Everybody Freaks Out! But It's Going To Be Okay.

by T. Rowe Price

Everybody stresses about saving for college. And it's no wonder. That estimated tuition number can be scary. But don't worry. Whether you, a friend or a relative needs some guidance, this illustrated book is a lighthearted way to see how easy it can be to overcome your worries and get started saving.

Buy a copy of Everybody Freaks Out for yourself or a friend who might be in the same boat. Junior Achievement USA will receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of each book. Your purchase will help students across the country develop financial literacy skills.

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through hands-on programs.

This book is brought to you by the Education Trust of Alaska and the College Savings Plans of Maryland with support from T. Rowe Price.

Genres: Nonfiction

44 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2014

Reviews

[Jjudyfl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this "book" from Goodreads.
A THIN "book" suggests starting a 529 plan for a college bound kid. It features silly drawings of cartoon people, & is apparently available for purchase.
This "book"
is set in rhyme,
It's dumber than dirt,
I wasted my time.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I would've known this was basically an advertisement, I wouldn't have tried to win it.

[Jin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from the sweepstakes and I just received this booked day. while opening the package I got a paper cut. maybe this was a bad omen or a sign. I think this was more like a advertisement rather than a book. illustration maybe cute but story wasn't really there. it's totally about 529 college savings plan. I am a bit disappointed by it. I thought I could use this book in the fall with my students but It is more for parents who are planning to send the kids to college. it wasn't the book I was looking for. I think is deserves 1.5 stars because I really enjoy the illustration.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this "book" from Goodreads First Reads.

I never would have entered to win this "book" if I had known it was an advertisement. I was looking forward to reading this with my children. Waste of time. Would NOT recommend.

[Autom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Won this book on goodreads.

Definitely not what I thought it was going to be.

This is NOT a children's book even if it is set in rhyme. Don't know why it would be listed under the "children books category" in the giveaways. That's irritating...

This book is basically an advertisement to save money when your kids go to college. A better way to advertise would be to hand these out to parents on campus tours with their kids. At least then you would have the "right audience."

[Judy Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not worth the paper it was printed on. Very disappointed

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a former banker, so I knew about 529 plans, but I still found this book (which is a pamphlet disguised as a picture book) to be informative for the average person. This is basically an advertisement for 529 savings plans, but it's done in a way that educates and is entertaining. I read it to my 6-year old daughter, and she enjoyed the story even though she didn't really understand all of the benefits of that type of tax-free savings plan. The end result was that she wants to start a 529 plan. What's not to like about this as a method of educating people who might have an interest while making it fun and easy to understand? That's why I gave it a high rating.

[Desiree Streib · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I thought it would be tips, ideas, and strategies for future college planning, but this book is actually an advertisement from T. Rowe Price. It's a book written as a children's book. It has parents realizing the cost of their baby daughter's tuition and they start to freak out. Eventually they realize that they should get a 529 plan and they go to bed and sleep peacefully with not a worry in the world. At the end, there are checklists and web addresses to help guide you in starting a 529 plan.
I was really disappointed in T. Rowe Price for using Goodreads as a marketing ploy.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings on this book... I originally thought it was junk mail when I saw it, but the name was familiar, so I took a look at it. It doesn't really look like a book.
That being said, I do like that proceeds from the sale of the book go to Junior Achievement. I also think it is a great way to introduce young people to college savings. I am not sure what age-bracket they are aiming the book for, though. The look of the publication, as well as the artwork seems geared towards young children, but the topic would be of more interest to an older child. Overall, I liked the look of the publication, though. It was colorful and eye-catching.
I won this book from the Goodreads.com website.

[Wendi Dusek · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have small children and do not know how you are going to pay for college - this book is for you. It's basically an educational guide and a very quick read leading you to a website to save for your child's or grandchild's college through a 529 plan. I did go to the website " CollegeSavingsChillout.com " and it very easily will walk you through and answer basic questions on setting up a 529 College Saving Plan. (Tax Free - yes everyone loves those words!!) I would recommend the book and the website if you are in the process of "don't kmnow how I am going to pay for college!"

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks again goodreads.com for this give away book in return for a review of it.
This book has a double purpose...great info about saving for kids college for parents/guardians and adorable illustrations for kids. My 2-1/2 grand-daughter loves the book and her parents appreciated the the useful information in the book. The only negative about the book is that it's not a book!!! It's just an advertisement from T. Rowe Price in book form.

