Uncommon Cents: Benjamin Franklin Secrets to Achieving Personal Financial Success

by Lynn G. Robbins, Lisa Vermillion, Dennis Webb

What if Benjamin Franklin were to manage your money? Ben Franklin had an uncommon sense for sound money management. In this book we share the secrets which made him one of the wealthiest and most successful men in early American history. You will learn how to 1) control debt, 2) manage spending, and most importantly, 3) realize your financial dreams. Plain and practical advice for your money!

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, easy read with profound insights. Some of my favorite quotes were:

“The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. If all but myself were blind, I should want neither fine clothes, fine home, nor fine furniture.”-Benjamin Franklin

“What are three words that profile the affluent? FRUGAL FRUGAL FRUGAL.” -Thomas Stanley and William Danko

“No one would remember the good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well.” -Margaret Thatcher

“Life’s happiest people are those who feel in control. They believe in themselves.”-Joseph Kuyper

“I realized my most cherished desires by defending them from my casual wishes.” -from The Richest Man In Babylon

[Freddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice on managing finances

Here there are some great principles on managing finances that can help us to improve how we handle our money instead of being in the dark ages

[Sandy Swain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book in the early 90s as a textbook for a college class on personal finance. I am re-reading it now--twenty years later--and with a very different perspective than I had as a newlywed college student just starting out in my financial life.

Looking over the quotes from Benjamin Franklin and what I originally learned from that college class I now more clearly see what lessons stuck and what didn't. Some of the perspectives I adopted and still hold to this day. Some of the lessons I ignored because I thought I knew better--so I eventually learned them the hard way. (Especially the one about properly vetting people who offer you an investment that looks too good to pass up.)

The book makes the assumption that you are a married couple with joint finances whose income is from a W2 wage earning job. As a (now) single woman business owner who will NEVER AGAIN agree to merge finances with another human being I had to work around a lot of the parts that didn't apply to me. As for the money allocation system, I much prefer the one outlined in the great book I just read by Joseph D'Agnese and Denise Kiernan: "The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed: The Only Personal Finance System for People with Not-So-Regular Jobs".

However, after having recently read another great book about visual communication by Dan Roam called "The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures" I had a great appreciation for the way this book uses simple hand drawn illustrations and cartoons to convey the ideas and financial principles.

I enjoyed reading the book again and checking in with myself about how my relationship with money has evolved.

[Wendee Radmall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at my Mom's today. Quick read and well worth the time! Ben Franklin retired at age 42 and at that point "his money made him time." The author maps out correct financial principles that if we live by diligently, we will find success and achieve liberty... especially from debt. The author (and Franklin) suggest to live frugally, providently, and creatively. The old adage Franklin coined, "A penny saved is a penny earned" has an oxymoron, "A penny spent is a penny enjoyed." He holds that money is not the end all of happiness, but a means to acquire liberty and happiness, but only if used in conjunction with sound financial principles of living on less than you earn. I learned a great deal from this book, and enjoyed the read!

One funny line reads:
"The word debt has a silent B, which is quite indicative of it's 'stinging' nature." (Okay, for the record, that's paraphrased, because I'm too lazy to look it up.)

I loved the cartoons in the margins. This could be a great tool for educating kids about finances. Great principles outlined in a very understandable format. Published by Franklin Covey in 1989.

Everyone should read this book!!!

[Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains great advise. It is an easy read and has some funny quips and quotes. It contains some forms in the appendix that help with planning and budgeting.

I only gave it 3 stars because I'm trying to be more modest in my ratings. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about how to get out of debt and managing their finances.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, well done with graphics and variety of typeface to give the information. As someone who has read basic budgeting books and kept a strict budget for 15 years, little was new information. Good reminders. Examples were good as well, although some were extreme.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short financial book that follows simple money saving ideas. The little anecdotes, quotes, and pictures kept the book pretty interesting. The ideas seem smart and sound.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable to read and straight to the point, you can't go wrong following the financial principles laid out in this book.

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell told me to read this book and it turned out really good, great book with great financial advice that anyone can understand.

[LeAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic financial principles in a fun presentation format.

[Carrie]

I loved Elder Robbins talk this past conference, I was looking to see if he has written any books and stumbled on this. Not the kind of book I was looking for, but can't hurt none the less.