Budget Books

I was looking for a book that would help me to serve my customers better in addition to saving money in my business.

This book is it!

This book should be called "How to please your customer and save money while doing it."

After reading the first three chapters, I decided to put the material to the test and begin some of the work suggested in the book. The results were nothing short of amazing. Using the pre-made templates, and what I learned on building an effective organization, I was quickly able to make small changes within my organization that had HUGE impacts.

Our customer satisfaction ratings went up by over 25% in a MONTH, and we've saved enough money to hire new people. Not bad for an economy that is suffering so badly, I'd say.

I also like Robert's writing style. It's easy to read, and it is assuring to know that there is a "real person" behind this work, whose faced similar business problems and found a way to overcome them.

I'll also mention that we considering hiring a Six Sigma consultant and narrowly averted the disaster that surely would have followed. Six Sigma sounds like a good way for improving a business UNTIL you read this book. Now that I understand what Six Sigma REALLY is, I won't even consider them in the future or other consultants that can't explain to me what it is that they are going to deliver for my business.

This is my kind of book. Easy to understand, practical to use, and results right away. I highly recommend it.

With the large number of layoffs in corporations and government agencies in the past couple of years and the economic slow down, people have to work more efficiently, and effectively to maximize the resources that they still have. To use a tired and well-worn expression " to work smarter".

This book teaches you just how to do that. It showed me how to make the most of the assets within my company that I would never have even thought of, or even considered an "asset" per se, to help my work group to make up for the people that we've lost due to layoffs and "rightsizing."

I would never have guessed that some of these simple suggestions and techniques would have such a large impact on my business.

I also really enjoyed Robert's writing style . It's an easy read, and not like other similar books I've read that seem more like a Ph.D. thesis. His book is direct, to the point and I really like that examples and templates are included for all of the work.

This is "not your father's managment book". There are no punches pulled, and I LOVE the stories that he uses to explain his point (the story of Margaret and Mary alone, is worth the price of the book) FUNNY! I can't believe that this actually happened!!

One other thing that really drew me to the book was the part about the New Jersey Devil Consultant. My company has had many consultants in and out of here for over two years, and they never seem to do any good. Now I know why. I'll never look at another "six sigma" consultant or any other, the same way again. I now know how to spot a good consultant who will actually do some good, versus one that is only going to rip us off and will be sure to quiz them on HOW they do their work, not just how much they are going to cost us.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for ANYONE in business. I'm not even convinced that we NEED consultants anymore. Me and my team can do this work ourselves!

If you are at the top and are having troubles, this book is for you. If you are on your way to the top, keep this by your bedside. Or, if you find yourself one of the lost... avoid the New Jersey Devil Consultant and purchase a copy for each of your staff.

Bob has a great talent for simplifying the complex, a hard-to-find talent amongst consultants. His proven record and examples are a rare find among business books. Take a look around the business topics here on Amazon.com and you'll find many books written by leaders who eventually stomped their companies and/or their employees into the ground. OR - you'll find books written in theory, but never delivered on in an actual business.

Bob's refreshing book shows his experience, knowledge of the complex balance of employee leadership, intellectual talent, knowledge management, systems, and process management. Being good at any ONE thing may get you to the top... but you need to know how to balance all to keep there. Bob understands this.

This book will save you time and expense. For once, a book with a Return on Investment!

This book is a must read for anyone in business. Flores' approach to management and writing is straightforward and succinct. His explanations and examples are engaging and applicable across organizational departments. He is arming people with the knowledge they need to `see through' so much of the unnecessary politics and inefficiencies in corporations. He accomplishes this through his story-telling as well as giving the reader tools to use to achieve efficiency and sanity.

As a single mom, finding inexpensive accomodations can make the difference between taking a vacation...or not!! "America's Cheap Sleeps" has been an invaluable resource - saving me not only money..but alot of time looking for a place to stay! I found the information to be accurate and complete, and the added info on pronunciation a welcome plus! Mr. Whitcombe's added knowledge and inclusion of helpful "tid-bits" was greatly appreciated! Thank you, Mr. Whitcombe!

This book has been a great resource in my travels by car. I've been able to find affordable rooms in every city I've visited, from north to south, east to west. The book is easy to use and offers helpful tips on finding accomodations that will not break the bank. America's Cheap Sleeps has saved me a load of money!

I found this book to be a great resource for cities where I don't know anybody. It gave me a place to find affordable accomodations and allowed me to do other activities with the money it saved me by going to large chains. It will come in handy for a long time to come.

Mr. Whitcombe has put together an incredible reference tool that anyone in America, or anyone who wants to visit anywhere in America, should definitely have. After my purchase of his book I took a two day vacation and in those two days I saved myself the cost of his book twice over. I recommend this tool to anyone and everyone, whether a cross-country sight-seer or a casual overnight traveller!

