All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know about Getting and Spending
Laura Vanderkam - 2012
We spend endless hours obsessing over our budgets and investments, trying to figure out ways to stretch every dollar. We try to follow the advice of money gurus and financial planners, then kick ourselves whenever we spend too much or save too little. For all of the stress and effort we put into every choice, why are most of us unhappy about our finances?According to Laura Vanderkam, the key is to change your perspective. Instead of looking at money as a scarce resource, consider it a tool that you can use creatively to build a better life for yourself and the people you care about. For instance, the average couple spends $5,000 on engagement and wedding rings, making these pricey purchases largely because everyone else does. But what if you decided to spend $300 on rings and apply the rest to future date nights, weekend getaways, and thinking-of-you bouquets over the next ten years? In he long run, what would bring more joy to your marriage? Likewise, will owning a home with a pristine lawn and a two-car garage—the American Dream—really make you more satisfied? Or are you saving up for this investment just because financial planners tell you it’s worth it?Vanderkam shows how each of us can figure out better ways to use what we have to build the lives we want. Drawing on the latest happiness research as well as the stories of dozens of real people, Vanderkam offers a contrarian approach that forces us to examine our own beliefs, goals, and values.Among her advice:Laugh at the Joneses: It’s human nature to compare yourself to those around you, but you can create lifestyle hat rings you personal satisfaction without copying your neighbors.Give yourself the best weekend ever: Studies show that experiences often bring more pleasure than material goods. With a little planning and creativity, you can give yourself a memorable getaway without leaving town or going broke.Embrace the selfish joy of giving: Giving back not only helps you build karma, it also helps you build a community—which is much more fulfilling than a tax deduction. All the Money in the World is a practical and inspiring guide that shows how money can buy happiness—if we spend it wisely.
The Essential Retirement Guide: A Contrarian's Perspective
Frederick Vettese - 2015
Unfortunately, much of the advice that is dispensed is either unsubstantiated or betrays a strong vested interest. In The Essential Retirement Guide, Frederick Vettese analyses the most fundamental questions of retirement planning and offers some startling insights. The book finds, for example that:Saving 10 percent a year is not a bad rule of thumb if you could follow it, but there will be times when you cannot do so and it might not even be advisable to try. Most people never spend more than 50 percent of their gross income on themselves before retirement; hence their retirement income target is usually much less than 70 percent. Interest rates will almost certainly stay low for the next 20 years, which will affect how much you need to save. Even in this low-interest environment, you can withdraw 5 percent or more of your retirement savings each year in retirement without running out of money. Your spending in retirement will almost certainly decline at a certain age so you may not need to save quite as much as you think. As people reach the later stages of retirement, they become less capable of managing their finances, even though they grow more confident of their ability to do so! Plan for this before it is too late. Annuities have become very expensive, but they still make sense for a host of reasons. In addition, The Essential Retirement Guide shows how you can estimate your own lifespan and helps you to understand the financial implications of long-term care. Most importantly, it reveals how you can calculate your personal wealth target - the amount of money you will need by the time you retire to live comfortably. The author uses his actuarial expertise to substantiate his findings but does so in a jargon-free way.
Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement: The Secret to Freedom, Flexibility, and Financial Independence (& how to get started!)
Rachel Richards - 2019
That often means working 40-hour-weeks and penny-pinching your whole life. How else could you save a cool $2 mil?Finance guru, former financial advisor, and Amazon bestselling author of Money Honey, Rachel Richards has one goal in mind: teaching you everything you need to know to become financially free earlier than you ever thought possible. At age 27, Rachel quit her job and retired, living off $10,000+ per month in passive income streams. Let her show you how to do it at any age—it's never too late.What is passive income? Passive income is earned with little to no ongoing work. It's no get-rich-quick scheme, but once your passive income exceeds your expenses, you are set for life.
In a refreshingly realistic how-to guide, Rachel serves up 28 tried and true passive income stream models, helping you to:
Achieve "Financial Independence, Retire Early" without penny-pinching
Create consistent, long-term residual income (the non-multi-level-marketing way), so you can live life on your terms
Have the flexibility to work when, where, and if you want
Say "goodbye" to your 9-5, and create a life you totally love
Eliminate your money stresses and fears
Rachel supplements boatloads of research and personal expertise by interviewing well-known experts! You'll hear directly from big names such as HAL ELROD, BOBBY HOYT, DAVID OSBORN, HONORÉE CORDER, and more!Hal Elrod is the internationally bestselling author of The Miracle Morning™ Series, which has been translated into 37 languages and has impacted over 2,000,000 people's lives!Bobby Hoyt is a former high school band director and the founder of Millennial Money Man. He now makes six figures per month from his blog, online courses, and recurring revenue!David Osborn is a multi-millionaire real estate mogul who started out broke and unemployed at age 26, only to become one of the most successful real estate franchise owners in the world!Honorée Corder has written over 50 books. She teaches the You Must Write a Book Live Coaching Course and is an executive book coach!Doug Skipworth is the co-founder and principal broker at Crestcore Realty, which manages 2,500 properties in Tennessee. He personally owns hundreds of rentals!Thom Shepherd is a CMA of Texas Songwriter of the Year and has written five #1 singles!If you regularly feel the Sunday Scaries or always dread getting up for work in the morning, this book is for you. This book is for the college student already dreading the 9-5 life that waits him upon graduating; the couple who would rather spend their time doing what they want, instead of slaving away for their employers every day; and the single parent who is barely scraping by.
Regardless of your WHY, passive income could be your HOW.
The House Hacking Strategy: How to Use Your Home to Achieve Financial Freedom
Craig Curelop - 2019
In fact, the average house hacker can turn a single family home or small multifamily property into a cash-flowing investment: You can collect rent that completely covers your living expenses—and then some!In this book, serial house hacker Craig Curelop lays out the in-depth details to make your first (or next) house hack a success.What's inside:- What house hacking is and why it’s one of the best methods for building wealth- The incredible connection between house hacking, wealth building, and early retirement- How to get started house hacking—even with low income or low savings- Strategies to house hack with a family, spouse, or on your own- How to find the ideal house hack property—even in a competitive or expensive market- The simple math behind a house hack property analysis- Property management strategies to make ownership a breezeHouse hacking doesn't have to be a mystery. Discover why so many successful investors support their investment careers with house hacking—and learn from a frugality expert who has “hacked” his way towards financial freedom!
The New Retirementality: Planning Your Life and Living Your Dreams....at Any Age You Want
Mitch Anthony - 2001
Most people won't experience the same retirement that their parents did, nor do they necessarily want to. Page by page, top financial planner Mitch Anthony reveals how new opportunities will enable individuals to create tailor-made retirements. He includes new research and studies to back his insights and introduces readers to important concepts such as "wealthcare" and "return on life." Filled with engaging anecdotes and inspirational suggestions, this book will motivate readers to rethink the way they retire.
Who Gets What: Fair Compensation after Tragedy and Financial Upheaval
Kenneth R. Feinberg - 2012
What they had in common was their aftermath -- each required compensation for lives lost, bodies maimed, livelihoods wrecked, economies and ecosystems upended. In each instance, an objective third party had to step up and dole out allocated funds: in each instance, Presidents, Attorneys General, and other public officials have asked Kenneth R. Feinberg to get the job done. In Who Gets What?, Feinberg reveals the deep thought that must go into each decision, not to mention the most important question that arises after a tragedy: why compensate at all? The result is a remarkably accessible discussion of the practical and philosophical problems of using money as a way to address wrongs and reflect individual worth.