Customer Reviews:
Enlightening Book!.......2007-09-29
If you have felt lost and befuddled while staring at a 401K quarterly statement trying to figure out each financial term or if you avoid working on such seemingly complicated subjects such as selecting your investment choices for an IRA (Individual Retirement Account), wait because GailMarksJarvis untangles all the mess of the financial jargon right in front of your eyes. This book goes right to the core of the problem and solves it. This book is aimed at the people who need to know how to make good choices confidently for their retirement investment plans. After reading this book you will feel empowered by knowing exactly what to do regarding investment planning and you will also save thousands of dollars following her outstanding advice.
Good advice.......2007-08-27
But why all these good practices cannot be performed by the state itself, instead of the individuals??
Excellent plain english guide.......2007-07-17
After purchasing several retirement books, this book stands out for the no nonsense approach to retirement. The books also provides web links with up to date tools and calculators that make it even more practical. One especially great feature of this book is that regardless of your age, income, or current retirement knowledge, it provides a way for all to get in the game and get on track to retire. I highly recommend this book.
Precious book!!!!.......2007-06-29
At the end of the book, I logged into my 401K and immediately noticed that I was not diversified. With what I learned in the book, I was able to change my investment direction percentages with confidence and knowledge. This book to me is a vaulable tool.
Well Done Gail!.......2007-06-22
I had the pleasure of hearing you speak at the Mpls/S. Paul Investors Fair several years ago. I've been a fan of your column and have the newspsper clippings to show for it. Thank you for putting all of the down-to-earth knowledge in a well written and easy to understand book. I've used several of the calculators and realize I have to beef things up a bit although I'm not in as bad a shape as I had thought. This is truly a "must read" for anyone interested in getting a handle on their retirement planning. I know what I'm giving everyone for presents this year! Thanks Gail!
Book Description
At last! A book to help you win the headline grabbing mega jackpot games of Powerball and Mega Millions! All the systems in Lotto Winning Wheels for Powerball & Mega Millions have GUARANTEED WINS -- which means specific minimum win guarantees. The book has a wide variety of wheeling systems in every price range, from $2 up to $100's and wheels up to 53 of your favorite numbers. Minimum Win Guarantees are shown for each system, both WITH and WITHOUT the sixth ball. It also shows the Maximum Number of Multiple Prizes it's possible to win both WITH and WITHOUT the sixth ball. As in all Gail Howard's wheeling books, her unique copyrighted built-in Balanced Games and Times in the Wheel handicapping feature refine her wheels to a state-of-the-art science. Budget Wheel Finder by Ticket Cost and Budget Wheel Finder by Numbers to Wheel help you quickly locate the right wheel to use for the amount of numbers you want to wheel and the amount of money you want to spend on tickets. Besides Powerball and Mega Millions, this book is for Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2, CA SuperLotto, KS Super Cash, Lotto Texas, WA Lotto Plus Gold, Australian Powerball, Canada Wild 5, England Thunderball, Greek tzoker, Indian Sakkim Thunderball, Trinidad/Tobago Lotto Plus, Turkey Sans Topu.
Customer Reviews:
To Get the Updated 2006, 2nd Edition, Search: ISBN 0945760418.......2007-03-13
Amazon has in stock, ready to ship, the 2006, 2nd edition of the Powerball and Mega Millions book. To get the new edition for the 55 and 56-ball games, type the ISBN number: 0945760418 in the search bar and it will come right up.
The odds are against you not for you........2006-08-19
Winning is pure luck. There is no amount of strategy unless you are already rich. And believe it or not rich people play too. They can buy 100 tickets week. I cannot. But in reality it only takes ONE set of numbers to win anyway.
Gail conviently leaves out this one very fact. 71% of winners are quick picks. The rest here and there over the years have been their own numbers. You cannot predict the powerball.
The book has good ideas but how many people have won by using some kind of random system? I doubt any. It is all luck, pure and simple.
Lucky Lucky !.......2005-11-02
I bought this book and sent it to my sister who lives in a Powerball state. She likes to pick her own "lucky" numbers, but I suggested that she use the numbers she gets intuitively, and add to it a good knowlege of Gail Howard's process of using "smart luck". My sister says that she feels better and stronger about her numbers, and has already had one small payout. I think that the more you study this book, the luckier you will get!
