The Simple Dollar: How One Man Wiped Out His Debts and Achieved the Life of His Dreams [Kindle Edition]

Three stars -- right in the middle -- isn't a rating I "award" very often; usually my views tip one way or the other.

In this case, I think the book might be worth five stars to those who:

* are fairly young and unknowledgeable about personal finances;
* find inspiration in personal stories related by a peer (or age cohort);
* prefer to have a hard copy of text instead of reading information readily accessed on the Web;
* or those who do not use the Internet at all.

But there are others for whom the book would not rate more than a single star, such as those who:

* have some background in managing their money and have read other books on debt reduction;
* read personal finance blogs such as this author's and the blog of one of his endorsers and do not feel the need for a hard copy of the material;
* might have trouble relating to a young man who has, so far, faced only a young man's problems. "Over the years" is, in reality, only a few years for this writer. Some might find this off-putting.

I am not certain that there are more people in the former category than in the latter, so simply on content, style, and utility, I'll give this three stars.

For myself, however, I tip clearly toward the latter group. I read personal finance blogs to find new information and, in terms of getting out of debt, there is simply nothing new to say. Do it. If you need tips on how to do so and if you are Web-literate enough to be reading this review, you can use search engines.

But there are constantly new nuggets about frugality to be gleaned. That's why I look at personal finance blogs, including this writer's. If, however, you are savvy enough to understand and agree with Hamm's premise that getting out of debt offers unparalleled freedom, you are probably already on top of finding ways to stretch your money. It seems unlikely that you would find much new here.

Some types of blogs, especially those with specific instructions for cooking or crafts, seem well-suited for transitioning to print. Of other kinds of blogs, a few have worked well as books. "Julie and Julia" comes to mind, as does Gretchen Rubin's "Happiness Project". My own judgment is that The Simple Dollar succeeds better as a blog than as a book. That said, some will find enough value in the book to justify fully making the purchase. Do try to pay cash *smile*

When I picked this up on my Kindle, I assumed I was getting a book loaded with financial guidance. Long a believer in debt-free living, I still enjoy picking up these types of books - they are very reinforcing when swimming upstream from the way most American families operate and I often get tidbits of wisdom that come in very handy. I wasn't aware of the author's blog until after reading this book, but it appears to be very interesting and I have added to my "Favorites" on my computer.

Regarding this book -- take a moment before purchasing to look at the table of contents. The first chapter is about reducing debt (or ideally becoming debt free) and while fairly basic, is helpful. Good, solid financial advice. The remainder of the book really leans more toward life improvement, knowing yourself, following your dreams, etc. but the tie-in is that most of these things can't be accomplished if you are drowning in debt. For example: You can't take that new job with a startup company that doesn't pay much initially if you need the monthly paycheck from the job you are currently in. It gives an excellent explanation of the difference between frugal and cheap. Frugal is aligning your spending with what you truly value and gives you pleasure - it's not negative, just smart.

These are only two examples of what is contained in this book, but it is loaded with all kinds of thought provoking data and suggestions for anyone willing to open their mind and question the status quo. It intertwines financial health with quality of life and I found it to be an excellent guide for all ages.

A definite winner though not a financial how-to book as expected.

First off, let me just say this: I'm a huge fan of Trent Hamm and his blog The Simple Dollar.

His commonsense advice on every possible area of personal finance has served as an inspiration for me as we make our frugal journey.

Trent Hamm's latest book, The Simple Dollar: How One Man Wiped Out His Debts and Achieved the Life of His Dreams, is just as inspiring as his blog.

In the book, Hamm shares his own personal story with debt and how he escaped the shackles of it. The book is loaded with great ideas to help you get rid of your own debt. Each chapter has an easy to follow punch list of 5 things you can do to work on your finances.

Yet, this book is much more than a how-to guide. It also delves into the psychology of how you spend your money, questions what things you value and why they're important to you, and encourages you to set realistic, achievable goals for your future.

Written in simple, easy-to-to-understand terms and full of sure-to-inspire ideas, The Simple Dollar by Trent Hamm is a must-read for anyone serious about getting out of debt and staying out.