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December 9 2005
Last December, I purchased your book, Smart Women Finish Rich. I realized how much money I wasted on little things: the vending machine trips during the day, needless shopping (“women’s disease”), and emotional splurges. Your book helped me recognize my Latte Factor and watch how I spend my money. It also helped me pull myself up out of credit card debt. I found your book so helpful, I told all my friends, even my supervisor now has a copy!
When I was a couple weeks ago, I decided to check out your website. I read reviews on The Automatic Millionaire (the title had really caught my eye). You helped me so much, I didn’t think I could benefit from another book – surely they must all be the same ideas, right?
Well, I was following your advice from Smart Women Finish Rich, but it was still a challenge. I decided to order your book. I received it last night and read the whole thing. The Automatic Millionaire showed me how to make it easy – by doing it automatically!
Thank you so much for your financial advice. You are changing lives!
- Michelle W.
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December 9 2005
Dear David,
I have read your book, and found it to be truly enlightening. I am 31 and carrying roughly $20,000 of debt primarily from tuition cost and also a little, well ok a lot of frivolous spending throughout my college years. I had convinced myself that it didn't matter how much money I spent now, because I would be able to pay it off as soon as I got into the work force. I'm sure you can guess what happened next.
Well in truth it took me about 18 months to find decent employment, during which time my debt ballooned. Barely making ends meet, I was living off credit cards and renting a tiny bachelor apartment which I appropriately named the shoe box. Combined with my bills, and living expenses it was only a matter of time before the bottom fell out.Once I started working regulary it did not get better, my living expenses increased in proportion to my new salary. It was at this point that fely utterly stuck.
It was only by pure chance that I stumbled upon your book. But from the moment I opened it and perused several pages, I knew I had to buy it. I have followed it implicitly and it has thus far changed my life.
Once I discoverd my latte factor, which was basically just spending without keeping track of my finances, I have managed to find $500/month to pay down my credit debt and $500/month towards my RRSP. What a difference this has been! In addition, and with a little apprehension I might add, I called my credit card companies and negotiated a drop from 18.5% to 6% on one card and a drop to 6.5% on another and had the annual fee waived on both counts.
I have also managed with the aid of your plan, a 10% increase to my salary.
I am now taking a week off work to start up a small home-based business.
My next step is to buy a home.
I was once the biggest cynic, but I have truly been awakened.
Drowning in debt was not only draining my bank account but also my spirit. I felt emotionally drained. Now watching my debt disappear and my savings grow on a monthly basis is frankly so motivating that my mind is working over time to find new ways to save, and create income. Since picking up your book just over 7 weeks ago I have managed to generate an additional $1000/month by utilizing my skills which I employ at work and offer them out privately for 1hr/day per week, on my own time of course.
I cannot thank you enough for pointing me in the right direction.
Yours truly,
- Marcus D.
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December 9 2005
As a young teen, not many in my peer group really save or plan for the future. Your book has really shown what saving can really do on my life. I have $1250 in my mutual fund that's automatic and I plan to start an IRA in the near future.
Thank you so much,
- Hunter H.
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December 9 2005
David,
This is more of a thank you than a success story. I just finished listening to Start Late, Finish Rich. A couple of months ago I began reading the Automatic Millionaire. I got far enough that I knew I needed to increase my contribution to my retirement plan and did. I am not yet at the level you suggest, but will correct that.
I am 57 years old and single. I rent and have a small IRA. I earn $20,000 a year at a job I love (working at my county library). Since I have benefits, that is actually not a terrible salary for this area. I had pretty much given up on the idea of being able to save/earn a significant amount of money for retirement. After listening to your book, I know that it is possible!!
Thank you,
- Fonda S.
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December 9 2005
I cannot tell you how much your book has help me. My wife and I have cut our spending and are more aware of the latte factor every day. We have been able to save $3500.00 in two months, by just being smart with our money. I also got rid of these high intrest rates on my credit cards!! I did like you said and found a bank that gave us 8 percent on the interest rate instead of 12 percent. I have passed this book on, and have to say that this book realy and truly changed my way of thinking and attitude towards life and money. Thank you so much and may God Bless you and your family!
