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Product Description

If you are tired of struggling to make ends meet but don't know a 401(k) from Special K, this book is for you. Aimed specifically at "Generation Broke"--those in their twenties and thirties who are working yet buried in credit card debt and student loans--this user-friendly guide offers a clear introduction to practical investing and money management techniques that can turn even a dismal financial situation around. Bestselling author Suze Orman has a knack for taking the fear out of money matters, and in The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous &: Broke, she shows readers how to set priorities and achieve goals, whether it is to buy a house or save for retirement or pay for a child's education. She also offers inspiration to readers to face their financial problems and get started on a solution. After all, there is good news: young people still have the time to correct problems so that they will never be broke again. Readers who find terms such as diversification and IRA rollover scary--or worse, unimportant--will learn much from this book.

In these pages, Orman clearly and succinctly explains what a FICO score is and why it's so important, offers the lowdown on stocks and mutual funds, provides career advice, and offers lots of tips on dealing with student loan debt, saving money even when times are tight, debt consolidation strategies, and the safest way for newlyweds to merge their finances. She also offers information on credit cards, including why canceling cards is not a good idea, when it makes sense to use them, and the best strategies for paying them off. It may not be the only money book you'll ever need, but it's an excellent place to start. --Shawn Carkonen

All About Suze Orman

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke is financial expert Suze Orman's answer to a generation's cry for help. An Emmy-award winner, Orman is the author of four consecutive New York Times? bestsellers, The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, The Courage to Be Rich, The Road to Wealth, and The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life. The Money Book was written to address the specific financial reality that young people face today, and it offers a set of real, not impossible, solutions to the problems at hand and the problems ahead.

• Listen to a special message from Suze Orman.
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Suze Orman: The Bestsellers

The Courage to Be Rich The Road to Wealth The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life

Suze Orman's Financial Guidebook The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom

Money Cards: Words That Lead to Wealth You've Earned it, Don't Lose It The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke, Audio CD

Build Your Own Suze Orman Library
The Essentials

The Laws of Money	The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom	You've Earned It, Don't Lose It
Money Cards: Words That Lead to Wealth	Suze Orman's Financial Guidebook	Suze Orman's Will And Trust Kit

Pep Talks: Suze Orman Audios

The Courage to Be Rich, CD	The Road to Wealth, CD	The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life, CD
The Courage to Be Rich, Cassette	The Road to Wealth, Cassette	The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life, Cassette

Bestselling Suze Orman Books on DVD

The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life, 2003	The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, 2004	The Road to Wealth, 2004
The Suze Orman Collection, 2003	The Courage to Be Rich	The Best of the Suze Orman Collection, 2004

First time in paperback. The #1 New York Times bestseller from the phenomenal author of The Courage to Be Rich.

The world's most trusted expert on money matters answers a generation's cry for help-and gives advice on

- Credit card debt
- Student loans
- Credit scores
- The first real job
- Buying a first home
- Insurance facts: auto, home, renters, health
- Financial issues of the self-employed

And much more advice that fits the realities of "Generation Broke."

Customer Reviews:

• Excellent book on finances for those staring out
  Great book for those stating out... helps you decide which you should do first. It's hard to think savings when you haven't made much money yet and you have debt. Suze breaks it down into simple steps to follow (remember it does take time).
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• Fantastic Book
  This book gives you the ins and outs of personal finance. Things you think are common knowledge but you actually always overlook.
  
  If you are going to college or a recent college graduate this book is perfect for you. It gives you the information needed to stay out of financial trouble and how to fix trouble that you have made; and if you're not in trouble it will help you better your situation.
  
  To me the most valuable parts are knowing your credit score, how to save money, how to pay down your debt, and everything you need to know about student loans.
  
  Lastly this isn't a drab or dry book. The book is written as if Suze is talking to you. Her humor takes the edge off of these sometimes dry topics.
  
