Get-out

The authors' explanation of the workings of the Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc systems is adequate but is not particularly well written and often lacks clarity. This is certainly not one of NOLO's best offerings.

Especially annoying was the authors' frequent and tedious editorializing. I suspect most readers of this book want the facts, not the authors' socialistic, simplistic opinions.

page 10/7: "E. Medical Treatment....And dependents and survisors of a veteran who has a service connected disabilities, or who receives a veterans pension, are entitled to care in VA facilities if they are unable to afford private care."

I have been a VA employee for 16 years. The above is WRONG. There IS a pilot program in a handful of VA hospitals allowing dependents to use the VA hospital. Otherwise, this is NOT the case.

..."The VA can also pay for long-term care of an elderly or disabled veteran in a private nursing facility if there is no space in a VA facility."

This is also not entirely correct. The operative would is CAN. However, the VA is only obligated to pay for the care of veterans who have a certain percentage of Service-Connected Disability. If they pay at all for any others, most VA's only pay for care for a VERY limited period of time.

The authors of this comprehensive guidebook come close to achieving this feat. As they point out, many Americans are not receiving all the benefits they deserve under our current system. By explaining the various benefit programs and laws in conversational English, they hope to help readers ensure they are getting everything to which they are entitled. It's also helpful that the text is presented in a visually interesting two-column format with plenty of headings, boxes, and even the occasional illustration.

Each chapter explains a different benefit program or set of laws designed to protect the rights of older Americans. Security and Medicare take up more than half the book. The discussions of Medicare claims and appeal procedures are particularly thorough, complete with samples of Medicare summary notices explaining what the sometimes confusing columns of numbers mean. There also are chapters on Medigap policies, Veterans benefits, private pensions and 401(k) plans, and federal civil service retirement benefits. However, if you're looking for in-depth information on Medicaid coverage of nursing home costs, this is not your best resource. While Medicaid's basic eligibility rules are briefly discussed, the complexities of transferring assets to qualify for Medicaid benefits are not.

The authors mainly stick to the facts, but every once in a while they reveal their view of our society's tattered safety net. For example, they call our failure to enact a comprehensive, universal health care plan a "national disgrace."

This book isn't too bad. It doesn't cover anything revolutionary, but it does a good job of covering some of the basics of getting out of debt. It's an easy read and goes fairly quick. If you want to read it I'd suggest picking it up at the library rather than buying it. One pitfall it does have is that the author could have left her anti-government and political propaganda out of it, that was a bit annoying.

Contrary to the preceding opinion from Alabama, this book is a good buy. It tells how to get rid of all your debt in the shortest possible timeframe, saving thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. It even gives a few examples of ways to decrease expenses so that you can use the difference to accelerate repayment of your debts. Following the advice in the book, I expect to be completely out of debt (over $140k, including the mortgage) within 5 years and expect to retire (comfortably) at least seven years earlier than I had anticipated. (P.S. -- I don't make six figures and have a young child.)

The only thing I would change is that the author tells you where to go to find the "best" credit cards. Is there really such a thing? Getting another credit card will, over time, put far too many people back to square one. If you keep in mind that if you can't buy something for cash, that means you can't afford it -- this book can take you the rest of the way.

If you think this book is useless you're probably looking for an easy way out of debt (expecting an inheritance?).

I have read all, well most of these books. They all seem to say pretty much the same thing just from a different perspective. A friend told me about "Debt No More" and swore "this one is different". Since I was about to file bankruptcy I figured I had nothing more to loose. This book saved me and possibly my marriage. I just got in over my head and though in the long run it would all work out. It just got worse and I sunk deeper and deeper. We are now on our way toward getting completely out of debt and are rebuilding our credit. I really recommend this book. It is very easy to understand and makes allot of sense. Thank you Carolyn White where ever you are.

I read the reviews by the other reviewers before I bought this book and they convinced me to buy it. However, I was extremely disappointed in this book and found it of no help at all. If you're looking for self-help book that will actually help you, keep looking.

I've been buying from Amazon for years and this is the first review I've ever written - this book is that good! Granted, it won't be the answer for everyone, but if you've tried other self-help books and even counseling and nothing seems to click - give this book a try. It has completely transformed my life and awakened me from a very long and depressing sleep.