- Fred B.
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December 9 2005
Hi David,
I've read your books The Automatic Millionaire and Smart Couples Finish Rich - both were worth every cent and more in financial advice.
Unlike most people, my parents taught me about money at a young age so I've always had a pretty good grasp on money and known how to save. Early on in college, I decided that I hated renting and would save up as much money as possible so I could buy a house after I graduated. Within a couple months of graduating from college, I bought a nice home in the suburbs and was able to put close to 20% down on it!
Now here is where you come in. After buying my house, all of a sudden I got into this 'I need this for the house' phase - my ultimate latte factor. A new water heater, furniture and decorations for the house, new professional clothes for my first job and pet expenses quickly added up to close to $3,000 in credit card debt. Yikes! (Luckily, I had this all on a 0% interest card so I wasn't paying a dime in interest.)
After reading your book, I realized I had to change my spending habits FAST. So far, I've been able to implement the following things:
-Each month I send in an additional 1/12th of my mortgage payment to pay down the principal. I've figured that this will save me close to $50,000 in interest over the course of my mortgage.
-To avoid crazy spending, I rarely use my credit cards and give myself a cash allowance instead. Now that I only use cash it's easier to understand how much spending money I have and not go over it.
-I'm also paying $200/mo towards credit card debt; this way I'll have it all paid off right before the 0% interest is up.
-I am putting $300/mo in a money market account as an emergency fund. Ideally, I want to save up $12,000 in emergency money so I can 'sleep well at night'. Once my credit card is paid off in June '06 I'll be able to add that $200 I'm currently spending in debt payment towards this goal. Then the savings will really add up fast!
-Since I work for a very small company, we do not have a 401k. Once I have my emergency money saved up, I plan to promptly open some form of an IRA and get investing! In the meantime, I'm researching some options you listed for small businesses in hopes of convincing the owner to get something similar to a 401k started for the company. I know my co-workers are with me on this one!
-I also drive a 1997 Geo Prism which I bought in high school. It's not very glamorous, but there is no car payment for it. I think I can get at least two more years out of it before I need to buy a new one. Luckily, I get mileage reimbursement for any business related driving I do, so I'm saving that money ($50-$150/mo) towards my future car so I won't have to take out much of a loan when I buy a new one.
-I really appreciated the Value Circle you included in Smart Couples Finish Rich. I was really having a difficult time balancing my values and spending before reading the book. But now that I've came to term with my real values - family/friends, security, health, making a difference and adventure - it's really simplified my spending/decision making process. Now I can just think about whether buying/spending X conflicts with any of my values. If it does, I know not to do it!
Thanks again for all your hard work writing these books. It's really made a difference in my life. So much so, that I'm thinking about volunteering with Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy to help get financial education into the schools. I'm hoping that this can be my way of making a difference in the world.
At age 23, I think I am off to a great start and hopefully in 40 years I can write to tell you how wonderful it all turned out.
P.S. I've found that at times it can be hard to be a conservative spender when many of my friends are shopoholics. As a result, I think I might have to give those friends your book for the holidays and get us all on the same page :)
- Brandi L.
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December 9 2005
I am married with one child and although my husband and I fair well, I really did not understand why we could not meet our yearly savings goal or even how we had accumulated so much debt. Well, after reading several of your books I recognized that we drove our money and that we were not investing our monies wisely. At the end of each year we would net a big fat zero in our savings account.
