Money Secrets

I just finished reading the book "Dave Barry's Money Secrets". I learned a great many things from this book including how to read a corporate annual report (mainly look at the pictures), that the number one key starting your own business is harnessing the power of human stupidity, and that the reason there is a pyramid with a giant eyeball on it has something to do with a drunk engraver when the dollar bill was printed.

This book has some very funny parts and is an easy read. It was good "bathroom reading"; light, easy to pick-up and put-down, and I could read it in short bits without losing the train of thought. Don't misunderstand me, I really like Dave Barry and the fact that the book was bathroom reading in no way reflects on how much I enjoy his writing.

To see if you need to read this book you can take his simple quiz. Be honest in your answers: If you lie, you’ll only be lying to yourself! The place to lie is on your federal tax return.

What is your annual income?
1. More than $50,000.
2. Less than $50,000.
3. However much I get when I return these empties.

Not counting your mortgage, how much money do you currently owe?
1. Less than $10,000.
2. More than $10,000.
3. Men are threatening to cut off my thumbs.

How would you describe your portfolio?
1. Conservative, mainly bonds and blue-chip equities.
2. Aggressive, mainly options and speculative stocks.
3. My what?

When analyzing an investment, what do you consider to be the most important factor?
1. The amount of return.
2. The degree of risk.
3. The name of the jockey.

How do you plan to finance your retirement?
1. Savings.
2. Social security.
3. Sale of kidneys.
(taken from the Introduction of the book)

If you need to laugh, and you're wondering how to fund your retirement, this might be just the right book for you.