I didn’t tell many people I was actually writing this book. But when I finally published it and began spreading the word, the first question everyone asked was, “So what’s it about?” That was almost immediately followed by others like, “Will it work if we don’t have two incomes?” or “I’m older. Will it still work for me?” or my personal favorite, “We have some debt. Shouldn’t we wait until we have more money to work with before trying it?” The answers to those questions, in order, are Yes! . . . Yes! . . . and NO!

So, what is the book about? I’ll tell you . . .

But first, let me begin with what it’s NOT. It’s not a book filled with advice about which stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc., etc., to invest in. Nor does it have advice about specific savings plans for retirement, college, or anything else. It will not tell you about investing in general, which investment houses to visit, or how much you should be setting aside for whatever it is you want or need. If that’s what you want, then I respectfully suggest that you consult with a professional financial advisor who can answer those kinds of questions. As much as I would like to sell my book, I can’t, in good conscience, ask you to buy it knowing that it’s not what you need.

However, if you’re looking to take control of your “everyday” finances . . . well, that’s something The Money Roadmap can help you do! Read on . . .

First, it’s a step-by-step guide you can use to walk you through the process of creating your very own Roadmap. It’s the blank map on which you can navigate your own way to wherever it is you’d like to go. And it’s also incredibly flexible, readily adaptable to changes in income, circumstance, wants, and needs. Basically, it’s a reference workbook you’ll have with you, showing you how to set up your own Roadmap.

Second, it’s designed in such a way that anyone can use it. And I do mean anyone. Married. Single. With or without kids. One income. Two. Retired. Working. On your own for the first time. Fixed income. In debt. Trying to stay out of debt. Bankruptcy. In the black, but wanting more control. You name it, it’ll work for you. As long as you try. There are worksheets provided, in the back of the book, to help you organize your priorities and calculate how much you’ll need to set aside for each one. There’s even a Holiday Expense worksheet to help you figure out how much you can afford to spend on your loved ones. You’ll begin by setting your priorities according to need. In other words, the things you must pay for to survive are placed at the front. Then, you’ll decide what else can comfortably fit into your Roadmap, the things that you want. You’ll have to decide what you can and can’t live without, or what you’d like to save for.

Next, the book will take you through each step of putting your Roadmap together and how to actually use it. It will show you what each page is for, what to write and where, and how to set up balances for each one. Then, there are two chapters dedicated solely to practicing how to use your Roadmap. You’ll learn how to deduct money from each “fund” according to your checkbook transactions, what to do if you pay by check, debit card, automatic payment, credit cards, and even how to split transactions between “funds”. It all comes together when you learn how to balance it against what you have in your checkbook.

Finally, the FAQ section has answers to many of the questions and problems you may come across as you learn this system. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always come here and see if it’s been answered online. If you still can’t find what you need, please visit the “Contact” page, fill out the form with your question, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!

If you decide you’d like to build your own Roadmap, it is my sincere hope that you persevere and succeed in accomplishing your goals. I know, personally, that it works. I still update my Roadmap with every paycheck. It’s how we paid off my student loans three years ahead of time and are setting aside money for our kids’ educations. It’s how we set aside money to buy a fantastic pop-up camper. It’s how we can afford to go on a week-long vacation every summer, plus weekend excursions. It’s how we pay for all of our necessities, holidays, food, gas, and other things. It’s how we pay our credit card in full every month. I think you get the idea . . .