How to afford the life you will love (Your Money or Your Life - Alvin Hall)

Member Name: Trishajs

Product:	Your Money or Your Life - Alvin Hall
Date:	06/08/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple, sound advice

Disadvantages: Some of the suggested calculations may put people off

Oh how I miss seeing Alvin Hall on our screens. I understand finance, but am all too well aware of how many people just "don't get it" and the consequent need for advice such as contained in this book.

So wanting to read up on retirement I headed to the library and borrowed a not inconsiderable number of books and I couldn't ignore straight talking, "let's put this simply"- Alvin.

The chapters in the book are:-

Money and your Mind
Consumer Debt
The Joy of Saving
Property Choices
Financial Partnership
Investment Basics
Investing for Life
Insure Options
Yes, you can Retire
Who to Believe
Passing on your Wealth
One Hour a week-(a guide to creating your personal money plan).

In other words your money from here to eternity.

If you feel you need some guidance on finance I suggest you take a look at this book. If nothing else it will make you think about your relationship with money and your future security.

As it was first published in 2002 some of the then facts e.g the amount you can invest in an ISA have changed. But the important thing is the advice hasn't.

It is a book you don't have to read all at once, as I said I just wanted to dip in and check on my retirement plans, and even I found some of the suggestions for calculating my retirement fund off putting- but he simply suggested that if I found it daunting, it would be reasonable to assume my target income in retirement should be 75% of my "normal" salary- well that was easy to check on.

I love the way he can "tell you off" for example when people buy treats for themselves saying it is because they deserve it- he asks why do you deserve it? and the explanations of why you do not deserve it will ring true with most of us.

He points out how we all need an emergency kitty, adding that a holiday in the Canaries is not an emergency.

I am afraid for the future of many people, who just don't understand money- for some it will turn out ok- but for many others I foresee regret when they reflect on the mistakes they have made. I know that if I was still having to work on a cold wet morning well into my late 60s - I would swop being able to have a wardrobe full of the latest trends and designer handbags in years gone by- for snuggling under the duvet with a good book and a cuppa.

So read this book or a similar one- at least then you cannot turn around in years to come and say nobody told you.

Summary: Control your money - don't let it control you