Getting Loaded: 50 Start Now Strategies for Making a Million While You're Still Young Enough to Enjoy It

by Peter Bielagus

Entrepreneur and investor Bielagus shows how youth can be a major advantage on the road to riches with savvy, entertaining, and comprehensive advice on money: how to make it, how to save it, and what... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451205928
• ISBN13: 9780451205926
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: New American Library
• Length: 381 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Informative, entertaining, and very concise

This book is wonderful for a young person looking to get on track with his/her finances. It manages to explain the mundane world of treasury bonds and retirement accounts in an witty and entertaining way while avioding jargon. After just a few chapters I was ready to fianlly open up that tax-favored 401k and stuff it with some no load index mutual funds. It's a must read for anybody who's green on investments (no pun intended.)

Financial Life Training 101

I was impressed by this book. And to be frank about it I was a bit surprised. I am no longer in my 20s (unfortunately), but at 31, still closely relate to many of the issues that he addressed. I have long been an advocate that high schools or colleges need to have some sort of "financial life training" course covering the basics of insurance, retirement planning, mortgages, etc. Pete covers all this more in an easy to read, yet thorough format. This is definitely geared for the twenty something just venturing out of college, and trying to put a few pennies together after that first paycheck. It will make a great gift for a college grad, or if you are that college grad, it is a worthwhile investment (or even better, pick it up used).

This book blows!

Why wasn't this book around 25 years ago. It's cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars!!! Seriously, the book is great. I picked it up at the local library's booksale for $.50 (Ha! I learn fast). While aimed at the 20-30 something crowd, where it's advice will do the most good, (time really IS money, apparently) it does have a slew of practical "secret's" that will save anyone with patience and commonsense from uberconsumerism. It's quick pace, short chapters and witty writing style pretty much ensures that when I pass this book on to my 24 year old son he'll actually read the thing (or else!).

A "Must-Read" before you invest another dollar!

Awesome book! Highly recommended for financial novices and experts alike. This book is very well written and arranged in a logical manner to help the beginner build a good foundation of personal finance without insulting the intelligence of the financially astute. Filled with wit, humor and thought-provoking cynicism, Mr Bielagus serves up a short-order lesson on how to cut through the complex financial world without being intimidated. A great way to benefit from a financial expert's many years of research in less than 400 pages! An absolute "must-read" for anyone on the road to financial independence.

You'll feel "hung over" for life if you miss this one

I've read numerous finance and investing books, and it is clearly one of the best! I would feel terrible, like you do in the morning after "getting loaded" at the bar, if I picked this book up halfway through life, and didn't know half the secrets the author was talking about. Here are some specific comments that will help you decide to buy the book or convince you that being hung over (not reading this book) stinks.1. In most finance books, the author gives numerous suggestions on what you should do with your money, but ultimately leaves the reader overwhelmed and indecisive. Not "Getting Loaded" because he still explains multitudes of options, but then sorts it out and gives clear advice my 12-year-old cousin could act on.2. There are very few finance books written for the under thirty crowd. Even though the majority of his secrets (a.k.a. chapters) would still be helpful for any age, it's refreshing to read a book that even writes in a young adult dialect. Don't ask me to explain it, but you could tell the author grew up in The 90's. I would wager that the author is the youngest or one of the youngest finance author's around. There is something refreshing and genuine about reading advice from someone that is actually in the same period of your life, and not someone double your age.3. Very quick reading because the secrets (chapters) are so short and to the point with clear explanations and examples. Also, the book is extremely organized with a repetitive format and icons, which helps with fast reading and ease of comprehension.4. Another testament to his age, instead of a "Recommended Books" at the end of most finance books, he has a "Website Directory." Basically, he lists about 50 pertinent websites that are categorized by financial subjects (banks, bonds, car buying, home buying, taxes, legal advice, etc.). This may be worth the book alone. He does mention a lot of these sites in the chapters, but you don't have to go back frantically looking for them when needed. For future authors, this is much more beneficial to the reader since he can freely check out and learn from the sites, instead of having to buy another twenty-dollar book and spend a couple of weeks reading.5. Since personal finance can be dry, jokes, quotes, and short stories are placed throughout that give the reader a break.6. Very realistic. Besides the title, which the author explains and proves, there is no hogwash about becoming a millionaire in 3 months. 7. You can tell the author is a real down-to-earth person, by the simple way he writes, and his short stories that anyone can relate to. What I mean is that he is not a genius that pretends to teach people but really keeps all the true secrets to himself. Although I would feel awfully weird and it may be stepping over the line of "read-author relationship," but he even gives you his telephone number. Now after this book gets recognized, his agent may make him change this for his own safety, but he claims a real voice will