Financially Stupid People Are Everywhere: Don't Be One Of Them

One of my favorite financial books! Im a big fan of the no nonsense approach here. Worth your time and money to own this book!

I bought this book a few weeks ago and finished 3 chapters so far,jason kelly is awesome,really recommended

I am an avid reader of Jason Kelly. His financial writing abilities are unique in the sense that he breaks down complicated topics for driven and motivated individuals; I often describe his books to my friends as "an `Idiot's Guide' for non-idiots." I have emailed him with financial questions of my own, and he responds as if I'm his only reader. I would highly recommend his Kelly Letter to anyone who gets this book (and no, I was not paid to say that.)Therefore, I was extremely excited about this new book. After finally being able to grab some time, I sat down and finished within two days. Amazingly simple to read, understand, and recommend. The first sentence of the book is the most important, cutting right to the point. And his references are colorful and magnetic, just like this comparison of a credit card to a noose: "It's [the credit card company's] own fault for creating a system based on the principle of providing enough rope for people to hang themselves. If you use the rope for something other than tying a noose around your neck, it's a good free rope."However, Jason's book is similar to a cliché job performance review: start out by highlighting separating strengths, point out weaknesses and how they are dragging down performance, and end with another strong quality. The first 4 chapters (chapter 1 especially) of this book should be memorized by every American, and the final chapters encourage you and give you the tools to capture your own financial freedom.But the middle (chapters 5 and 6, which comprise nearly half of the entire book, and hogged about 80% of my reading time) should be questioned. Jason dives deeply into his personal opinions, albeit admirably bipartisan, about American government. If you truly are not a "financially stupid person", these chapters will feel somewhat disjointed. It seems as if he expects every reader to follow down his well trodden path like zombies. His main point is that the government and corporations are "in bed together" and that basically every financial move the government and/or corporations make is a) for financial gain and b) ignoring citizens' best interests. His perpetual interjections that the lowly taxpayers bailed every Wall Street "bad guy" out would have a novice convinced that the money used simply vanished into thin air, or was spent on a plush vacation for every CEO. It's the same feeling that made me want to attend an NRA campaign rally in Alabama after watching any Michael Moore film. Some facts: more than half of the $400 billion injected by the Treasury has been repaid, some at astronomical interest rates, and the Government's equity stakes in the various companies it "rescued" could pay off handsomely. I won't go into too much detail, because I want every reader to have their own opinion. But at some points it seems like every employee of Goldman Sachs stole Jason Kelly's lunch money in grade school. These chapters should still be read, but simply keep in mind how the opposition might retort.The book ends nicely tied to the beginning, however. It truly is sad to see so much financial stupidity in the world, highlighted by our own Government's massive debt. I now laugh at every expensive car I see on the street, wondering how much debt they amassed trying to impress their friends. And I've never been so confident to listen to my iPod while it is only 1/3 charged (read the book to understand...)Highly recommended.

If money is freedom, then understanding how to manage money is one of the most important aspects of life. Money management is not taught by most parents, and is certainly not taught in "schools." Thankfully, Jason Kelly, a superb writer and financial expert, has given us this book so we can begin to change our money habits, and consequently, achieve more freedom and happiness in life. For me, this text was life-changing.Here is a summary of Kelly's indispensable, yet simple advice:1. Never carry a balance on a credit card. If you use one, pay it off at the end of each month. That way, the joke is on the banks, and not the people they wish to enslave with debt.2. Buy cars with cash-- people who finance do not own anything-- they are "debt dopes," as the author states.3. If you want to buy a home, then you better put down 20% cash on the house. Otherwise, don't do it.4. Do not spend more than 80% of your take-home pay. If you do this, you will be surprised how much cash you can save. (Check out the chart on p. 190.)As Kelly asserts, "it's not what you make, it's what you keep." So true.I was financially illiterate up until a few years ago, and wherever you find yourself, I encourage you to take charge like I did: learn how to manage money. You can do it! It's better late than never.I am grateful to Jason Kelly for what he has taught me, and I highly recommend his work. Either we can be free, or we can be debt dopes.

I am trying to get my financial act together, bit by bit, and read various articles, magazines and books from time to time for glimmers of assistance. I usually get through a few pages of those books and then have to recover from the brain fog they put me into. Financially Stupid People on the other hand was more like a thriller novel. Unputdownable! I can see where some people might at times find it to be IN YOUR FACE RUDE but that's not really how it hit me. For me it comes across as Horrifying, Shocking, Enlightening, Inspiring, and best of all, Immensely Entertaining. Financially Stupid People nails the subject and explains exactly, with kindergarden directness and simplicity, what has happened in the economy and why, and what ANYBODY can do to create financial freedom for themselves. Clearly I'm impressed and consequently going through my financial matters with a fine tooth comb to make as many of the necessary changes as possible to come up smiling. Congratulations on an awesome book. I hope it becomes a best seller many times over.