Love and Money: A Life Guide to Financial Success [Hardcover]

Jeff D. Opdyke (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471476587 | ISBN-13: 978-0471476580 | Publication Date: December 18, 2003 | Edition: 1

"The financial decisions we make in our lives are sometimes not the easiest to discuss but have long-lasting effects. [Opdyke's advice] has opened the door in my relationship to conversations that were a long time coming."
-Josh, regular reader of Opdyke's "Love & Money" column, Florida

Real answers to real questions about money and relationships:
* I have too much debt and my credit isn't very good. How can I fix my financial problems? And how do I break the news to my boyfriend?
* How do I teach my kids the value of money, when my parents shower them with expensive gifts?
* My wife makes more money than I do, does that give her a greater voice in our financial decisions? Are we still equal?
* How much should I give my child in allowance? And will it really help him learn the value of a dollar?
* We want to have our first baby, but we don't know if we can afford it yet. How much money do we really need to have in the bank?


If you're like most people, you're struggling with questions like these. Whether we like it or not, money makes a big difference in the choices we make and the lives we lead. Unresolved questions about money can put unwanted stress on even the healthiest relationships-between spouses, between parents and children, and even between friends. In Love & Money, columnist Jeff Opdyke offers practical personal finance advice, as well as strategies for dealing with touchy financial topics-so that money doesn't end up costing you something even more valuable.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With so many people having trouble managing their money, it's not surprising that different attitudes about finances can cause serious arguments between otherwise happy spouses. The solution, according to Opdyke, a reporter and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, is for individuals to first understand their own relationship to and views about money. Drawing on his own marriage as well on the experiences of his readers, Opdyke takes a simple approach to the basic personal finance decisions. He says people shouldn't think about budgets-which, like diets, rarely work-but instead should devise a spending plan (which encourages one to look to the future rather than focus on previous spending habits): "Once you create your spending plan, strive to live with the boundaries you've set. Remember, there's fluidity to your plan. If you realize you're not going to spend $200 this month eating out, you can shift that money to some other expense you'd rather make, or just shovel it into savings for a later date." The writing is clever and the inclusion of comments from readers makes this an enjoyable primer on the psychological and emotional issues related to money. But the chapters on saving for college, retirement and helping aging parents, for example, provide few strategies for readers.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

If it's not sex, it's money, the root cause of so many family breakups and divorces. This well-reasoned personal-finance guide offers help in harmonizing love and money. Wall Street Journal reporter Opdyke, in this book drawn from his newspaper column and reader e-mail, talks personally about his own life: his personal finances, his wife and son, his worries and successes. The result is a series of amazingly candid conversations about money, a philosophy borne out through his belief that "talk is cheap; it's the silence that's expensive." He discusses emotional events everyone can identify with, from his and hers accounts to inequality of salaries, and arrives at common-sense solutions. Trust is important in his ethos, often opening completely new ways of dealing with monetary pitfalls, as in his resolve not to lie to his son and say, "Dad doesn't have money," when his youngster pleads for a toy. Different chapters explore situations such as divergent vacation desires, parental support, and financial compromise with aplomb, respect, and much love. The new Bible for money management. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471476587
• ISBN-13: 978-0471476580
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,087,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much to think about...and a great read!, January 17, 2004

By 

cperrey (Victoria, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love and Money: A Life Guide to Financial Success (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent companion to other financial books. Rather than tell you how to save or invest, it talks about the personal sides of money in life. Although most of the book comes from the standpoint of someone in a marriage, much of the material will be relevant for everyone. The point of the book is to make us think about the "other" questions that personal finance implies, such as dealing with financial compatibility with others, kids & allowances, supporting parents in their old age, deciding what you actually want to do with your retirement, and some others. I appreciate Opdyke's candor in talking about the conversations he has with his spouse, as I have similar talks with my wife. This book has given me much to think about, and more to talk about with my wife. All of this is done in a pleasant, easy-to-read style that is not at all "preachy" about what you "should" be doing. A great read, and highly recommended.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a book!, December 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Love and Money: A Life Guide to Financial Success (Hardcover)

I look forward to reading Opdyke's column in my paper every Sunday. What I love the best about his advice is that he never "preaches" or makes you feel bad about what you're NOT doing with your money. He's realistic and shows that there are a lot of gray areas when it comes to family and finances. His column -- and now the book -- gives you a glimpse into how other couples and families handle their money challenges. I always learn something from his columns. His book gives such thorough advice that is sure to help me navigate issues with my husband, my friends, my kids and my in-laws for years to come!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and informative, March 27, 2005

By 

Neal Lenarcic "nl2346" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love and Money: A Life Guide to Financial Success (Hardcover)

As a follower of the weekly Sunday column, "Love and Money", I moved to a new city where Mr. Opdyke's column is not in my Sunday paper. After many unfilled Sundays, to my excitement I discovered that this book was assembled. The book is equal, if not better than the weekly series. I enjoy reading the financial and true life information that realistically plagues our married and family lives. It constantly makes me reevaluate my finances, spending, and budgeting (or I should say "Spending Plans").
The book should be required reading for married couples. Well worth it.