Not Very Useful Unless You Can Afford to Spend A Lot of Money, Buying a Lot of Tickets Per Game..........2005-07-13
I found her concept very, VERY good, BUT, unless you're really flush and can afford to spend a great deal of money for a LOT of number combinations per game, it certainly doesn't increase your odds much. Now... there ARE folks who can afford, and DO buy, many ticket combinations per game... so for THEM this may be helpful; however, for the average person who buys only a few number combinations each game, this is a waste of time. Sorry Gail :o( !!
Disappointed.......2005-03-09
I bought this book, because I thought I will get some new insights on the big money lotteries, but I do not think there is anything of value there. I have the older book of Gail Howard; used to play Fantasy 5; 2 of 5 and 3 of 5 are the highest prizes I have ever won. Do not get caught by the hype: This book won't tell you how to win the big money lotteries - in fact, all that Gail Howard says is that it's very difficult to predict the Powerball ball, and the Powerball ball cannot be wheeled anyway. Guess I shouldn't have spent my money to learn that... The book is no different from her previous book, Lotto Wheel Five to Win. Well, the new one has some shorter wheels than the previous one (that is why I give two stars), but if you are into wheeling, you will be able to find them elsewhere. The book has a very long section (some 20+ pages) of ads about Howard's other books and software. Hey, you pay for that too! You'd be better off spending your $$ on a couple of extra tickets...
Book Description
Lottery Master Guide is the most comprehensive book on scientific lottery strategy ever written. Once you apply the methods in this book, you will never look at Lotto numbers the same way again. By using the powerful and effective rules and tools in Lottery Master Guide, you'll learn how to spot specific numbers for specific drawings, and make the best use of the dollars you spend on Lotto. You will learn to recognize the winning patterns that produce winning numbers--and spot the Hot Numbers of tomorrow... TODAY!!!
Lottery Master Guide is a virtual library of indispensable lottery information--everything serious players need to know about pick-5, pick-6, pick-10, Powerball and The Big Game. It also lists state and Canadian lottery addresses, telephone numbers, drawing result hot lines, odds, drawing days, etc. After you have read Lottery Master Guide from cover to cover, not only will you be on your way to winning more prizes, but you will be an authority on lotteries--and you will have the world's best strategies to beat them!
LOTTERY MASTER GUIDE REVEALS HOW YOU CAN:
* Turn a game of chance into a game of skill. (Page 2)
* Reduce the odds by millions. (Page 32)
* Buy fewer tickets yet have a greater chance to win. (Page 90)
* Discover the one thing ALL jackpot winners have in common. (Page 165)
* Tell if a number is about to start a long losing streak before it loses 15 or 20 games or more. (Page 53)
* Know when to play--or when not to play--a specific number for a specific drawing. (Page 68)
* See how often you can expect to trap the six, five, four or three winning numbers in your wheeled group. (Page 128)
* Tell which "cold" number is best to play. (No, it is not the number out the longest!) (Page 44)
* Detect at a glance which numbers are hot and which are not. (Page 53)
* Avoid playing Lotto numbers that are sure to lose. (Page 19)
* Cash in on the luck of others. (Page 152)
* Eliminate one quarter to one fifth of the Lotto numbers in your state's game and turn a 49-number game into a 39-number game. (Page 39)
* Know how many cold, lukewarm, and hot numbers to include on your tickets. (Page 41)
* Spot a Hot Number before it gets hot--so you can be on it when it starts its winning streak. (Page 53)
* Know which of last game's WINNING numbers has the best chance of winning the next drawing. (Page 65)
* Know which of last game's LOSING numbers have the best chance of winning the next drawing. (Page 68)
* Tell which numbers have an affinity to win most often with your strongest numbers. (Page 71)
* Cash on the most predictable indicator--the balancing Bias Tracker(tm). (Page 34)
* Learn how to choose the best and eliminate the rest. (Page 45)
Customer Reviews:
Simplistic and very overpriced........2007-05-09
I assumed a book costing $25 would be a valuable addition to my knowledge of playing the Lotto and Lottery. Gail Howard is more hype than substance. Having read and studied Professor Jones' books, and other significant authors on the subject of statistical analysis, this book is trite and unsubstantial.
