Sunday, February 11, 2007

Suze Orman...

Okay I admit to last night watching Suze Orman's TV show on CNBC. It was very amusing and highly entertaining. I think that she uses a lot of simplification on her show and if you are reading this blog you probably shouldn't watch her show. It's really simple. BUT I think it's easy enough to understand for the average person just getting started in investing and understanding debt.

My favorite part of the show is her deciding whether someone calling in can afford to buy the item they want to purchase. They tell Suze what the item is, how much it costs, and how they will finance their purchase. Then she says approve or deny. Last night there were people asking for a cruise (approved), culinary school (approved), dog daycare (denied), a used Audi (denied), and investment property (denied). One of the biggest factors in deciding approval or denial was whether the person had consumer debt (CC or auto loan), any savings, and what their income was.

Overall though the show is extremely simple, I think it is a great tool for beginners. I suggested to my mom to watch the show and start watching it every Saturday night. She has basically just started to grasp what a stock is, mutual fund, and bond. This show I think will get her more interested in personal finance without intimidating her like other shows.

So I guess I'll give Suze a thumbs up for providing the inital steps to personal finance. Or a personal finance for dummies...

5 comments:

Dimes said...

I have to wonder if a lot of the people who call in to the show *really* think she'll say yes. Audi gal had no money and was mired in debt, for example. There was another woman a month or so ago who wanted to buy a Quizno's franchise and it was the same story, plus she had NO business experience whatsoever. I once told golbguru I'd write in to ask her if she thought we could afford to have a baby (not golbguru and me, my husband and me!), but never followed through. I'm sure she'd either have ignored me or would have said yes, because even though she pulls no punches, she might stop short of telling people not to breed.

Living Almost Large said...

I wonder that as well. I also wrote in asking if we could afford a baby as well. But no response as of yet.

But I still think she's a good motivator for people who don't know anything about finance. What is good is her emphasizing the basics. Also she just uses common sense which seems to be lacking in a lot of people.

Anonymous said...

I've watched several times
suze Orman tv show but I notice that theren't any were where to find and address or phone to be able to call/contact the program. I only could find to BUY her books, or...ETC. I just wanted to ask a simple financial question but I find it impossible.

Anonymous said...

If you have to ask, Can I afford a baby you probably can't!

I find it very funny some of these posters think of themselves as financial experts because they think the Suze Orman plan is so simple. If your so educated, show me the money, and tell me why again are you watching Suze Orman?

Living Almost Large said...

Nope, I don't think I can either. At least I'm smart enough to ask before leaping. I would say many parents out there should have asked themselves the question am I ready? Or can I afford a baby before having one. It might lower the divorce rate in the US, after all the leading cause of divorce is financial arguments. I wonder if arguing over affording kids leads to divorce?