How to Get What You Want in Life with the Money You Already Have by Carol Keeffe A Few Letters from Readers: “This is a personal thank you, not business! I told you that I had embarked on your guiding principles with great results, but the best of all is that I’m going to Italy the end of March! You really enabled me not only to save but also to think more creatively about money. So you can add me to your list of enthusiastic endorsers.... (Also, please add me to your mailing list) I’m sure I’ll benefit for the rest of my life from having the good fortune to become your copy editor and fan.” (Betty takes out $10.00 for her Italy trip each time she uses the cash machine and every day when she comes home from work, she places $1.00 each day in her Dream Box™) — Betty P., Copyeditor, Little, Brown & Company ______________________________________________________________________ “What a terrific book! I bought How to Get What You Want in Life with the Money You Already Have two days ago and have already drawn up a Master Money Plan, opened four additional credit union accounts, have a clear vision of where I’m going financially - and can breathe more easily. I can’t wait to receive my VISA bill to actually pay the minimum amount for the first time. Thank you for addressing the emotional/motivational/value-laden issues of person finance management.” — Diane G ______________________________________________________________________ “My husband and I just read your book over the weekend and it’s already helping us! We’ve done your plan and it is really happening. You are exactly right. Five years ago when we got married we said we’d spend our fifth anniversary in Scotland. We are further from Scotland than we’ve ever been. Now, thanks to your book we have a Scotland account! My husband is an accountant and this is the busiest time of the year for him. Yesterday he came home from work and said, ‘I felt good all day. I haven’t felt this good in years!’ This is so different. This is really helping us!” — Kim B ______________________________________________________________________ Dear Mrs. Keeffe, I am a 22 year old, married (3 yrs), full time college student/data entry clerk. My husband is also a 22 year old college student with a full time job. Lately we have been just getting by having to pay the bills and 2 college tuition’s. I felt like I was at the end of my rope, until I read your book, “How to get What You Want in Life with the Money You Already Have.” I just wanted you to know that it really inspired me. I read the whole book through in one sitting, and then went through it again with a highlighter marking the passages that really had an impact on me. The next day I went and opened an IRA for myself and two savings accounts. One for emergencies, and one for the honeymoon to Disney World my husband and I never had. I’m glad I’ve started thinking about my financial situation now so I won’t be wondering how I’m going to get money to live on 40 yrs from now when I’m ready to retire. Your book contained a lot of helpful information and I wanted to say “Thanks.” I plan on opening a few more accounts soon (and I’m paying myself first through pay-roll deduction), and my husband and I have a dream box for the change game we’re playing — Tina R. ______________________________________________________________________ Dear Carol Keeffe, Your book was a real God send! I have read it twice and re-read certain passages to keep me inspired! My husband and I are “young” retirees who enjoy travel and entertainment. Money management was such a chore for us and it seemed that we were never able to do what we really wanted, because of constantly trying to repay credit card debt for things we neither really wanted or needed. Now, we are current with our debts; we no longer use our charge cards; and we expect to take a cruise with money we have save — Louis & Shirley ______________________________________________________________________ Dear Carol: I just finished reading your book (How go Get. . . ) for the 2nd time and want to tell you that you have transformed another family’s’ life - (mostly me personally but it carries over.) What I learned that made the biggest change was to use a credit union – best thing I ever did was to start working with the one here. Even though I teach a workshop for children on saving money (Save Your Cents) w/my 9-year-old daughter, I didn’t have the tools – the specific ideas tried successfully – that you offer for adults. Emily and I are now writing more articles about our system (using jars) and I now have the confidence that my own money life is running more smoothly. — Felicia W ______________________________________________________________________ “God do I love this book! It’s like my new bible. I have struggled with money for years and years. This is the ONLY thing so far that seems to be working! Oh, Carol, it is really great! I already have over $50 in change saved for a multi-media C.D. ROM computer and I have an emergency future account and one for a C.D. ROM library. Please get more publicity out about this book. People need to know about it! And Carol, I don’t feel broke! And I ain’t touching this money!! I’ve been in search of something for