Like "Sylvia the Psychic" on Montel, Ms. Howard has parleyed her image to connote a knowledge of Lotto but I would pass on her book. I feel like it was a sham and it cost me $25 for nothing.
Lottery Master Guide.......2007-01-18
Just what I was looking for. An in depth look at a statistical way to predict lottery numbers, balanced wheels, and strategy guide. I am writing my own software and this book is proving very usefull for that effort.
Lottery.......2007-01-11
It was a good book and was very specific, but fun, in ways to play the lottery and win.
Powerball Winner.......2006-10-05
On 8-30-06, I had four out of five white balls and the red Power ball for a $10,000.00 win along with the Power Play of four (4) for a total of $40.000.00. I used the information in Gail Howard's "Lottery Master Guide" to select my Power ball. I used Gail's system 53130-2 Win 3 with 4 right, 30 Numbers in 9 games (2 Power) system for $9. Gail Howard's systems have allowed me to win many small prizes, however, this was my first big win.
Ron Johnson
LOTTERY MASTER GUIDE.......2006-07-15
As yet, I have not put the contents of this book to the test. It is the only guide to winning the Lottery that I have attempted to read, but am, so for, impressed.
The strategies make sense and I expect them to work for me.
A key message is that there is no such thing as 'random'. This is an ordered Universe and Lotto numbers are no exception. They create patterns. A study of those patterns will reveal the secret to winning.
A favourable review of this book could be counter productive. Many winners means less money to go around. However, it does require patience and some diligent self application. This, I hope, will be a deterrent.
Customer Reviews:
Gerri's Review.......2006-03-24
It is easy to understand the analysis of numbers and position of numbers frequencies as reference for determining lotto numbers. I feel the combinations and wheeling systems are too complicated for beginning lotto players like myself.
Interesting but incomplete.......2006-03-20
This is an interesting book, and seems to make sense but doesn't really tell how to adapt the "wheeling" technique for five-wheel lottos. Acceptable value for the price.
TRUTH ABOUT WINNING : It's a Q-U-E-S-T........2003-12-18
I did find some facets of the book very interesting such as conducting frequency analysis on numbers to see which ones show up most often and which numbers are overdue. The book does contradict itself, though, when it tells the reader not to indulge in Powerball because of the odds, yet the book dedicates several pages to playing Powerball. There are several examples of wheels in book that are interesting -- but in my own game playing style, I've made some modifications to these wheels to reduce redundancy. My advice to those that enjoy playing the lotto/lottery is: DEVELOP YOUR OWN PLAYING STYLE -- and work on developing your intuition, especially if you are a receptive to the concept. My gut feeling told me that the next round was going to draw low numbers and numbers that have shown up 4 and 5 times in the last year. So these were the type of numbers I wheeled. I didn't win but my numbers were very close to the winning numbers. I felt a sense of satisfaction because I improved my odds of winning, my decision making skills, and my ability to make an educated guess based on looking at the numbers rather than purely guessing. And these are just some of the reasons I play the lotto/lottery. The bottom line is this: KNOW YOURSELF AND KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. AND GO FOR IT WITH GUSTO! No matter what, you'll always come out a winner with that attitude.
The Best Source to having a good chance at winning Millions........2003-06-03
Time and time again people play the lottery, but fall short
because some do not use any methods, but just pick whatever number comes to mind. Winning is about luck, and strategies
not just about picking whatever number.
The book has several chapters that talk about the ways, the
different ways one may improve on his game, Your lotto game.
It does not matter what game it is: Powerball, Texas Lotto, The Virginia Lottery because the literature will help you with what you want, and that is strategies. All you have too do is read the book plain and simple; i believe it is a small book because another Version of this book came out and is a litte bigger,but the author is still Professor Jones.
One method that will stick with you is the Frequency number theory. This Frequency theory talks about which number comes out the most in the lottery. The methods are simple to read, and are not time consuming as other books that offer strategies that you may think are good but are nothing but one thing: JUNK & PURE CONFUSION.
Regardless of what one or any one says, we all want too be one thing:...Millionaires, with hot cars, houses, and the opposite sex wanting...us.
