Grow Your Money by Jonathan Pond

I’ve been posting a lot of small reviews lately.  I had someone ask how I could possibly read so much and then review the books.  I had to smile because I read far, far more than just the books that I review.

So I decided that I’d do at least a small review of every book I read in 2008.  I’ll post this one now and have at least 6 more to post soon.  (As you can see, I’m on a financial kick lately.)

Grow Your Money

101 Easy Tips To Plan, Save, and Invest

by Jonathan Pond

Collins

$26.95, hard back, 352 pages, 9780061121401 (2006)

 

Jonathan Pond is a PBS financial expert and this book is filled with advice on how you can buy a new house, raise your children, pay for college tuition, save for retirement and lots of other things – all while having a few dollars left over to have some fun.

 

I picked this book up at the local library and it confirmed for me the old saying that you only get what you pay for.  Not that this book is worthless, it’s just that there isn’t much new in it and the advice seems more of the “same old, same old.”

 

For example, early in the book the author lays out the keys to achieving financial security:

Formulating Objectives

Ensuring that you have adequate insurance

Never giving up control of your money

Allocating your investments appropriately

Creating a nest egg

Coping with major life events

Investing wisely

Assuring that you minimize income taxes

Learning to live beneath your means

Setting your records straight

Planning your estate

Meeting college education costs

Using credit wisely

Participation in retirement plans

Investing in your career 

Taking the time to attend to your finances

You’re responsible for achieving financial security

 

Boring, boring, boring.

 

Another thing I don’t care for in the book is the way it’s presented with idea after idea – some of which is too simplistic.  For example:  Idea 9 -- Buck the Odds by Starting and Succeeding in Your Own Business.”  Starting a new business is difficult – hardly what I’d call an “easy tip” with your money. 

 

The other thing that drives me crazy about this book is that it’s filled with sections that prompt you to find additional in a special reader website that follows the sections of the book.  Excuse me?  I don’t want to constantly be looking up sections of the book on the Internet while I’m reading.  If it’s helpful material put it in the book – save the updates for the paperback version.

 

Bottom line: lots of common-sense ideas with too few details and depth of discussion for each piece of advice.  Sound recommendations with little new or interesting ideas to offer. 

Buy it on Amazon here.