You Don't Have to Be Poor: So Plan Your Future - Hardcover

Ridley PH D, John W

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1312907142 ISBN 13: 9781312907140

Publisher: Revival Waves of Glory Ministries, 2015

Synopsis

"You Don't Have to be Poor" is a book addressing perhaps the most important component of life for the individual or family. Financial security or the lack thereof is the main factor in the breakdown of families, affecting both mental and physical health. It is not a simple manual on how to become wealthy. It is not just a manual of merely preparing a budget designed to lift the reader from poverty. The theoretical basis of building wealth from a Biblical and a commonsense approach to provide financial guidance is found in this book. Those who don't have a theoretical background of what the government can do and can't do may foster and maintain a mindset of dependence on social programs. The responsibility and accountability of the individual is outlined from a Biblical and a practical standpoint. When given only tools for preparing a budget without addressing root causes of poverty and the characteristics of those who build wealth, one is prone to fall back on old habits. Some will lapse into the same approach to life that was previously unsuccessful. A practical education in the economy of the country and about the world is included to provide the reader of the complexities of a global economy for which we all must prepare to insure the future of our families and our country. Decisions must be made daily that influence the financial standing of everyone, based on future goals. Biblical scriptures address these problems for everyone and perhps leaders of entire countries. Common sense approaches to personal finance based on Scripture from thousands of years ago is stressed, and simple basics have not changed since. It is imperative that habits of sound financial practices become a part of one's daily existence. Each decision should be prayerfully considered, and a budget built from at least a year of transactions should be a guide for making prudent plans. Christians must care for others and provide advice and aid as needed, based on Biblical commands to give to the poor and to help those unable to help themselves. Learning based upon the Scriptures and practical expertise should engage the same approaches when preparing a realistic budget. The focus of this book is not to merely provide handouts but to teach the individual or family to begin a journey leading to financial security, rising from the ranks of the poor through individual effort.

About this title

Review

By Valerie Caraotta Author John Ridley's extensive research into economics, including both a U.S. and international perspective, has laid out the realities of mindsets and how they affect one's ability to survive financially. Contrasting the "poor "versus "poverty" and the "rich"verses "wealthy" this insight will reveal that one has a choice to escape poverty and can also see money vanish when given and not earned. Regarding those of lesser means first, he states that almost half the population relies on at least one form of public assistance in a country with the freedom to do what one wishes with their lives. Many are unwilling to start a minimum wage job. Others lack of willpower and desire. "A democracy is in trouble when its citizens begin to believe that they can legislate themselves a living without working for it." Here are the distinctions he makes between "poverty "and "poor." Poverty, he shares, is a mental state that allows little hope or chance of escaping. It is a survivalist attitude that is more difficult to eradicate. Many in poverty have the idea that fate and other people were against them from the start. Poor, on the other hand, is often related to choices made years before. Many accept low-wage jobs. There is more of a temporary rather then chronic condition. Poverty in 2012 was defined as having an annual income of $23,050. Data from a 2012 report indicates 15% (46.5 million) of Americans continue to struggle at the economic margins of being poor or living in poverty with no signs of progress detected. Ridley further points out that the U.S. may encourage poverty by providing aid to enable bad habits. "The idea of easy credit when there is little chance of the person in debt being able to pay has contributed to the current credit mess. "Today, across the U.S., families will need an income to twice the official poverty level to meet basic needs. He feels no one will ever arise from being poor if they depend upon the government to meet the needs of a family or individual. Contrast are also made among the "rich "and "wealthy." His statistics indicate the wealthy are those making more than $200,000 a year. Millionaires reside in one out of every 25 homes. The average person that has attained wealthy status worked close to 70 hours per week at a point in their career. The author indicates that if one becomes rich they should strive to reach sustainability before significant spending occurs while acquiring knowledge to make money. "Being rich can be a very good thing when it is approached in the right manner, but bad for some as it brings out greed. What I found most interesting is the alarming statistics of how generational wealth diminishes. - Only one out of 10 families pass prosperity from one generation to the next - The three generation cycle of boom to bust has been the painful reality for nine out of 10 families. - Only 3% of family build businesses is generating a profit during the third generation. He points out there is not as much desire in this day to take steps of delaying gratification for future success as was in years past. Here is the quote by Andrew Carnegie that he feels is worth mentioning. "The parent who leaves his son enormous wealth generally deadens the talents and energies of the son and tempts him to lead a less worthy life. " I found this book to have good information overall. It appeared however a bit long and repetitive in solid points. I felt it could've been more condensed and less statistical while being more practical. The references were extensive from an excellent culmination of credible sources. The reader will learn economics 101 so to speak and grasp a better understanding of thinking processes and work ethics across economic lines. If you enjoy economic statistics this will be a delight. The reader can easily skim over areas of less interest while still grasping the bulk of the content.

About the Author

Dr. Ridley is a son of the mountains of South Carolina (yes, there are mountains there). From an early age, he developed a love of people and due to a poverty-stricken childhood, realized that it was good to be able to eat and to stay warm in the winter. The latter was learned while delivering newspapers at 5-6 AM for a number of years. These hardships honed his desire to pursue a vocation where he could assist others to obtain a better life, perhaps better than they had ever dreamed. The author is now a retired professor and college administrator who has worked with the young and the not so young in counseling them to insure that their lives were secure from an educational, financial and spiritual perspective. With experience during the Vietnam war as an enlisted soldier and then Desert Storm, rising to the rank of Colonel, he has spent a lifetime of service to others faced with a wide variety of dissimilar challenges. This broad base of experience gives the author a unique blend of practical and academic experience with which to address many of the problem areas of many lives. Many people need the supportive body of Christ, the Church, which can minister in a number of roles which the churches can fill. Unfortunately, most people never prepare for their lifes work, but often just fall into a job and may never leave it, regardless of the undesirable characteristics of the position. This leaves them in a precarious position at retirement, where Social Security will not provide any level of security, nor was it intended to be the only retirement fund for those who are no longer working. In part due to personal challenges in his life, Dr. Ridley sought and obtained a doctorate degree in Health and Human Services, where most of his education was obtained at the University of Georgia. As an author of several textbooks and one novel, the author then attended a number of financial seminars and church training groups which were greatly aided by some of his coursework in accounting and business management. After spending years of individual volunteer counseling and aiding others in establishing workable budgets, and accompanied by church service in a number of volunteer roles, the author has written a book entitled You Don't Have to be Poor. Those who understand the basics of economics in the US and the world are few and far between.

Edition details

• Publisher: Revival Waves of Glory Ministries
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1312907142
• ISBN 13: 9781312907140
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 236