This isn't a joke, it is true. This book changed my life. I was an insecure, confused, lonely individual who never felt sustained happiness and worked in a job that wasn't where I wanted to be. Now I feel good about living, my future, everything, going full throttle in the pursuit of my dreams. The secret to how you feel about yourself is locked away in your childhood. If you really want to change your life, you have to have the courage to face the pain and confusion you endured as a child. If you are willing to re-live that, you've opened the door. The next step is to change the familiar negative behavior and atitudes you've kept in your life as defense mechanisms. You will struggle for a while to change, but if you want it bad enough you will succeed. Hey if I can do it, so can you. It has been 2 years since I read this book, and I can't even believe I was the same person as I was before I read it. As a side benefit, you will be able to see right through the people in your life, and even the people you've just met. If you are a single person like myself, you will never waste your time dating losers ever again unless you want to. So if you are unhappy with any aspect of your life, have the courage to change it. Buy this book. Whatever they are charging for this book, it is worth 10 times that at least.

This book is titled "luxury guide to WDW".....there were not informative tips on staying luxury really at all. It did not even seem like the writer stayed at any of the hotels she mentioned. Like maybe she combined what she read in other books into her book. Pretty vague. The Unofficial Guide to WDW by Bob Sehlinger is WAAAAY better. I would not bother buying this "luxury guide" book.

I'm a compulsive buyer of Walt Disney World planning guides--they are my favorite virtual escape from the pressures of real life. So I was really excited when this new guide became available! After a thorough reading, though, I was in the end disappointed. It's very well written and the author displays more knowledge of the travel business than the author of any other WDW guidebook I've read. However, it fails to deliver on the promise of "Luxury" which I hoped to be something to make this book really special. Instead, it thoroughly covers the same ground as many other guides with more of an emphasis on value than on the really high-end opportunities at WDW. This guide failed to capture the magic and excitement of Walt Disney World for me.

If you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando - and you hate lines and like to do things up right - read this book! Author Cora Goldsbury is a former travel agency owner who has spent many vacations at the most magical place on earth. This indispensable guide contains over 500 pages of detailed specifics on when to go, how to have the most enjoyment, which luxury accommodations to pick, what restaurants to dine in, and on and on and on. Using The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World is like having a highly paid guide customize your experience and escort you through the whole wonderland. Marilyn Ross, author of Shameless Marketing for Brazen Hussies.

I wanted to read this book so that I had an understanding of what some of the "folks" were hearing from people they trusted. The thought was: How can I help someone if I don't understand what they may have heard?

Now that I'm finished with it I have a few quick thoughts:

GOOD: The book tries to strike a balance between being technical and practical - It explains some of the "concepts" well, but then goes into specific deatil about "WHO" to call for things (i.e. credit reporting agencies, SBA etc.)

GOOD: The book touches on all the major subjects that people unfamiliar with personal money mgmt trip over. Insurance, home-buying, investing, insurance, credit, avoiding scams etc. are all topic that you MUST understand (to some extent) to avoid financial pitfalls.

BAD: Occassional references to the bible are a nice idea, but there aren't enough of them to have a substantial meaning to a reader. In the end they are jsut distracting.

BAD: The book doesn't have much of a "recommended reading" or additional reading section. Very helpful for those just starting out.

GOOD: Chapters are easy to read during lunch. At 15-25 pages, it is easy to read this books during lunchtime over the course of 2 weeks.

GOOD: Forget the msgr and your issues with him. The advice is solid, and right in line with what most financial planners would tell you (although, it is NO substitute for a professional - which the authors give advice on how to hire one)

BAD: May be helpful to have a good dictionary handy if you are a novice reader.

KB

This book covers all you need to know in planning your financial future. I found it to be comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and very well written. There is no substitute for having a good analysis of how to use financial planning strategies. Mary Gotschall's attempt is a 5-star winner. "It's About the Money" is definitely the bottom line in financial planning - a must read.

This is one of the best books on personal finances ever written for the layperson. In easy-to-under prose, it explains how to amass wealth and how to manage it. An indispensable addition to the library of anyone looking to improve their financial situation over the long haul!

Let us rewind back to the heady days of the bull market, the height of the internet bubble, NASDAQ 5000. Suze Orman is on MSNBC and what is her financial advice?

