San Diego, CA. The Wall Street Journal's advertisements in the eighties that proclaimed "Money doesn't come with instructions" was the inspiration for a new, very basic, personal finance learning program from the nonprofit Institute of Consumer financial Education (ICFE) titled: "The Money Instruction Book." It was created by ICFE executive director, Paul Richard, a registered financial consultant (RFC). The ICFE is a San Diego based consumer group dedicated to helping people of all ages improve their spending practices, increase their rate of saving and use credit more wisely.

"The Money Instruction Book" explains why everyday spending decisions, especially credit based ones, will have a far greater negative effect on one's financial future than any investment decision one is likely to ever make. Available as a home study or classroom course, it helps students learn how to KEEP more of the money they make and DO more with the money they keep. Millions of Americans, young and old, have taken on expensive, short term credit card debt in order to purchase goods and services they otherwise normally cannot afford, and this course will help many reverse that trend and begin to reduce their indebtedness.

"In the first chapter it encourages users to consider their money attitude - whether they are presently in the consumption or accumulation mode, with an exclusive 'Spender's Profile' which helps users identify dangerous spending habits. This is important in the beginning because many consumers nationwide are wasting 20 to 30 percent of their money just because of poor spending habits and practices, such as not taking the time to comparison shop," Richard said.

The book has fourteen chapters and each chapter includes a quiz. Following the section on attitudes toward spending, the course guides users in developing their own financial pictures or determining net worth (the big picture and figuring out cash-flow (the close-up picture) is the next step. Following are chapters on goal setting, developing and implementing a spending-plan, a/k/a budget, debt reduction, improving spending, increasing accumulation of money and other assets and how to work with credit unions and or banks. The latter chapters cover credit use without abuse, correcting credit file mistakes, teaching children about money, consumer scams to avoid, how to make sure you are adequately insured, the basics of estate planning and last, but not least, how to begin the financial planning process, including how to select a financial planning professional.

"The Money Instruction Book" (260 pages in a 3-ring binder) is $29.95 plus $4 standard rate mail. The ICFE also publishes a teacher's manual and conducts two-day training programs for financial planners and others who want to teach this course. A certificate of completion is also available to both home study users and classroom participants. Individual chapters are also available.

To order "The Money Instruction Book" visit www.icfe.info or send $29.95 plus $4 for postage to:
ICFE Courses
PO Box 34070
San Diego, CA 92163-4070

or call 619-239-1401.

The Instructor's Guide is $34.95 plus $4 postage. Or order online at www.icfe.info.