How to Live Well with the Money You Have
December 1, 2003
"If it's on your ass, it's not an asset";"Sweat the small stuff";"Priorities lead to prosperity." Singletary's no-nonsense approach to personal finance is inspired by her own experience, the advice of a thrifty grandmother and the knowledge of financial experts, which she encapsulates into mantras she says readers ought to tape to the dashboard"of that luxury car you can't afford." Doing without and saving are the keys to prosperity, she says, not fancy financing or investments. Such advice isn't unique (nearly every personal finance guide boils down to the same basic principles), but her spirited voice is. Raised by her grandmother, Big Mama, who brought up 5 grandchildren on $13,000 a year and still managed to save enough for a comfortable retirement, Singletary draws on homely examples of frugality to illustrate her points. She also speaks to financial issues she says are particularly relevant to other African-Americans, such as the need to support extended family members (one study found that 27% of black households supported friends and family under other roofs) and the risks of foregoing health insurance. Refreshingly, Singletary eschews wealth-building formulas that rely on consistent 10% returns over 30 years and instead concentrates on ways to sock money away. This is probably a more realistic approach to retirement for most Americans, particularly given the recently revealed riskiness of 401(k) and pension plans. Singletary's emphasis on simplicity and common sense make this an excellent primer for the novice financial planner.