  I highly recommend this book. I'll be referencing mine for many years....more info
• Useful Book
  As a young professional, this book was so helpful in explaining all the different financial terms and situations that are introduced to people in their early 20s. If you are over 30, this book might not be as useful. But I really learned from it!...more info
• short and sweet and to the point
  Suze doesn't beat around any bush, she is straight forward. This was a good read and definitely geared to the audience as stated in its own title. You can get through this book very very quickly. Useful information for recent college graduates who are seeking to manage their finances, build a stable financial future, and NOT run themselves into major debt. In short, do not spend what you don't have!...more info
• Mixed feelings for a potentially helpful book
  When it comes to personal finance authors, Suze Orman is a staple. She has her own television show on CNBC and has written numerous books on the subject. So I was excited to read her latest book to see what advice she had for me and my generation. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by this book. To me the tone of this book is very condescending, which made it tough to read at times. In addition to the tone, some of the advice makes me feel wary of suggesting this book.
  
  My first issue is Suze Orman's emphasis on your FICO score. While I believe it's important to have credit history, and it is absolutely important to make sure there are no errors on your report, I don't think it's important to worry about things like having the right "credit mix" on your account. There are far more important things to worry about than the ratio of revolving credit to fixed installment loans. Also worrisome is Suze Orman's involvement with the Fair Isaac Corporation. If she is being paid by Fair Isaac, is her advice really unbiased?
  
  Another piece of advice that really made me take notice was that it is okay to use your credit card to cover living expenses when you are starting off in your career, since your future earnings potential will help you pay off that debt. She suggests pouring yourself into your work to get ahead. Looking back on how I racked up my credit card debt, using it to cover living expenses was how my card got so high. I probably bought a few things in there I shouldn't have, but the majority of the balance came from using it to pay for groceries. So to me, suggesting that you should use a credit card to cover your living expenses is a slippery slope that you shouldn't tread on. And I believe in working hard to get ahead in your career, but telling people to go into debt for their careers is a good way to keep them working for years trying to pay off that debt.
  
  To her credit, Suze Orman does cover a lot of ground in this book. Her range of topics includes, your career, your credit, student debt, retirement, investing, buying a home, and money in a personal relationship. For someone just starting out this book might be a very handy if they don't get annoyed by the lecture-style writing. Which is why I'm torn recommending this book. There is a ton of great information, and honestly a lot of good advice.
  
  I would recommend picking this book up and thinking of it as a list of tools and ideas for you to use when you need them. Read another personal finance book, like Your Money Or Your Life to build up a proper attitude towards money and philosophy on financial living.
  
  ...more info
• YFB
  I sincerely enjoy reading Suze Orman's books and have followed her advice for years. This book is easy to read and understand, and like so many other books, I wish I would have had this information thirty years ago. I've given this book as a gift, my only hope is the receipients will follow the advice - this book could potentially save you thousands of dollars over a lifetime, everyone should have it as a reference guide. ...more info
• A simple guide to uncomplicate our lives towards success!
  I saw Suze on TV about 4 months ago, and tried to take some notes. When I saw her again, I said to myself I had to buy the book, but then found out the CD version and decided to buy it instead. It is great. I have recently started a new job and I listen to her on my way to work. Her advice is simple, direct and reasonable (explaining why instead of just sayind "do it"). I am thinking of buying one for my brother who will be graduating soon!!! :)...more info
• A Money book even the Older, Fabulous & Broke can use
  It does not take much to filter the good stuff in this book, true it is written for the younger set, but us older still financially "stupid" can get lots of important insights out of this book. You can give it as a gift to your adult children and they will not think you are over stepping your boundries, Just say " I thought you might need a little help". Very non-threatening....more info
• Practical, easy-to-understand, and relevant
  I bought this book during my senior year of college because I realized I didn't have a good understanding of personal finances and what it takes to be financially secure. Specifically, I knew about 'the power of compounding interest' and all the advice people give about, for example, opening an IRA at an early age, but I didn't understand the details. Suze Orman's YF&B book helped explain investing (and lots more) in an easy-to-understand way that is very relevant for 20-somethings.
  
  Although I found her chatty, informal style a little annoying at first, I grew to appreciate it because it made her book useful in steps: I didn't have to sit down and read the whole thing to get something out of it.
  