I recently joined my employee sponsored matching program (I honestly did not know that our company had one, as no one had ever mentioned it to me). They match 3% of my contribution. I have now match out on my monthly contribution of 10%. My husband is also maxing out with his company at 10%. We opened up a 529 account for our daughter with an automatic contribution from our checking account. We also use our online bill pay services (free with our bank), to pay our mortgage and most of our bills. I can already recognize the savings in the amount of postage I save. Well we still have issues with consumer debt (i.e. credit cards and car loans), but I work diligently in eliminating them and pray that in time and with hard work that I can eliminate all consumer debt, with the exemption of our mortgage in 3 years. I also pay an extra 8% towards my mortgage per month. Once I eliminate more debt, I plan to increase it to 15%. My husband says it is ambitious but I have a clear goal in mind. I can't believe the years that we have thrown away, but we are learning. We still have some issues with spending and I am findin the holidays extremely difficult, but reading the other stories are giving me strength.
I now give your book as birthday presents. My co-workers and I are always sharing new ideas on living a debt free life. My new venture is to add extra income to my household and using that income to help to eliminate debt.
I thank you for your insight and your wisdom. God Bless You,
- Antoinette R.
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December 2 2005
Thank you so much for the helpful information in your books. I've read "Smart Couples Finish Rich," "Smart Women Finish Rich" and "The Automatic Millionaire Workbook". I want to thank you for helping me and my husband get on the right track financially!
We figured out our Latte Factor and reduced our eating out to one meal per week instead of multiple restaurant meals every week. We no longer waste money renting movies; we borrow them from friends, family, or the library. We don't buy drinks, coffees, or lunches out -- we carry water bottles with us, use thermoses to bring coffee from home, and we brown-bag our lunches every day. This has been tough to implement some days (especially when we're tired or short on time), but it gets easier with every passing week, especially when it means we have money left at the end of each month. We also have started saving the money we get from expense report reimbursements, gifts, etc. Some weeks we put just $5 or $10 away, and others we put $100 away; all these little amounts have added up -- over the past 18 months, we've been able to save 4 months of living expenses in our emergency fund! Plus, we invested our emergency fund in a money market account so it earns interest. At the same time, we've used your worksheets to help us figure out our finances and how much we owe -- we don't have credit card debt, but we did have three student loans and a hefty car payment. I've used the "DOLP" method for these debts, and have been paying more than the minimum on one debt at a time and then when it's paid off, sending that amount plus the minimum to the next debt. So far we've paid off one of our three student loans, and at this rate, we'll be able to pay off our car loan in 7 months. What's more, I've moved my expensive brokerage IRA to a no-load mutual fund and made my contributions automatic.
We still have a long way to go, but we're thrilled with the results of our actions so far. Thank you for helping educate us financially. Progress is about patience, perserverance, and discipline, but these daily things add up to freedom! Thank you for all your good work, and keep it up!!
- Laurie S.
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December 2 2005
I bought "Start Late, Finish Rich" (Canadian Edition) to read on a recent plane ride to Paris. I loved it! Its simple, to the point and, it works! I'm an independent businessman and consultant who is too busy taking care of my clients' needs to tend to my own so I greatly appreciated the section on "making it automatic". I did it right away. From Paris I called my bank and set-up an automatic transfer to a reserved account of $50/week as my "Latte Factor" contribution. I've neglected my RRSP for the past year so I arranged for an RRSP loan for the max allowable (I'll pay this off with my tax savings and a pre-arranged monthly loan payment).
I examined my finances further and found a good $300/month in "lost expediture". I re-negotiated my mortgage to a bi-weekly mortgage and upped the payments by $100 every two weeks. This should help make short work of my mortgage! With the other $100, I opened a "dream account". I always wanted to invest in a studio apartment in downtown Paris. I won't open tomorrow but it WILL happen one day now that I'm actually saving for it.
My only debt is a car and my house, which I manage easily. However, I decided to "can" the auto loan when I sell my investment condo in May (which I made $75,000 on in 3 years) and will keep the remainder to invest in more real estate. This is fun!!! I'm a true convert and next week, I'm going over my sister-in-laws finances to work up a plan for her. I could do this for a living and die happy!
- Michael G.
