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![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/big-wave-surfing&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bi1v7LzCL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=The current economy leaves many of us with knots in our stomach. The stock market is volatile, jobs are uncertain, and retirement and social security benefits are eroding due to inflation. "Big Wave Surfing" offers hope in this insecure environment. Mentioning technology terrifies many workers, but it is the wave of the times. No longer can a facto...){kind=link}
Big Wave Surfing
Kenneth J. Thurber, PhD
2012 Silver Medal
408 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
The current economy leaves many of us with knots in our stomach. The stock market is volatile, jobs are uncertain, and retirement and social security benefits are eroding due to inflation. "Big Wave Surfing" offers hope in this insecure environment. Mentioning technology terrifies many workers, but it is the wave of the times. No longer can a factory worker expect to get by with their work ethic and their brawn. Manufactures want and need employees that are willing to adapt with the times. Kenneth J. Thurber Ph. D urges readers to look at their talents and develop them. Challenge yourself to invest in “skills that you need to survive!” A business, no matter what size, must become efficient in management and marketing.
Thurber creatively uses the image of a wave to illustrate what the reader must do to prosper: spot the coming wave, wait for it, meet it and maneuver it our way to successfully ride it to shore. "Big Wave Surfing" is written in an easy to read style offering tidbits of information on technology, promoting, and other strategies that will help you succeed in today’s economic market. The reader will find Thurber’s ideas to be unique and outside the box. This book is chock-full of interesting anecdotes and illustrations which are interesting and add much to the text.
This book teaches you to prepare yourself through education and research, learn what to watch for, be patient, and then grab your opportunity when presented. I found this book to be very helpful and encouraging.
The current economy leaves many of us with knots in our stomach. The stock market is volatile, jobs are uncertain, and retirement and social security benefits are eroding due to inflation. "Big Wave Surfing" offers hope in this insecure environment. Mentioning technology terrifies many workers, but it is the wave of the times. No longer can a factory worker expect to get by with their work ethic and their brawn. Manufactures want and need employees that are willing to adapt with the times. Kenneth J. Thurber Ph. D urges readers to look at their talents and develop them. Challenge yourself to invest in “skills that you need to survive!” A business, no matter what size, must become efficient in management and marketing.
Thurber creatively uses the image of a wave to illustrate what the reader must do to prosper: spot the coming wave, wait for it, meet it and maneuver it our way to successfully ride it to shore. "Big Wave Surfing" is written in an easy to read style offering tidbits of information on technology, promoting, and other strategies that will help you succeed in today’s economic market. The reader will find Thurber’s ideas to be unique and outside the box. This book is chock-full of interesting anecdotes and illustrations which are interesting and add much to the text.
This book teaches you to prepare yourself through education and research, learn what to watch for, be patient, and then grab your opportunity when presented. I found this book to be very helpful and encouraging.
Recommend this book:
Smarter Branding Without Breaking the Bank
Five Proven Marketing Strategies You Can Use Right Now to Build Your Business at Little or No Cost
Brenda Bence
2012 Honorable Mention
280 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Lori M for Readers' Favorite
Only 22 pages into reading the book, author Brenda Bence already had me hooked. She challenged the reader to set a time for three minutes, and within that time frame, to write down everything you can think of that you CANNOT do with a paperclip. What a creative, stimulating thinking and writing exercise! Her point was that not long into the exercise you realize that you can do far more with a paperclip than you would have originally thought.
I like the title of Chapter 15, "Develop a Superiority Complex." In it, Bence points out that we already have assets that can help us build a terrific brand. I thought the cover graphic on the book was right-on-target for the book's title, Smarter Branding Without Breaking the Bank. It depicts a safe with door slightly ajar, and money poking out. Very clever.
In this book, the reader really can learn proven marketing strategies that they can put to use right away with little to no expense. The formatting, organization, development, and flow of the book were logical and easy to follow. Among the lessons you'll learn in this book include the chapters, "Frame Your Competition," "The Power of a Bull's Eye," and "Don't Just Sit There on Your Assets."
