The World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Personal Budgeting [Paperback]

Larry Burkett (Author), Jeff Dewsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

'The World's Easiest Pocket Guide' brand is filling a vacuum in the bookselling marketplace with an introductory level series on subjects affecting important lifestyle issues. Each product features a highly recognizable author writing on topics of his or her expertise. Shortly after leaving home or college, most young adults are unprepared for making practical life decisions and planning for their futures. Leading financial expert Larry Burkett has created this practical pocket guide to help young adults make sound financial decisions from the start. Filled with bite-sized chunks of trustworthy advice, readers will be better equipped to choose the right first job or career.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

LARRY BURKETT (1939-2003) was a well-known authority on business and personal finance and wrote more than seventy books, including non-fiction best-sellers like Family Financial Workbook, Debt Free Living, and “The World’s Easiest Guide” to Finances.  He had a worldwide radio ministry.  Larry founded Christian Financial Concepts and served as chairman of the Board of Directors of Crown Financial Ministries. 
1/04

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Northfield Publishing (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881273458
• ISBN-13: 978-1881273455
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,414 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Financial Health, October 11, 2004

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Personal Budgeting (Paperback)

Are you starting to feel helpless as your bills pile up and your accumulated debts gain momentum, like a snowboarder blazing downhill after hitting the first straightaway? If so, this book will outline the steps you need to take to gain control over your bills, avoid triggering an avalanche of debt, and even have a surplus each month. ~Larry Burkett

While bills continue to arrive on schedule, Larry Burkett says there are many bills which may be unnecessary. What is necessary and what is not? In this guide you can take an honest look at your present spending habits and develop a plan of action to not only get out of debt, but to start saving for vacations or other purchases.

Larry makes some great points about credit and how buying items on credit can increase their cost substantially. Suddenly, that couch on sale may not seem like such a bargain when you realize you will be paying double the price.

So, how do you get control of your money? Larry Burkett gives practical tips for recording expenses and once you have recorded the necessary items like rent, food and utilities, you can start to find out how much you are spending on entertainment and decide what is really essential.

It may take you a year or more to get out of debt, but once you have less bills, you can increase your savings. This book is an invaluable tool for anyone who is leaving home and starting their journey into the independent life. The last thing you want to do is become chained to debt. This book encourages an understanding of basic expenses and shows you how to save money by clipping coupons. I find that those preferred savings cards at grocery stores and rewards cards can save me twenty dollars at a time. You could literally leave a store with your weekly groceries and have saved forty dollars if you can find the right coupons and maximize savings with membership cards. I gave up on brand loyalty a long time ago and this book also shows how brand merchandise sits at eye level. I've never found a quality difference in canned goods, so why spend the extra money?

Additional Helpful Sections Include:

Starting an Emergency Fund
Car Repairs
Insurance
Charitable Giving
Retirement
Buying a New Home

Larry Burkett warns against "buy-now-pay-later" plans and his book is perfect to read when you are just starting to learn about budgets or want to update your saving strategies.

You may also want to read: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness.

~The Rebecca Review