331 books
—
434 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Your Money or Your Life” as Want to Read:
Your Money or Your Life
by
In times like these, it's more important than ever to know the difference between making a living and making a life. Your Money or Your Life is even more relevant today than it was when the book first hit the stands, and a great publicity campaign will bring this already strong-selling book to a whole new audience.
Get A Copy
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
September 1st 1999
by Penguin Books
(first published September 1st 1992)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Your Money or Your Life,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Catherine
They just came out with a new edition in Feb 2018, so yes, it's relevant now!
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Your Money or Your Life
I could and will read and re-read this book, not for its literary value but for its simple explanations of concrete ways to observe your own connection with the material world. Whether or not you fully practice its program, it is the sanest and most convincing account of the importance of financial savvy for those of us who proclaimed, "Money and fancy material things don't matter to me - so why should I try to manage my finances?" Its message from ten years ago rings truer today than it did now
...more
I'm kind of squeamish about the 5 stars I'm giving this, because I don't think this is a well-written book. The tone is nearly unbearable at times: think of the most stereotypical motivational speaker you've ever heard. However, the ideas in this book are impressive, and I find myself thinking about them, rather against my will, even 3 years after having read the book.
Part of my struggle with this book is that I actually love my work, so trying to hurry up and earn my money so that I can retire ...more
Part of my struggle with this book is that I actually love my work, so trying to hurry up and earn my money so that I can retire ...more
Apr 18, 2007
Claire
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Those struggling to find work that doesn't make them miserable
YMYL was recommended to me by a friend, who gave up her stable teaching position to run a used bookstore after reading this book. This was my first foray into the self-help genre. The prose is laughably hokey at the most inopportune times, but the message is worth slogging through the mantras and the affirmations. Plus, the "nine-step program" actually works, if you're willing to commit to it. I started out, skeptical, with a step I thought I could stick to—keeping track of my spending, and beca
...more
This book's most popular Amazon review is surprisingly negative: 3/5 stars. I agree more with the 5-star Goodreads evangelists. That said, I have a few qualms with the book. It's dated and frequently redundant. Like most personal finance books, it's full of suspicious stories. The Epilogue summarizes in 9 pages what has been beaten to death in the previous 327!
At one point, the author talks about being financially secure whether the Dow is under 1000 or above 4000. When the book was copyrighted ...more
At one point, the author talks about being financially secure whether the Dow is under 1000 or above 4000. When the book was copyrighted ...more
Reader beware: the contents of this book might just shake the foundations of your life...it did for me. Easily the most lucid, insightful, and valuable book I've read on money. Probably because when it comes down to it, the book is not really about money. It's about what we're trading our life energy for. The book had such a spiritual component to it, that I was tempted to add it to my Buddhism bookshelf.
One thing I gained from the book was an incentive to organize our finances from a total net ...more
One thing I gained from the book was an incentive to organize our finances from a total net ...more
I read this book in my early 20s ( when I had zero money and zero idea what to do with any if I had it) and it blew my mind. 15 years later I am retreading it and find it just as compelling. Guides you (gently, gingerly) into reevaluating you preconceived notions about money, how much is enough, and whether you really want to work in a conventional job track for 30+ years (hint: if you don't, there are other options!) The basic idea is that every day you go to work you are choosing to trade your
...more
My book had 300 pages. I took a month to read this bc I wanted to absorb the book and think about the lessons. It keeps stating NO BLAME, NO SHAME which I really appreciate. I used to be a "I want this, I'll buy it" kind of person. I grew up with immigrant parents working so hard to get all 4 of their children ahead by hard work on their part. Money seemed to be more important than bonding. Not a boohoo story just the truth. I appreciate my parents' hard work and love them but I also grew up wit
...more
This is the first PersonalMBA reading list book I have read. The information that I found most intersting and insightful was:
- You have made a lot of money in your life, look around your home, go through your stuff... what do you have to show for it?
- The act of earning money is using your life energy, therefore money = life energy. Do you like what you are doing? Could you be doing something you love and be happier if your finances were in order and you appreciated living in a state of "enough" ...more
- You have made a lot of money in your life, look around your home, go through your stuff... what do you have to show for it?
