Product Description

How would you like to be debt free? Do you wish you had some money set aside for retirement? Instead of just wishing about it, you can make it happen. At the age of 40, John White was in debt - credit cards, the worst kind of debt - and had no retirement savings. Today he has no credit card debt and a positive net worth.

Unlike most financial books, this one is based on real life experience, not just some financial advisor's theories. All of the strategies are from the author's real life experiences, and they are guaranteed to work - even if you're not over 40.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #656316 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 140 pages

Review
A good mix of an interesting biographical narrative and sound career and financial advice. -- John P. Greaney, Creator of RetireEarlyhomepage.com

Great book. This topic needs to be covered, particularly from the perspective of someone who has actually lived it. -- Gillette Edmunds, author of How to Retire Early and Live Well With Less Than a Million Dollars

Customer Reviews

Real advice by a real person
I think I have read every finance book out there. The majority of those books are written by wealthy people who made stupid financial mistakes then became rich again by selling you what they learned. There are books out there that tell if you haven't started saving from your early 20's, you might as well forget about retiring ever. Then, of course, you have the pop-psychology and pseudo-religious financial books.
This book was written by a "real Joe" - an everyday guy. His "story" is one allot of us can relate to - an unstable job market, bad employers, over-spending, credit card debt. I know allot of people who have not saved a penny and they are over 40. ***Well this book gives you something - that something is hope.*** It presents the idea that it is never too late, the past is the past and you have a future. I highly recommend the book for us "Joe and Jane Schmoes" out there.

Beware of Self-Published "How To Books" - and this is one of them!
As a freelance writer myself, the first thought that occurred to me before I was halfway through this book was, how in the world did this guy find a publisher? At the very least, any "how-to" book worth half its salt should provide specific, detailed instructions on how to go about accomplishing the task set forth in its title. Instead, this book strays off topic. Instead of explaining how to get out of debt, most of its pages discuss how to buy a used car, an existing home, used furniture, and cut down on simple expenses such as candy bars and cable tv. Nevertheless, I perservered through it before making a final judgement.

After finishing it in less than an hour, I am thoroughly disgusted. This book offers so little in the way of practical solutions, I feel entitled to a refund. A quick search online reveals that the publisher, Everlove and Bohannon is owned by the author, John White, and apparently has produced only one title - this one. What does this tell you? If anyone can write a truly valuable book on the topic of digging out of a middle-aged financial crisis, they will be able to sell their proposal to the highest bidding publisher, rather than self-publish.

The only saving grace of this book is that it doesn't offer any really bad advice. It offers a lot of good sentiment about the mindset of frugality, and the appendix lists some very good books on money management.

For anyone who is in serious financial trouble with a steep ratio of unsecured, high interest credit card debt and little in the way of assets (i.e.; home equity), however, I strongly urge you: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY buying this book!! If you can avoid this and 9 other books like this one, written by self-proclaimed and self-published experts, you will have saved yourself $150.

Note to the author: Mr. White, as a writer myself, I normally adhere to my grandmother's sage advice - say something nice or nothing at all. You have written on a subject that is too important, however, and it affects millions of people - debt management is far too complex and life-changing to be to be skimmed over and treated with platitudes. If you ever want to rewrite and revise, I strongly suggest that you offer the reader a basic threshold diagram explaining debt to income ratio, and the tipping point at which bankruptcy (Chapter 7) must be carefully weighed and considered, as opposed to seeking help through Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Otherwise, your book is akin to a first aid manual that makes no mention of CPR.

Written by a real life survivor who climbed out of debt
Written by a real life survivor who climbed out of debt to credit card companies to re-establish positive net worth, John L. White's I'm In Debt, Over 40, With No Retirement Savings. Help! is a very practical survival guide to improving an otherwise bleak financial situation. From breaking bad spending habits; to keeping expensive teenagers in check; to saving money on the family car; to buying an affordable mortgage; developing a mind set conducive to savings; and so much more, I'm In Debt, Over 40, With No Retirement Savings. Help! is an easy-to-understand, "must-read", for anyone approaching middle age or older who finds themselves ill prepared for a financially comfortable retirement.