Budget Books

This book is an amazingly diverse book full of recipies which are easy to make. I use this book all the time as it is the only book I have found which doesn't make me feel completely patronised and the instructions are easy to follow. It includes some funny stories and miranda also reminds the reader that she makes mistakes too. It encourages one to be a little bit more creative than just boiling and egg and it even has a tried and tested dinner party. The pictures are also witty and amusing.

Florida is not so beautiful if you're abused and bilked. Get the real truth about the fraud and abuse of the elderly and not so elderly and read "Retirement Nightmare" by Diane Armstrong. To avoid a guardianship in the State of Florida, and other states, should be of paramount importance. Find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones with alternatives: health care surrogate, durable power of attorney, mediation and more. Consider that if you leave your parents to fend for themselves, and ignore the deterioration associated with aging, a guardian can gain a guardianship over them and their assets, without informing you. That guardianship will nullify the most meticulous of plans. To really cover your aging parents, make sure they create a "Pre-need" guardianship and name someone they trust, this is the only way predators in the retirement homes will not be able to force guardianship on them. Also create an irrevocable trust.

We are still in the 'dreaming of retiring' stage, and so it is hard for us to judge how practical or accurate the advice in the book really is, as we are not yet seriously shopping. But it does give us a 'ball park' idea of what it would cost to move to the Southwest. When we take our next vacation out there, we plan to expand our 'dreaming', using this book, to scope out some of the communities recommended in the book as affordable vibrant retirement options.

Burkett delineated growing federal deficits and the ever increasing use of debt by business and households out of control. Burkett points out those severe economic times will appear sometime shortly after the millennium unless current polices are changed. Burkett believed that Keynesian economic policies, with ideals for continuing federal deficits and the implicit preference for higher levels of consumption, reduced saving, and a larger role for government in the economy are a means to disaster. As Burkett states in the book that as interest on the debt consumes a larger and larger portion of the yearly federal budget, and more money is borrowed each year to pay the interest on what was borrowed in previous years, there will be a temptation to "monetize" the debt at an increasing rate leading to a calamity not seen since the Great Depression. Burkett questioned whether or not elected leaders would take action in time to prevent fiscal chaos, and believed they would not.

This book is thoughtfully written, about a very confusing topic for the rest of us. Sue Winner is clearly an expert. A must buy if you are planning a wedding and you didn't win the lottery.

The 2005 edition of the Congressional Operations Poster is available. Please search Amazon for ISBN 1587330261.

This concise and easy to follow guide takes you through the basics of decimals, savings accounts, checking accounts, budgeting and consumer credit. It is part of a terrific series that includes Practical Math and Using Money.

I actually was lucky enough to come across this book in a thrift store... but I highly recommend this cookbook! It's for exactly what it is titled - cooking for families. The recipes are really tasty and nutritious, they remind you of those wonderful "Grandma" or "Auntie" home-cooked meals. The measurements are in cups/lbs and metric system also. And every one of the recipes have at least one vegetable in it -- great for those trying to add healthy choices to the menu.

Ones I highly recommend would be the Chili Con Carne, and the Macaroni and Fish Bake (just had that last night -- hubby doesn't even notice the mushrooms in it!) A great book all around, and now one of our favorites -- bon appetit!

My wife and I have visited Costa Rica several times over the last 18 years and we have seen a movement in the direction of "up-scale" in lodging, in activities for visitors, and, of course, costs. This guide, written by a retired person living in Costa Rica, is exactly what the low budget traveler needs. It is not a guide to 5-star hotels but rather a guide for students, retired folks, and anyone else interested in an authentic Costa Rica vacation without breaking the bank.The author's knowledge about the bus system is a real plus!

This large book is packed with many "modern country" decorating ideas. This book is written by the authors of COUNTRY LIVING, so that gives you an idea of the type of ideas that you will encounter.

COUNTRY LIVING Magazine has a definite "style", therefore you can expect that their book (with 750 ideas) is formatted much the same. The good thing is that this book was written in the mid 2000's, so the ideas are not too outdated right now in 2008.

The photos are ALL in color and well done. There are not too many descriptions of each photo or idea, but in my opinion, a picture can often speak a million words. Such is the case in this book.

Many Sellers are now selling this book quite cheaply (ie:less that $8.00) so for less that $8.00,or the price of two small magazines, you can enjoy this book with 750 decorating ideas (and the best part:no advertising!).