@Jeff: I am humbled beyond words – thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I hope to hear from you around these parts in the future.

Suze Orman is a great inspiration because of her encouragement of women to take a hands on approach to their finances. Sometimes it’s a bit of media overload with her, but I can’t blame her for striking while the iron is hot.

In all honesty, though, until I read Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck I had not thought at all about anything financial other than making sure to pay bills on time. I never participated in any retirement plans (why would I want more money taken out of my paycheck, especially when I’m not retiring for 40 years?), I always opted for the “best” (most expensive) health insurance, loved getting a BIG tax refund (whoo hoo – Free Money!) and just didn’t want to think about finances because I didn’t understand them (most people, I think, feel this same way).

For my 27th birthday this past July ING Direct sent me a coupon for 15% off Beyond PTP, and I thought, “what the heck, can’t hurt.” Since then I have read the book 4x, my wife has read it, and it is my gift of choice to friends and family.

When I got married, my wife asked me to handle the finances and I did a fine job paying bills, keeping the checkbook balanced, etc., but nothing more. I knew there was more to do but I didn’t know what it was. The book really made me feel empowered to not just let my financial life happen to me but to understand how to take control of our financial future. We are not wealthy people (yet!) but at least someone took the time to write a book to educate us “average folks” about money. Just because neither my wife nor I will ever occupy a corner office (to be honest, neither of us wants one) is no reason we can’t be financially secure.

In conclusion, I would have to say that Michael Rubin is my current financial idol. And no, I have not been paid one cent to post this!