Rating: 
Summary: Tells you how to make the most from your cash!
Review: Personal Finance for Dummies helps you sort out your finances from cutting wasteful spending to planning your savings. It makes the point that 'sheltering' you savings in tax free investment accounts (like pension schemes)can improve your financial health over the long-term. The book follows the tradition of 'Dummies' books in presenting a clear, concise and witty guide to a subject, in this case, managing money. I run my money quite well and I was not sure (being a resident of England) how much this book would help me. However, I bought it on the strength of the 'Dummies' brand name, researched the US financial terms and found their UK equivalent and I learned an incredible amount. It set me considering matters I had not thought about before. A friend tried the principles in the book and after some adjustment time he has got rid of his credit card debt and is saving on a regular basis for the first time. He feels much better about money as well. If you want to take your finances by the 'scruff of the neck' and get them working for you (instead of the other way around) then this is a great book!! It will be the best $15.99 you spend.
Rating:
Summary: If you make money, you need this book
Review: They don't teach personal finance in schools. In this book, author Tyson teaches what every high school in the nation should teach anyone who plans to earn money.This book provides excellent advice on how to save your money and how to set your savings and spending priorities. In particular, Tyson takes into account the tax advantages and disadvantages of various approaches, and he gives an easy to implement way to maximize the tax benefits that the government provides to encourage wise financial decisions. It is true that the author likes Vanguard's mutual funds and his book clearly recommends them (along with some others). He's in good company: Consumer Reports also recommends some of Vanguard's mutual funds, and Vanguard consistently has the lowest costs in the mutual fund industry. Finally, a word of advice: Avoid, avoid, avoid any book that recommends dubious tax evasion schemes like starting your own fictitious business for the purpose of taking tax deductions on personal expenses. Instead, buy this book and follow Tyson's recommendations on taking advantage of legitimate tax benefits associated with wise saving and spending.
Rating:
Summary: The most informatvie book on the subject I have ever read!
Review: I work as a financial professional, counseling individuals regarding the options in their employer-sponsored retirement plans. Although the counsel I can give is limited to their retirement plan, several have asked me for advice in other areas of their financial lives. I do not hesitate to recommend this book. Whether you are starting from square one in getting your financial house in order, or your checkbook is balanced to the penny every week, there is information in this book that will benefit you. The "For Dummies" format is perfect for this subject, and Eric Tyson does an excellent job of breaking into layman's terms the most complex of finance and investing concepts. Also, an excellent section on selecting a financial planner is provided. I have often seen the devastating effects that the wrong financial advice has wrought in people's lives. The list of criteria to apply when seeking a financial advisor is one of the most valuable tools I have seen on the subject. This book is one of the most valuable resources I have ever seen in helping the average person get control of their financial lives. Applying its principles will pay immediate as well as long-lasting rewards.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a must have for every individual!
Review: After reading Personal Finance For Dummies I believe this book should be required reading for every High School Senior or College Freshman. It provides badly needed information on every financial situation an individual will encounter in a lifetime. The information is accurate, easy to understand and easy to find (for those that don't have time to read the entire book). As a 22 year old College Senior I can tell you that my peers are suffering because this information is not tought at home or in the schools. Their parents grew up in a world free of credit cards where the employeers took care of the investing. This book is a must have for everyone, the younger the better. I only wish I had found it before I bought that Whole Life Insurance and all those heavily loaded Mutual Funds. I bought a copy for everyone on my Christmas List!!!! A gift that will last a lifetime. PS. If you like it, buy Mutual Funds for Dummies, it's great also.
Rating:
Summary: Required Reading
Review: When I bought the first edition of this book, I was a poor post-graduate loaded with bad debt. At the time, I knew nothing about CD's, funds, stocks, bonds, insurance, 401(k)'s, home-buying, budgeting, saving, debt-reduction, taxes, or any other basic issues of personal finance. All I knew is that I never could seem to "get ahead" financially. Tyson's book led me from this sorry state through four years of self-education and growing self-confidence about controlling my own financial future. Even now, debt-free and market-positioned, I still reference this book when I encounter a new facet of my financial life. No "get-rich-quick" scheme, Tyson lays out a solid framework for anyone interested in getting and maintaining control of their own financial situation throughout a lifetime. The ideas he lays out help a person not only educate him/herself concerning money, but also instill confidence that a financial situation can be corrected or controlled personally. Although this book would serve as a valuable reference to ANYONE interested in their own financial future, it would especially be useful to a young person just "starting out" or to any person who feels overwhelmed by their own financial situation.
Rating:
Summary: Great start to personal finance
Review: When I entered the real world fresh out of graduate school, my financial situation was not too healthy, which most new graduates can empathize with. After overcoming the horror of my overwhelming debt, I started reading books on personal finance (a great hobby that is not expensive if you use libraries and friends). Personal Finance for Dummies was a very refreshing, practical book on personal finances. Unlike most books, it gave a lot of necessary PRACTICAL DETAILS in an EASY TO READ fashion. And it was not full of bogus get-rich-quick schemes or attempts to sell a plethora of expensive get-rich-quick products that you "need." If you want down to earth advice, read this book. The money it took to buy this book and the time it took to read this book were the two best investments I ever made! Two years later, I have investments, and I am almost debt-free. It took a lot of work and a lot more discipline. But without this book, I probably would not have come as far as fast. Good luck! Jason
Rating:
Summary: this book has changed my life!
Review: I recommend this book very highly to just about everyone. This is a down to earth guide to getting your personal finances into tip-top shape. No hype here. Just honest to goodness advice that took me from a hand-to-mouth existence and debt up to my eyeballs, to nearly no debt (just mortgage), money in the bank, and investments, plus nearly a paid-off home, all within about 5 years. Anyone willing to hold down a job and follow the common-sense advice in this book, should have no problems achieving similar goals. I should point out that this book is NOT about any "get-rich-quick" schemes, but about down to earth long-term investing, and money/finance management.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for the nuts and bolts of personal finance!
Review: Early in my investing "career", I used a financial planner or two. I realized that they don't always have YOUR best interest in mind. I decided to do all of my own personal financing and bought 2nd edition of this book a few years ago. One of the best purchases I have made. I have suggested it to many friends and relatives and go back to it often to get objective information. I can't say enough good things about it! If you are starting to get into personal financing - buy it!
Rating: 
Summary: Good place to start!
Review: This is a wonderful finance guide for anybody! It deals with the basics mostly (credit card debt is bad- don't spend more than you have...) This book is ideal for anyone who hasn't paid much attention to their finances, maybe a learning tool for teens and 20-somethings?
Rating:
Summary: From a foreigner point of view...
Review: Well written, Objective & Complete handbook about the way you manage money!!! I would definitely recommend this book even it cannot be applied completely to non-US countries. There are quite a lot of information related to US-Tax but all general advices are quite useful. The content is easy-to-understand. Note: If you buy the different books from Eric Tyson, some chapters dealing about the same subject might be the same.
Also, it tells you that the financial world is full of sharks and explains why... huuh? don't forget about conflicts of interests!!!!
| 
