I Was Broke. Now I'm Not.

by Joseph Sangl

Sick of debt? Ready to break free, and win with your money? In this book, Joseph Sangl shares his family's journey from being broke to financial freedom! As Joe shares his story, he teaches the PRACTICAL tools that he used to take control of his finances and win with money! Joe teaches the reader how to ... develop a plan for one's life, prepare a budget that actually works (for both steady income AND irregular/seasonal/cyclical income), calculate a debt freedom date, calculate how much money you will need to retire, capture the power of compound interest, investing, and insurance! Even more, this book will inspire and motivate you to take control of your own finances. You CAN do this!

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2008

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read for anyone who wants to understand how to better handle their finances. Not as entertaining as the Dave Ramsey books. As for the financial plan-it's pretty solid but I prefer the Dave Ramsey method better. Update: we got out of 44k of debt in 4 years with lots of moves & life changes only to be back in 15k of debt because the Dave Ramsey plan baby step 1 emergency fund was too small & we had a modest income. So we switched to the IWBNIN 9 step ladder & got out of debt & are have almost 3 months of emergency Savings. Highly recommend this book. DR is still entertaining and I like his show but his plan seems to work better for people with higher incomes. This plan works for everyone.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although there is some sound advice in this book, it was basically the author talking about himself through the entirety of the text. Sangl took Dave Ramsey's principles, eliminated the hard parts (the steps that will actually affect a change in behavior) and came up with this convoluted ladder. He then trademarked "his ideas" to gain a profit and uses the Christian angle to make it seem like he's doing us all a favor rather than trying to make a quick buck.

[Kaylee Dolat · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can get past the excessive use of exclamation marks and attempts at positive fluffy reinforcements, there is good information in the book. The formula Joseph uses for budgeting was great. I was sad it took so many chapters and exclamation marks to get to that point.

Seeing the charts with examples did help and I could see this being a book many pick up to help them manage debt ratios and financial freedom.

Just ignore those pesky exclamation marks and TALKING IN ALL CAPS.

[Steven Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back at the beginning of January 2011, just before all of my student loan payments were coming due. I was making about $28,000 a year and was about to have a $553 monthly loan payment. My roommate had also just moved out, so the burden of our bills went from being split to my sole responsibility. This book by far sparked the biggest change in my financial life, as I immediately sought help to create a budget and have stuck to that budget ever since.

This book was the beginning of my path to financial freedom, and I'm pleased to say that instead of my student loans taking 15 years to pay off (as the lender would have liked), my wife and I will be completely debt free in just less than 7 years.

Thanks, Joe, for setting a new financial trajectory for my life. This book has benefitted me greatly, and I've also been able to pass the book and its principles on to many other friends and family members.

[Kristin King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leading a small group through the video study with the book. Really like the links to all the online workbook pages, budget, dates to debt free, etc. He has a great testimony. Steps resemble Dave Ramsey's but this is more simplified into a 6 week course. Downside is that it does not have as many scriptures as other studies like those from Crown Financial Ministries. The goal seems to be a "Fully Funded Life" as motivation, when God's word is alive and active. I always think the more scripture the better. But this is a 6 week, hit it hard and fast study that talks real.

[Sara Mister · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a life saver! It has a fun title and helps you reach financial freedom! This books takes you through steps of paying off debt, helping you stop the cycle of digging a hole for debt in your life, and savings for your future. There are thorough steps and encouragement in the book that truly help you start becoming not broke! A very easy and resourceful read!

[Stephanie Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am FIRED UP! I really enjoyed diving in and discovering the necessary steps needed to live a fully funded life. Excited to start my own journey and see where I am financially in 7-9 years! Thank you, Mr. Sangl.

[Kathy Dillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it was ok. Seemed to repeat itself (although that may have been the intent) over and over. pretty much a common sense book. I'm glad I bought it used!

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good financial nuggets in here. So thankful for the IWBNIN group study.

[Christian Tuininga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very straight forward. Easy plan. Easy read.

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My church did a series on this book and I read it with a small group. It was a very fast and easy read. The author doesn’t teach you anything you haven’t heard before, but he does simplify many things for those that aren’t good with math or that freak out when it comes to financial matters. The thing I loved most about this book is his website/helpful information. He has so many wonderful tools for you to use for free and not to mention that he has many links to other websites that have coupons. His website has tons of great information and most everything is connected to a link, and just a click away. One of the things I found on his website and related links that I have already benefited from is Restaurant.com. This site has a list of participating restaurants that you can purchase gift certificates too. You buy a $25.00 gift certificate for $10 (I bought mine for only $4.00 because of the special they had) and you save yourself $15 on your meal (I saved $21.00!!). I was a little skeptical until I went to the restaurant and tried it. It was so easy, I just presented my gift certificate (which was a print out from my PC) before I placed my order and my bill was credited $25.00. I was so excited I bought 8 more certificates!! LOL So I give this book (and his helpful material) 5 stars.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still broke, but I just finished this last week. What I do have now is a budget and ways to handle my budget. Good tips on places to save money. But most of all the resolve to become debt free. It really is all about the resolve and the benefits. I want to afford my life's goals and dreams and I cannot wait to go on our first family vacation.

I completely recommend the this book to work on those troublesome and pesky personal finances. For the first time in my adult life I have hope taht I will someday be able to afford some of the things I want for myself and my children.

[Valleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very well-meaning book written with so much belief in the budgeting system the author devised but in reality, it was not very practical as a whole. Taking Joseph Sangl's idea and executing it on a smaller scale was so much more feasible than the complete overhaul the author suggests. However, this book was a good guide for a place to start regaining control over personal finances.

[April Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and simple

We saw Joe at our church and I purchased this book that same day! I read it in one day. While a lot of the info in the book is pretty basic and widely known (maybe not quite so widely practiced) the book has some new ideas that were very helpful. I enjoyed the read and look forward to implementing.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sangl writes from his experience of applying Dave Ramsey's principles to his own finances. There are a couple of good spreadsheets you can download from his website. The book is a very easy read. It is directed more toward married couples.

[LGVReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I've already read all the Dave Ramsey books, so nothing new in this book except he's freaky excited about living debt free and his own story was inspiring. If you truly want the full plan of getting debt free read a Dave Ramsey book.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. He gives good tips and advice.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read but gives all of the practical and foundational tips you'll need to start telling your money how to work for you.

[Vanessa Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book very easy to read!

[Melane35 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good if you're wanting to budget your life away.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple quick read on not just budgeting but insurance, retirement and other areas involving your money. The budgeting tools provided in here seem like great tools.

[Darlene Wiggins]

A practical and biblical way to attain financial liberation.