matters interesting and easy to understand. Tools for this work are supplied with a strong emphasis on Biblical principles. "Plumb Line Principles" scattered throughout the book highlight Scripture verses that apply to each chapter's focus. Financial planning is compared to a house, with each "room" containing a different aspect of money management, such as the garage for repairs and maintenance; the porch for reflections on the past and visions for the future; and the master bedroom for husband and wife communication. This metaphor helps to show how all parts of the money-management process combine to make a complete and sturdy financial plan. I especially appreciated Chapter 7 on planning and budgeting. The authors took a subject which is threatening to many people and made it simple. They offer a step-by-step process for creating a budget and making it work, whether your income is steady or irregular. Each chapter ends with questions that will help the reader apply what is learned. The appendices include space for notes on each chapter, a to-do list and a goals worksheet. This book was well-researched and includes valuable statistics and personal experiences. Written in an easy-to-read and an easy-to-understand style, Getting Your Financial House in Order offers hope for those who have let their finances get out of hand and guidance for those who know little about finances (you'll know much more when you finish this book!) I recommend it highly.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical financial advice for today's family, October 20, 2003
This review is from: Getting Your Financial House in Order: A Floorplan for Managing Your Money (Paperback)
Before reading Getting Your Financial House in Order, I thought I had a pretty good handle on my finances. My husband and I contribute to our credit union every week, tithe at our local church, don't put Christmas on credit cards, and do what we can to reduce utility usage. Now I see that even families like us can learn a lot from this book. The book is written from a biblical prospective with a chapter on charitable giving called the Dining Room, and the another chapter, the Foyer/Entryway about stewardship vs. ownership, but even non-Christians wil find timeless, invaluable information about controlling their finances. Each chapter of the book is named for a room in the house. For instance, the kitchen gives the recipe for financial freedom. My favorite was chapter five, the master bedroom. There, the authors pointed out the communication problems concerning money between men and women, and how to overcome them. From the college student, still living at home, and dreaming of the day he can move into his own place, to the retirees on a limited income, anyone can benefit from this book. The authors explain everything from the importance of operating on a budget to living without credit to retirement and investing. At the end of each chapter is a summary and application exercises to get you started on getting your financial house in order. I recommend this book to anyone who owes even one dime in debt, has ever experienced anxiety over those monthly bills coming in, or has ever argued with a spouse or a child over money.
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