50 Simple Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Personal Finances

by Ilyce R. Glink

Everything you need to know about personal finance -- whether you're just starting out or starting over.

The hardest part of attaining personal financial freedom is getting started. Ilyce R. Glink makes it a snap. The smart, simple strategies presented in 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Personal Finances let you take immediate control of your money. With her trademark wit, friendly style, and crystal-clear examples, Ilyce Glink helps you set financial goals and reach them. Topics include:

* Starting Out * Budgets and Savings * Credit, Credit Reports, and Debt * Investing Yourself in Investments * Big Purchases * The Ins and Outs of Insurance * Taxes * Marriage, Partnerships, Children * Planning for Your Retirement

NOTE: some versions are titled "50 Simple things you can do to improve....." This version of a different title has the same ISBN number.

Genres: Finance

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2001

Reviews

[The Contented · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to re-read. Save much more than you think you’ll need. Make your money work for you by seeking the highest returns. Keep a financial diary to track your progress. Tackle your most difficult financial tasks first. Diversify your investments. Once something reaches 10% of your total wealth, sell the shares and buy something else. Easier said than done, I suspect. But here’s a 2025 resolution to start tracking my progress

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read and not very entertaining, but it is important medicine for those of us who want to strengthen our finances. The best advice I got from this book was to explore opening a CD — which Eric and Ali promptly did -/ because who knew how high the interest rate would be?

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helpful but for someone in their mid twenties, there were some tips missing like paying off student loans that were not included.

[Amanda Woeste · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly outdated information.

[Bethany Kulp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The edition I read was published in 2001 and it's a little outdated. That being said the concepts are easy to follow.

[Damecatoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dad gave me this book for my birthday. There are some really useful tips in here. Some stuff is like "sure, of course I could do that... if I had more money." And some stuff is just very practical, like save your change cause it adds up.

It was nice to see suggestions that Kris and I have actually done (buy used cars, be a landlord.)

The best thing it did for me is lay out exactly what the benefit of prepaying my mortgage would be and how much it would take to do it: if we pay an extra two payments a year, our 30 year loan would be paid off in 15 years.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable, easy read with some very good, easy to implement suggestions. The book covers everything, savings, spending, insurance, taxes, college, etc. One of the most beneficial things in the book are the Web sites she gives for aid in personal finance. The book is full of lots of little tips on pinching pennies, paying off credit cards, buying IRAs, etc.

This is not a dull, dry, lifeless financial book. It is a pleasurable couple of hours spent over coffee with a friend who can offer sound advice. Great insights. I highly recommend for the money illiterate.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful book covering many aspect of finances, but primarily investing advice. A little scarce with the advice for people who don't have money to invest, but are trying to get compound interest to work for them instead of against them. Very useful glossary in the back that's as informative as the entire rest of the book, though rather dull.

[Littlevision · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know nothing about money having worked very little in my life and this book helped me be slightly less scared about all the financial stuff I'm going to face. Of course it brings up more questions than it answers, but at least I've got a good start. It's not heavy reading which is why I liked it. Short spurts of information... nothing to really bog me down.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting read, mostly. Unfortunately, there wasn't much in the book that I hadn't already heard before.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Same old stuff about finance that you can get by watching the news. And it felt rather preachy.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read this from cover to cover, but there were def spent good pieces of advice. A little bit dated, but good foundations.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It needs to be updated.