Quantity:

Express Checkout with PayPhrase

What's this? | Create PayPhrase

More Buying Choices

179 used & new from $0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Share with Friends

Share your own customer images

Search inside this book

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

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

3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

List Price:	$15.00
Price:	$11.70 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save:	$3.30 (22%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, November 17? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

54 new from $0.65 125 used from $0.01

Formats		Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Kindle Edition $9.99 Available for download now. Published December 9, 2004	Kindle Edition, December 9, 2004	$9.99	--	--
Paperback $11.70 In Stock. Published January 2, 2005	Paperback, January 2, 2005	$11.70	$0.65	$0.01
	See # more paperbacks
	Show fewer paperbacks

Frequently Bought Together

Price For All Three: $38.90

Show availability and shipping details

This item: Live Well on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Achieving Your Financial Freedom by Fred Brock
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Retire on Less Than You Think, Revised Edition: The New York Times Guide to Planning Your Financial Future by Fred Brock
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Health Care on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Getting Affordable Coverage (tt) by Fred Brock
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Health Care on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Getting Affordable Coverage (tt)

by Fred Brock

4.0 out of 5 stars (5) $17.00

How To Retire Early And Live Well With Less Than A Million Dollars

by Gillette Edmunds

4.3 out of 5 stars (33) $10.17

The Average Family's Guide to Financial Freedom How You can Save a Small Fortune on a Modest Income

by Bill Toohey

4.1 out of 5 stars (27) $19.62

America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money: Your Guide to Living Better, Spending Less, and Cashing in on Your Dreams

by Annette Economides

4.0 out of 5 stars (73) $9.32

Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Revised and Updated for the 21st Century

by Joe Dominguez

4.2 out of 5 stars (254) $10.88

› Explore similar items

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

See all Editorial Reviews

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: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #381,627 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Fred Brock Page

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
generational pipeline, credit card game, less expensive area

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Social Security, New York, United States, San Francisco, New Jersey, South Carolina, North Carolina, Deena Katz, New Hampshire, Ivy League, New Mexico, North Dakota, San Jose, West Virginia, Generation Xers, Bert Sperling, Rhode Island, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio River, Consumer Reports, South Dakota, World War, San Diego, The Hammonds, White Plains

Citations (learn more)

3 books cite this book:

in Back Matter
Moolah or Bummer!: A Humorous Look at Finance and Investing by Moget Africa in Back Matter
Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder: A Family Guide to Understanding & Supporting Your Sensory-Sensitive Child by Christopher R. Auer in Back Matter

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	69% buy the item featured on this page: Live Well on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Achieving Your Financial Freedom 3.4 out of 5 stars (16) $11.70
	14% buy Retire on Less Than You Think, Revised Edition: The New York Times Guide to Planning Your Financial Future 3.3 out of 5 stars (31) $10.20
	7% buy How To Retire Early And Live Well With Less Than A Million Dollars 4.3 out of 5 stars (33) $10.17
	6% buy The Average Family's Guide to Financial Freedom How You can Save a Small Fortune on a Modest Income 4.1 out of 5 stars (27) $19.62

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

saving money(2)

Customer Reviews

16 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

3.4 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

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.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 16 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Execution is Key
It is not how much you make, but how much you keep at the end of the day. The author states that the easiest way to increase income is to cut expenses. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mariusz Skonieczny

2.0 out of 5 stars Unless you need the very basics, not helpful
I am glad that I checked this book out of the library instead of purchasing it. There was very little useful information in this book. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Dew Drop

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Practical Guide of Basics of Living Within Your Means
Since I'm a middle Baby Boomer, it was interesting to see the perspective of a few Generation X couples interviewed by the author. Read more

Published on July 8, 2007 by Dale C. Maley

5.0 out of 5 stars I Have More Money
Of course, the best reading skill is the use of discernment. Keep the info that resonates/is useful and toss the rest. Read more

Published on January 26, 2007 by J. Webb

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many interviews
I feel like Fred didn't do a lot of research to write this book. He cites interviews with 'experts' but those interviewed sound too much like the author's own voice. Read more

Published on August 10, 2006 by George J. Rivello

1.0 out of 5 stars Does not offer any advice you have not heard before
As a younger person (in her late twenties) who is interested in securing her financial future and looking to increase her financial knowledge, I found this book to be lacking in... Read more

Published on June 21, 2006 by J. Ma

2.0 out of 5 stars Same Advice Grandpa Gave Me
Reading this book is like eating leftovers. Warmed over finacial basics. The author offers few fresh ideas and certainly nothing that will even mildly improve my life style... Read more

Published on June 11, 2006 by Hank

5.0 out of 5 stars the best of it's kind
This author de-bunks the myths perpetrated by the investment industry. He also lays out a path for following your bliss. Read more

Published on June 6, 2006 by Martin R. Kimeldorf

2.0 out of 5 stars should have been a 25 page pamphlet
I bought this book thinking I would find really helpful advice for getting by on a tight budget. That just was not the case. Read more

Published on April 19, 2006 by Philip Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for any financial library
Fred Brock continues to provide awesome information. I highly recommend this book for everyone and should be bought in conjunction with his other book "Retire on Less Than You... Read more

Published on September 26, 2005 by Derrick C. Saraceni

› See all 16 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
investing What is the best version of Security Analysis to buy?	6	4 days ago
retirement What is the biggest challenge about retirement?	6	8 days ago
investing Book reviewers needed	7	16 days ago