Anyone who is wanting to increase their market share, sell more products/services, or start their own business would benefit from reading this book. It's well-written, practical, and immediately implementable. I really enjoyed reading it.
Only 22 pages into reading the book, author Brenda Bence already had me hooked. She challenged the reader to set a time for three minutes, and within that time frame, to write down everything you can think of that you CANNOT do with a paperclip. What a creative, stimulating thinking and writing exercise! Her point was that not long into the exercise you realize that you can do far more with a paperclip than you would have originally thought.
I like the title of Chapter 15, "Develop a Superiority Complex." In it, Bence points out that we already have assets that can help us build a terrific brand. I thought the cover graphic on the book was right-on-target for the book's title, Smarter Branding Without Breaking the Bank. It depicts a safe with door slightly ajar, and money poking out. Very clever.
In this book, the reader really can learn proven marketing strategies that they can put to use right away with little to no expense. The formatting, organization, development, and flow of the book were logical and easy to follow. Among the lessons you'll learn in this book include the chapters, "Frame Your Competition," "The Power of a Bull's Eye," and "Don't Just Sit There on Your Assets."
Anyone who is wanting to increase their market share, sell more products/services, or start their own business would benefit from reading this book. It's well-written, practical, and immediately implementable. I really enjoyed reading it.
Recommend this book:
Leadership by Insanity
Moving from Ego-driven to Soulful, Heartfelt Leadership
Sheryl WithanS
2012 Finalist
226 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Brenda Ballard for Readers' Favorite
Author Sheryl WithanS takes her own experiences and creates this very fundamental workbook that applies not just to business but to life. Leadership By Insanity whittles away at attitudes, ethics, etiquette, personality flaws, workplace behavior and home-life a little at a time through each chapter and worksheet. By book's end, the reader, if completely honest with themselves and the quizzes, will have no choice but to have learned about the things buried deep inside themselves that causes them to act the way they do.
The author continually strives to get across the points that "The only one you can change is you." She highly recommends daily affirmations. Skills and new found knowledge are meant to break the patterns and start anew in a more positive, fulfilling manner. As a society, most become desensitized; the points Ms. WithanS makes allows the reader to see the flaws and a route to take instead.
There is a continual pattern throughout: change your heart, change your attitude. Plan your life the way you want to live it. Prioritize then let go. These are just a few of the many wonderful points she makes.
My favorite chapter was the one that discussed the need to switch modes from business to home. I myself have been guilty of not leaving work at work--never a good idea. I thoroughly enjoyed penciling my way through this very insightful work; it is truly something that can be used both in the workplace and at home. I plan to go back in a year and do it again, to see how much has changed. Highly recommend!
Author Sheryl WithanS takes her own experiences and creates this very fundamental workbook that applies not just to business but to life. Leadership By Insanity whittles away at attitudes, ethics, etiquette, personality flaws, workplace behavior and home-life a little at a time through each chapter and worksheet. By book's end, the reader, if completely honest with themselves and the quizzes, will have no choice but to have learned about the things buried deep inside themselves that causes them to act the way they do.
The author continually strives to get across the points that "The only one you can change is you." She highly recommends daily affirmations. Skills and new found knowledge are meant to break the patterns and start anew in a more positive, fulfilling manner. As a society, most become desensitized; the points Ms. WithanS makes allows the reader to see the flaws and a route to take instead.
There is a continual pattern throughout: change your heart, change your attitude. Plan your life the way you want to live it. Prioritize then let go. These are just a few of the many wonderful points she makes.
My favorite chapter was the one that discussed the need to switch modes from business to home. I myself have been guilty of not leaving work at work--never a good idea. I thoroughly enjoyed penciling my way through this very insightful work; it is truly something that can be used both in the workplace and at home. I plan to go back in a year and do it again, to see how much has changed. Highly recommend!