Folks, this is a fun guide that can aid native Seattleites and visitors alike. I've used it many times to get a good, reasonably (or dirt cheap) bite to eat in an often expensive town.
The cool thing is, you can look in the index for categories of food (say, Barbecue or Breakfast), restaurant names, or even better, neighborhoods. That makes it a fun "let's check out this neighborhood" guide also!
A worthy purchase. I've worn mine out!

I visit Seattle enough that I needed to know where I could get decent food at a decent price - this really fits the bill. Some of these places have nondescript exteriors, and so you would expect run-of-the-mill eats - but I tried four suggestions and found them all to be places with good food, fast food, and reasonably priced. Easily saved enough in two days to pay for the book.

This book is very comprehensive as far as cheap Seattle eats. I have yet to discover a restaurant in the book that is below average. Bon appetite!

My wife and I always kept the first edition of this wonderful restaurant guide in the car, and we are just as happy with this newer addition.

Although I grew up in Seattle, we've lived about 45 minutes out of town for over 20 years, and it's hard to keep up with the restaruant scene when we return "home" sporadically. We're the kind of people who prefer to avoid fast food joints and chains, and being school teachers, we're always looking for a good deal. On top of that, we're always open for something off the beaten path. This guide has never failed to tip us off to a satisfying dining experience.

We recently attended a performance in West Seattle, and checked out "Cheap Eats" for some family-friendly restaurants in that area, since we had three kids along with us. We had it narrowed down to three possibilities, but the kids decided on a delightful Italian restaurant. Good food, good price, and great atmosphere for all of us.

Fortunately, many of our favorites from the first edtion survived in the new book. One of them is The Sunlight Cafe in the Roosevelt area, where we can always count on a tasteful vegetarian meal.

This guide has two helpful indexes in the back, one for the type of cuisine--whether it be Japanese, Thai, or Italian--and the other for listings by Seattle neighborhoods. The main body of the book has the restaurant reviews listed alphabetically. The reviews do a helpful job of describing the menu, what's good and what's not, the atmosphere, hours, whether or not credit cards and checks are accepted, and if live music is available.

If you're in Seattle, get this one and keep it in the car!

A very well done, if a bit dated, introduction to how to invest without eating up your funds and profits with unnecessary fees. Basically stay away from brokers and anyone affiliated with them and you are much better off.

This is an excellent work for new investors, especially thosewho can only start on $50 a month to invest. Based upon his ownresearch as a professor, Craig states: "Investing in stock mutualfunds reduces the chance of experiencing negative returns compared toinvesting in individual stocks." And, he backs up this claim:"Investors who patiently and intelligently invest over a longperiod of time end up being rewarded by volatility rather than hurt byit." One should definitely check out his "Frugal FortyMutual Funds, Grouped by Equity Style" chart on p.39. This bookis meant for anyone to read and understand. It is an easy read--as ifyou were listening to Craig tell you about this. Before one reads"Mutual Funds for Dummies" or even any of Bach, Clements, orSuze Orman, read this first! His students love him, and so willeveryone that reads this short, very readable, and packed full of goodadvice book.

An excellent read that is current on the fast changing times in the stock market. A great deal of research went into this book and it would take many years of study and fact finding to replicate the data on your own. This book has the cutting edge investment strategies from the mid-90's through the new millennium to harnes your financial future, regardless of income or knowledge. This book is both a great tool of the trade for a seasoned investor and a great starting point for the beginning investor. Save yourself $...and four years of college with this book. If you already have your financial ducks in a row - then give this book to your children or a friend - it will pay dividends for generations. The author is a wonderful father, husband, community leader, friend and the best college professor I ever had. His advice has served me wonderfully over the years - it will do the same for you.

This new book is well-written, helpful and painstakingly researched. It's filled with dozens of interesting tables and charts. Israelsen preaches the benefits of long-term investing rather than day-trading and short-term buying and selling. The first chapter, "The Investment Thing," clearly answers such questions as: Why invest in stock? Why do corporations sell stock? What causes the price of a stock to go up or down? How does annual return translate into actual dollar gains? With these basic questions answered, you are ready to absorb chapters on investment risks, mutual funds, how to get into investing, buying stock directly from companies, taxes, and finally, a battle plan. Includes great information on how to save for your children's education as well as retirement. Filled with smart advice and written in an easy-to-understand fashion, "The Thrifty Investor" is a great investment of your time -- and money.

This is an excellent book. The author spent a lot of time making sure the bride-to-be has the information at her finger tips to cover every aspect of planning a wedding, right down to all the little details. The money saving ideas are fantastic. I also love the places where the author reminds the bride-to-be to take her camera and take pictures for her memory book! This is definitely a hands on book. It includes a calendar section and also places to take notes, jot down reminders of things to do, etc. A very useful book that I think every bride-to-be should have. Plus, it is affordable!

