We're three months into 2011 and I'm on a kick of reading personal finance books. I'm sure many of you made resolutions to save money, spend less and pay off debt. Most of us are still recovering from 2008, the year that recession really hit America. The auto companies went bankrupt. Laborers were laid off or forced to retire early. The foreclosure rate increased. The stock market took a dive. The government was forced to bail out major institutions. Many Americans lost their homes and jobs. I could go on and on, but you get the drift. Since then, I've been getting more requests than ever to create personal budgets and to provide financial consulting. Basically, we're a bunch of hot broke messes.
Author Nancy Trejos is a personal finance columnist for the Washington Post. Frugality isn't new to her. She grew up middle-class with parents who made $60,000/year combined, with two siblings in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Hot (broke) Messes is mostly about her own life experiences with a few tips mingled in. I personally didn't learn much, with the exception of a beauty tip for skin (Use Johnson & Johnson baby oil gel in the shower for greater skin moisture). It offers standard guidelines:
- Determine financial goals.
- Keep all receipts.
- Ask for freebies.
- Find dual uses for items.
- Assess your needs.
- Shop online for bargains.
- Find a personal finance consultant.
If you are unsure how to handle your own personal finances, then this book will offer basic tips to get started. If you already abide by a personal budget, then it's not worth reading unless you need a refresher.