Recommend this book:
The Emotion Behind Money
Building Wealth From the Inside Out
Murphy Casserly
2012 Gold Medal
199 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Anna del C Dye for Readers' Favorite
The first thing that I liked about this book was the Affirmations for Wealth Building found on the first pages. I know them to be true, for I have used them in my life. They are powerful views of the changes we can implement in our lives.
The other things I like are the different homework exercise sprinkled around throughout the book so you can learn hands on.
We all have a reason why we used money the way we do. I know what it is to be hungry so my pantry has a year's supply of food, because I don't want ever to run out. A person who never had new shoes in his or her early life will have shoes coming out of their ears and spend a lot of their money on shoes.
Julie shows us the many faces of why we use money the way we do. She has demonstrated that we need to manage our finances according to our own circumstances. My case will be different than yours therefore the result or application of the principles will also be varied.
Julie wrote a great book in how to understand your reasoning about money and show you the different things you can benefit from no matter what your life's path. I found that Building Wealth from the Inside Out is a well-written easy book that could change your life's outlook forever. I recommended this book to everyone, it is clear, enlightening and fun to read.
The first thing that I liked about this book was the Affirmations for Wealth Building found on the first pages. I know them to be true, for I have used them in my life. They are powerful views of the changes we can implement in our lives.
The other things I like are the different homework exercise sprinkled around throughout the book so you can learn hands on.
We all have a reason why we used money the way we do. I know what it is to be hungry so my pantry has a year's supply of food, because I don't want ever to run out. A person who never had new shoes in his or her early life will have shoes coming out of their ears and spend a lot of their money on shoes.
Julie shows us the many faces of why we use money the way we do. She has demonstrated that we need to manage our finances according to our own circumstances. My case will be different than yours therefore the result or application of the principles will also be varied.
Julie wrote a great book in how to understand your reasoning about money and show you the different things you can benefit from no matter what your life's path. I found that Building Wealth from the Inside Out is a well-written easy book that could change your life's outlook forever. I recommended this book to everyone, it is clear, enlightening and fun to read.
Recommend this book:
What You Should Know Before Starting A Business
Dr. Patti Mack-Tucker
2011 Finalist
144 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
What You Should Know Before Starting Your Own Business is both a reference and a guide book. The author asks questions and leaves room for you to record your answers. She allows you the opportunity to find your dream, to examine it, research it and implement your dream. When starting a business you must have faith and confidence in yourself. Dr. Tucker uses scripture to support her advice. She writes in a clear and concise style. She sticks with the point and does not go off on tangents. The doctor is a motivator and encourager.
Dr Patti Mack-Tucker offers readers the wisdom of her experiences and expertise on starting your own business. Deep inside, hidden from others, most of us dream of starting our own business and being our own boss. What few of us realize is we are not all cut out to own our own business. Too many look at being self-employed as being less stressful (this is the point where current business owners laugh out loud). The stress related to owning a business is very different from being an employee. As the owner of a small business, I do not want to discourage anyone. I feel like everyone should follow their dream. Everyone should dream. However, I do think everyone should do their research before starting a business adventure. I wish I had read this book before opening a florist shop. There was so much I did not know and didn’t know to ask. I think this would make a great read and study guide for business students as well as entrepreneurs.
What You Should Know Before Starting Your Own Business is both a reference and a guide book. The author asks questions and leaves room for you to record your answers. She allows you the opportunity to find your dream, to examine it, research it and implement your dream. When starting a business you must have faith and confidence in yourself. Dr. Tucker uses scripture to support her advice. She writes in a clear and concise style. She sticks with the point and does not go off on tangents. The doctor is a motivator and encourager.
Dr Patti Mack-Tucker offers readers the wisdom of her experiences and expertise on starting your own business. Deep inside, hidden from others, most of us dream of starting our own business and being our own boss. What few of us realize is we are not all cut out to own our own business. Too many look at being self-employed as being less stressful (this is the point where current business owners laugh out loud). The stress related to owning a business is very different from being an employee. As the owner of a small business, I do not want to discourage anyone. I feel like everyone should follow their dream. Everyone should dream. However, I do think everyone should do their research before starting a business adventure. I wish I had read this book before opening a florist shop. There was so much I did not know and didn’t know to ask. I think this would make a great read and study guide for business students as well as entrepreneurs.