  Overall, I highly recommend this book for 20-somethings (esp. recent college grads) who want a primer on personal finance....more info
• "Fab" advice for the "Financial Newbie"
  Bestselling Author Suze Orman's The Money Book for the Young Fabulous & Broke is intended for use by financial "newbie's" (young, recent college graduates and those adults in their 20s and 30s), and it provides a basic yet comprehensive and realistic overview of money management for those members of generation "broke." Using a dynamic color scheme, direct writing tone, and in the format of a step-by-step operating manual for money management, Orman's book addresses everything from credit scores, to student loans, to first house purchases and more, with an emphasis on common problems, missteps, and actions that should be taken to help pave the way for a safe, secure, monetary future. A delightful, motivational, and relatively easy read, it is a highly recommended addition to any person's financial library, with particular benefit for one just starting out in their career and adult life.
  
  Suze Orman is well established in the financial world, and her past bestsellers have addressed everything from money management for women to money guides for all people to follow on the paths to financial freedom. She contributes to various magazines, has a national TV program on finances, and she has won awards for her work in the financial planning arena. Orman's past record indicates that she is highly qualified to give financial advice, and her "Money Book" for the "new" generation seems to hit the mark.
  
  The basic, overall theme of Orman's book focuses on an understanding of the true situation of recent college graduates and those entering the workplace; to put it simply, they're broke. By providing examples of her own experience as a waitress earning less than $5,000 annually, and by basing the advice in the book on actual inquiries and subject areas that youth have inquired of her, Orman allows the reader to feel comfortable and competent rather than chastised for poor money behaviors. The advice she gives is easy to follow, from how to understand FICO scores, to navigating 401K plans, buying a first home, and making first time investments, and she provides adequate examples as well as common mistakes that can be avoided. Each section of the book can be read as a stand-along unit (useful for those limited on time), and "strategy lessons" based on common issues and questions regarding money management are a part of each chapter, with a breakdown by question and location at the beginning of each chapter for easy management. An additional feature of the book is a well detailed glossary that not only defines common money terms for the reader, but it also provides a brief synopsis of the "Y, F, & B advice" that is depicted in detail back in the chapter.
  
  Orman's book is a great, "basic" money book for financial amateurs, but it does have some areas that may raise caution flags in the minds of financial advisors and counselors. First, while the initial chapter explains credit scores, how to build a good credit history and the affects of credit scores on interest rates, in later chapters she actually recommends that young, fabulous, and broke young adults actually USE their credit cards to help finance their current situations. Although she reiterates that the use of cards should be limited to necessities (emergency car repairs, school costs, etc.) and to keep the use below 1% of annual income, her recommendation can be contrived as a "GO" for adults to use credit cards at the risk that they may not be able to responsibly control the use, thus leading to financial difficulties even greater than their current situations. While the advice on investing, home purchasing, and funding retirement is comprehensive and outstanding, it may overwhelm and confuse a money "newbie," and without the advice of a financial professional, a poor decision or one made with lack of follow through on the investor's behalf may occur. Also, Orman sees budgets as "bad diets" and feels that they are not useful; a more open mind to the benefits of structure may be a better approach when teaching good money management to young people who may need limitations to live within their means. As long as these limitations are kept in mind when reading, the book does provide a great springboard for future action and further research in all financial areas.
  
