Live Well on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Achieving Your Financial Freedom (Paperback)

by Fred Brock (Author)
Key Phrases: generational pipeline, credit card game, less expensive area, Social Security, New York, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Brock’s new title is something of a prequel to his previous book, Retire on Less Than You Think. Throughout this sensible guide to budget control, Brock’s mantra is "cutting expenses increases income," and he provides a wealth of suggestions for how to do so. He begins with a look at some Generation X couples, using their experiences to reflect on generational differences in saving and spending tactics; subsequent chapters give advice that members of any of the three main generations could use, beginning with cutting bad debt. Other subjects include home location, insurance policies, education costs, car payments, credit cards and retirement funds. For each topic, Brock illustrates his recommendations by applying them to hypothetical families and showing their huge savings; he also includes many tables and statistics drawn from official sources and other guidebooks, such as changes in home values across the country. Brock’s is a voice of reason and moderation, especially in such issues as health insurance and Social Security, where so many writers get shrill. His style is informal and accessible, with many interviews with financial advisors and professionals in other fields, as well as with everyday people. He emphasizes that his advice does not mean reducing quality of life, but rather resisting "mindless consumerism," being disciplined and informed, and making meaningful savings. Anyone who doesn’t have a large fortune is likely to find his level-headed approach refreshing and useful.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
In a quiet, understated manner, Brock (Retire on Less Than You Think) concentrates on anecdotes and individual and family case histories to demonstrate his points. Cut your expenses to increase your income. Don't jeopardize your retirement to send your kids to college. Figure out which insurance you need and which you don't. His advice includes predictions of job trends, comparisons of metropolitan living costs, and auto depreciation factors. His use of revealing statistics and conversational prose reinforces the fact that Americans are not known as savers but could very well reverse their fortunes by using his techniques. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Times Books; 1st edition (December 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805077251
• ISBN-13: 978-0805077254
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #288,808 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best financial advice for the average person, January 12, 2005

By	C. S. Clarke "C.S. Clarke, Ph.D., Psychologist" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of the best books I've seen on financial management for the average person. It is clear, simple, practical and completely workable. It is relevant to anyone, from the guy starting a first job out of high school to a retiring couple with a good income from a pension plan. It works for the well-off, the middle-class, and the "blue collar" worker.

This is not typical general advice about how to budget and save (zzzzz). This is specific, useful information and advice on the practicalities of credit, debt, home ownership, Social Security, car buying/leasing, education's relationship to career placement and earnings, insurance, banking, and choices in where to live and work to best suit your lifestyle. Some individual chapters are worth the price of the book all by themselves.

Not only does the author tell exact how-tos, but he also teaches how to think about money and managing it.

Another big plus: the author includes many references and URLs for further self-education and self-improvement in financial matters.

I'm buying more copies as gifts for friends and relatives.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Getting the Most from Your Money, Brock-style, January 31, 2006

By	Erika Mitchell (E. Calais, VT USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book is a guide to getting your financial house in order for young and middle-aged adults. Brock begins with a chapter on generational attitudes towards money. According to his observations, Baby Boomers tended to be spoiled, so they have had rather irresponsible money habits, running up big debts and not preparing adequately for retirement. Generation X'ers, on the other hand, have a more realistic view on money and jobs, and so they seem to borrow relatively less and save relatively more than the Boomers. Whether or not these stereotypes hold water remains to be seen, and like any stereotypes, there are obviously multitudes of exceptions. Nevertheless, the interviews and statistics that Brock presents in the opening chapter are interesting.

The remainder of the book contains a laundry list of actions people can take in order to maximize their standard of living within the income they usually earn. Brock includes chapters on types of debt, financial implications of choosing where to live, the value of economizing on small purchases, types of insurance policies to carry or avoid, the value of minimizing higher education expenses, the financial advantages of buying used rather than new cars, how to choose credit cards, and how one's fixed expenses may change after retirement. At the end of the book is a short chapter in which Brock works out a hypothetical example of how one couple's standard of living can be increased by following each of the suggestions in the book. There is also a short list of Web resources and an index.

Brock concludes with the simple statements: "Cutting expenses increases income. You can live well on less than you think." While these statements are laudable, Brock's interpretation differs from what you might find in a book about simplicity. In this book, Brock does not push for forgoing income in order to have more time for the important things of life. Instead, he seems to be trying to help people see that perhaps they don't really need as much more income to get by as they think they do. The weakest chapter in the book is the one about how to cut expenses by making better choices on purchases. Brock exemplifies his methods of getting deals by recounting how he managed to get a $350 pair of dress shoes for only $100 on eBay. Yikes! If that's a bargain, he's obviously in a different shopping league than me. Wouldn't it be cheaper to figure out how not to need such shoes, or to cruise some thrift stores if dress shoes are really necessary? On the other hand, the information about choosing which insurance policies to carry is quite clear and useful.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy if you need the basics in personal finance, July 27, 2006

By	Steve Burns "Life long learner" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This book would be a great gift for a graduating senior from high school or college, but is of little use to some one who has been managing their personal finances for years. He discusses debt,insurance,education,car payments,credit cards, and retirement.If you understand that you should avoid credit card debt, stay away from car payments, not buy gimmick insurance, and max out your 401K contribution you do not need this book. I suggest "Financial Peace" or "Total Money Makeover" both from Dave Ramesay to really it more in depth and to get your money's worth.