Recommend this book:
How To Interview Like a Pro
Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job
Mary Greenwood, JD, LL.M
2011 Honorable Mention
128 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite
No book could possibly be timelier than How To Interview Like a Pro. With the economy in shambles, many people are competing for the same jobs. Each hopeful interviewee must put him/herself in the best possible light. Author Mary Greenwood brings her experience and expertise to this much needed manual. She offers assistance on how to dress, shake hands, and project the right attitude and makes suggestions on preparing and delivering a good speech. In this small book the readers will find 43 tips including reference materials, examples, resources and lists.
One of the important lessons readers will find in this book is how to prepare before the interview and what to do after the interview. Greenwood writes in an easy-to-understand, crisp and clear manner. I think asking questions may be the most important and most overlooked part of an interview. Ms. Greenwood covers the topic in an excellent manner; no detail is too small for her to mention. She keeps a positive slant in this book; interviewees do not need to go into an interview with negative thoughts. By keeping a positive attitude the reader/interviewee will come across in an optimistic light. The appendix has a glossary of terms, laws pertaining to discrimination and whom to contact if you think you have been unfairly treated.
This book would make a great gift for anyone looking for a job. It would also be an asset in a high school or college life skills class.
No book could possibly be timelier than How To Interview Like a Pro. With the economy in shambles, many people are competing for the same jobs. Each hopeful interviewee must put him/herself in the best possible light. Author Mary Greenwood brings her experience and expertise to this much needed manual. She offers assistance on how to dress, shake hands, and project the right attitude and makes suggestions on preparing and delivering a good speech. In this small book the readers will find 43 tips including reference materials, examples, resources and lists.
One of the important lessons readers will find in this book is how to prepare before the interview and what to do after the interview. Greenwood writes in an easy-to-understand, crisp and clear manner. I think asking questions may be the most important and most overlooked part of an interview. Ms. Greenwood covers the topic in an excellent manner; no detail is too small for her to mention. She keeps a positive slant in this book; interviewees do not need to go into an interview with negative thoughts. By keeping a positive attitude the reader/interviewee will come across in an optimistic light. The appendix has a glossary of terms, laws pertaining to discrimination and whom to contact if you think you have been unfairly treated.
This book would make a great gift for anyone looking for a job. It would also be an asset in a high school or college life skills class.
Recommend this book:
Moving Forward on Your Own
A Financial Guidebook for Widows
Kathleen Rehl
2011 Gold Medal
80 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite
Kathleen Rehl has created a little gem of a book in Moving Forward on Your Own, A Financial Guide for Widows. She was widowed suddenly and shares with the reader the grief, blankness, and the symptoms of widowhood in an easy-to-read format with colored photographs, paintings and quotations. She tells of her own loss, then shares with the reader symptoms and stages they may go through and warns them against persons who will want to take advantage of a widow. She tells them of papers they must organize, steps they must take and phone calls they must make and leaves a place next to each step for a checkmark. Then Rehl, a certified financial planner, writes simple but understandable advice on how to manage finances alone and how to get on with your life.
This book is easy to read, easy to follow, well-organized and edited. Friends could easy give this to someone recently widowed and not be offensive. Actually, funeral homes might wish to carry a good supply of this book to give to clients.
This is not a book for libraries to carry as it has many spaces for people to write down financial and personal information. Moving Forward on Your Own covers well, and in detail, the many money issues that face a widow. It cossets the grieving in depth but also is a guide for getting life together after losing one's mate without being pushy and obnoxious which the grieving will not enjoy.