[Michael]

Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This was really more of an artistic advertisement than a book. Still, I got it for free, so I can't complain too much. Currently being a college student with tons of looming debt, I can appreciate the book's intentions. Hopefully one day I can look into this company when I'm planning my own children's future. :)

[Katrina Knittle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.

I was disappointed when I recieved this book to find out it was basically advertisement. If I would have known I would probably not have enter to win it.

[Erin Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this "book" through the Goodreads giveaway program.

This whole thing is an advertisement disguised to look like a children's book. It's not cool.

[Kira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this as a Goodreads First Read.

It is a cutsey rhyme about freaking out over the expense of college tuition. Being a first time mom with a college degree and going through Masters program I know just how expensive college is and how expensive a child is before they even get to college. I started a simple savings plan before my daughter was born to help with the start of a college fund. I will have to research the tool brought up in the book to see if there is a better plan then the one I have established.

[Allmythidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book as a goodreads first reads giveaway and never received it in the mail. Oh well.

[Reading Harbor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just got the book in the mail. I won it, as did many other reviewers.
It was a cute book. The drawings were nice. I liked the illustrations. However, this is not really appropriate as a children's book or a book at all. I went in thinking it was something else completely. This is more like an advertisment pamphlet than a children's book. The illustrations are really gorgeous. It is a shame. If more work were put into it, it might actually have been a good tool to educate people to save more and the value of 529s.

I thought this book was going to teach some kind of lesson. For example: I think this book could have been improved if it had taught the value of compounding money. This is a concept a lot of Americans today don't learn about in school, as exhibited by our recent financial crisis. It could have shown a parable between two families: the Jones (who spend a lot and do what typical Americans do - live pay check to pay check, always accumulating debt, needing to buy the next gadget and living beyond their meals, etc.) vs. the Smarts who put their money in tax deferred or non-taxed educational accounts, which compound continously. So even small contributions, such as $10k over the course of 18 years, could grow to be $100k.

I think that would have been a much better lesson and then they could have still put their website and hotline plug and I wouldn't have minded.

I'm sad because I was excited to win this giveaway and I really wanted to like this.


Note: For the math, please see this:
http://www.moneychimp.com/articles/fi...
Assume $10,000 today was compounded continously at 13% = ~$103k 18 years from now. (Note: Not inflation adjusted.)

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this "book" from Goodreads First Reads.

The illustrations were awesome. There is real talent there that can go far. That is why it got two stars from me. The rest is a marketing nightmare waiting to happen. I learned more from the one page pamphlet than I did from the booklet.

I am not going to spend a lot of time on this except to say, be careful how you advertise something. This is misleading. The website says this book has information about the 529 investment inside of it and I found more information in the pamphlet than the booklet. Selling a book for $5.00 to get more information on an investment plan is fine. The book has no more information in it other than being entertaining in an odd way and having great illustrations. There are going to be a lot of angry customers.

You may be able to get hospitals to buy it to put in their new mommy bags they send home with people who have babies or even give it to them and use it as a tax write off or advertising costs but this is not a "book" and should not be sold as one.

[Jennifer]

i cant believe that i even signed up to win this outrageously bad book.i cant believe i fell for a advertisement and this makes me so upset.while i find that these drawings are very upsetting to me as i think a kid would feel the same...all it shows is that if an adult doesn't get his or her way they use violence and banging their heads on tables is not something i think should be in this book...i was trying to find kids books for my neiphew"s kids. i am glad i am not sending this out...
not that i blame goodreads but wish they had viewed this one just a little bit more before putting it on here...yet i still love goodreads and still thank them every day for all that i have gotten...
i am so disgusted that i cant even give a rating for this book and i do not recommend it to no one...this is in doubt the worst i have seen...shame on the author for allowing this go get out and to even expect people to pay for it in the general public...wow!!!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I received this book in the mail, my 12 year old child read it and then handed it back to me and said that it was just an advertisement. Then I read it and I had to agree. It is about the 529 Savings Plan. As a parent of a senior in high school, the book did have useful information for my child and I to look at as we contemplates life after high school. The reason for the 3 stars is that I really dislike when books are put out as informative but end up being an advertisement.

This book did give me enough information about the 529 plan that I plan on researching it more. I also plan on giving this book to my child's high school counselor so that he can have it available for other parents.



***I received this book through Goodreads Giveaway. The opinion is solely my own and receiving the book through the Giveaway did not influence my opinion.***

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting this book to be a children's book, and it is, but it isn't. The information provided is clearly intended for adults and the rhyming scheme is a little bit forced at times. It is an interesting way to get parents thinking about saving for their children's college expenses although I would have actually appreciated a more in depth description of what the 501 plan (or whatever the number is, the book is downstairs and I'm too lazy to go get it right now) is. I'm also a little too lazy to actually research it at the moment, but that's my failing, not the books. It is a unique book in my experience, and I have a five year old and a three year old, so I get to read a lot of children's books.


