family-economics

"Nannies & More" provides basic and realistic information on establishing and maintaining relationships with household help based on the author's previous experience as owner of a domestic employment agency in Arizona. The work appears to rely solely on this experience, spending an undue amount of space on anecdotes.

Be aware, there are no references to web sites, none. The book is dated or lacking specifics in several areas, i.e. availability of background checks, IRS matters.

If you are new to the role of employer (or have had negative experience in the past) the book provides a good primer, and mirror for contemplating your expectations of possible employees and your approach to them.

"Nannies, Maids & More is enjoyable and informative reading. I found the book to do what the title says, it DOES provide a complete guide to hiring household help. I appreciated the very practical approach...With the increasing need for household staff and the lack of other publications on the topic...your book will meet an important need...Nice work!

This book addresses the problem of growing government entitlement programs for Americans in light of limited resources for providing them. Yes, everyone should be aware of the funding problems. Mr. Peterson should be thanked for bringing out a book on the subject. The color graphs are quite attractive. The writing is quick and easy to read, but even though he says he is not an alarmist, that's the impression he gives. There are many assumptions which readers usually swallow whole and that's what is wrong with the presentation. The book states that Americans do not "save" enough and that the Japanese save more. It infers that the Japanese are better off. In comparison to the amount Americans have in terms of goods and services, the Japanese have much less to consume. First, Americans as a whole save as much as any people in other industrialized countries. Our saving is not just at the bank, but involves mortgage payments, insurance premiums and employer pensions. Very few people in Japan own or are buying their homes. If we counted ALL savings of Amnericans, it would equal savings of people in other countries. If in fact, greater "saving" is responsible for a growing economy and a higher standard of living, why has Japan with its high saving rate been in a recession for the past seven years? (During the same time period the U.S. economy has been growing more prosperous.) The graph on page 24 shows how many American workers are needed to support each U.S. social security beneficiary for selected years between 1955 and 2040. In 1955 it took 8.6 workers, in 1995 it was 3.3 workers per retiree and by the year 2040 there will be only two workers per beneficiary. (In 1995 workers AND retirees all had more of material goods than in 1955.) This is the same kind of projection that was used years ago when at the turn of the century it took 50 percent of the working population to provide enough food for everyone else in the country. Everyone thought it was an ominous sign that so many young people were leaving the farms and that there was sure to be shortages of food unless the trend was stopped. Well, by the 1930's we had food surpluses which continued right through the 1980's even though only two percent of the working population is in farming. Even now, if we did not sell our surplus farm products overseas, we would have surpluses. In the U.S. today it takes one average farmer to produce enough food to feed 90 people. Only a few decades ago it would have seemed impossible. Its not obvious what method was used to get the numbers on the federal government's "red ink" chart on page 18, but just recently a review of the federal government's report for 1995 indicated that the accumulated federal debt of approximately $20,000 (liability) per U.S. population is compared to $205,000 of public assets per U.S. population. There are very few organizations of any kind that have such a favorable balance. Yes, there should be more reliance on private funds for medical care for the elderly and also some level of means test. But also keep in mind that spending on medical care causes people to live longer and people living longer results in more spending on health care. If old people had to pay for life-lengthening medications, they might not spend as much and health care companies would not have the profits to fund more advanced products to keep more people living longer. Think of the implications--investments, employment, life spans, etc Out of the complications we see that with or without government involvement, the industries that grow and prosper are the ones that get funded, either privately or by government. Each area of decision-making is made up of lots of individual choices which together move mountains. We agree that no one should have the idea that people should rely on social security benefits to fund their retirements. As far as the past is concerned, people with ONLY social security have NOT lived real high. Mr. Peterson is right when he says that young people do NOT expect to live on social security benefits when they retire. And, so, THAT finding may be the solution yet.

I have read this book and it scares me to death. People my age must realize that doing nothing is tantamount to giving our futures away. We must come to terms with the fact that there are 76 million Baby Boomers approaching retirement age, and there is no national plan to accomodate their pension and health needs. And to complicate matters, the problem is already occurring elsewhere around the world. Just read Peter Peterson's newest book, Gray Dawn.

This book is an upbeat look at aspects of post-career life, of finding new interests and an informative and practical guide to leading lives that are longer and more rewarding totally based on your personal experiences. To believe that a curtain drops on life at age 60/65 leaving nothing to do but play golf makes no sense at all. Not only does that attitude fail to bring personal satisfaction it is inconsistent with recognized theories of human development. The book demonstrates practical methods for you specifically to avoid a damaging mind-set, details proven methods to adopt and nurture new attitudes, and specifically how to supplement your income based on your area of personal expertise - and new areas as well. Ways to make this a period of grace and growth rather than decline and decay.

