Simple Money Solutions: 10 Ways You Can Stop Feeling Overwhelmed by Money and Start Making It Work for You

"I know I should be saving for my future, but life keeps getting in the way."

As a money-media personality and former Federal Reserve Board economist, Nancy Lloyd often hears from people who want her help. Her advice to them: There are no secrets to money, just some basic rules you haven't learned yet. In Simple Money Solutions, she demonstrates logical, easy-to-follow strategies that have worked for others, and she helps you get out of your own self-defeating money habits. You can quickly and painlessly increase your financial I.Q., take stock of your financial situation, and find the path to achieving your financial goals by following the step-by-step guidelines here. There's even a Time-Is-Money calendar so you can see not only what things to do, but when to do them so they're most effective. Best of all, you don't have to wait decades to reap the financial rewards--Lloyd shows you easy things you can do to free up cash right now.

When it comes to money, many personal finance gurus know their stuff. The problems start when they try to get you to know your stuff. Nancy Lloyd is a smart and entertaining exception. In Simple Money Solutions, Lloyd offers specific, detailed advice in a conversational, easy-to-digest style. The result is a book of tips that will inspire readers to put workable ideas into practice and reap the financial rewards.

Having earned economics degrees from Princeton and Cornell, Lloyd spent a number of years working for the Federal Reserve Board as an expert on consumer credit and banking issues, and then for IBM in finance, marketing, and strategic planning. Her obvious knack for translating the complexities of managing personal finances into simple, workable solutions for the average person has since propelled Lloyd into print and radio journalism. Simple Money Solutions is a how-to book on money management, using real-life tales of financial woe to present solid, effective advice. For readers with perpetual credit card debt and an ongoing battle with different "low-interest" credit card companies, the chapter "Take Charge of Your Credit" will be particularly useful. For those with money to invest, Lloyd points out the advantages and pitfalls of the various methods, including ways to choose a broker, what types of accounts to set up, and when (if ever) to trade online. Her tips are sometimes repeated in numerous different sections, but good advice is usually worth repeating. Moreover, Lloyd does not profess that her readers will be able to solve all their money problems on their own; in the chapter "Boost Your Money IQ," she provides the reader with a wealth of information on when to consider hiring a financial planner, where to look for one, and how to verify the impartiality of their advice. Written in a format and style that make it accessible and user-friendly, this book will help lift you out of the money mire, and provide just what its title offers--solutions. --S. Ketchum