Put 100% of your investment in QQQ (an exchange traded fund that tracks the NASDAQ). Rationale: these are the fastest growing companies and you need to get the fastest growth.

Fresh off of being a HUGE PART of an enormous destruction of wealth, Orman now has the utter audacity to give MORE investment advice! DO NOT TAKE THIS WOMAN'S ADVICE.

Suze's book is full of hard hitting honesty, not only in her personal tidbits, but in providing the advice you need to follow in order to your financial life in order. Her laws are simple, but deeply thought out and when you read the book and really realize what the laws mean, you can easily relate them and apply them to your life. I understand that Suze may appear to be a marketing machine, but as someone who has met her, I can attest that she is genuine and truly cares about helping people gain control of their finances and get out of debt. After all, the cover price of this book is much cheaper in the long run than paying for advice from a random financial advisor. Suze has proven herself, time and time again, to be a savvy, smart, helpful resource for people who are willing to take the time to read her books and apply the lessons within to their own lives. This book is by far her best one yet and I believe it will quickly become a classic resource for anyone needing a solid finance guide.

Suze Orman has in all her books brought so much to us, in big ways and in small ways. First thing of all is that she has taught us that money is something we must deal with (and must want to deal with). There is financial advice everywhere, it's true, but Suze cloaks it in the emotions that also surround money. Here she presents five laws, simple on the surface, but resonant underneath. You cannot read these laws without having them echo in your head--and, more important, in your financial behavior, after you have read them. Even if just one law hits a home run for you, well, you are one step closer to your money, and to dealing with your money. This is financial goodness, truth, wisdom, precision, care, and generosity. I have turned to Suze many times, she has helped me every time, and saved me more than once. Worst case scenario. Let's say that only one of these laws rings true for you. (Three rang totally true for me.) That one law can change the way you deal with your money, which will change your life. Think of a prism turning, with all those angles and surfaces. Suze etches money wisdom onto every angle and surface,and I think every reader will find his or her angle, his or her surface, and be richer as a result. Thank you, Suze, for bringing money to life for me!

When I first saw this book it was on the bargain/clearance rack at the local bookstore. Having seen Montel's wonderful TV show, I decided that I'd buy the book and take it home for immediate reading. I made a big mistake. Instead of finding glimmering little gems of wisdom and insight throughout the pages of the book, I found nothing but a lot of self-congratulatory references to Montel's supposed superior public speaking abilities and his assumptions that he has all of the answers for society's various ills. When I was through reading this book I experienced a feeling that I have never had before -- I wanted to slowly roast his book in my barbecue grill! No other author has ever managed to raise such a truly unpleasant feeling inside of me like this guy has. Before I read the book, I respected and even admired Montel, but after I read it I began to dislike him immensely. Maybe this would have been a better book if Montel had the common courtesy to check his ego at the door and focused on something other than how great he thinks that he is.

I purchased this book several years ago and found it to be very down to earth. I appreciate the fact that while Montel shared his not always so bright life with the public he was able to share lessons learned that could bless someone else who may have been going down the same path. I commend him as a man to be able to receive correction but to also admit fault and openly correct his behavior to make his future better. I also enjoyed the example of him standing up for his show and doing what he thought was a proper format not matter what the cost or what the network execs thought. Being an example for our youth is important and Montel showed that he could influence our children on their level and not preach at them. This book gives us all a reality check in things we can do to improve ourselves, our relationships, our children and our society. Continued success!

In Montel William's book, he brings much light onto the never-ending battle people have with frustration and "hard times." I was given this book as a gift from my mom. She said she heard from people at work that it was very eye-opening and motivational. I would be lying if I said I didn't agree. From the opening chapter, until the very end, you'll get a feeling of warmth and bursts of motivation as you read about the trials and tribulations of Montel as you begin to relate to your own life experiences. His recollection of a motivational lecture at a high school where he calls on a young boy to discuss issues of morals (chapter 2?) will put an ear-to-ear smile on your face. While this book is not a "billion-dollar" winner, it sure is worth a read. I find myself thinking about this book in particular when I come across situations in my life that require personal integrity and determination. I am now 18 and I still think about the words and wisdom that Montel had to offer. Do yourself a favor and give it a chance, it might be as influential on you as it was me.