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November 18 2005
Dear David,
I heard about you after I joined a multi-level marketing company (the one you allude to in your book) to make some extra money and eventually quit my corporate job to be my own boss. Within a month, I bought both "Start Late, Finish Rich" and "The Automatic Millionaire" on audio. My car has become a classroom since I am in it so much.
After listening to both books, I increased my 401k contribution from 4% to 6%. I confiscated my husband's credit card and all of mine. I paid off my husband's credit card and one of mine. Within a few months, I increased my 401k to 10% and then to 11% a month later. I only pay on 1 credit card and it will be paid off within the next 5 months. I have added and extra 10% to principal in each monthly mortgage payment on our rental property and am considering using the equity in that to build our new house. My husband and I have both agreed to not "do debt". If we can't afford to pay cash right away then we save for it or decide the purchase is not necessary.
Through what I have learned from your books and through my recent training in financial services, I will be setting up my emergency fund and a SEP IRA before the end of 2005. I have convinced my mom to increase her 401k to 10% by saving the raise she recently received. She commented that she brings home more now than she did before she got the raise. I also showed her how to DOLP her debt. She will have her car and a line of credit paid off in January 2006. I will help her open a mutual fund for "emergency" purposes with half of the money and she is going to increase her 401k with the other half. We plan on increasing her monthly contributions to the emergency fund and her 401k each time she pays off a debt.
Knowing that my mom is in a better financial position and my husband and I will retire debt free and financially independent (possibly early) is very exciting. Thank you so much for helping to teach middle class America what the rich know and the banks/credit card companies don't want you to know.
- Deirdre D.
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November 18 2005
Dear David,
When we were first married, my husband and I read "Smart Couples Finish Rich" and it inspired us to put away more money for retirement and helped us organize our financial lives. We loved the concept of the "latte factor", and it persuaded me to pass up fancy coffee drinks almost all of the time. However my husband still really enjoys his lattes, and while he has reduced his trips to the coffee shop he still heads there more than I'd like. But after reading your latest book, "The Automatic Millionaire" I realized I needed to look at MY OWN latte factor and stop bugging my husband to curb his. While I don't buy fancy coffee drinks, I am the one who goes to the grocery store each week. After our mortgage and taxes, "groceries" are our biggest monthly expense. So I began to watch exactly what I was calling "groceries" a little closer.
While I was on a tighter budget in college, I was much stricter with what I would put in my shopping cart, trying to avoid anything that cost much more than $3. But since becoming part of a dual income household, I had become quite a primadonna at the grocery store, buying more expensive beer and wine, prepared foods, gourmet cheeses and olive oils, more meat, and even sneaking in treats for myself like fancy body washes and kitchen accessories and justifying them to myself as "necessary groceries". Our grocery bill was up to $700/mo. for just the two of us, and even higher on months I went to stock up at the "low cost warehouse". By really watching myself at the grocery store I have been able to cut our grocery bill by $100/ mo., without giving up all our culinary luxuries, just planning them to be a treat instead of a daily thing. With the extra money we are saving for our son's college in a 529, increasing our retirement savings to 10%, and building an emergency fund. I have also automated all of it, because many of the goals I made after reading "Smart Couples" just weren't happening. Now I don't have to rely on my own willpower, because it is all automated. Thanks for all your great advice!
- Caroline G.
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November 18 2005
I just wanted to write and say thanks. I cannot wait to get started. I am reading Start Late, Finish Rich and taking lots of notes.
I am a finance person coming from a very financially literate family and I honestly have never read a simpler book. The reading is easy and is applicable to all readers. Most people don't start because the market is a big world. Most don't feel they have a chance of understanding any of it. You have written a book that everyone can understand and the advice is simple to follow with a little discipline of course.
Here I go. I'll report myt sucess soon enough. I'm so excited. I just hope I can get my husband as excited and disciplined.
Thanks David,
- Patricia C.
