About.com Book Review
Michael T. Killian

"A review of a book that gets the job done... COMPLETELY!"

There was a recent article called Learn How To Bank Like A Banker which offered numerous tips to save money in the area of banking. This was also an introductory article to a larger work by the same author, Kimberly Griffiths.

The title of this large piece is One Paycheck at a Time and this article will attempt to offer my impressions of it. At the reference link above you can also see other reviews as well as have the opportunity to order the book.

There are many things I enjoyed about this work... the first being the title. Kimberly utilizes a format wherein you master the first chapter with the first pay check. You then work on chapter 2 when you get the following paycheck... then chapters 3, 4, 5 etc. In fact each chapter includes in the title. the added novel inclusion "Paycheck XX" (1-24) in addition to the actual subject matter.

And her subject matter is quite extensive as well. Just look the subjects of each chapter headings.

1. The System- how to use the book
2. Real Trouble- including credit files and bankruptcy
3. Goals
4. Gift Giving
5. Automobile
6. Housing
7. Other Insurance Needs
8. Financing Education
9. Banking
10. Teaching Children
11. Household
12. Investments
13. Frugal Tips Online
14. Wardrobe
15. Food
16. Telecommunication
17. Entertainment and Vacation
18. Smart Shopping
19. The Money Relationship - your relationships with money and your relationship with your spouse via money
20. Make More Money - a how-to with many simple ideas
21. Gratefulness - I believe this to be a key issue in maintaining priorities in your life
22. Statistics of Money - What the average American spends
23. Summary

I also like the fact that each chapter has exercises to help you master the content of that chapter. In fact I found starting with chapter one, exercise after exercise which internalizes the content and cements facts with a written plan.

This is also an easy to follow book, written in simple language. That always turns me on when I know that whomever I suggest a book to, they will not get lost in credit jargon or legal mumbo jumbo.

But I believe the very best art of the book has absolutely nothing to do with the content. It has to do with the author. Kimberly comes from a background of having had 18 maxed out credit cards and $50,000 cash advance fees. Does this ring bells with anyone you know... maybe someone you look at in the mirror each day? But for clarification I should mention that Kimberly was not even aware of any of this until after a divorce from a spouse who was a gambling addict. By age 22 Kimberly was court ordered to be responsible for 1/2 of these marital debts. I always find it amazing that people with the most significant disadvantage always seem to be the ones who come out on top and then turn around realizing they can use there situation to help others. This seems to be the case with Kimberly Griffiths.

I believe Kimberly has a winner here for anyone serious about wanting to reduce their debt. I recommend her work to all of my readers and am very thankful that I had an opportunity to review this book. I also recommend all my readers read the reviews at the book site, One Paycheck at a Time. I happen to agree with each review.

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Rebeccasreads Review
Clallam Bay, WA United States

"A good teaching book about your wages!"

One Paycheck at a Time covers all the usual culprits: lack of organization; impulse buying; too costly gift giving; out-of-control wardrobe. It teaches about getting and paying for insurance; education; banking; investments; smart shopping; maintaining your automobile; making more money, and much, much more.

Rebeccasreads recommends One Paycheck at a Time for anyone in debt, especially those new to the workforce or parents whose youngsters are heading into the workforce.

Get a copy and start learning how to handle your hard-earned money, and check out Rebecca's interview with this author.

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Budget Stretcher Review
Terry Rigg

What a unique and logical approach to money management.

While the world is stuck on paying bills by the month, "One Paycheck at a Time" is providing an effective alternative, managing your money paycheck to paycheck.

Kimberly Griffiths, the author, is challenging you to look at your money differently and not be sucked in to allowing your creditors to dictate the terms of how you pay your bills. She shows you in great detail how this method can and will provide you with a better understanding of your complete financial picture with debt reduction and eventual elimination as the goal.

What really caught my eye was the enormous amount of money saving strategies found in this ebook. Each section provides you with tips, tricks and ideas on how to make managing your money a lot simpler and much more organized.

"One Paycheck at a Time" is not just for those experiencing money problems. I would highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for a better way to reduce their debt and get a handle on their finances.

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Book Review Café

A very informative, handy book that gives you advice on how to get a handle on your money and manage it better. One Paycheck at a Time author Kimberly Griffiths has been in debt and is going to help you get out of that financial rut.

With great tips on how to cut down on spending to pay off your debt, Griffiths shows you using charts and detailed explanations, what to do. From how to use cleaning products to the last drop, to simple chores around the house made easier and more cost-efficient, this book is a goldmine of useful information.

I highly recommend Griffiths advice on how to stretch each paycheck to its limit and still have money to do other things that you want or need to do. With some hard work and determination, anyone can benefit from this book.

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Frugal-Folks-Life eList Review

I recently was given the opportunity to review a book about getting your financial house in order. As the title of the book aptly states by repairing your ailing finances "One Paycheck at a Time".

The Introduction describes a money management disaster common in most homes in America today:

As a child growing up, who taught you about money? Who explained to you how to write a check to pay for a purchase or a bill? Was the money advice you received sound information? If you are like most people in North America, the extent of your personal money management knowledge came from your parents; how they saved it, spent it, gambled it. or wasted it, is where you learned your money management skills. As an adult, creditors and other financial instutions dicitate to you when bills are due and the terms of the loans. Choices you have made, and will make in the future, determine the success or failure of your financial destiny. Regardless of where you learned your money management habits. If you are living in debt paycheck after paycheck, let me help you reevaluate your fundamental understanding of money. Debt-Free. One Paycheck at a Time, will give you the tools needed to take charge of your financial life. It will redirect your course of action on your terms.
Debt is a fact of American life.

