The 39 Steps To A Rich Future, You Can Beat The Credit Crunch

Right Way Publishing (Published 2009)

Written By Paul Banfield

UK

Review 3 Stars – Good Read

How the blurb describes the book:
Even in tough times you can change your life for the better.

Do you want to own your own house without a mortgage? Treat family and friends? Enjoy holidays whenever and wherever you choose? Privately educate your children? Or maybe you simply want to enjoy a comfortable retirement without money worries.

Paul Banfield shows how – whatever your circumstances, whatever your age and however bad the economic climate – by taking control of your finances you can achieve these goals. This clear, jargon-free guide will help you beat the downturn:

Break free of debt with simple money-saving tips

Make money at home

Build up a portfolio and speculate to accumulate

Pass your wealth on to those you love

In this one small book, acclaimed finance expert Paul Banfield gives you all the help you need to turn your financial situation around.

Formally recognized by the Press Services as their IFA of the year, Paul Banfield has become one of the UK's most familiar and trusted financial presenters, appearing on a wide range of TV and radio broadcasts across all the major networks.

Mr Home Budget's Review:
What does doing a home budget, making more money and selling your body for sex have in common. Well, would you believe they are all in this home budgeting book? The 39 Steps to a Rich Future by one of England's top financial guys is a new book which promotes how to survive tough financial times.

This book may be one of the weirdest books I have read. The steps and advice range from sensible smart things to do, to outright mad (for example to make extra cash by selling your body for sex). And the steps include what to do if you have zero dollars to your name. To how to handle yourself when you have a million dollars in your bank account and money to burn. At this stage it even gives advice on how to say no to friends and family members who want money. Plus the best way to turn down charities in their pursuit of your new found wealth.

Sometimes the book gives you minute details on how to handle yourself in situations. While other times the book paints what to do in such broad strokes it can leave you feeling like you haven't learnt anything at all. And there is a chapter on the history of gold and why it's important. But then it never really resolves why gold is important as the chapter starts out.

But maybe I'm being a tad harsh with the book. And if you can read it with a grain of salt then you can cut and glean only the important parts which will relate to your life. Because for all its wishy-washy advice, there are some really important things. For example, the author challenges you how to think about what your net worth is today. And it gives you a good guide on what it should be by your age. Also the chapter/steps on how to teach your kids the value of money is extremely good. It gives you a few ground rules with your children as to when it comes to their pocket money.

One bit from the book which jumped out at me (this is part of the teaching children how to use their pocket money chapter). "A good introduction to the subject of money management is to have an initial chat with them to find out what they think and what they know about money. You may find that you get some amusing and random replies, especially from really young children. They may have heard it said that money doesn't grow on trees, however most children have no idea where money comes from. Explaining in more detail the origin of money can help them gain a good understanding. As soon as they can understand that money is earned by working and to spend all that you earn is foolish, the more secure their future will be."

Or this bit of wisdom, "Keep a record of every penny you spend so you have an exact idea of where your cash is going and where your weaknesses lie. Always check your bank balance and ensure that each item is correct; banks do make mistakes and unless you check your account and balance it monthly you will never notice. The rich remain on the ball always and never miss a trick when it comes to their money. Often people who run on overdraft do not check their account balances because they cannot stand to look. Living in denial or turning a blind eye is not part of my plan for you. Be brave, I promise I will help you".

While this is an alright book with nuggets of good information sporadically inserted into it. You should not base your home budget around it too much. As the bad information does in my opinion, at least equal the good.

Pros:
Some steps are extremely valuable information for you to retain and put into your own life.
It does give advice to a vast spectrum of people, including the poor and super rich. And it doesn't just concentrate on one area.
Despite being an English book most of the concepts will be understood in Australia.

Cons:
I think when a book tells you to consider prostitution as a way to make money, then maybe you should take everything else in the book with a grain of salt.
Some chapters are so wishy-washy you will think, 'what was the purpose of that?'