Product Description

Whether you've been living paycheck-to-paycheck, are trying to save for a down payment on your first home, or are hoping to one day retire in comfort, ON MY OWN TWO FEET can help. This succinct guide will teach you how to balance your desire to live well today with the need to save and invest for tomorrow. In this lively, no-nonsense financial primer you will learn:

* How much of your income to save
* How to avoid the perils of credit card debt
* How to create a budget you can live with (and still have fun!)
* How to invest wisely using a powerful, keep-it-simple plan
* How to deal with real life situations - such as figuring out how much home or car you can afford & how to handle money when you couple up with that someone special

ON MY OWN TWO FEET redefines Personal Finance 101. The sooner you apply the basic financial concepts highlighted by Thakor and Kedar, the more likely it is that you'll achieve common life goals such as owning a home, providing for yourself or your family, taking fun vacations, and retiring in comfort -- all free from financial stress.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #138926 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 183 pages

Kirkus Review - April 2007
"You can either manage your financial life, or let it manage - and torture - you. Financial service professionals and CFAs Thakor and Kedar recommend the former and show you how to achieve it. This guide to financial planning for young women (men, this applies to you, too) is sound and prudent... Thakor and Kedar are more like financial physicians than financial consultants."

From the Back Cover
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR ON MY OWN TWO FEET

"This is the path to true liberation: how to handle all those hard-earned dollars. Or make do with what you've got. And if I were a modern boy, I'd put on a wig and buy one as well. We all need this guidebook."
- Lynn Sherr: ABC News Correspondent & Author of OUTSIDE THE BOX: A Memoir

"ON MY OWN TWO FEET is a must-read for all women who want to own their own destiny. In clear, penetrating prose, Thakor and Kedar guide their readers along the journey to financial security and personal freedom. Whether you are going to run a corporation, a household, or your own extraordinary life, this book is indispensable."
- Nancy F. Koehn: James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

"A real page turner - and that's not something typically said about personal finance books! ON MY OWN TWO FEET is chock full of powerful, straightforward advice about how to take charge of your financial future. Trust me, you can't afford to miss this book."
- Denise Brosseau: Co-Founder, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs

"ON MY OWN TWO FEET is the financial equivalent of the basic black dress and red handbag in every woman's closet. Choose it early and use it often for maximum positive effects. I mentor many young women, and this book will be one of my recommended financial tools as they build for future professional and personal dreams."
- Betsy Heller Cohen: Vice President & Futurist, Nestle Purina Petcare Company

"If you've got a nagging sense of needing to put your financial life in order but dread facing up to it, ON MY OWN TWO FEET gives you the solid, straightforward advice you need, in a brief and super-efficient manner. This guide is an excellent place to start when you don't know where to begin (and don't even feel like getting going!)"
- Shira Boss: Author of GREEN WITH ENVY: A Whole New Way to Look at Financial (un)Happiness

About the Author
Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar both have extensive experience in the financial services industry. They each hold MBA degrees from Harvard Business School and are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholders. Manisha lives with her husband in Houston, and Sharon lives with her husband and daughter in San Francisco.

Customer Reviews

The absolute best book to teach ANYONE how to manage their finances--and an easy, interesting read, too!
I absolutely LOVED this book. I saw this book in my community library a few months ago, and liked the cover, so I decided to check it out. Little did I know it would change my life! It changed the way I looked at budgeting, and taught me many different things--HOW to save your money, WHERE to save your money, and WHEN to save your money, among other things...and made it all easy to understand. I am 16 years old, and am going to college next year, so this book will be a great help to me, especially in the budgeting area. This book will be a lifetime finance companion for me! =)

financial guide for all
I haven't read past the fourth chapter and I have talked about this book to my clients, friends, and family. I initially intended to give this book to my 22 year old sister after reading it, but now, I plan on buying a copy for her and about 15 other people. While some people might think that the only thing making the book successful is the target market - obviously it's a smart route to take. If that one negative reviewer had done any research they would know that women are not only the most uneducated in making financial decisions, but they are also the sex that has been proven to live longer and need that education. Basically this is an awesome book and I plan on celebrating it as essential part of making women feel comfortable when dealing with financial situations.

Perfect for the woman with other things to worry about
Although I am still unwilling to give up my expensive haircuts, On My Own Two Feet really made me take a step back and look at my spending and saving situation. It inspired me to make some changes and think about my spending differently.
This book is perfect for all of those ladies out there with little interest and/or time to study the nuts and bolts of personal finance. It gives you straightforward advice and explains the bare essentials of what you need to know - no more and no less. Want to know exactly what portion of your salary you should be saving? What type of fund to put your retirement money into? This book tells you flat out. I highly recommend it!