Debt-Free Living: How to Get Out of Debt (And Stay Out

Rating:
Summary: Good Book & useful software
Review: Debt-FREE Living is not so much a "how-to-get-out-of-debt" manual as it is a "change-your-mindset-about-money" type of book. The book basically takes you through the stories of several couples' struggles with debt from the reasons they got into debt to how they eventually got out. It is written from a Christian perspective, so much of the advice is based upon the author's interpretation of key scriptural texts regarding money and debt.

While much of the information is good so far as it goes, it is often too general in nature to be of great use to those who are really seeking (and needing) specific advice. From the subtitle of the book, "How to get out of debt and stay out" some prospective buyers may get the impression that this is a "how-to" book--that is, that it will run through an exhaustive list of specific things they can do to get out of debt. Unfortunately, that is not the focus of the book. It does, however, have very good information on personal bankruptcy should you be contemplating that particular option, and it also comes with SnapShot Gold debt management software which should make the book/CD ROM combo worth the price.

Rating:
Summary: Good, if you can wade through the fluff
Review: I had few problems with the main crux(es) of this book, but not based on the bitterness that reviewer Beth obviously has. The book proposes broad underlying principles which, if followed, will definitely leave a person/family in a far superior position than they would otherwise enjoy. I would ask reviewers that criticize the book for its inapplicability if they consistently violate some of the principles it espouses and if perhaps this just might have some bearing on their present financial condition. I don't speak from a position of having arrived at a place of superiority; being presently deep in debt, my finances represent the antithesis of the principals promoted by Mr. Burkett. The book has merely allowed me to see some of the errors in my thinking that has led me into making the bad decisions that resulted in my indebtedness, and I'm now on the way out.

The form of the book is its downfall - hoaky, irritating stories of couples with financial problems comprise the bulk of the material. Sometimes, these real-life stories can be helpful, but I think much of this could have been kept to a minimum. Mr. Burkett seems to have "padded" the book in this way to make what could have been a book half its size more meaty. But overall, a good read with Biblical principals, although I'm still a little skepital about the controversy of the "tithe".

Rating:
Summary: Must-have reference book!
Review: Money. Is there a way to escape dealing with its hold on us? Only with God's help, and Burkett succinctly demonstrates and explains God's financial plan and how He expects us to approach money management.

Burkett, founder and president of Christian Financial Concepts, provides a thorough line by line guidebook to eliminating debt-all debt.

He shows us real life examples of couples who have come to him for counseling, (some so extreme that you would think there was absolutely no hope) and by applying God's principles brought them back to peace with God and their finances.

This book is a must-have reference book for those who are interested in studying God's view on money management or those who hope to counsel others.

--- reviewed by Robin Rider for Christian Bookshelf

Rating:
Summary: responce to review
Review: Save your money and buy 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying by Suze Orman instead.

First of all Debt-Free Living : How to Get Out of Debt and Stay Out by Larry Burkett will only work in my opinion if you are the average person who simply has gotten into a bad habit of spending money and not making any wise spending habits at all. And if you live in average areas of the country where incomes are steady and you do not suffer from man made messes like Californias energy crisis, high gas prices and God made problems like earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Having read the negative reviews and having my doubts I went out of my way to check the book out for myself. It didn't fit my needs since the debt we have was caused by a drunk driver who when he hit my husband while driving home, completely altered our lives for decades, even though we had some insurance and some income protection. The book fails to address the serious aspects of things that happen that are not the persons fault.

For instance we have earthquakes here in CA and earthquake insurance is not only expensive but studies show that it isn't cost effective. With homes averaging 250k there is no way someone can save that much money in savings to cover replacing a lost home. I wont even go into CA EX insurance commissioner who was both a Christian and a conservative who allowed the insurance companies to... their customers over re: Northridge LA earthquake....

The author has NO idea or advise woth anything about how to protect oneself should a child get cancer and the 20% the medical insurance doesn't cover takes the family under. No advise on what to do when your high tech company goes belly up and you are out on the street.

The book is ONLY good IF you overspend and do pay bills and if you are basically an air head. And the author says NOTHING of value as far as a Christians responsibilty to help others in need.He writes about tithing. Tithing is something that supports the minister and keeps the church building in good repair. It has nothing to do with helping people who really deserve help.

And like it or not there are people who have done NOTHING wrong and need help that the author completely ignores. Help that should come from the Christian community but which doesn't.

It is one thing to have more children than you can support. One thing to buy two SRV's when two economy cars would be a better move, and when one buys a house that is to expensive to take care of and run. It is something 100% different when your child gets cancer, a spouse is hit by a drunk driver, or a spouse at age 50 is told they have Alzheimers and can no longer work.

Not everyone is well off like the author and other well known Christians and conservatives.For the hard cases that lack easy answers the only answer Larry Burkett and others will give is to pray.

Rating:
Summary: Solid Information
Review: This book is written from a Biblical perspective and non believers will find it hard to follow Larry Burkett's advice to tithe (give away 10% of your income to church or charity), one of the most important secrets for achieving financial independence. It also has a wealth (!) of information for people who are close to caling it quits before deciding on bankruptcy. And to the reviewers who found the stories corny, I can only say that any of these scenarios could easily happen to anybody who is less than savvy about their finances (80% of the general population?). I didn't give this book 5* because I wished there had been more information on how to whittle away at credit debt, and some of the optimal housing costs recommended totally ignore the reality for people living on the Northeast coast of the US (The West Coast proably, too!).

Rating:
Summary: Real Life situations
Review: This book was the best financial planning book I have ever read. It had real life situations that helped out alot. I didn't realize how much in debt I was until I read this. I didn't have a problem with making payments and even paying extra on them. But I never planned for a disaster or loss of a job. If you spend a couple of years paying off your debt, that is years of happiness just knowing you don't others money. This book helped me realize this. Thank You Larry Burkett for this and all of your other books, God was really with you during your writting.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money! no advice worthwhile here
Review: Unfortunately for me I actually bought this book. It [bites], just like their website crown dot org. They don't give good advice about how to get out of debt, not at all... they just admonish people who are IN debt. I have a friend who's written a really good book about getting out of debt... sensible, easy to follow information. It's called "Debt Free - One Paycheck at a Time". Look for it on her website called onepaycheckatatime dot com, but since I'm building her website (for free) it won't be up until mid January. Too bad, her course is great! I'm doing it now and very grateful that she took the time to write it. But THIS book by Larry Burkett stinks. I am going to take it back to the Christian book store where I bought it and ask for my money back. Make a note of Kim's website, when it is 'up' and you can buy the book, you'll be glad you did. It will be worth whatever she's gonna charge for it. 19.95 I think.
Seriously. I get no funds from her sales. I just know she knows what she's talking about.