Synopses & Reviews
One of America's most popular personal finance experts reveals how you can become happier at any income level through better money management
Millions of Americans have turned to Jean Chatzky for financial advice, thanks to her weekly appearances on NBC's Today and her column in Money magazine. Now, in You Don't Have to Be Rich, she analyzes the results of a unique survey in which she questioned 1,500 Americans about their financial attitudes and behaviors. She looks at how much money people actually do need to guarantee a happy, comfortable life. And gets down to the nitty-gritty, isolating behaviors that-if adopted-can significantly improve a life.
The results of this proprietary survey-conducted with the help of the Roper Center-are remarkable. Chatzky found that while a certain amount of money buys comfort, money can't make you happy-at least not in the way most people believe it can. But it can make you miserable, if you're managing it wrong. That's why it's time to make a change.
In her frank, engaging style, Chatzky explains how to "own your money" to create a happy and comfortable life. She outlines the financial habits of happy people and shows how anyone can be a part of this group, no matter what they earn. Filled with fresh insights and real life examples, You Don't Have to Be Rich reaffirms that finances don't have to be a source of stress and that living within your means can be extremely rewarding.
Review
"Specific details help readers get organized, the first step in controlling finances. And Chatzky has good advice on maximizing relationships, time, and 'going with the flow.'" Barbara Jacobs, Booklist
About the Author
Jean Chatzky writes the back-page column in Money magazine, and is a featured columnist for USA Weekend and Time magazine. She is the financial editor of NBC's Today show and her "money minutes" air weekly on CNBC. Chatsky is the author of Talking Money and The Rich and Famous Money Book.
Table of Contents
Contents Introduction 1
1. Sophie Tucker Was Wrong. 12
Why being rich is not necessarily better.
2. Enough Is Enough. 34
Wanting breeds...more wanting. And it can be toxic. How to learn to be happy with what you have.
3. Feng Shui Finance. 58
If youre in control of your money, youre in control of your life. Here are the keys to control.
4. What Do You Really Want? 81
Setting financial goals that are meaningful for your life.
5. Making It Happen. 108
How to turn those goals into your reality.
6. Living Within Your Means. 129
Its impossible to save muchif anythinguntil you stop spending more than you make. Heres how.
7. Go with the Flow. 157
On-the-job happiness is an important piece of lifetime happiness. You can find it if you know where to look.
8. Its Not Just About the Money. 179
Taking the proper precautions for your family and loved ones makes you feel happier and more content. So does volunteering.
9. Dont Dictate, Communicate. 207
When does money breed the most unhappiness?
When youre fighting about it. If you can learn to communicatewith your spouse, your kids, your parents you can stop squabbling.
10. The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness. 226
Living by fourjust fourof these commandments can be like earning an extra 50 percent a year.
Index 235