Suze Orman, the financial guru, has been doing this show on CNBC for the past 13 years. Suze has dispensed good advice on saving and investing. She’s very knowledgeable about FICO scores (and how to improve them) and real estate transactions. I’ve enjoyed the segment of the show called “Can I Afford It?” where people call in to ask for Suze’s assessment. It’s funny how people with the least money want to buy the biggest things (like cars and expensive vacations). I’ll be sorry to see Suze retire this program, but she certainly can pursue different financial opportunities. I use Suze Orman’s Women & Money in my Investments class. Many students tell me that it’s the best book they’ve read in College.
George, I respect your opinion and mean no offense to your brilliant students, BUT: of I came out of 4 years in college exposed Art, Literature, the Sciences, Cinema, and Free-Thinking College Girls and felt that WOMEN & MONEY was the best book I read in all that time, well….. do you see where I’m going with this?
Maybe George meant that it was the most practical book rather the best. or the best in a business class.
Patti, I suspect it was the instant “pay-off” the students realized from reading WOMEN & MONEY that made the difference. The financial effects of their Accounting book will take a much longer time to show up.
Dan, my students are required to take courses like Trigonometry (which they will never use unless they go into Engineering), Interpretive Dance, and Social Interaction. Reading WOMEN & MONEY, with its practicality and instant applicability to their financial problems (and they have many), make the experience a highlight of their College experience. It’s something they can actually USE.
They are required to take interpretive dance? WTF? We had to take two phys ed coursess (back in the Dark Ages). First I took tennis, where we …well, played tennis for an hour twice a week in one of the smaller gyms in Hunter College. The best course was softball (in the Spring term). Once a week we’d walk over from Park Avenue and 69 Street to Central Park and play softball. Jackie had to take swimming but they dropped it before I had to take it.
My sister in law is a huge Suze Orman fan. I agree, her “Can I afford it?” segment is the best, especially for the idiocy of some of what the people want. They have no money but want a Maserati? No loan for you!
Jeff, my College requires students to take “Liberal Arts” electives like Interpretive Dance, Color Design, Art History, etc. No Phys Ed requirement any more. I’m a fan of “Can I Afford It?” too. You can see why so many people are so far in debt.
Although I don’t watch her show, I’ve always liked her “People, Money, Things” perspective (focus on people in your life first, then on earning and saving money, and only then on acquiring things).
Also, I think if you need to call in to a financial advisor to determine if you can afford something, I suspect you already know the answer is NO!
Deb, you are so right about people not being able to afford stuff. Those people always put “Things” first. They want the flashy car, the big house, the 400 people wedding. Only, they can’t afford it.
Sorry, but for me – note emphasis – she is like fingernails on the blackboard. UCK! It’s her personality, I guess, but I often disagree with her advice as well
Rick, Suze’s frequent use of “Hey, girl-friend” (or boy-friend) rubs me the wrong way, too. But, her financial advice is sound: don’t buy anything you can’t afford.
I don’t need her to tell me that.
I too enjoy Suze Orman. I’m sorry to see the show ending even though I haven’t watched it the last couple of years.
Much of her advice is common sense. Many people in financial trouble don’t have that.
Beth, I’m always ready to give financial advice as a follower of Suze Orman!