Kathleen Rehl has created a little gem of a book in Moving Forward on Your Own, A Financial Guide for Widows. She was widowed suddenly and shares with the reader the grief, blankness, and the symptoms of widowhood in an easy-to-read format with colored photographs, paintings and quotations. She tells of her own loss, then shares with the reader symptoms and stages they may go through and warns them against persons who will want to take advantage of a widow. She tells them of papers they must organize, steps they must take and phone calls they must make and leaves a place next to each step for a checkmark. Then Rehl, a certified financial planner, writes simple but understandable advice on how to manage finances alone and how to get on with your life.
This book is easy to read, easy to follow, well-organized and edited. Friends could easy give this to someone recently widowed and not be offensive. Actually, funeral homes might wish to carry a good supply of this book to give to clients.
This is not a book for libraries to carry as it has many spaces for people to write down financial and personal information. Moving Forward on Your Own covers well, and in detail, the many money issues that face a widow. It cossets the grieving in depth but also is a guide for getting life together after losing one's mate without being pushy and obnoxious which the grieving will not enjoy.
Recommend this book:
Leading Team Alpha
Leadership in Novel Form
Joel DiGirolamo
2011 Bronze Medal
222 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Tina A. for Readers' Favorite
Dean, the main character in Leading Team Alpha, finds himself dealing with some tough business decisions and decides to reach out to a former professor for leadership advice. Unlike other business books, this is a fictional novel but is filled with leadership principles. DiGirolamo takes the reader through Dean's decision making, his relationship with his team, and dealing with difficult workers. The key concepts covered in the book include selecting team members, motivating them, ensuring their work aligns with the organization, remaining goal focused, and job satisfaction.
When I started this book, I was drawn into it immediately because of the easy-to-read novel format. I could relate to Dean and some of the challenges he came across. Readers can easily identify with this main character and recognize very quickly who the difficult characters will be in the story. DiGirolamo has good descriptive dialogue so readers can quickly pick up on the communication techniques used and apply them in their own business settings.
I had some trouble buying into a story toward the end of the novel because it was a complicated situation that was resolved relatively quickly. I also felt a section about a work trip did get a bit off-track. There were so many dynamics happening just within the office that DiGirolamo could have kept the story there. One thing that may have helped readers grasp the core principles a bit better would be to have a 'takeaways' section at the end of each chapter. Overall though, I thought it was a good book about leadership and a light read for a business book.
Dean, the main character in Leading Team Alpha, finds himself dealing with some tough business decisions and decides to reach out to a former professor for leadership advice. Unlike other business books, this is a fictional novel but is filled with leadership principles. DiGirolamo takes the reader through Dean's decision making, his relationship with his team, and dealing with difficult workers. The key concepts covered in the book include selecting team members, motivating them, ensuring their work aligns with the organization, remaining goal focused, and job satisfaction.
When I started this book, I was drawn into it immediately because of the easy-to-read novel format. I could relate to Dean and some of the challenges he came across. Readers can easily identify with this main character and recognize very quickly who the difficult characters will be in the story. DiGirolamo has good descriptive dialogue so readers can quickly pick up on the communication techniques used and apply them in their own business settings.
I had some trouble buying into a story toward the end of the novel because it was a complicated situation that was resolved relatively quickly. I also felt a section about a work trip did get a bit off-track. There were so many dynamics happening just within the office that DiGirolamo could have kept the story there. One thing that may have helped readers grasp the core principles a bit better would be to have a 'takeaways' section at the end of each chapter. Overall though, I thought it was a good book about leadership and a light read for a business book.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/why-the-heck-arent-we-already-doing-this-stuff&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51f7GsNX7UL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Why the heck isn't this book a bestseller? Al Lewis doesn't believe that the government should continue doing things that don't work simply because that's the way things have always been done. Lewis has written a smart, hilarious book that says exactly this, and includes ideas from his blog about how to improve the economy. His use of the term "Met...){kind=link}
Why the Heck Aren't We Already Doing This Stuff?