I also recommend lotto books on the Canadian Lottery, for more methods. But this book by Professor Jones is recommended. Mom and Pop or seven eleven store customer lotto players have more of a chance in winning with this book as compared to just throwing your money away...Best of luck to all Lotto players of all states. Book is recommended.
The Best Source to having a good chance at winning Millions........2003-06-03
Time and time again people play the lottery, but fall short
because some do not use any methods, but just pick whatever number comes to mind. Winning is about luck, and strategies
not just about picking whatever number.
The book has several chapters that talk about the ways, the
different ways one may improve on his game, Your lotto game.
It does not matter what game it is: Powerball, Texas Lotto, The Virginia Lottery because the literature will help you with what you want, and that is strategies. All you have too do is read the book plain and simple; i believe it is a small book because another Version of this book came out and is a litte bigger,but the author is still Professor Jones.
One method that will stick with you is the Frequency number theory. This Frequency theory talks about which number comes out the most in the lottery. The methods are simple to read, and are not time consuming as other books that offer strategies that you may think are good but are nothing but one thing: JUNK & PURE CONFUSION.
[...] Book is recommended.
Book Description
This book provides you with a system that guarantees that you will win the lottery at or above a specified Prize Level. Imagine being able to purchase only 197 tickets for a Pick 6 out of 51 ball LOTTO game and be guaranteed at least one of your tickets will have 3 out of the 6 numbers placing you half way to the jackpot. The combinations listed in this book are the result of over ten years of effort and thousands of hours of computer processing time. They were generated using a patented Lotto Minimization System, a computerized system which filters through the billions of combinations possible within the Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6 and Pick 7 LOTTO-style games to determine the minimum specific combinations needed to guarantee that you will have at least one winning ticket. We wish you the best of luck, and hope that you find our system easy and fun to use, as well as your ticket to the jackpot!
Customer Reviews:
Pick 6 Combinations.......2001-08-22
A comprehensive listing of "Wheels" or Covers for lottery players who might not have the time or resources to generate their own. Covers 2, 3 and 4 hits very well. Hopefully there will be a series 2 for 5 hits. Readers need to understand what a wheel is and how to use the listings but that is relatively obvious.
no title.......2001-04-16
i just want to know how to order your books i want one on how to beat the lottery
Customer Reviews:
Smart solutions and easy to analyze.......2005-06-02
Professor Jones writes an easy to follow book that can increase your odds of winning. His positional analysis and sum total strategies are excellent tools, and tha fact that he has a degree in statistics give him more clout.
It could be better.......2002-11-27
This book does offer some basic and simple analytical methods about how to choose winning numbers. These methods can be easily abserved by a perceptive lotto player. Also the book discusses a bit about the winning combinations (Dimitriv systems). So basically, there is not much of some creative work. It's for very starters.
A brief overview of statistical strategies.......2002-09-04
The book focusses on three main types of lotteries being played in North America today: 3/4 ball lotteries, 649 style lotteries, and Keno. Powerball and scratch 'n win lotteries are also mentioned. Prof Jones details the major statistical approaches which can be used to maximize the odds of winning any given lottery. Wheeling systems, both full and abbreviated, are discussed. This is a relatively short, small book; it contains plenty of practical 'how to' advice. Players who wish to simply follow a set of cookbook instructions will be right at home here.
I deducted one star simply because I would have preferred a larger book, with more statistical proof to validate the approaches mentioned. I also felt that the discussion of abbreviated wheeling systems was, well, abbreviated; there are a number of templates - hundreds - and while these could have been included, Prof Jones would prefer to sell them to you as a separate product advertised in the back of the book. Still, he does include several commonly used templates, and explain their use.
Actually, there are a number of products advertised in the back of the book, most of them sold by Prof Jones. While I normally prefer my books to be advertisement free, I felt that including advertisements for products very likely to be of great interest to the purchaser probably isn't a huge sin. So, in this case, I chose not to deduct a point. To his credit, there isn't any evidence to indicate that Prof Jones has edited his book in such a way as to make purchase of additional items mandatory. While the products advertised will make the methods described in the book easier to implement, the book does stand on its own.