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November 11 2005
Hi David,
I'm 37, married with 4 kids. Next year I will have my ($200+k) house paid for. I was fortunate to have influences early on in my life to discourage me from obtaining debt and paying interest. I have never paid Credit Card interest and determined only to borrow for a house, and a car (never brand new). My strategy to this point in my life has been debt elimination. I also have a pension plan at work where my employer matches my 6% contribution and I have RESP's for my kids education.
I picked up your books (Automatic Millionaire & Start Late, Finish Rich) at Scotiabank (and registered for your upcoming seminar) because I realize I need a new strategy to transition from debt elimination to investment and retirement planning.
What has also surprised me is that I have a "Latte Factor" - I eat out several times a week for lunch. I feel I have to, it's not practical for me "bag it" as I often do "working lunches" and . . . I'm edgy when I don't eat. Here's what I did: I bought an "Entertainment Book" coupon book to support my kid's school and I discovered that there are coupons for "2 for 1" meals at dozens of restaurants near my work. When I discovered this, I convinced several of my colleagues also to buy the books and now when we eat out, we split the bill - both splitting the cost in half! I've gone from spending ~$40 / week to spending ~$20!
Thanks David!
- Martin Z.
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November 11 2005
Hi David!
I was at your seminar Nov. 9/05 in Calgary Alberta and among the first 5 people to meet you after your presentation. I started by saving a dollar a day in February of this year. I called it my buck a day program. This was to prove to myself that I could actually save and more importantly had the money to initiate saving, something I've never believed I've had. Soon after I was quickly saving three dollars a day.
Then I figured in my latte factor and the amount I was saving jumped substantially. I am now about to turbo charge my latte factor with some trimming of useless spending that I'm finding in things I can do without.
As I told you I am now saving into an rrsp more than 16% of my biweekly take home pay while reducing my debtload!! When I told you that the look on your face and the high five you gave me really made it clear to me what I've accomplished. Thank you for that!! I've started late but I'm going to Finish Rich!!
I mentioned that a 'tax expert' that day of the seminar had advised me that rrsp's were a bad vehicle for my money and I'd be taxed heavily on withdrawal. Thanks for your comments about that. It just occurred to me that the 'tax expert' and her husband are in their early fifties and working at 3 jobs to support their living in a RENTED unit in a run down 4-plex. Guess that says it all.
Thank you again for making available all of this valuable information, it's making a huge difference in my life!
Best regards,
- John K.
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November 4 2005
David,
After reading several of your books I forced myself to eliminate the latte factor in my life by maxing out my 401k which I now contribute 75% of my income. By doing this I’ve adjusted my lifestyle, priorities and increased my awareness on financial education by living “back to the basics”. I’ve also noticed that my quality of life has been greatly enriched by reading, running, hiking and enjoying low cost/no cost activities. Thank you very much for bringing this awareness and financial education the community.
- Tia S.
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October 31 2005
Hello David,
A collegue at work gave me The Automatic Millionaire and I read it in 48 hours which is a miracle for someone like me who doesn't care about finacial issues (I think its too complicated). Your book was such an easy read. I was literally screaming and reading out lines to my spouse. I returned the copy I borrowed and ordered my own copy of it as well as a copy of Smart Women Finish Rich. I opened my RRSP account today and am on a mission to change my fortune. Although in my late 20's, I am glad I read your book now. I am on a mission to become a millionaire, so i hope to inform you in the future when i arrive.
I feel i have seen the light and I am so excited.
Thank you for your books and your mission to make automatic millionaires.
Sincerely,
- Ada N.
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October 31 2005
Hi David:
I would first like to share with you how I came into possession of your book "Start Late, Finish Rich". I bought a bed from folks who were moving and along with the bed they gave me several boxes of odds and ends they didn't need anymore. Well, in one of those boxes was your book. I now view it as the most valuable item anyone has ever given me. The book mirrored my life. I am in my early forties and just beginning my road to financial freedom.