This is a direct approach to the life of retirement

I wish this book was required reading for every attorney I coach - and the managing partners of every law firm. Paula Rayman presents an compelling argument for law firms to examine
the consequences of their bottom line approach to doing business.
The billable hours culture, which places greatest value on overwork and heroic individualism, hurts families, diminishes the care of children and elders, reduces the possibilities for the success of women attorneys, limits the dignity of lawyers, makes lawyers abandon their civic responsibilities - and ultimately erodes the fabric of our society.
Rayman provides a sophisticated social, economic and moral analysis of the problem and offers both conceptual solutions and specific examples of their success. Rayman offers wise
counsel to the counselors.

Fascinating look at elegant living, through the expert perspective of an actual English butler (his service began in 1922). The book is roughly equal parts reminiscences about the way the great houses operated, and step-by-step instructions on serving port, polishing shoes, setting the table, and caring for silver. His instructions on folding clothes for travel are thoroughly effective. Sprinkled throughout are more extreme tidbits, such as the proper way to iron a newspaper (so that Gentleman #2 has a "fresh" newspaper, once Gentleman #1 has finished with it). What comes through, loud and clear, is Mr. Ager's craftsmanlike pride in the work that he did. Flicking the dust off a suit jacket takes skill, and hearing him teach that skill is a pleasure.

I have read the 1993 3rd edition several times. This is more than a financial planning book. It provides information on time management, wellness, and human support systems in planning for personal fulfillment in retirement.

If you've ever gone through hard times and felt like the world was standing in judgement, you have a sense of what the people in this book went through losing their farms. I grew up in farmland and have some sense of how fully peoples lives were tied up in their farms. For all those who see the modern economy as cool darwinian survival of the fittest, Dudley offers up a more plausible alternative: failure is often arbitrary or--worse--prompted by poorly thought out policies. The resulting pain of failure for those who experience the judgement is profound because so many see failure and success in moral terms. I'm still mulling the final message--that the unsympathetic judgement of those who get the short end of the economic stick *is* the American way. I can think of some counter-examples, but for the most part it rings true. Curious what others think.

The great thing about reading a Mary Hunt book on finances is knowing that she writes from experience and not just from abstract theory. This woman had run up something like $100,000 in unsecured debt (credit cards and such) and worked her way out of that crushing load of debt, without a high-paying job or an inheritance or a windfall of any kind. She simply persevered.

Of course, that's only half of the story. The other half involves her husband who, of all things, was a banker during some of the time she was amassing a heavy debt load. Like many spouses, she kept thinking she could handle it --- she would figure something out, or some magic reversal would wipe out their debt. Really, it's a wonder they didn't duke it out once she decided to come clean with him.

The plan Hunt outlines in DEBT-PROOF YOUR MARRIAGE is legitimately workable, for all you skeptics who think hers is just another budgeting plan that will never work for you. She doesn't propose living in a tent and boiling roots to make tea, though she probably wouldn't try to stop you. While she gives lots of very specific, very detailed information on how to eliminate credit card debt quickly, how to pay off your mortgage early and how to create a spending plan that is based on freedom rather than restriction, she is careful to emphasize that couples must customize their financial plan to fit their lifestyle and temperaments.

Hunt writes in a friendly, nonjudgmental style. I doubt anyone could come away from this book feeling worse than they did when they started reading. Hunt is a master at encouraging people to do what they can do, a little at a time, rather than feeling they have to grovel over their shameful financial mismanagement. She uses humor, anecdotes and illustrations to underscore the serious point she's making: that financial disharmony can destroy a marriage, while financial harmony --- no matter what it takes to achieve it --- can strengthen and save a marriage.

Before she gets into practical matters, Hunt establishes a foundation for understanding the factors that result in money-related problems in a marriage by discussing emotional differences, myths about money, and marital problems that are exacerbated by financial conflict. She pretty much follows a conservative Christian blueprint for marriage, conflict resolution and the like.

About the only thing that leaves me cold are the sections on making deposits in a "Love Bank" --- the idea being that every little thing you do to show your love and respect for your spouse is deposited into an account that incrementally adds up to a significant balance. I don't know. Maybe some couples like to talk and think like that. I've just never met one, or one that openly discusses it. Anyway, this idea isn't original with Hunt; she attributes it to Willard Harley, so her only responsibility for it is in repeating it. Oh, and then there is the implied suggestion that engaged couples exchange credit reports. I'm not sure why I find that so, well, weird. It's not like I think it's too personal; maybe I just can't see a couple actually doing that.

You probably won't agree with all of Hunt's suggestions, and you probably won't get around to following all of her advice even if you want to. But there's enough here to make the book a wise investment. And if you'd like to contribute to the lofty goal of reducing the divorce rate, you might want to consider giving a copy to every engaged couple you know.

--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford

I was just amazed at how this book changed the way I looked at my financial life. I'm sure if it waan't for this book I would be on the streets panhandling. It helped that much, Thank You!!