There are no examples in the book of how odds improve using his methods. There is also no discussion as to whether his methods will improve your odds enough to break even or show a small profit; but, given that there are absolutely no specific financial claims mentioned, it would not surprise me to discover that you'll still lose money by gambling. Whether you'll lose less using the methods in this book is by no means clear.
The book is by no means an exhaustive exploration of the topic; it is more like a 300 MPH overview from 10,000 feet. What it does do is provide the beginning gambler with a basic introduction into choosing numbers which may be more likely to hit. It will stimulate thought, and give the number crunchers something to keep them crunching away into the wee, small hours of the night.
Aside from its brevity and lack of concrete examples and statistical proof, there's really nothing wrong with the book. It's a quick and easy read; it does have specific step by step examples on choosing numbers; and if you believe that statistical analysis will improve your lottery results, then this book is not a bad place to start.
Good luck!
Great workable info .........2002-07-02
I have played lotteries for more than 18 years, learning a lot along the way. This book is one of the best I have read. It is no-nonsense, direct, easy-to-read info...without marketing and sales deceptions.
Knowledge that your neighbor wont tell You.......2001-04-28
i have to say that this is a better version, this is the second version of it, and i must say that it is good. You have to believe in yourself when you play and apply the strategies that Professor Jones says in his book. I dont know his first name but he goes by Professor Jones. Any the methods in the first book will be elaborated even more, along with new methods that he has come up himself (prof jones). the frequency method and the hot numbers are very important strategies when playing the game. it does not matter whether you play the Virginia lottery or the Oregon lottery, or any other lottery out there. they are good. even though i have not won yet, but other reviews here say that they have won okay money. as for myself, i only get a couple of numbers actually (2 out of the six)but it is best something as compared to obtaining absolutely nothing...dont loose patience, itis best to have these strategies than just going on blind luck or guess. just think about it, if your young winning 4 million dollars is alot, and if your old is still good---- book is highly recommended, and i will say this, books such as these are hard to find in just a regular book store where one lives. book is highly recommended more strategies for one to use to your everyday playing in increasing your odds in winning. dont buy the computer stuff offers rely on the book....good luck to lotto players
Average customer rating:
- She's got game!
- Good Role Model
- I wish I had not bought this book
- Good Overview
- Excellent book,I felt as if I won the lottery as well!
|
On Winning the Lottery
Maureen D. Baldwin
Manufacturer: Winners Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Financial Planning
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Lotteries
| Gambling
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Business Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Lottery-Winners' Guide: When It Happens to You
-
The Basics of Winning Lotto/Lottery (Basics of Winning)
ASIN: 0966467604 |
Customer Reviews:
She's got game!.......2007-03-13
The financial information presented is precisely what a potential lottery winner needs in order to avoid becoming one of the 30% who end up filing bankruptcy. Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us hopefuls.
This book also relates perfectly how important it is to set up documents such as trusts and partnerships BEFORE turning in the ticket. It is unequivocally the best source I've ever seen on this topic. Now I know exactly what to do when I win.
What a great MOVIE this book would make...today's Beverly Hillbillies.
Good Role Model.......2006-07-24
I am so curious about lottery winners. I bought this book having read a description of it, thus knowing that it would be a story about people who had a positive experience with "sudden millionairity". I would still enjoy reading a salacious description of the train wrecks that start with a winning lottery ticket, I admit it.
But to be realistic, should I ever suddenly come into a vast amount of money, I would turn to this book for good advice. These people handled their win in an exceptionally rational way, and that may not make the most sensational story, or the most expected story. They may be exceptional in that, I don't know!! (Another thing I am curious about is the statistics of lottery winners: how many have mild, rational experiences like this with it, how many have "train-wreck" stories.)
I wish I had not bought this book.......2003-02-11
This was apparently a self published title from "Winners Press" and a good ego boost for the author. I guess if I were a lottery winner, I would pay to get my name in print but maybe give the books away instead of taking advantage of people and charging for a book like this.
Did not learn anything expect that they seem to be enjoying having won $13.5 million. If they get another $13.5, I wonder if they will use to refund money to those who purchased this book.
Glad they were lucky enough to win the lottery and not have it ruin their lives terribly.
Another reviewer titled the review "disappointed." Wish I had read that first as that was exactly how I felt.
