Danny Kofke, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing; $12 (paperback)
“A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom” is the second personal-finance title by Atlanta-area special-education teacher Danny Kofke. His first, “How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher’s Salary” from 2007, came just as the nation was about to enter the recession. It focused on frugal living and making wise decisions about homeownership and debt.
The latest book starts out analyzing why people are broke and turns to recommending ways to change one’s perspective on money and debt and setting goals. He then reviews budgeting basics and ways to cut spending. He also covers saving for retirement and for emergencies.
Another chapter, “Giving Your Children a Financial Education,” focuses on passing on the wisdom of managing money to the next generation, including the value of work, balancing a checkbook and establishing wants versus needs.