a long time and nothing was working. Debtors Anonymous wasn’t working and Budget Consumer Credit Counseling Services didn’t help. I wish there was some way you could get more publicity out about your book. It is really great!” — Andrea W. ______________________________________________________________________ “My husband and I finished reading your book. I know it hit home with us! We started the Change Game with our sons and they were really surprised of how much change we saved in just a week. I know it will take some time but we can do it. Thanks for the Future! — Hilda and Homer ______________________________________________________________________ Dear Ms. Carol Keeffe, I am surprised to find myself writing to you, as I have never written to an author of any book I have read, no matter how inspired I may have been by their work. This is a first for me, but I wanted to let you know that your book has done more than inspired me, it has changed my life! I read your book just last month. I have read many books over the years about money–the hardcore finance books, the spiritual & newage books, and the power of positive thinking books, but none have so perfectly described my pattern with money as you have done. None have described the behavior, the emotions, the traps, the rational and the feeling of hopelessness, and none have described a way out in such a down to earth, gentle and upbeat manner! I have always been broke. I have always struggled to make ends meet. I have noticed that my frame of mind, physical energy and overall happiness are intimately tied in with the state of my finances. Consequently I was mostly depressed, mostly tired, mostly unhappy. Something about your book just clicked with me. It has turned my attitude about money around 180 %! I wait table for a living and no matter how hard I've tried, or how many extra hours I've worked (sometimes 70 hours a week) trying to get 'caught up' I could never stay current with my bills, or put anything in savings. I never go on vacation. I never go out. My life has been a struggle for most of my adult life, and I am forty years old, so that has been a lot of hard years. After reading your book one short month ago, I immediately began the ¢hange Game, and began paying myself 10% of my tips everyday. It is amazing! I now have, in one month over $300.00 saved, spread out in 4 accounts, and I've stayed current on all my bills, where has all this 'extra' money come from? And this in light of the fact that I cut my weekly hours down so I would have more time to devote to my artwork. It is like magic. Aside from this new way of thinking about money, your ideas have translated into the whole of my life. With my earning, I pay me first now instead of last and my physical energy has increased with the happiness of it; and now every morning I ask myself, "What's in this day for me?" It could be a long hot bath with music, or a trip to the library, or visiting an art gallery or starting a new painting, but no more will my days be exclusively devoted to work, running errands, doing dishes and laundry, and no more will my money be devoted exclusively to paying the bills. These things will be done, but they are no longer the focus of my life and for that, I thank-you! — Careyl S. ______________________________________________________________________ Dear Carol, I've never written to an author of a book before, but felt the need to write to you and extent a heartfelt and sincere Thank You! Thank You! I've read and reread your book (3) times, shared it with a number of friends (all of whom went out and bought copies of their own) and basically have talked to anyone, who has even the slightest bit of interest about your book, strategies and subsequently my own experience implementing them and making them work for me. Since reading your book in Dec. I've been able to get caught up on all of my bills (many which were past due), save $200.00 for a family outing (¢hange game) opened six new accounts (total of $250.00 saved and counting) and am generally in a more positive upbeat frame of mind knowing that I have a plan and am now in control! Carol your book obviously struck a chord deep within me and I'm sure many others like me. Thank you for sharing the simple secrets of your success with all of us. If you are ever in need of a volunteer to help out with your seminars or would like a testimonial I would be more than happy to help you out!! Wishing you continued success with your book, — Ted S. ______________________________________________________________________ Dear Carol Keeffe and Co.. My mother bought me a copy of your book, "How to Get What You Want...", hoping to lead me out of my financial valleys. After rading and studying your ideas for two months, I put them into effect. Since August, I've gone from one savings account with a balance of .19¢ to several accounts totally nearly $700. I only make $12,000 a year as a waiter and my salary has been consistent for the past three years. I haven't had money set on the side for myselt in nearly 7 years. I am thankful that my mother recommended your book. It is an incredible asset, and I recommend it very highly to all my friends. Please put me on your mailing list and