Good Overview.......2002-05-01
I thought this was a good general overview of the whole process: planning, winning, distribution, and living the rest of your life. I would have liked a little less personal info and more information about the financial decisions, as in, what where their options for banking and taxes, what made them decide on the trusts, etc. For example, she brings up the question of depositing more than the FDIC insured 100K into a bank, but shrugs it off since they don't keep it there long, which is not really explained. I wanted more of those types of details. But she did a good job with charts showing how they divided the winnings, and they were very generous to their kids and church (lots of tithing info, which doesn't interest me but will interest others). Certainly, they went about it the right way. When she explained some payment mistakes I didn't understand them because of the lack of financial details but in general a good quick vicarious read, especially with the cute photos of the ticket and newspaper articles, and yes, you are happy for them. As a seemingly "traditional" wife in the marriage, I was also pleased to see that she got total control of half the winnings, 50-50, you go girl!
Excellent book,I felt as if I won the lottery as well!.......2000-09-17
Even though I was disappointed to find out that the technique they used to win turned out to be "picking numbers out of a hat" this book was an excellent interpretation of life as a lottery winner.It made me feel as if I was there going through everything with them from the excitement of verifying the ticket as a winner to making financial decisions on spending and distributing amongst family members!
Book Description
The Red Dragon & The West Wind is the perfect introduction to this ancient game of strategy and subterfuge, covering all aspects of the two most common varieties, American and Chinese, along with an overview of other global approaches.
The book begins with the history and origin and moves on to the rules of play and ways to win and avoid essential errors as well as the etiquette to follow. With everything from clear instructions on dealing, building, and distributing tiles to a look at the history and future of the game, this is the essential book for anyone who wants to have fun–and win–while playing mah–jongg.
Customer Reviews:
Great Content, Cheap Paper.......2007-09-26
Excellent, thorough explanation of both American and Chinese styles of play by today's top authority. A-plus for content. However, shame on Harper Collins for the cheap ground wood paper. This is a book I'll want to keep for years, but will the pages will be brittle and yellowed when I pull it off the shelf in a couple of years? This excellent book deserves a better, more durable package.
A British style of playing and scoring in Mah Jongg ?.......2007-08-23
I have been playing Mah Jongg for many years but have never seen a complete set of rules and scoring. It was very interesting to see these details in the book I purchased and I would hope, eventually, to contact Tom Sloper and discuss the rules and scoring that I have been using as compared with those he published.
Henry Munday.
Finally, the world's #1 authority on mahjong has written a book........2007-07-10
Until now there has never been a book in any language that provided such a thoughtful and accurate description of how to play and how to win these two popular and important variations of mahjong.
Tom Sloper is the undeniable world authority on all things mahjong. He plays in championship tournaments all over the globe, was producer of a computer mahjong game, moderates a mahjong newsgroup, and maintains the Internet's most authoritative mahjong website.
One of the best , most comprehensive books on Mahj ever........2007-06-15
Tom Sloper, who has long been regarded as THE expert on Mah Jongg, has really outdone himself on this excellent and incredibly complete book. He covers not only the Chinese versions but the NMJL version which has long been ignored by most Mah Jongg books. I especially loved the wealth of knowledge that Tom shares in the History & Appendix sections and the excellent strategy tips. Treat yourself and visit his top notch Mahj web site too.
Book Description
By 36, with fewer advantages than most, Dianne Nahirny achieved early retirement without compromising her middle-class lifestyle-and on an average yearly salary of under $20,000. In Stop Working . . . Start Living, Dianne covers financial concepts through humorous anecdotes of her family's influence on her money-handling skills. Stories about her jobs, her investments, homes, and extravagances demonstrate her finesse and her blunders. Each chapter concludes with a point form summary. Dianne reveals the way to achieve financial freedom in a proven "do as I do" and not a "do as I say" format. Dianne tells readers how to customize and achieve "the plan." She watches her expenses, sometimes spends lavishly, and owns her own home. Dianne is living her dream. Whether you want to retire very early, early, or late, Stop Working . . . Start Living provides the tools and the advice-from someone who has done it.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful read, plus good advice & encouragement! HOWEVER...........2006-09-21
As you can tell from my four-star rating of this book, I do very much like it; indeed, I find it a much more engaging read than many other "early retirement" books. In fact, being myself an early retiree for years already, I can personally relate to many things the lovely Ms. Nahirny advocates throughout her narrative.