I started reading your book that evening and the next day I took action. My first stop was a new bank. I went in with the intention of opening up an RSP. I shared some of my financial issues and in doing so found them almost bending over backwards to help me. They have agreed to consolidate my debts at a much lower interest rate than what I was paying. They set me up with a managable RSP and along with all that I opened up a no-fee chequeing account.
My next stop was my work. I took your information to heart and decided to make some big changes at work. I went in with an idea on how I could make work for myself by taking on a project my manager had been talking about doing for some time. I am in a unionized workplace but was able to come up with a proposal that honoured our collective agreement but still got me more work. Little did I know that my employer had just decided he had to cut my hours from 40 a week to 9 due to a decline in business. If I had not read your book the night before I would have frozen in terror at his words. But as it was the timing was perfect and he was very open to any idea I had to keep me working. He made it very clear that he did not want to lose me.
My next stop was my children. I have been working on my "Latte Factor" for quite some time but wasn't able to explain it to my children as well as your book did. I shared with them some of what I read in your book and asked them to sit down and figure out their "Latte Factor". They were absolutely amazed at how much money they waste and are on the road to investing in themselves.
I then started thinking about my personal passions and how I would use those passions to give back to the community. I have been a single parent for many years and decided to use my experience to devise a plan aimed at helping single parents. It's an idea at this point but I plan on taking action as soon as tomorrow to further my idea.
The ideas are just flowing out of me and I am more excited and hopeful than I have been in a very long time.
In your book you put to words what I have been thinking for some time. There is a lot of money out there just waiting to be made. I just needed the tools and the push to get going.
I will buy a home very soon and I will be prosperous in other areas as well. There is no holding me back thanks to the help and guidance I received from reading your book!
Thank you.
PS: My youngest child is very excited about being part owner of McDonalds!
- Carrie S.
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October 21 2005
Dear David,
Thank You for your common sense advice. My husband and I are currently paying off a $100,000.00 business mistake (never go into business with a family member!), between bad debt settlements and attorney costs. We have learned to live on much less than before. No movies or lattes and minimal eating out. Through it all we have still managed to put money into retirement a Roth IRA and a dream/vacation account at ING.
My husband asked what we would do with all the money we had once the debt was completely paid (end 2006) and I said we should up the retirement, pay off the mortgage and save!
Thank You for the real life advice you offer. It makes money much less intimidating.
- Kelli H.
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October 21 2005
Two down and many more to go...
My husband's Starbucks triple shot venti "latte factor" costs an average of $100/month or $1,200/year.
Our monthly statement for satellite TV is currently $107.15/month and that is if no additional movies are ordered.
Today I changed our program package to $67.95/month and didn't loose any channels that we even watch. That's a savings of $39.20/month or 407.40/year.
With just these two changes, we will eliminate $1607.40/year of unnecessary expense, allowing for both additional savings and paying down our debt.
Thank you!
- Amy D.
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October 21 2005
I'm initially from France and then moved to Wisconsin to follow my boyfriend (if that's not love, I don't know what that is :-) ). Since I turned 25, I decided it was high time for me to start educating myself about investment products here in the US as I only knew the French ones. So I went to our tiny library and checked out Smart Women Finish Rich.
To make a long story short, I just wanted to let David Bach know how well-written, entertaining and well-to-the-point I found his book. I loved all the numeric examples. Thanks for writing this book and spreading financial literacy in such a unbiased manner.
Merci et bonne continuation!
- Caroline F.
