JamesWStone.com

Out of the Coal Field and Into the Dealership

Born in the coal mining fields of West Virginia and raised by parents of the Great Depression, Jim was taught the lessons that could help him make the most of what he had. They were lessons of frugality and making do.

But like many lessons they were forgotten the moment he left Appalachia and saw how easy it was to have great new possessions, from TVs and tailored suits to that big, shiny Buick. Very impressive, too, until reality set in.

Things “wanted” had become “needed.” Bills piled up and soon Jim was in over his head because his purchasing decisions had no bearing on his ability to pay for them.

Jim fought his way out of debt and developed his structured approach to Spend Joyfully with clear links between spending and paying, in this easy-to-read book.

A Mechanical Engineer with an MBA

As a Mechanical Engineer (University of Kentucky, ’76) with an MBA (Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, ’85), Jim gets to the core of problems and communicates solutions.

As his friends, associates and students will tell you, he incisively cuts through the baloney to give you his thoughts without the baggage of being delicate or dancing around an issue.

Through personal experience and intensive questioning, he has honed his knowledge of spending habits. Today his Budget Building Workshop helps people take control of their spending. He also counsels corporate executives on massive capital expenditures and principles of investment.

Perhaps more important, Jim helps everyday people change their habits and protect them from a world where thousands of new “needs” are thrust daily. He brings the joy to spending smartly.

Managing Your Money is as Easy as A, B, C

As becomes clearer each day, we can’t trust our bankers, investment counselors or others to keep our financial futures intact. We have to rely on ourselves.

Jim helps us do just that in Spend Joyfully. His passion is to have others experience what he felt when he discovered he could pay his bills and still have money left over.

His principles of ABC make you think about your Attitude, Budget and Cash flow, to get the most from every dollar you spend, and challenge every purchase with four key questions (Chapter 8).

You’ll find this book very readable because Jim isn’t a financial wonk. He’s been a photographer, machinist, manufacturing engineer, marketing and business analyst, inventor and investor, and he’s learned a thing or two about people and their spending habits.

In his spare time, Jim enjoys travel and playing his guitar. He and his wife, Judy live in Chicago’s northern suburbs.