Apparently I didn't read the same book the other reviewers read! This book has spells that are usually simple but the supplies are not easy to get to. Maybe buying silk is easy but finding a running stream in the middle of a city and planting an apple tree when you live in an apartmnent is a little hard. This is the first spell book I bought and it will probably be the last. I think the best thing to do is to do research and write the spell yourself.

I like this book, don't get me wrong, but I do have to agree with the below bay area reviewer who said the supplies are not easy to get (i.e. the 12 silk scarves in different colors, I don't think so, felt fabric is more like it) nor do most of us city dwellers have the ability to zip over to the nearest stream or other outdoor area beyond our backyards to do a spell, and expect nobody to be there or notice? Doubtful. (If you are like me, read City Magick by Christopher Penczak, you'll be glad you did -this is reality folks!)

However, I find myself keeping 52 Charms and Spells. I like the simple spells, the pictures and verbage, the (usually) short lists of supplies and ingredients for each spell and the variety. If I don't have a running stream nearby, my bathtub or sink will do; if I need to plant something so my spell will grow, I use a flowerpot or window box. If I don't have a certain herb or oil, I substitute the next best or similar thing. Because magick is within I find ways to adapt spells to city life and to the best of ability, given what I have to work with geographically or otherwise. I think as modern magick users we need to do this more and more, hard as it may be sometimes because so many books don't seem to recognize this fact and think we all live in the country without nosy neighbors just over the fence. But like I said, I still keep this book finding value in it: it's short and sweet, not one I use every day granted, but pleasant to have nonetheless.
I would not really recommend this book to a beginner because there is not a lot of detail on "how to" or background about spells and magick, but as a supplemental to other books and for a lot more in pictures and color, it fills that space nicely.

This book is wonderful for beginners intermediate and the novice.This book has every thing i needed it has how to get some love if someone you don't love loves you and harrasses you it tells how to stop them, it tells you how to get the green, how to rid your house of bad spirits, how to lose weight even how to fortel the future. I'm a beginner it the craft and this book has helped me alot. Before i got this book i was fat, broke, depressed and unloved now i've lost 30 lbs! i feel better all the time and now i landed the girl of my dreams and have a really nice bank account i recomend this book to any and all people who think they could use a change for the better. if you have any Q's I've goy the A's about this book so if you want write me.

I regret buying this book. It's not a guide for young people to starting your own business unless you call part time babysitting a business or selling your goods at a flea market as having your own business. The "businesses" the author has in mind are are, for example, selling homemade goods to your friends or anyone else you can get to buy them. If you call having a lemonade stand a business, then this book may pertain to you.

I beleive this is a great book. It gives excellent motivation in getting started in a business. It helps you to understand how to run your business and get it started. It even gives you examples of current businesses started by young entreprenuers.

This book is a great book for young (highschool) people to learn the challenges and opportunities afforded in entrepreneurship. Excellent.

This book may be helpful for someone who needs some basic knowledge about credit repair and debt issues. However, Mr Hammond merely added very little updated information and creates another edition to be sold in the market place. More than half of the book consists of credit regulations, and out of date phone numbers for many governmental organizations and creditors alike. It is obvious he does not put in much additional effort in creating new additions. Also, some of his techniques may not work for everyone. If he spends any time practicing in this field (which I feel he have not) he would have written more practical credit repair techniques which may prove beneficial to consumers out there.

Other reviewers of this book here at Amazon seem to feel that the author is skimping on the details, and that he uses the laws we have to live with as filler. I disagree. Personally, I don't have time to read a lengthy discourse on how to get out of debt, repair my credit, or work towards being financially stable. This book contains more than enough valuable information to get anyone with credit woes on the road to recovery. When I bought this book just over a month ago, I had 11 negative marks on one of my credit reports. After taking the sample letters in this great book and modifying them to meet my needs, I have changed 9 of these marks to positive, and am negotiating on the last 2. I found this book to be an invaluable tool, as a novice to the way debt works.

Bob Hammond discusses how to reduce debts, repair credit and deal with creditors and collection agencies. He includes tips on negotiating debts downward and sample letters to creditors. The detailed appendix includes the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This book is primarily targeted to small business owners, employees and the unemployed or underemployed who are having debt problems. We [...] appreciate the basic, "do this," tone of voice and the practical approach to helping someone climb out of debt. (While some of these strategies might be useful anywhere, only U.S. law is discussed.)