12 New Policy Ideas Even a Congressman Could Understand
Al Lewis
2011 Gold Medal
252 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Bernadette Acocella for Readers' Favorite
Why the heck isn't this book a bestseller? Al Lewis doesn't believe that the government should continue doing things that don't work simply because that's the way things have always been done. Lewis has written a smart, hilarious book that says exactly this, and includes ideas from his blog about how to improve the economy. His use of the term "Methadone economy" to describe an economy which is dependent on government spending to increase growth is one of the unique ways he helps readers understand his "out of the box" ideas. Tired of solutions to our economic woes that involve stimulus checks and government subsidies, Lewis has twelve suggestions that might just change the way Americans do business and handle their money. Topics like tax refunds, mortgages, gasoline, and healthcare are what you might expect to find in an economics book, but not the way Lewis discusses them. Nor would you ever guess what he has to say about the penny. Such ideas are creative, clever, and worth some serious investigation by our lawmakers.
This is one of the only books I have ever read that was both laugh out loud funny and extremely thought-provoking. Even if you are like me and have absolutely no background in economics, you will still understand and enjoy this book. I found myself completely engrossed in it and wondering what would come next. Lewis will draw you in with his hilarious introduction, and then surprise you with his thoughtful, logical suggestions for encouraging economic growth. His humorous way of boiling down complex ideas into words I could actually understand made me laugh and seriously ask why these common sense suggestions have not been implemented. His writing is clear and thankfully you won't find a lot of jargon that might normally dissuade the average reader from a book about economics. Included at the end of each chapter are responses from Lewis to positive and negative comments that bloggers posted about each of the ideas he outlines, another helpful aspect of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about economics, open to new ideas, or just likes to laugh.
Why the heck isn't this book a bestseller? Al Lewis doesn't believe that the government should continue doing things that don't work simply because that's the way things have always been done. Lewis has written a smart, hilarious book that says exactly this, and includes ideas from his blog about how to improve the economy. His use of the term "Methadone economy" to describe an economy which is dependent on government spending to increase growth is one of the unique ways he helps readers understand his "out of the box" ideas. Tired of solutions to our economic woes that involve stimulus checks and government subsidies, Lewis has twelve suggestions that might just change the way Americans do business and handle their money. Topics like tax refunds, mortgages, gasoline, and healthcare are what you might expect to find in an economics book, but not the way Lewis discusses them. Nor would you ever guess what he has to say about the penny. Such ideas are creative, clever, and worth some serious investigation by our lawmakers.
This is one of the only books I have ever read that was both laugh out loud funny and extremely thought-provoking. Even if you are like me and have absolutely no background in economics, you will still understand and enjoy this book. I found myself completely engrossed in it and wondering what would come next. Lewis will draw you in with his hilarious introduction, and then surprise you with his thoughtful, logical suggestions for encouraging economic growth. His humorous way of boiling down complex ideas into words I could actually understand made me laugh and seriously ask why these common sense suggestions have not been implemented. His writing is clear and thankfully you won't find a lot of jargon that might normally dissuade the average reader from a book about economics. Included at the end of each chapter are responses from Lewis to positive and negative comments that bloggers posted about each of the ideas he outlines, another helpful aspect of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about economics, open to new ideas, or just likes to laugh.
Recommend this book:
Easiest Short/Long Term Plan for Saving Money
Jennelle L White
2011 Finalist
58 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
Reviewed By Kristie Ingerto for Readers' Favorite
It is very important to get in the habit of laying aside money from each paycheck to pay yourself. The thesis of this book is on percentage of paychecks. The style is easy to read and understand.
Jannelle L. White's book, Easiest Short/Long Term Plan for Saving Money, is very practical for everyone considering our current economy. White shares tips, plans, and examples to help the reader make wise choices and obtainable goals in regards to saving money. The worksheets provided at the end of the book are useful.
It is very important to get in the habit of laying aside money from each paycheck to pay yourself. The thesis of this book is on percentage of paychecks. The style is easy to read and understand.
Jannelle L. White's book, Easiest Short/Long Term Plan for Saving Money, is very practical for everyone considering our current economy. White shares tips, plans, and examples to help the reader make wise choices and obtainable goals in regards to saving money. The worksheets provided at the end of the book are useful.
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