send me alist of your products. I am truly grateful! — Robert V. ______________________________________________________________________ “I bought your book on the recommendation of a friend. At that time I had one savings account (for future emergencies and everything else) and 3 envelopes at home labeled new bed, vacation '96, and baby (we were expecting in 11/95). We also had one checking acct. I had already diversified some but I had not thought of doing it on a larger scale. What I was doing was working great but anytime something came up there I was at the savings account. The envelopes at home consistently grew and never got touched. I soon found out why, because they were labeled! After reading your book (which I couldn't get enough of, it followed me from room to room) I opened up 3 more acounts at the credit union with our goals on them. We started the change game that my husband poked fun at but when he did the count at the end of the month $68.00 he was sold. He is committed to our saving but to a little less degree than I am. (He pokes fun at my "cans" for different things). As we both see the balances growing it makes it easier to save more and more. In January I opened up more accts. I feel that we have a good balance. vacation '96 cruise (future) overhang/spa Dream Box 1. chair 2. computer Bed Retirement Kids college Emergency (now) Home Maint (Long term) Emergency (future/work) Child necessities (Baby) Xmas Acct. We now save about $300 more per month than previously, Rarely use our credit cards (emergencies or big purchase that we already have $ for but want to be sure we are happy with-I've found it easier to get money back if the credit card people are involved.) We do tend to eat out less...a conscious choice. We do take lunches a couple of times a week unlike before. I look at items differently... they are no longer "just a dollar". We play the change game and I do similar with coupon and rebate/discount money. Now I do bills only twice a month (I haven't been able to get it to once a month YET.) Any extra money (even $1.00 extra) on a paycheck gets taken back in cash and put toward one of our goals. My husband and I work hard and we now pay ourselves $1.00 a day each for whatever we want. (Taking lunches make this very easy). Thank you for a book that is positive, positive, positive! I too had been to a financial planner and got very discouraged by the 10% of income lecture. Your book was exactly what I needed. It opened my eyes to choices, choices, choices. Now when I think of money (like my tax return check that I'll get this year) I can think of how to put it toward my goals not what bill I will pay off or put it toward. When I pay bills I do the checkbook subtracting game so even then I am paying myself. I love the book, I gave one to my sister and told her of my success with the change game. I wish this book was out when I graduated from college. It is filled with lots of practical things that are easy to do. There are a lot of motivating quotes and stories also. I've read it twice now refer to the charts often. I have revised the Master $ Worksheet so that I can see how much I put away that month and the total balance in each acct. Things are great and money is a positive force in my life. No more stress and being uptight over it. Now if I could find a similar thing for my work stress I'd be great! Thanks once again for a wonderful book. — Maisie B. ______________________________________________________________________ “Today my official WSDHA Symposium flyer arrived and I see it's official... You are going to be a speaker for us! Joy... I'll be able to meet you! The official word from my end is that my Dream box is 1/2+ full and I have paid off Visa, opened 6 separate savings accounts. with nearly enough to pay for 1st half of property taxes, homeowners Insurance, My Full IRA, $200 in Travel account $200 in Future Emergencies, and $1,000 in a general Savings acct. All since I read your book! — Carol B. ______________________________________________________________________ “After hearing you give your spotlight speech at the rehearsal I went out and bought your book. I'm just barely into it but I'm far enough into it to start paying the minimum balance on my credit cards. Something I've never done. I'm one of those life-time you know "Pay it down!" and every month I would agonize about how to get enough money to pay the credit card and now, I don't. I just wanted you to know that your plan has reached another convert! I feel tremendous, a sense of power a sense of control and sense of freedom. We're on a cash basis now, my wife and I are using cash for everything and we're going to pay that card down over time, I've transferred the balance to a low interest card and I just want to thank you, thank you very much. — Steve H. ______________________________________________________________________ "I went to the bank a few months after reading your book and starting to save for a summer home. I pulled out this huge envelope from my closet and went down to the bank to open a savings account. The teller started to add the money and then told me we had better go to the back room. I had $3,400 in the envelope! I started by promising myself