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October 21 2005
Hi David. I am really looking forward to your next book! I have read both Smart Women Finish Rich and The Automatic Millionaire. I can't even begin to tell you how much it has changed my life. I will give you a little background. I was a frivilous 26 year old who never let money tie her down. In fact I travelled the world despite the mountain of student debt. It was in 2003 that I found out I was pregnant and no longer in a committed relationship; I didn't know how I was going to survive. That was when I was given the book Smart Women Finish Rich. Well I took the Latte Factor Challenge and followed it through for 6 months! I now know where every penny goes and my whole outlook has changed. I was blessed with an amazing little girl in 2004 and, with no help from her father, I knew I had to set my goals high and acheive them. I went back to work after 3 months of maternity so I could provide for my new responsibilty. It is now 2005 I have since moved from an apartment into my own home that I currently co-own and hope to buy out the other party by next year. I have an emergency fund, a few thousand in RRsp's which I set up automatic withdrawls every two weeks. I pay extra on my car, my mortgage and my line of credit at the same time--I manage to put away 10%! I can't thank you enough. I preach about your book all the time. When the subject arises with my clients at work I tell them they need to get it whether it is couples, older people or young kids! Everyday I try to find a new way to improve my financial world.
Thanks again!
- J. J.
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October 13 2005
Dear David,
I just wanted to say thank you!! About two years ago I sat down and read "Automatic Millionaire" and it has dramatically changed my outlook on my financial life. Until I read your book, I had never actually sat down and worked out my expenses. You see, I lived in a bit of denial. In retrospect, I realize this was my parents' approach to their finances and I see how they struggle now in what should be their golden retirement years.
Seeing my expenses and my debts laid out on paper made me face some hard facts about my financial situation, my irresponsible spending habits, and what I wanted out of life.
The first thing I did was commit to paying down my Visa debt. I realized that I had consistently been carrying between $3,000-$5,000 on my card for more than 5 years, and on top of that, I was consistently carrying a $3,500 sum on my Line of Credit! (The same Line of Credit I had used to pay down my Visa debt, which went right back up within that year). When it sunk in that my debts were feeding the bank's bottom line, first I got angry, then I took action.
Now, I try not to buy anything unless it's with cash or unless I know I can pay it off by the end of the month. I think this has been the toughest adjustment. Your book gave me hope, a sense of optimism, and the determination to stick with it. Instead of feeling that debt is something that we just have to live with, I have started thinking, "No way. Not me!" Then I made it my goal to go into a home purchase debt-free.
So, two years later, I am almost debt-free, I am saving 12% of my income toward my retirement, and I have just made an appointment with a real estate agent.
Even though I am only 34, I wish I had picked up a book like yours 10 years ago. However, it is never too late and I am going to convince my sister and my brother to read your books. You are awesome!!
Thanks so much for following your dream. You have found your calling.
Take care,
- Gloria K.
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October 13 2005
David,
While I was growing up money was a very private subject and I never really learned how to make money work right. I would spend it in the most worst ways and I have tried to buy finance books but, I not only would get confused but could not choose which path was right for me. UNTIL... I check out your book on how to finish rich and it opened my eyes in so many ways. I now have quit smoking! and am using that money for retirement!! For once I am excited about planning my retirement... THANKS SOOO MUCH!!!!!!
- Heather M.
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October 7 2005
After reading this book, I ripped through my monthly expenses and cut almost $800. The biggest find was our cell phone bill. Our company, Cingular, lets you "roll over" any unused minutes from one month to the next. I realized I had almost 10,000 of these unused minutes but was still buying 3000 more a month. I lowered our plan to their minimum, added mobile to mobile so that my husband and I can talk to each other and anyone who also has Cingular (which is everyone on our staff) for free and our bill dropped almost $400 a month. 7 months later, I still haven't used up these "wasted" minutes.
- Gina J.
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October 7 2005
Hi David! Thanks so much for your great books, Start Late, Finish Rich and the Finish Rich Workbook. For the first time in my adult life I know where every important document is, we are now paying ourselves first (10 months) and love watching our accounts grow. We have a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind about money and our future.
We closed ten accounts, over some objections. Interestingly, our fourteen year old cat, Mazel Tov, is now receiving credit card offers. He just got one today from Sony Visa, 0% intro APR for 15 months. That one beat his Chase Master Card offer from two weeks ago. Do you think he should apply, or should we just get him a PetSmart card?
Thanks for all you do. Love your newsletter and visit your website often.
- Linda C.
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