Customer Reviews

Learning to Live Financially Free: Hard-Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Marriage & Your Money

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Marybeth Whalen and Curt Whalen have produced a book that I believe every family, Christian and non, must read. They take from their experience with overspending and mountain loads of debt and show us how to stay out of the hole they landed it, and how to get out of the hole that you are currently in.

I have been looking for a true-to-life budget planning book; one with practical ideas that could be implemented in both the budgeting side, but also the money-saving side. Marybeth and Curt provide very simple and effective ways to get your finances under control and keep them there.

The main crux of this book is you can't live on credit. We live in a world of financial crisis because people have succumbed to the temptation of purchasing things on credit instead of saving for those items. We live in a world of "we must have it now" and having it now has led to trillion dollar bailouts of banks because people have stretched themselves too thin so even the slightest fluctuation in interest rates can mean bankruptcy for families. A major thing like the loss of a job can mean homelessness.

People everywhere need to use this situation as a wake up call to stop spending money they don't have. To start taking a closer look at their financial priorities and living within their means. After all what good is having the biggest house, the fastest car, the latest electronic gadget if it means you're living pay check to pay check just to keep a roof over your head.

They also emphasize the importance of placing God first ahead of everything else--especially with our money--and once we do that everything else falls into place. That's not to say we become rich, although some might. But when our focus is on God, the rest of the world and all the things in it don't seem quite so important any more.

I thank Marybeth and Curt every morning for this book.

"I've read numerous books on managing money. This book was different. We knew how to "do" the money systems laid out in other books, but failed because the heart of our problem wasn't the "knowing" but the "relating"! After reading this book I realized that both of us came into our marriage with spending/saving "style" differences and we had not really discussed how that was affecting our money decisions. I know that if we succeed in a task, but fail in relationship while completing the task we are not fully honoring the Lord. This book deals with money relationships and I think that we will finally succeed in both! The authors are real and don't hold back. We can relate to them as they both share their differing perspectives of the same money situation. Through their humility as a foundation, my husband and I can discuss more freely where we are coming from; surprisingly there are more ways than one to view a situation! After the very first chapter, my husband came to me and told me that this book was helping him understand my position in our marriage better. Wow! I am recommending this book to all my friends and have several couples I know I am going to buy it for." Tamery Stafford, married 15 years, mom of 4

This is a wonderful book for not only those who seek to follow God's word in their finances but for those who may not know God and need to meet the best financal counselor there is. The Whalens' book approaches financial issues that all too many of us face with great guides to budgeting and conquering debt. It is very concise and easy to read. There are great questions for group discussions and wonderful stories to give the rader a glimpse into the lives of the authors as they faced the same issues many of us face today. What struck me the most is the realization that my past attempts to control spending and getting out of debt have been of my own accord. I have looked for ways to "make it all add up" and have not been able to. This book went to the "heart" of the problem and helped me to see that the real changes had to be within my heart. It made me go to the real financial counselor, God. That is the key. In my weekness He is made strong and budgeting and finances are truly a weekness for me. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone as they seek to live their lives on not only a budget but on God's financial plan!

I won this book on a blog giveaway, and read it rather quickly. I couldn't get enough of the VERY helpful tips that are mentioned. I usually feel guilty when talking about money, but this book helps you to realize money is a tool NOT a problem. I loved it. I've passed it on to a friend, and plan on passing it on to MANY more. I plan to buy a few more for some friends that are getting married this year. Starting off on the right foot will help. Definately!

I loved it! Thanks Curt and Marybeth!

I love this book. It has made me look at my spending in a completely new way and helped me to set a budget and stick with it. Yes, I've made some flubs on my new budget but the truth is, I carry this book around in my purse for wisdom when I'm tempted. I only have to look at the cover to see a bigger picture that I want for me and my family.

I've read other good books about finances. But this one is different and particularly inspiring, because it's a couple's personal story about how they overcame seemingly insurmountable financial issues and emerged victorious through it all. In addition to the real-world story, each chapter provides practical steps for how you can make it happen in your own life. This book is an inspiration whether you're in a financial mess or are debt free and looking for encouragement to keep it up.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this...another book about budgeting? Thought I knew what I'd read and instead was pleasantly surprised. I got on my blog and recommended it to everyone I know. Great timing of the content, well written and a biblical perspective.

Learning to live Financially Free
Marybeth Whalen and Curt Whalen
2009
Kregel Publications
Business and Economics/Personal Finances

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Learning to live Financially Free, is it just another how to make your money go further book?? Just another run of the mill financial advise book? I don't think it is, I read this book, with great interest, wondering if it is a tool that can help people make it through the recession we are going through in the United States and across the world.
It is a tool that can help us, Curt and Marybeth have gone through the school of hard knocks and learned as they went, and now share their knowledge with us. This book points out a valuable nugget, that I think all couples, or everyone in general should recognize, our upbringing will mold our financial personality. If you lived in a home, that you were never sure if there was going to be a meal, or if the lights would be turned off, then you will view money differently than someone who never lacked for anything. Recognizing this, and knowing how to deal with it, is in my opinion the key to living financially free.
Learn how to work with your spouse as a team, not against each other, learn how to use credit wisely, learn that it all belongs to God and your just the steward over it. Learn to live on less. This book, can and will teach you all these things, when applied.
I personally enjoyed the format of the book, with sections and chapters by each of the Whalen's. Reading each viewpoint as they worked through each issue of financial stress, was very helpful, it showed the way that male and females view money. Each chapter ends with a study guide, Bible verses to read, questions to answer and then application tools. A favorite section for me in this book, is the chapter that dealt with teaching your children financial freedom living, if we raise children who are financially savvy, then the problems we have faced can be avoided by them. This book is a awesome tool, and I would recommend it to all newlyweds, and even those of us who have been married a long time. Definitely a book to share with friends.