You Don’t Have To Be Rich

This book was recommended to us by one of our subscribers. We read it and discovered that it does a great job debunking the myth that money will make you happy. Jean Chatzky reviewed an extensive survey of over 1500 people regarding their finances, financial habits and how satisfied they were with both. The goal of the survey, according to Chatzky, “was to figure out, first, what influence money has over an individual’s overall happiness; second, what habits, attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge separate those people who are satisfied with their financial lives from those who are not; and third, what effect changing those habits, attitudes, and behaviors, and knowledge might have on a person’s life.” The author concludes that people who organize their finances and share some with others always feel like they have more even when they are earning less. Her budgeting information is weak, but her encouragement to take some very simple positive steps to improve your situation is a great message. If you struggle with attitudes about money, this book could be very helpful in getting you headed in the right direction.