However, in the spirit of providing a "reality check", I feel inclined to point out several cold facts to prospective readers of this book.
First, "American" (i.e., U.S.) readers should bear in mind that Ms. Nahirny is a Canadian, and therefore her routine health-care expenditures are surely only a fraction of what they'd be were she to purchase the typical American's level of health insurance. (We've all heard of the "free" national health care available to all Canadian citizens.) Mind you, I myself only spend about $82 monthly for my American health insurance, but that only buys a bare-bones, "$5,000-deductible" policy; hence, even though I'm in good health and generally only require a tiny handful of visits to the doctor yearly, I still end up spending at least a "noteworthy" sum for health care annually.
Even more significantly, U.S. readers should bear in mind the fairly substantial monetary difference between Canadian and American dollars. On pages 98 through 101, Ms. Nahirny discusses her net worth, and she states that, as of 2000, it had risen to $300,000, which, in American dollars (as of this writing) would actually be roughly equivalent to "only" $265,966. Furthermore, she makes clear that her equity in her house (amounting to $170,000) made up the largest portion of her net worth. In other words, the REST of her assets amounted to only $130,000 (Canadian), which would be equivalent to only $115,296 (American). "Do the math" (not omitting inflation and taxation, and factoring a realistic, safe rate of return on assets), and you'll quickly perceive that that amount of money (starting in the year 2000) wasn't likely to finance genuine retirement for any "middleclass" citizen in Canada--much less the USA--for another three decades or longer. [If I'm missing something here, somebody please bring it to my attention.] Of course, Ms. Nahirny could always sell her house and thereby derive more interest income per year; but she doesn't sound inclined to do so any time soon. Therefore, take her touted claim of being literally "retired" with the proverbial grain of salt. "SEMI-retired" would seem more accurate. I suspect she'll be continuing to engage in some part-time employment for years to come--unless, that is, she's received an inheritance (or other windfall) since her book was published in 2001. Nothing wrong with that!
On an admittedly much less significant note, I also think that the frugal Ms. Nahirny is missing out on sizeable budgetary savings by not accepting her brother's advice to use a bicycle for (at least some of) her transportation around town. Hey, if I can still manage it comfortably at age 53 (and I'm embarrassingly far from an athlete), surely svelte Dianne could have managed it in her mid 30's and beyond. [TIP: Just install a rear rack compatible with a stylish, compact-but-very-expandable, quickly and easily attachable/detachable, zippered "trunk bag" (including normally hidden--yet capacious--zippered "panniers" that can hang down on both sides of the rear wheel). And, if you need even more carrying capacity, wear a small, cheap backpack.] Ms. Nahirny's only (vague) explanation of why she herself (unlike the "neighbor" she mentions) doesn't use a bike is the dismissive quip, "I couldn't see myself biking around the city". Therefore, her "final solution" to her transportation dilemma is to pay "a corporate rate" for "a limousine service" (!) because this is, at least, cheaper than owning a car. Frankly, it SOUNDS like she (much like certain other "middleclass" folks I know personally) simply has a bit of a (purely psychological/emotional) problem with being SEEN on a bike! Yet, ironically, she conveys elsewhere in her book that she doesn't much care what other people think about various (unconventional) money-saving schemes she (generally wisely) employs! In this vein, if you know much about (the late) Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (authors of the bestseller "Your Money or Your Life"), then you know that THEY, approaching their sixties, still were making considerable use of their bicycles for getting around "hilly, rainy Seattle". Ms. Nahirny goes to considerable lengths to save several bucks a year by using, for example, old newspapers (instead of paper towels) to wipe her countertops--or even by reusing some of her household water--yet she thinks little of continually funding a "chauffeur" to drive her around town. Shoot, by the time she's called (and patiently awaited the arrival of) her "convenient" limousine, she might as well have pedaled halfway--or maybe all the way--to her destination, not to mention the obvious budgetary and bodily benefits. But, hey, "to each his own". ;-)
Despite my qualifying remarks above, I strongly like Ms. Nahirny's book. Among its many virtues, there are numerous money-saving tips for anyone wanting to squeeze every last bit of value from their dollar--be the latter Canadian or "American". ;-)
Awesome book.......2005-06-12
This is a great book. I only wished I had come across it many years sooner. It is inspiring that someone has actually retired before 40 without hitting the lottery or inheriting a fortune from ancestors. Dianne gives doable tips and references.