This book was money saver, or I should say, a life saver. Many great and useful tips for planning a wedding. A must read if you are planning a wedding, especially on a budget.

This is the essential wedding guide for saving yourself a buck and thwarting off the money hungry evil forces of the wedding industry. A light read & wealth of information. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This book addresses both the cost and the experience of a wedding. I liked it because it mentioned such things as when to take pictures during the planning as well as the actual day. The author seems to have thought of everything. This book will help you plan a stress free and memorable total wedding experience.

This is a nifty book. It givesa wide view of ways that a small business entrepreneur can use the Internet to market successfully. The dot.com craze may be over, but that doesn't mean that the Internet won't continue to be a long-term vital tool in marketing for small business. With this book, any budding or seasoned entrepreneur will gain a learn of get many wokrable strategies.

Get this book if you intend to use the Internet to market your business in
any way. It is loaded with marketing ideas and there are enough of them so
that any small business entrepreneur can benefit in some way. There are
lots of examples of people and businesses that have actually done what the
author recommends, and lots of web sites to visit as a follow up. I got
about 6 great ideas out of this book. Two or three would have made it
worthwhile.

I would love to read this book because I heard it was amazing, BUT Elephant Books sent me the wrong book. Now they will not return my phone calls or numerous emails, and they were done in good taste so I do not understand why they would not return my messages. Just wanted you all to know so you do not get shafted like I did. Have a great day!

At first, you might think, there is no way I'll be able to have a beautiful wedding and reception for $500. However, once you read it you quickly realize how pragmatic the advice is. It's very down-to-earth and gives straight forward advice on how exactly to save money every step of the way. No matter how big or small your budget is, this book will help you!

I read this book and am excited that I can provide my daughters a great wedding for a very reasonable price. A must read for parents of brides!!

The cost of weddings can be outrageous. This book helps you find creative and practical ways to save a buck or two when planning your wedding. It is a must have in your wedding planning collection.

This little book is not only packed with good ideas but it is filled with beautiful illustrations on each page.

It would be a very nice book to put in a basket for a bridal shower or to add to a teenage girl's hopechest.

Take the previous review with a grain of salt- the woman advertises this book on her interior decorating web site and most probably gets a percentage from each sale. She has the same review, word for word, on her web site.

I haven't read the book, so I can't rate it, but I thought those who would be influenced to buy the book based on reading that review should know that the reviewer is not simply "a reader", but someone who may stand to profit if the book sells.

This is a wonderful little book that's packed with great ideas that won't break your budget. The authors suggest using what you have and list good places to find bargains. But they also help you re-think a room and get clear on your tastes before you start. Unlike most decorating magazines and books, this one doesn't leave you feeling poor and envious - it cheers you on and encourages you, even if you have very little money to spend.

BTW, I have no connection to these authors - perhaps the authors put my review on their website. I haven't been to the site.

Bought as a gift for a teen and was such a great gift with loads of info that we'll buy more as gifts (and use myself). Lots of good tips and ideas for those on a tight budget, or who just want to be able to use natural ingredients for skin and hair. Also good info on how-to's, quick fixes, etc(especially for pesky pimples).

I was looking for a gift for some of my female friends who are into beauty and self-improvement. I was at a loss and didn't want to do the traditional Martha Stewart/Oprah stuff that everyone has already seen. I ran across this book and was pleasantly surprised by the tone and topic. Ms. Brenner takes an approach that is user-friendly and do it yourself. Who would have thought that you can actually make your own beauty products and that it isn't as hard as you'd think. My friends have loved the book and have already told me that they've tried many of the "recipes." This gift is great for those guys who don't know what to get their female friends but don't want to get them the same old same old.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the fun new ideas and all definitely budget! Some great recipes for skin & hair and I can make up concoctions from stuff I have in my kitchen today to give as gifts and save me money too. Even more than recipes...learned lots of new stuff rather than all the same tidbits you read in beauty magazines and different from other beauty secret books I've read before-very unique. And everything is quick and easy-no long drawn out procedures to follow. I always had problems with cracking, peeling, chapped lips all my life, it was so ugly and no matter what I used, it never worked and this book finally gave me remedy procedures-life saving-my lips don't bleed anymore-thank you! Great ideas for my frizzy hair too ...and improving my voice, posture, thousands of ideas, even diet stuff! Very happy :) If you're looking for a great reference book to keep, get this one. It's got all the tips from all those other books rolled up into one and more.
And Amazon got this book to me in just a few days on standard shipping-excellent!

Brutally honest, but not so cynical that it's annoying.

This is a query as to what happened to the On the Loose Series. Did the big boys (Fodors, Frommers, Let's Go swallow them up?) Any information about the demise of these student writers would be appreciated.

This is the best guidebook I've ever read. It's brutally honest, concise, and seriously funny. Offers great resources and detailed maps. Have fun !