[.uk] You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and ... (ISBN 1591840120)

Amazon.com Review:
Money can't make you happy, but it can make you miserable, explains money maven Jean Chatzky in You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and Financial Security on Your Own Terms. Her premise is provocative: the financial habits of people who believe that money equals happiness will stand in the way of achieving that happiness. Chatzey, a financial editor for the Today show and a columnist for Money magazine, leverages money smart habits of mind from her research with 1,500 Americans and their wallets. She begins with short and savvy history of how Americans turned from market observers to "in the game all the time participants." Then, she focuses on how to use market down turns as an opportunity "to take back our money by living within our means." Chatzky's down to earth advice is practical and confronts the reader head-on with a non-nonsense approach: "five steps to wanting less," "Feng Shui finance to simplify," "advice for the organizationally dyslexic," "non-gaseous goal setting," or "how to stop digging a financial hole and spotting unconscious spending." Chatzky illustrates with clear examples and includes survey questions so readers can assess their own money matters. Although some of the advice will sound familiar, (pay your bills when they come in), this is a priceless blueprint for balancing your checkbook along with your outlook. --Barbara Mackoff

Grreat Book, It Will Help You Get Organized:
I saw Jean Chatsky on TV. Her approach to financial security was refreshing. Instead of "waiting" until you become a millionaire in order to solve all of your financial concerns, she rather teaches us that you don't have to be rich. Instead of trying to stare at the big picture, realize that the big picture is nothing more than a lot of little pictures. When you get the little pictures in order, the big picture changes. For example by observing for two weeks, where your cash in pocket goes, you can find ways to reduce annual expenses by even several thousand dollars per year. Figuring that amount of money, invested over ten years, you come up with a substantial amount of money. By sitting down and figuring out a budget, or allotment of monies, you can help rid yourself of the irrational spending. Start to figure out what makes you incessantly spend, spend, spend. Counting your money can be fun. Instead of enjoying your new toy for only a day or two after you buy it, then on to the next buy, you rather find joy in the ongoing financial strategy that you employ. By setting new goals and dreams, you focus your income on value pursuits, rather than buying a whole lot of junk. This book is chock full of great advice. I'm going to work hard at the suggestions. Enjoy the freedom of knowing that your financial well being is in order. Hey if your books all balance, even though you are not a millionaire, you can begin to enjoy life. Instead of that aching feeling in the background telling you that something is wrong. Your new value dream that replaces your nonsense spending will fulfill your need to buy. This book will take you step by step as to how to "clean out the garage" of your personal finances. Highly recommended, and personally I think Jean Chatsky is hot, hot, hot.

Very basic, but something for even the financially clever:
Ms. Chatzky has done a lot of research, not only on the financial habits of Americans, but on what truly makes us happy, consulting with many leading happiness experts. No surprise -- beyond a certain income level that provides the basics, money doesn't really make us happy. In fact, stress over money -- even if we have more than enough -- can make us miserable. She encourages us to take control of our money, which will help us take control of our lives. Many of her suggestions are simple, but practical: organize your papers, pay your bills when they come in, don't buy things you don't need, track your spending... But she frames them all in the discussion of finding happiness in your life, melding the practical with the philosophical. It's true; this book will be more useful to people whose finances are way out of control. But I still learned a couple of things: some guidelines for portfolio composition, that I could probably track my spending more closely, and that I should do some estate planning. If you're not sure you need this book, live one of Ms. Chatzky's mottoes and don't buy it: check it out of the library instead!

a look at motivation over money:
The thing that sets this book apart from the average personal finance book is the fact that Chatzky really challenges you to look at WHY you care about money so much. We are becoming an increasingly materialistic society and the growing trend is to fill every void with money. Meanwhile, I think the general population is more unhappy, definitely less healthy, and losing connection with what many people describe as the "important things in life" (relationships, family, health, community) than they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago. So while the practical advice may be simple, the focus really is not a "how to" but rather a look at why and for what reasons. Many personal finance books seem to intensify ones need and desire for money by suggesting ways to "make more faster" or to "be one up on the rest of the world"; this one seems to take a step back and connects with the real reason that many people become engrossed in personal finance books: their quest for happiness. If you are well organized financially and have a good strategy in place but still don't feel comfortable financially, my recommendation would be to read this book for the "big picture" in conjuction with another (less simplistic) finance book for the details. This book really challenges you to take things in perspective. You may even finish this book and decide that it's not your investment strategy but your life strategy that needs to be reworked.

A solid read:
I stumbled on to this book at my local bookstore marked down from $24.00 to $6.00. After reading it I'm surprised to say I'd be willing to pay the initial amount! The author explains financial stability (I prefer the term "stability" instead of "security"; wealthy people are secure, the less wealthy have to strive for stability) in a very lucid and rational tone. Straightforward with obvious sound advice it provided tibits of information to help each individual to define financial comfort and stability on their own terms. Thanks, Ms. Chatzky, for allowing me to not be as insecure anymore about my financial situation and about money in general!

Common sense at its best:
Chatzy presents the results of research that shows specific activities that people do that makes a difference in the way they handle and manage their personal finances. A good read for those who think that you need to make a lot of money to be rich, or to be wise with your money. For me, the book is about common sense.