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Making the Most of Your Money Now

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Named the best personal finance book on the market by Consumers Union, Jane Bryant Quinn's bestseller Making the Most of Your Money has been completely revised and updated to provide a guide to financial recovery, independence, and success in the new economy.

Getting your financial life on track and keeping it there -- nothing is more important to your family and you. This proven, comprehensive guidebook steers you around the risks and helps you make smart and profitable decisions at every stage of your life. Are you single, married, or divorced? A parent with a paycheck or a parent at home? Getting your first job or well along in your career? Helping your kids in college or your parents in their older age? Planning for retirement? Already retired and worried about how to make your money last? You'll find ideas to help you build your financial security here.

Jane Bryant Quinn answers more questions more completely than any other personal-finance author on the market today. You'll reach for this book again and again as your life changes and new financial decisions arise. Here are just a few of the important subjects she

• Setting priorities during and after a financial setback, and bouncing back
• Getting the most out of a bank while avoiding fees
• Credit card and debit card secrets that will save you money
• Family matters -- talking money before marriage and mediating claims during divorce
• Cutting the cost of student debt, and finding schools that will offer big "merit" scholarships to your child
• The simplest ways of pulling yourself out of debt
• Why it's so important to jump on the automatic-savings bandwagon
• Buying a house, selling one, or trying to rent your home when buyers aren't around
• Why credit scores are more important than ever, plus tips on keeping yours in the range most attractive to lenders
• Investing made easy -- mutual funds that are tailor-made for your future retirement
• What every investor needs to know about building wealth
• How an "investment policy" helps you make wise decisions in any market
• The essential tax-deferred retirement plans, from 401(k)s to Individual Retirement Accounts -- and how to manage them
• How to invest in real estate at a bargain price (and how to spot something that looks like a bargain but isn't)
• Eleven ways of keeping a steady income while you're retired, even after a stock market crash
• Financial planning -- what it means, how you do it, and where to find good planners

Page by page, Quinn leads you through the pros and cons of every decision, to help you make the choice that will suit you best. This is the single personal-finance book that no family should be without.

1264 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2009

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About the author

Jane Bryant Quinn

23 books23 followers

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5 stars
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47 (37%)
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17 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
135 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2014
This book is very long and detailed. I enjoy reading personal finance books, but I got bogged down in this one. That's not really a positive or a negative, just an observation that this is better as a reference book than a cover-to-cover read.

As far as content, the book is generally informative and gives pretty good advice, but I did sometimes disagree with the author. Since she gives so much detail about everything, whenever I disagreed with her I had lots of time to get annoyed about it, because she kept going on and on! But my irritation was generally over fairly minor things, like her views on car leases (I think she should discourage leasing) or life insurance for stay-at-home parents (she thinks that only wage earners need life insurance, and I vehemently disagree).
13 reviews
July 7, 2017
This book is great, but not meant to be read cover to cover. (I've read probably 50%). It is a reference book. If you are buying a house, read the chapter on housing. If you are buying insurance, read that chapter - retirement investing, read that chapter, etc. Books like this blow the internet out of the water (to all the young people, internet research is not the same quality as books from the library, sorry the truth hurts). The chapters are full of great information, that if you put it to practice will save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Highly recommend to anyone who needs a good reference, and rational advice/guidance about personal finance.
Profile Image for Isabel.
484 reviews13 followers
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January 28, 2016
at 1100 pages I don't know how anyone could actually wade through it, let alone take care of all the things she suggests. With a layout that is sequential, well indexed and logical you can fairly easily cherry-pick topics of particular interest, but generally speaking I think there are many, many financial planning books out there that are MUCH more user friendly.
Profile Image for Joel Rosario.
83 reviews
February 12, 2021
I can't think of a better comprehensive personal finance book than this. It really has everything you need to well, make the most of your money..now. There is not much else to say. You don't have to read this book sequentially. Just keep it in your library and whenever you have a question about something related to your finances, look it up here. It's a textbook, but actually useful. Just kidding, most textbooks are useful. This one is really practical though
Profile Image for Frank Anderson.
18 reviews
July 30, 2015
Making the most of your money , by Jane Bryant Quinn

All of us use the computer, well, maybe not all, but most. We hunt for information about everything. And still, there is a place for good reference books, at hand, when we want to learn or refresh without ads, promos, or other claptrap. Making the most of your money is one of those. 1066 pages of those points that should concern everyone who is not stuffed with wealth.
Monetary wisdom unfortunately comes for most of us as hindsight. We guess or assume, or just plain don’t think at all, and speaking as an older person, if you don’t have any money, you are in trouble.
So, take the time, painful as it may be, and learn basic banking. Learn about money and investing. Plan for later, no not tomorrow, but 20 or 30 or more years in the future. Control your spending. Control debt. Learn how to say, “No, I can’t afford it,” and then stick with that decision.
Making the most of your money can help. But, like any reference, it won’t do the whole job for you. You need to read, understand, and change with the rules, and enhance your ability to persevere.
Profile Image for Loren.
Author 2 books1 follower
June 23, 2015
This is a very comprehensive book on money. Its over 850 pages. But, she covers everything from spending your money wisely, to investing, saving for retirement, insurance, taxes etc. She talks about it all so if there is any part of your financial life you may want some more knowledge on this is a good book read. And a must read for anyone who wants to take their finances to the next level.
Profile Image for Al Maki.
665 reviews25 followers
January 13, 2016
The book is the same size as Atlas Shrugged, alarmingly thick. But in this case it's because she tries to give all the relevant information for making financial plans in pretty well all circumstances. At the same time she is an incisive and forceful writer. Read only what you need.
34 reviews
March 10, 2011
It was good as a resource if for nothing else. You definitely don't need to read the whole book cover to cover.
Profile Image for Kelly.
31 reviews
Currently reading
April 10, 2011
If I venture out into public with this book, I will cover it with a paper bag so I am not embarrassed by the cover.
Profile Image for Helen Crow.
84 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2012
If I ever get to retire, it will be because of good advice from Jane Bryant Quinn. Yes, I have told her.
Profile Image for Gwen.
471 reviews
November 28, 2013
Probably best to read the sections on topics of interest at a given time rather than reading from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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