Copy received through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.

[Scott Haraburda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.

------------------------------------

Everybody Freaks Out! But It's Going To Be Okay is nothing more than a well-illustrated brochure about the 529 college savings plan.

I was totally disappointed when I won this advertisement from T. Rowe Price, a publicly owned investment firm headquartered in Baltimore, wishing I had never entered to win this book. It’s definitely not a children’s book, even though it has well-designed illustrations and written in rhymes.

Everybody Freaks Out is just an advertising brochure to illustrate the problems with saving for college, containing information that can readily be found with a simple Internet search.

[Casia Pickering · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recieved this First Reads Goodreads Giveaway book for an honest review.

Being a new mom and college graduate, I have some idea of the crazy that goes with paying for college. However, whereas I would like to start saving for my child, my husband doesn't quite see the value of college. I did learn something in this book though that may cater to his thoughts as well. The numbers 529. Looks like I need to do some research on 529.

This book is a colorful picture book that could actually be read to children. The kids will like seeing the parents freaking out and the parents will learn something new. If they didn't already know about 529 that is. Which I didn't. So now I'm going to look at it.

Also, I love the rhyming. Books that rhyme are always fun.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book thought the Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

This 'book' is really just an advertisement for a college savings plan. Don't buy it. I wouldn't have entered had I know the 'book' was just a trick to try to get people to invest in the plan.

It's written for children and marketed towards their parents. It's a children's story picture book for adults about financial planning. I don't understand that decision at all. The delivery method is, quite frankly, stupid and doesn't make sense for the information it provides. They could just as easily make little pamphlets or brochures and leave them with pediatricians to hand out to parents of young children instead of trying to sell adults a children's book.

[Tashia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not call this a book, short story. or a novella. I was not what I expected really. It is literature about college, how not to stress, and where to find the answer for college savings through 529. The book is written and illustrated as a small childs book. My youngest also read this and thought the pictures were cute and funny with all the parents "freaking" out over the thought of the cost of college. So if your "freaked" out over college give this literature a go. Remember the numbers 529 and call 1-855-529-chill or go to collegesavingschillout.com. All proceeds from the sale of these books go to support youth financial literacy.

[Kaleena Rheeya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had already heard about 529s prior to winning this book from Goodreads First Reads giveaways. I do plan to open one up for my daughter in the next year or two. The concept that everyone worries about paying for their children's college was a good start but the approach is a turnoff for most parents who engage in the book. I personally wished that there had been more interactive options in this that would engage both the parents and children while educating them. I do believe some people will find a benefit from this as it is a starting place for those who know nothing about 529s. However, for people like me who are already aware, something more is needed.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The font and illustrations suggest it is a children's book, but that is not the intended audience. The whole book is meant to promote 529 accounts for parents (and grandparents) trying to save for a child's college education expenses. It was making its case to parents of young children. Start saving early so your investment has time to accumulate. I am a grandparent of twins, and we started 529 accounts for them when they were born, but I don't think that that is the only way to go. I'm not convinced that this book is the most effective way to get out the word about planning for college expenses.

[Ann Valdez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. It was not what I expected since it seems to be an advertising picture book for parents rather than a children's picture book. The illustrations are good, the rhyme is fine, but the message is definitely to adults.

The high school seniors where I work went through some "freaking out" when they realized college costs, so maybe getting a book like this in parents' hands when their children are young is a good idea. This book is especially good for parents who did not go to college, but would like their children to. I will make it available to the the parents of our students. The message is good - even though it is an advertising ploy.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads giveaways and I actually liked the children's book format. I thought it was an interesting approach to attempt.

I am however very disappointed with the lack of information. I agree with other reviews in that it really was an advertisement for the 529 plan but even as an advertisement there wasn't much information about the plan just that it is an option.

This book is for sale?! Please don't buy it. YES the proceeds are to support financial literacy programs for youth but I'm positive there are better ways to help young people understand finance.

[Doseofbella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustrations, and the story of what most parents are considering a stress point.

Your childs education is so very important, but the cost of education continues to rise. This illustrated guide can help guide any parent to a stress free plan. If your a parent of a young child, this could be a solution. If your the parent of a child going into high school, I would not recommend a long term savings plan. However, anything is better than no funds at all. Copy courtesy of Goodreads First Reads.

A great option for any parent.