So Helpful!.......2005-03-14
I've just finished reading the new edition of this book, and it has been the most positive experience for finally getting me to realize how badly I was sabotaging my life and my finances. Better than that, thanks to her practical ideas, it became easy to manage my money, start saving, and get my money working for me! Her story is inspirational, and the latest edition of the book includes an up-to-date account of how her methods keep producing profits. Her experiences are REAL, that most people can relate to; she's actually done these things herself, and isn't just yet another financial author telling you what your should do, blah, blah, blah. What makes the book 'excellent' is that her examples and stories, along with being inspirational, are quite funny! As well, she regularly posts her personal finance articles for free on her website, www.smartmakeovers.com, which is a real bonus.
Extremely boring.......2003-12-05
I don't know why this books gets 5 stars as a review, because I don't see it that way. She really goes on and on about the details of her life which is annoyingly somewhat irrelevant. I think this is more of an autobiography rather than a "get rich quick" book. Most of it is common sense. Obviously there is a difference between needs and wants. This concept has been repeated in other financial books on the shelf. And also about "comparison" shopping; that's even more obvious. It's a given that you SHOULD comparison shop before you buy ANYTHING. This book let me down. Lucky I picked it up from the library and didn't actually buy it. Read "The Millionaire Mind" for a more pleasant reading in acquiring traits that could lead you to being rich.
Making a case for being frugal.......2002-05-15
Think of this as a diet book for money. Everyone knows that they should really have a budget, not make impluse purchases, save 10% of her income etc, but like with dieting, willpower only goes so far. The strengh of the book isn't that its another How to Budget book but that it helps you re-examine your attitudes towards money management. She makes a very strong case that being frugal doesn't mean living without.
But like with Dieting, her ideas are great but easier said than done.
Average customer rating:
|
Lottery winners: How they won and how winning changed their lives
H. Roy Kaplan
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
| Accounting
| Biography & History
| Business Life
| By Publisher
| Economics
| Finance
| General
| Industries & Professions
| International
| Investing
| Job Hunting & Careers
| Management & Leadership
| Marketing & Sales
| Organizational Behavior
| Personal Finance
| Popular Economics
| Real Estate
| Reference
| Skills
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Women & Business
General
| Genealogy
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Lottery-Winners' Guide: When It Happens to You
ASIN: 0060122579 |
Books:
- Scanning: The Aberrant Architectures of Diller + Scofidio
- Sengoku Nights Volume 2
- Shadow Dance: A Novel
- Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master
- Survival of the Fittest (Alex Delaware)
- Teach Yourself Catalan Complete Course Package (Book + 2CDs) (Teach Yourself Language Courses)
- The Complete Book of Birdhouse Construction for Woodworkers
- The Complete Book Of Hold 'Em Poker: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing and Winning
- The Ducati Story 4th Edition: Racing and Production models from 1945 to present day
- The E-Business Legal Arsenal: Practitioner Agreements and Checklists
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Bankruptcy And Debtor/creditor: Examples And Explanations
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- Soundtrack Available: Essays on Film and Popular Music
- Reyner Banham: Historian of the Immediate Future
- The Glass Castle: A Memoir
- The Street Lawyer
- The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Co
- Why and How Audits Must Change: Practical Guidance to Improve Your Audits
- Shifting Involvements: Private Interest and Public Action
- The Gardens of Covington: A Novel
Why Smart People Do Stupid Things with Money: Overcoming Financial Dysfunction
Tiptionary 2: Save Time and Money Every Day with Over 2,300 All-New Tips
The Six-Day Financial Makeover: Transform Your Financial Life in Less Than a Week!
GET A FINANCIAL LIFE : Personal Finance In Your Twenties And Thirties
Money Can Buy Happiness: How to Spend to Get the Life You Want