that I’d put $50 from every sale I made — whether is was a small sale or a huge sale — always $50 went to me. Then, if I had planned to go out to dinner and then changed my mind I’d put that money in the envelope. The same thing if I decided not to go to the movies or to walk instead of taking a taxi. I was with a friend and just loved the shoes she was wearing. Next thing I knew I was in the shoe store walking up and down the carpet with the shoes on me feet and I realized I didn’t really want the shoes. I went outside the store to the cash machine and took out the $80 I would have spent on the shoes and stuffed the money in my Dream Box™ for my summer home. — Linda M ______________________________________________________________________ “Don't you just love my elegant stationary? I just grabbed what was close or I would never get this letter written! I called you last year & left a message when I read your book the first time. You sent me a lovely note. I loved your book because I could understand it! I'm a recovering shopaholic. I use to say that jokingly but the more I looked at myself I discovered it was a sad, but true REALITY! I've never understood anything about money except how to spend it. My mom was a single working mom who dedicated her whole life to her two girls. We never wanted for anything. I wish I knew then all the heartache my frivolous charging caused my mom. I wish she had read your book and put something aside for herself, for her future. She now lives (age 67) with my older sister and brother-in-law in Dallas. Although she has a lovely bedroom & bath in their home, she no longer has a car and feels somewhat stripped of her independence. She only gets a small amt. from social security each month and doesn't see anyway to make a car payment. (even a small one). I tried telling her about your methods to which she replies, "Oh, not on what I make." I feel I need to have several jars for my mom: car, emergency medical & vacation. She has not been on a vacation- even a weekend one- in 30 or more years! Isn't it a shame the prison people put themselves in by the choices they make?! Well, on to more cheerful news. Your book has been helpful for me in several ways. Just as The Garden Place is important to you, my church has been a refuge for me in this hectic world. For someone who loved and enjoyed Christmas as a child (never knowing what my mom went through to provide gifts), the holidays have become hectic and stressful for me. My husband's family does not want to draw names for gifts which means buying for 15 people in all. The Christmas season is important to me because of my faith and I realized how sad I was last Christmas Eve as I stared at the empty "Special Christmas Offering" envelope that sat in my purse. The one place that's given me so much and I didn't even have a dollar to give back. Then I thought about your book! Why not take that envelope with a bright red poinsettia on it and put it with my other cash envelopes or jars! Which gave me another idea - a Christmas acct. for gifts so I would not dread the season. It will be so nice to take the $ this coming December that is actually designated FOR GIFTS! Also - to be able to give an offering on Jesus' birthday (which is important to me!) Thank you Carol! I can now enjoy the holidays without charging! Another way your book has helped me is by having money automatically withdrawn & put into savings each paycheck. I've had to take it out several times, but at least there was something there to take out! I'm working on not touching it! We have not charged anything in one year. We have not taken out any loans in one year. Except for our house & car, by next March we will not have any large monthly pymts. We now have a plan! My husband and I working together as a team. I think twice before I buy a $5.00 decorating magazine. I teach first grade and would like to stay at home when we start a family. I would like to earn some extra $ in the summer by doing some workshops on "nurturing". I feel (and others tell me) that is a gift I have & I'd like to share it w/others. By nurturing my relationship w/my mom, my husband, family, friends, coworkers, students, etc. I feel I am very rich in ways $ can't buy. I've taken many public speaking courses & have given lectures and taught lessons in various org., schools, & church. I enjoy it and feel I could also earn some extra income to realize some of my dreams. I have no idea how to get started - how to get my name out, etc. if you have any tips - I'd love to hear them! I've recommended your book to many!! I feel you are genuinely trying to help others too! — Stacey P. ______________________________________________________________________ I am deeply grateful to each of you who has written, called or emailed to share your thoughts, enthusiasm and experience of success. The fact that you took the time and energy to contact me touches my heart and fuels my soul. As you continue to share your story, may it inspire countless others to seize the moment and take charge of their personal happiness. Gratefully, Carol  About Carol Coaching
Carol Keeffe    619-303-9642         •        carol@reachmydreams.com
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