Money for Life: Everyone's Guide to Financial Freedom [Paperback]

Part-relationship counsellor, part-financial guardian angel, BBC TV's Alvin Hall is on a mission to drive the UK out of the red with his "no pain no gain" approach to personal finance. We need him too. In 1998, the amount of outstanding consumer credit in the UK was £101.7 billion. Get ready for a financial fitness regime with added hardship, where avoiding the sales, asking yourself how many credit cards you really need and even opening a balance statement once in a while are all part of the therapy.

Money is so much easier when it belongs to someone else but strip away the emotive attachment and your own finances could be next in line to benefit from a makeover. Alvin Hall's trick is to keep it simple. Nothing here is rocket science--why should it be? At the end of the day, managing personal finances means having more money coming in every month than going out. There is plenty of advice and tips here to make that happen. Where money management becomes financial planning things get more complex but the principles remain the same: use whatever you can afford to re-invest for future profits.

Money For Life retains all the charm, exuberance and hard-headed clout of Hall's popular TV series. He is the ideal financial mentor--who else could laugh indulgently as his "clients" reveal their precarious overdrafts and quaint understanding of credit card etiquette ("I just go up to the credit limit and then apply for another one")? But the joking stops with his rehabilitation programme. Money For Life is full of essential material on saving, investing, mortgages, pensions and attitudes to adopt. Hall's personality shines through on every page and he's not afraid to reveal his own investing "idiosyncracies"--"My own passion is for fine art photography and antiques ... you may wonder why I don't just heave this bric-a-brac into the street". It might have been interesting to have related it more closely to the TV series with case studies from some of the characters involved but quibbles aside, this is an excellent place to turn to for anyone determined to take control of those daunting finances. --Iain Campbell

Part-relationship counsellor, part-financial guardian angel, BBC TV's Alvin Hall is on a mission to drive the UK out of the red with his "no pain no gain" approach to personal finance. We need him too. In 1998, the amount of outstanding consumer credit in the UK was £101.7 billion. Get ready for a financial fitness regime with added hardship, where avoiding the sales, asking yourself how many credit cards you really need and even opening a balance statement once in a while are all part of the therapy.

Money is so much easier when it belongs to someone else but strip away the emotive attachment and your own finances could be next in line to benefit from a makeover. Alvin Hall's trick is to keep it simple. Nothing here is rocket science--why should it be? At the end of the day, managing personal finances means having more money coming in every month than going out. There are plenty of advice and tips here to make that happen. Where money management becomes financial planning things get more complex but the principles remain the same: use whatever you can afford to re-invest for future profits.

Money For Life retains all the charm, exuberance and hard-headed clout of Hall's popular TV series. He is the ideal financial mentor--who else could laugh indulgently as his "clients" reveal their precarious overdrafts and quaint understanding of credit card etiquette ("I just go up to the credit limit and then apply for another one")? But the joking stops with his rehabilitation programme. Money For Life is full of essential material on saving, investing, mortgages, pensions and attitudes to adopt. Hall's personality shines through on every page and he's not afraid to reveal his own investing "idiosyncracies"--"My own passion is for fine art photography and antiques ... you may wonder why I don't just heave this bric-a-brac into the street". It might have been interesting to have related it more closely to the TV series with case studies from some of thecharacters involved but quibbles aside, this is an excellent place to turn to for anyone determined to take control of those daunting finances. --Iain Campbell --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'Alvin Hall will explain how to get the most from your money in clear and simple terms ... His suggestions, taken from his practical new book, will make essential reading' (Daily Mail )

'A must-buy for those of us who regularly throw unopened bank statements in the bin. Explanatory, without being bossy, he reminds us of the consequences of profligacy' (Express )

'Money for Life aims to be a beginner's guide to the world of personal finance and succeeds admirably ... Hall covers everything from spending and saving, investing in shares and bonds, to pensions and property ... Money for Life has something for everyone' (Irish Times )

'A must-buy for those of us who regularly throw unopened bank statements in the bin. Explanatory, without being bossy, he reminds us of the consequences of profligacy' Express 'Money for Life aims to be a beginner's guide to the world of personal finance and succeeds admirably ... Hall covers everything from spending and saving, investing in shares and bonds, to pensions and property ... Money for Life has something for everyone' Irish Times 'Alvin Hall will explain how to get the most from your money in clear and simple terms ... His suggestions, taken from his practical new book, will make essential reading' Daily Mail 'If books about money usually turn you off, this may make a pleasant change. Famous for his upfront, practical approach on television, Alvin Hall has a humorous, no-nonsense take on money ... A good, clear, accessible read, which will make you want to spend less and save, save, save!' Top Sante 'He is an engaging man. Unpretentious, warm and very telegenic' David Andrews in ? 'Highly respected and hugely popular money expert Alvin Hall ... his suggestions make essential reading' Daily Mail --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Well known for the astonishing success of his financial makeovers on YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE, Alvin Hall now gives everyone the basic understanding and skills they need to take control of their money and never worry about a bill again.
With quizzes, bullet points, boxes and case histories he brings the subject to life and demystifies the jargon. He shows whether you're an owl or an ostrich about money, how to get your finances into shape fast, set your savings goals, make good investments, handle financial advisers, always prepare for the worst, but aim for the best.
Straight talking advice from the best and most popular expert in the business, this is a book no one can afford to be without.

From The Guardian - a digest of Money for Life
'Money is like an aphrodisiac and spending it comes as an orgasmic release. Britons owe £13bn on credit cards, but solving your problems lies in your own hands. By following seven simple steps, you can soon achieve financial health: 1) Allow a 48 hour cool-off period before making an impulse buy. 2) Shun the 'Devil of Spending' for the 'Angel of Saving'. 3) Pay your credit card bill in full every month. 4) When buying a home, be realistic about what you can afford. 5) Remember retirement means that you will not be earning, so prepare. 6) At the pinnacle of maturity, set your sights on the stockmarket. 7) Face the worst - insure and make a will. Your financial problems can seem like the equivalent of a bad-hair day, but the key is always to learn to identify your demons and work towards defeating them.' -- The Guardian --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Alvin Hall has his own rags-to-riches story. He grew up on a subsistence farm in rural Florida, then after his degree began a career on Wall Street. He now heads a company giving training to a wide range of financial services companies and institutions around the world. He has also presented a 4-part BBC series INVESTING FOR ALL WITH ALVIN HALL, a 3-part BBC series ALVIN HALL'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL INVESTING as well as YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE. He appears regularly on GMTV.