Suze Orman - Young Fabulous and Broke

[Popular]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 8:53pm

Has anyone read this book?

I'm thinking of buying it for a family friend who is leaving soon to start her first year of college.

It needs to be REALLY basic so I'm wondering exactly how well she breaks it down and explains things. Or am I better off getting her something like a "personal finance for dummies" book?

I just love the title but noone I know has read it and I don't want to get something that is going to collect dust.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 8:58pm

I haven't read this either but I have found every "for Dummies" book I've used to be entertaining and helpful. Says a lot about me, I guess.

[Popular]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 10:05pm

Thanks Keen.

I found a good deal on Amazon and decided on both. I figure whatever one she doesn't want I can probably learn from myself! LOL

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 10:10pm

Hey Popular- I own this Suze Orman book, and I also have a book called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s. They're both great for fresh out of your parents place young adults, but how 'basic' of a book are you looking for?

Because the Complete Idiot's Guide that I have starts really really basic, like Chapter 1 explains checking and savings accounts basic, and then it expands through Chapter 25 on purchasing your home. Versus the Orman book starts with what I would call advanced beginners- for those who already have credit cards and student loans and such, now what, and goes from there through the next years of your life.

[Popular]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 10:20pm

I'm not sure how much she knows already about these topics. I said "basic" because I think if it's too over her head or not an easy read she probably wont bother reading it.

Here's another question since you have both books... aside from how well they explain things, which one MOTIVATED you more to actually apply what they teach you?

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 10:30pm

I haven't read it, but I love the title.

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/18/07 at 10:34pm

When I was younger and stupider about money, I used the Complete Idiot's Guide more- I pretty much had no one to explain a lot of this stuff to me, and as I am flipping through it right now I can see where I've marked/highlighted/flagged a variety of different sections:
renter's insurance
stocks
money market accounts
websites that can help with setting up a budget
ira vs roth ira
etc.

Now that I'm older and less stupid about money, I like Suze Orman's book because I feel like she gets where I am right now in my life more, I feel like I've outgrown the Complete Idiot's Guide, if that makes any sense?

But I really liked both of these books, as I looked at/through so many financial advice books that were all full of advice on retiring and sending your kids to college and such, stages of my life that I just wasn't at yet, and these were the two books that I could find that were all ok, you're a 20-something, you've got credit cards and student loans and so here's how to use your money so that you can do what you wanna do now, but also so you won't be eating cat food when you retire. :)