  In all, Suze Orman's The Money Book for the Young Fabulous & Broke has great advice for not only young and inexperienced audiences, but it is also an excellent way to revisit sound money management skills for the more experienced adult set. The easy, accessible tone as well as the straightforward design of the book makes it a great way for anyone to learn how to manage their own money. Orman's ability to effectively reach an audience is quite evident in this book, and it is a recommended read for anyone who desires to learn better ways to manage their financial future.
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• Turns out I'm young, fabulous and NOT broke!
  I bought Suze Orman's book thinking that I could really use the advice. It turns out that, by her definition, I'm NOT broke! This made me feel substantially better about my money situation. Even though I'm not technically broke, the advice and information in the book were extremely helpful. Suze covers topics like credit, investing, and how to manage money with loved ones. She provides a glossary so you can look up any financial terms you don't understand and she explains them very simply. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who simply wants to gain more knowledge about their finances....more info
• Just Buy It
  Most people my age aren't thinking of their financial future but for the ones that want to start a plan....buy this book! You probably won't be able to do everything she recommends but it's a good reference for when you're ready!...more info
• Buy this now
  If you are young and not broke-you need this book. If you are broke and not young-you need this book. If you are fabulous, then you are in good company with this book. It saved my husband's and mine finacial life. It caught us before we went too far in the hole. We learned so much and were able to pay off all of our credit card debt (about 10k) within 3-4 years, raise our FICO score, and buy a house. This book also has a feature for online support which was amazing. We finished the book wishing we had learned this in school before we had made the choices we did. ...more info
• Fabulous book!
  I haven't had time to finish the book, but so far it is fabulous! Thanks for getting it to me in such orderly fashion!...more info
• Fantastic read for Young, Fabulous (maybe?), and Broke people like me
  Suze Orman hit a homerun with this book for people with varying levels of financial education. I don't consider myself entirely naive about finances, but she did a fantastic job of dumbing things down that I didn't understand. In addition, she was also realistic in her expectations of people my age as opposed to other books that assume that I should already have $150,000 in savings despite being a grad student and only in my mid 20s. Not only does she explain many different financial issues such as credit scores, but she also gives simple tips for how to improve your financial life for each issue....more info
• required reading
  Great book with tons of information. This should be required reading for all High School and College Graduates....more info
• A must have
  this book has almost everything you need to know, especially for those like me who don't know where to begin. As good as or better than Dave Ramsey....more info
• A must read for anyone wishing to be proactive in their financial future!!
  Suze has a great way of explaining financial topics and giving tips for money management. The thing I like best about this book is that you can skip around to the topics that interest you. You don't have to read this one from start to finish, although I would recomend reading the whole book, but you can choose the order.
  
  Suze targets women, but there is a lot of great information in this book that would benifit anyone and everyone, not to mention it is an easy read!...more info
• Simply Complex
  Suze Orman does an excellent job explaining the complex world of personal financial management. She offers good sound advice on topics such as credit cards, buying a house, buying a car, love and money, and many other topics. This should be part of the high school curriculum across the nation and is a must read for ages 18-30, but has ageless advice......more info
• Advice from a 20 yr old fabulous not-so-broke college student
  This book was amazing! Suze always delivers her advice with a bit of humor, some common sense, and language that anyone can understand. After each chapter that describes the basics of all money matters, there is a section of questions that are very similar to problems I hear from friends all the time. A great book that should be on every college student's list....more info
• Must Read
  I read this book, then bought my mom and I a copy of Women and Money. I loved them both so much that I am thinking of starting up a Suze Orman book club on the campus where I work so that a group of us could get together and see how we're keeping up with everything and moving forward. ...more info
• Helpful if you're new at this, null if you're not
  This is an excellent book if you're starting from point 0. If you have no experience with handling paychecks, bills and budgets - and knowing why you really should have a retirement plan when you're young - this is a great book. It wasn't useful for me in the slightest however. I'm an underling in an investment firm; I hear conversations about these things all the time. I was expecting new insights and ideas, but this is really the basics laid out in basic terms.
  
  Gave it to a friend....more info
• the money book for the young, fabulous and broke
  I purchased the book for my niece who is entering her freshman year in college and she thinks it's a great book, but of course I think that everything that Suze Orman writes is fabulous.
  c jones...more info
• Definitely helpful for the broke...
  I'm not sure it's fair for me to say this, given the title of the book, but it really is geared toward people who are actually seriously broke. I am young, financially illiterate, and hoping to avoid becoming broke, and I felt like there wasn't as much in the book for me.
  