Ms. Griffiths continues in the introduction with some alarming statistics showing the thousands of ways we get enticed into debt and get trapped. Every person, today, is bombarded with suductive puffery enticing one to act on their emotions and buy without thought. Americans are media driven to buy often at all costs. She further states, "70% of households are living paycheck to paycheck (Source: Wall Street Journal)." Also, "The average American spends $1.22 for every dollar they earn (Myvesta.org, Inc.)."

The book is based on the terrible debts the author faced after a divorce at the age of 22 and the ways she learned to become debt-free. It is the compilation of the knowledge she obtained reading dozens of books and fighting in the pits to climb out of debt.

The first chapter is the basis of the book and sets up the system and is used as a reference throughout the rest of the program. The rest of the chapters are read one at a time at each pay period. The book is well structured with easy to follow good sense exercises. You begin with your first paycheck to understand the real value of your money. You can follow the steps that gain you control of your debts.

The book is very supportive and you feel the author understands your struggle. After just reading a few pages, you begin to feel you can really do it and your confidence grows with each chapter.

This book is one I wish I'd had years ago. It is still a must read for me and a reference I'll continue to use. After 58 years of struggle and experience I found tons of help in each chapter. I consider it a "must read" for anyone wanting to get their life in financial control and " Practice Frugality with Flare Without Feeling Deprived" (Frugal Folks Motto).

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Debt Steps Review

Practical Get Out Of Debt Workbook
Kimberly wrote this ebook to help others through the same thing she went through when she found herself saddled with $25,000 of debt from her ex-husband. This ebook is not a "what she did" book, but a step-by-step guide, set out on a paycheck-by-paycheck basis to help you understand your money, your debt, and how it affects your personal finances. Kimberly offers great tips to help stretch your budget, as well as practical advice to get you to your next paycheck. Featuring worksheets you can use to track your money and debts, and a simplified envelope system to help you get your debts paid off. I do recommend this personal finances ebook, and at only $9.95 it is a good investment in your financial future.

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Fearless Book Review

“In spite of the cost of living, it’s still popular.” — Kathleen Norris

Kimberly Griffiths truly knows our pain. She’s been there herself — riddled with overwhelming debt and struggling to scrape by, paycheck by paycheck. In this book she shares her hard-earned knowledge and her handy system of paying bills, including the reduction of credit card balances paycheck by paycheck instead of monthly, as most of us are used to doing. Her theory is this: By concentrating precious financial resources to pay off our “target” debt (while simultaneously budgeting for ongoing bills like utilities and rent) we will get out of debt that much faster and grow that much wiser about money use in general.

Griffiths’ book is not only about “number-crunching” our way out of debt. It gives pointers on how to cut back on some of our more extravagant lifestyles choices, such as eating out frequently and buying overpriced clothing. Taking a simple measure like bringing a sack lunch to work three times a week or shopping sales can resolve many of our cash flow problems. Of course, with all this extra money in our pockets we’d be smart to continue paying down our target debts and start up a fund for a rainy day cost such as a major car repair bill. Better yet, once we have enough money saved up for contingencies we can start saving in good faith toward a once in a lifetime splurge such as a trip abroad. Who says money has to be saved for something dull?

Packed with numerous Internet resources and budgeting charts, One Paycheck at a Time is a slim volume fat with helpful information on how to pull yourself out of debt and, once there, continue to experience a debt-free existence.— C.APPEL •

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Budget Savvy Magazine Book Review

If you are struggling to set up a system to get your finances under control, One Paycheck at a Time eTools may be the perfect solution. By entering your income and expenses into the program, eTools calculates a payment schedule, including suggested dollar amounts. This spending plan works to help you pay off your debt as quickly and painlessly as possible. The program is flexible, allowing you to work out many different spending strategies to see what is best for you. This is a savvy tool that even allows you to plan for emergencies.

The greatest benefit of this program is peace of mind.

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Diary of a Mother

There is no sensation, no empty promises. She challenges the reader to apply the principles along with hardwork, discipline and perseverance. Without asking them to live an ascetic lifestyle, she asks the reader to assess his current situation with a master plan to beat the debt. While I have a debt-free lifestyle, I found myself rethinking how I approach spending money and immediately taking action to ensure I never "sink in the hole". Her book is useful not only for people who are currently in debt, but also for those who wish to maximize their cash flow by thinking smart about where their money goes.

Her non-judgemental tone takes the shame away from being in debt. She has been there herself, and after digging her way out of $25,000 in credit card charges accumulated by her gambling ex-husband, she applied her prolific financial knowledge to help others, too. Her sometimes hilarious suggestions such as literally soaking your credit card in water until it freezes in the freezer are so outrageous that they work! Reader beware. Credit card plastic melts in the microwave!

Griffiths requires the reader to shift his thinking completely about paying back debt on a monthly basis. After all, she reasons, you are usually paid more often than that. "Stop thinking you have to pay creditors once a month - those are their terms, not yours, especially if you're paid more than once a month." Her suggestions simply make sense.

Her simple exercises motivate the reader with her take-charge attitude. "One Paycheck at a Time" is an inspirational example of how anything is possible with the right tools. Kimberly Griffiths offers them to us all for the taking. Her book is an incredible investment in your future. I highly recommend it for its clear language, solid ideas, and its ultimate effectiveness.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Diary of a Mother (2003) and SAHM I Am (2005), lives near Munich, Germany, with her husband and two children.

http://www.diaryofamother.com

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