Book Review And Giveaway - You’re Broke Because You Want To Be.

Posted by david | January 9, 2008

Well, after seeing the book reviewed on so many other personal finance blogs, I guess you kind of knew it was coming. However, I am giving my copy away to one lucky reader! But more on that later. For now, I would like to discuss this book “You’re Broke Because You Want To Be” by Larry Winget. I was sent an advance copy to check out, and I gotta say, it’s a pretty decent book for anyone needing a kick in the pants to get their financial life in order. Mr. Winget is the host of A&E’s Big Spender, where he berates seemingly normal people with normal jobs into getting their finances in order. I have caught the show a few times and it is always amazing it me that people with that kind of money cannot seem to manage it and end up feeling broke because of their habits. But Mr. Winget comes in and gives them a dose of reality and hopefully these people get back in line…and if you are one of them, this book is for you.

Basically this book says it like it is - if you have a job, there is no reason why you should be broke. And if you are, it’s because you want to be. One thing that popped into my head before reading the book was “well, what about poor people?” and the author makes an exception for them - this book is not telling them that they are broke because they want to be, but rather they are a different story altogether. This book is aimed at the average person with a job and a home, but without any financial sense. And I see where he is coming from - when you put it this simply, you can see why some people with jobs are broke. I personally don’t think every case is that cut and dry, but for the most part it makes sense. Mr. Winget offers advice on fixing your finances, creating a budget, avoiding bankruptcy, shopping with a list - you know, the stuff you SHOULD know but some people don’t. Overall I really enjoyed the book, but that is mainly because I am of the same school of thought - you gotta know priorities in life, and if you don’t have the cash, flat screens and BMW’s are not them. If you have a good job but are feeling sorta broke, you should check out this book.

Now for the giveaway - Each person that leaves a comment on this post from a legitimate email address (and has not won a giveaway before) will receive one entry into the random drawing. If you mention the giveaway in a post on your own blog and let me know about it (by linking to this post) you will receive 3 entries into the same drawing. Make sense? Comment = 1, Post = 3. The drawing will take place on Sunday January 13th, and the winner will be notified on Monday January 14th. I will cover shipping within the continental U.S. only, so if you are overseas, be ready to pick up the shipping cost if you win. Good luck!