  Still, she gives a very easy-to-understand summary of some important financial terms, systems, etc. If I were broke, I would definitely love it....more info
• Fantastic book!
  This book is the next best thing after sliced white bread! A must read for all who like myself were new to the USA, had no understanding of FICO scores and credit worthiness, etc etc!
  It put me onto the right track and now my credit scores are worth mentioning! Also great advice about IRA's and ROTH's etc....
  A must read if you were struggling as a legal alien trying to establish your record!...more info
• Everyone Should Read This
  This book covers a lot of great information that everyone should read. Even though it is targeted to the YFB crowd the tips are applicable to everyone. Very energetic tone and will keep you reading....more info
• Great book for beginner
  Easy read. If you know nothing about finances, then this is definetely a great place to start. The book touches on alot of topics and she explains thing thoroughly. It however fails to go very in depth on these topics. When finished with the book, I knew way much more than when I started it....more info
• Great Buy
  this is a really good book.
  It provides a lot of indepth knowledge you need in your 20's.
  suze is awesome and her insight on everthing from getting your credit together to getting your career together is very helpful.
  I would recoommend this book to anyone who is young, fabulous & broke. LOL.
  This book is a quick and easy read+ you can just skip to the section that is relevant to your situation.
  HIGHLY RECOMMENED!! ...more info
• I definitely recommend this if you're under 35 yrs old
  I found this book very helpful in giving guidelines on how to manage my financial affairs. I've always wanted to know in what percentage and in which priority to place my financial responsibilities. Suze does a good job at showing how to prioritize limited income according to particular life situations and goals. I definitely recommend this book to help you figure things out. I refer to it all the time when I have questions about anything. My friends think I'm some financial whiz when really, I'm just repeating what I've learned. ...more info
• My financial bible
  I'm really glad I bought this book. I'm a college student and am totally clueless about money. Suze really breaks down the facts about credit. It's really helped me regain my credit status. I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a very easy read and has the answers to most financial questions.
  
  Get it. ...more info
• The book makes everything clear
  Despite its goofy title, this book is very helpful to people facing money decisions for the first time.....the IRA at work, the Roth IRA, life insurance, buying a house, etc. Orman uses clear examples and helps folks understand how to wade through that financial stuff we all have to face. Also, she shows how time is on your side, and demonstrates the wonderful effect of compounding....more info
• Great for the just starting
  This is a good book to read if you have not read other Suze Orman's books. Since this book covers basics about the financial planning, investments, debt, and savings you might find it repetitive if you have read other Suze's books. However if you have no idea about IRA accounts, 401(K) plans, FICO score, etc. this book will be a good start in educating yourself.
  Orman explains how the credit ratings work, how to work students' loans, how to maintain you banking accounts, how to manage you debt, how to maximize your career opportunities, how to buy a house, and how to retire. Like all Orman's books, this book is very easy to read. Each chapter provides a summary with a checklist that makes sure that the readers did not miss anything important.
  If you feel like you still have some unanswered questions, which of course you will, you can go on the website for the readers where Suze answers selected questions. This book is a great help for everyone who is just graduating from college and starting independent life. It would be a great gift for getting on their feet kids.
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• I'm not an idiot...
  As far as informational content, this book is great. I really think it contains everything a 20-something needs to get onto the right track financially. I also like that it integrates with the website to give you more personalized advice.
  
  However, the jaunty, somewhat condescending tone throughout the book REALLY irks me. I can't help but feel talked down to when she's constantly saying things like "I know you've been too uninspired to figure out how a Roth IRA works." Stop telling me why I'm financially ignorant. Just give me the information.
  
  Also, the book and website sometimes contradict one another. The book tells me that with my age and health status, I don't really need life insurance... while the website keeps exhorting me to Protect My Family....more info
• Very helpful
  Very helpful! We're using this for my senior seminar course for learning about life right out of college. Definitely very useful!...more info
• So glad I got this book, even if I did know most of what is in it.
  I'm 28. Do I know most of the info in this book already? YES. But I'm still happy with it and I will tell you why....
  
  I didn't realize how much I did know, as I never had it all laid out in front of me this way. Could I find it somewhere else? I'm sure I could after some searching on the net; it is nice to have the info all right there at my finger tips.
  
