"After 21 years of giving advice about your wallet on the radio, I thought I had heard it all and read it all. Then I read Living Rich by Spending Smart. Greg Karp has a clear roadmap to wealth that is yours for the taking. Follow his simple steps and you will take control of your financial future. Get FIT now!" --Clark Howard, The Clark Howard radio show "The book is full of practical information for trimming and redeploying spending, which is often given short shrift in other personal finance books. The author provides solid advice and solid writing on a topic that benefits from a fresh voice." --Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN Money columnist and author of Easy Money "Greg Karp offers well-researched, practical strategies that can help anyone save big money on everyday expenses, and his entertaining writing style makes the book a fun read." --Stephanie Nelson, editor of CouponMom.com and frequent guest on ABC-TV's Good Morning America "Greg Karp gets it and you will too. His research and tips will help you keep more of the money you earn. Reading Living Rich by Spending Smart is the best way to give yourself a raise."--Steve & Annette Economides, New York Times Best-Selling Authors of America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right On The Money "Wise people have always known it. Now Greg Karp lets everyone in on the secret. The surest way to living well is to manage your spending. Living Rich by Spending Smart is a simple roadmap that anyone can follow. And should!" --Gary Foreman, editor of TheDollarStretcher.com "For every consumer who consistently fails to engage brain before operating pocketbook, this book provides simple, concrete steps to immediately take control of your spending." --Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org As The Millionaire Next Door revealed, building wealth isn't just about working harder or what you choose to invest in: it's about spending smarter. Now, award-winning Tribune Company personal finance columnist Gregory Karp shows how to do just that. This book isn't about depriving yourself. Instead, Gregory Karp shows how to build real, long-lasting wealth by plugging the money leaks you're barely aware of and making sure you spend with a purpose. Karp's surprisingly painless techniques will help you eliminate wasteful spending in every area of your financial life.You'll discover how to focus spending on what you really care about...spend less on gifts without becoming a cheapskate...slash your phone bill...pay less for food and still eat what you want. ..eliminate spending leaks in insurance, education, even entertainment. From the clothes you wear to the cars you drive, this book will help you build a life that's truly rich because it's truly financially secure. /Smart people, dumb spending Why you need to fire the accountant in your head /What a waste From inkjet cartridges to extended warranties /Achieving money victory: short-term tactics, long-term strategies Win today's retail skirmishes (and your lifelong money wars) /How to pay less for the same entertainment ...without having less fun / Why comparison shopping is more profitable than you thought Surprise: it's worth your time...

100% Practical, 100% Specific Financial Advice Everyone Can Use: Exactly What to Do and Exactly How to Do It "Greg Karp makes managing your money as easy as 1-2-3. He offers sensible, time-tested advice to help you make smart decisions and get your finances on track." --Liz Pulliam Weston, "The most-read personal finance columnist on the Internet" (Nielsen//NetRatings), author of Easy Money, Your Credit Score, and Deal with Your Debt "I love this book. Greg's simple strategies push you to be smart with your dough and act right away." --Clark Howard, The Clark Howard Show "Within one hour of picking up The 1-2-3 Money Plan, I already had a list of easy next steps to save on several of our household expenses." --Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com "Greg Karp really knows his stuff, and he lays it out in plain language that will help anyone save money and get financially fit." --Jeff Yeager, author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches "The money you spend on this book should easily be recouped by the time you're only several pages into it!" --Russell Wild, financial advisor, author of Exchange-Traded Funds for Dummies, Bond Investing for Dummies, and Index Investing for Dummies "Greg Karp is a lifesaver for people worried about stretching their dollars in a tough economy. He's no Scrooge. Rather, he nudges you into sound decisions and smart spending." --Gail MarksJarvis, Chicago Tribune personal finance columnist, author of Saving for Retirement Without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery "Today everyone is looking for a quick answer to their financial problems. In The 1-2-3 Money Plan, Greg Karp has created an excellent resource. It's well organized and full of great ideas. But, most importantly, it's written in a language that the average consumer can understand and apply. Many people will thank Greg for helping them survive financially tough times." --Gary Foreman, editor The DollarStretcher Web site, stretcher.com "Greg Karp tells it like it is, with the specificity and candor busy people need. I am saving money already." --Jean Chatzky, author of The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times, blogging at jeanchatzky.com Today, frugal is the name of the game. But you don't have to take a vow of poverty: You just have to be smarter about how you spend, save, and invest. Sound hard? Not anymore. In The 1-2-3 Money Plan, top personal finance columnist Greg Karp offers 100% practical, 100% specific financial advice everyone can use...organized into simple three-step plans that tell you exactly what to do and how and where to do it! Discover how to save money by putting your bills on autopilot...which specific brand names to buy in everything from index funds to cellphones...how to improve your credit rating...how to get the right insurance, without wasting money on unnecessary coverage...easier ways to save for college and plan for retirement...and a whole lot more. Finally: simple, reliable financial advice you can act on, from an award-winning expert you can trust! *Don't be paralyzed by perfection: Be good enough Better a good decision now than a perfect decision someday*Just set it and forget it Make the financial decisions you only need to make once and can then ignore for years*Stop wasting money on things you don't care about Plug wasteful spending leaks, so you can redirect cash to things you truly care about*Easy step-by-step techniques and specific recommendations What to buy, in everything from mutual funds to cellphone service...