  I didn't pay much for this as it was a BOGO with 'What Color Is Your Parachute' at borders AND I had borders bucks....but I would have paid the $16 for it anyway.
  
  It is almost all common sense in here, but I think it is a good starting off point for people who are young that have never read a book like this before. I've already read almost half of the book and I've had it less than a week. I find Suze's tone easy to read and the information made simple enough to understand.
  
  If you're looking for a 'get rich quick' book, this isn't it. Look elsewhere. This book is for people who want advice on a smart way to get your financial life in order, not make a ton of money.
  
  After I'm done with the steps in here that pertain to my current situation I will move onto another book, one for people in a different situation than YF&B. However, I'm glad I have this to start with and I will be passing it on to my younger brother for sure....more info
• Always recommend Suze! Great for the new college graduate.
  I bought this book (along with some other finance books) for a recent college graduate. Although she didn't say it right to me, she was upset because she didn't get the cash she thought she would get, got more gifts. After a year she finally admitted to opening it and giving it a try and now she tells me everything she's read in it, how much it helped her look at finances differently and is NOW happy she got the book. Much more valuable in the long run than cash to blow on something silly....more info
• Helpful but lacked certain reality checks.
  Though a lot of the information is basic financial advice that every person should know, and I know she meant well, the chatty tone and colloquialisms she used bordered on infantile and/or condescending. The bright colors, large fonts and fancy graphics make it appear like the "young, fabulous and broke" can't handle regular books with, say, twelve-point text.
  
  In addition, she lets the younger crowd (of whom I am a part, at 22) off the hook, as though our youth gives us an excuse to get in debt before we start to work! She suggests one should use credit cards to "cushion" his/her income, but the reality is that it is never wise to use credit when you have no money coming in. With the exception, of course, of if you can use financial aid, etc. to pay off the balance. I put myself thousands in debt by this method, and I am the rule, not the exception. Putting money on a card when you could invest time in work while in school is not wise financial advice--no matter how great of a student you are, or how important school is.
  
  The fact she excuses this, even for "reasonable" purchases (which, let's face it, turn into thoughtless ones--coffee in the morning, fast food to go) renders her usually sound advice a bit unsteady, and all to appeal to the "young, fabulous and broke" crowd. I'm a part of it, as a young college grad, but I no longer buy the excuse that my lazy spending habits are a reason to trim my expenses or pay off my debt--and I earn only $1,000 a month.
  
  I suggest checking out this book, if you must, in conjunction with her other ones--and for a more straight-forward way to deal with debt, check out Dave Ramsey....more info
• Extremely Helpful for someone recently graduated from college
  I just finished grad school, and find myself with a massive amount of both personal and educational debt. I was feeling particularly helpless and unsure about the best way to handle my financial situation. Reading this book has help me put a plan in motion, beginning with taking control of my credit card debt. I highly recommend this book to people in similar situations, as well as to anyone who wants to get control of their life. ...more info
• A Great Gift
  While reading this book, I kept thinking "Wow! I wish I had known this when I was in my 20's!" So, I promptly bought 3 copies and sent them to our children, who are in their 20's. I hope they do sit down and read this, or at least browse it because there is information about every financial decision they are likely to ever face as adults. Wisdom and good information. It's really the best financial gift you could give to your child....more info
• Awesome for recent grads!
  I just graduated college and started a new job, and this book is helping me know exactly to handle my money!...more info
• GREAT PURCHASE
  MY FRIEND PURCHASED SEVERAL BOOKS AT TOP PRICE-I RESEARCHED AND SAVED QUITE A BIT BY BUYING ONLINE. NO DELIVERY PROBLEMS AND GREAT PURCHASE....more info
• Educational...a must for people just starting out!
  Suze made some excellent points on how to avoid the grips of debt, home purchasing and other money related topics. She has a no-nonsense and easy to understand way of communicating that anyone can enjoy. I have shared this book with 3 friends and they have each been thrilled with the suggestions and understanding provided. ...more info