- The act of earning money is using your life energy, therefore money = life energy. Do you like what you are doing? Could you be doing something you love and be happier if your finances were in order and you appreciated living in a state of "enough" ...more
The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being. -Socrates
This book is very challenging. In the sense that it is actively challenging the reader to basically change her entire life. It's not the typical finance book that gives tips and tricks, and you can pick among them for those that are easy to work into your life (you know the drill: "cancel cable? done! what kind of wastrel pays for cable? move somewhere cheaper? let's not get too crazy, I love this neighborhood..."). This book te ...more
This book is very challenging. In the sense that it is actively challenging the reader to basically change her entire life. It's not the typical finance book that gives tips and tricks, and you can pick among them for those that are easy to work into your life (you know the drill: "cancel cable? done! what kind of wastrel pays for cable? move somewhere cheaper? let's not get too crazy, I love this neighborhood..."). This book te ...more
What a bunch of life energy wasted reading this.
The material was frusteratingly repetitive. While the points are valid, they were unfocused, and I had trouble overlooking the jumbled-up writing style.
Honestly, I'm surprised that this book is included in so many reading lists throughout the financial independence community. First, a caveat: the book was published in the early 90's, so some of its advice and information is dated by default. Even so, I have a hard time giving the authors a pass on some of the recommendations they made in this book. The most glaring example is their one-ingredient recipe for attaining financial independence: US Treasury Bonds. Yep, according to Robin and Domingu
...more
This book is phenomenal. It's one of those books where you *have* to do the prescribed exercises to get the maximum benefit out of it. I loved it b/c it addresses the emotional/spiritual aspect of money and work, helps you calculate your true hourly wage (which includes things like commuting time and clothing expenses), and figure out if how you spend your time is in line w/ your values. It has a spiritual focus but is also immensely practical at the same time, providing you w/ a step-by-step wa
...more
I decided not to buy anything in 2018 and it was great (though I fell off the wagon in November because I went to NYC and I was really cold so I had to buy a jacket and shoes....and a necklace). Anyway, I didn't do it to save money, but because I had too many things. I read this book on a friend's recommendation--not because I need to save money, but because I wanted to learn something. My point is that even if your goal isn't to save more money, this book is really useful. It's useful because i
...more
This book really makes you re-examine what it means to have money. It will make you change the way you look at earning money and the way you look at spending money.
For those who are interested in not competing with their neighbors in the endless rat-race of social finance, this will teach you how to evaluate your spending habits and spend on those things that bring real value to you - independent of what your family, friends, or neighbors value.
For those who are interested in not competing with their neighbors in the endless rat-race of social finance, this will teach you how to evaluate your spending habits and spend on those things that bring real value to you - independent of what your family, friends, or neighbors value.
3 stars for the audiobook, but I'm holding my review until I can get a physical copy because people have told me they're much different experiences and the content is more in the physical copy.
This is a fantastic book with a lot of simple but useful ideas. I intend to read it again, and again, .... and again.
Note: This is not the most recent edition of the book. I read the 2008 edition, which I couldn't find when I searched GoodReads.
For those who are struggling to save or just get a better understanding of how to handle money, YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE may seem like more than you need to know.
The book was actually written with debt-saddled people in mind--seriously debt-saddled, that is. The nine-step program within it (developed by the late Joe Dominguez) provides what I would describe as a holistic ...more
For those who are struggling to save or just get a better understanding of how to handle money, YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE may seem like more than you need to know.
The book was actually written with debt-saddled people in mind--seriously debt-saddled, that is. The nine-step program within it (developed by the late Joe Dominguez) provides what I would describe as a holistic ...more
In short: A worthwhile read.
The longer version:
Frankly, I found some of the "transformative" concepts to be common sense. Having forgone more lucrative career paths -- much to my parents' delight -- to work on issues that I care about, I have already faced decisions about the lifestyle and social circles that I am comfortable with.
However, it is never a bad idea to get new ideas on how to ensure your approach to money, work, consumption, etc. are in line with your values. And there are some go ...more
The longer version:
Frankly, I found some of the "transformative" concepts to be common sense. Having forgone more lucrative career paths -- much to my parents' delight -- to work on issues that I care about, I have already faced decisions about the lifestyle and social circles that I am comfortable with.
However, it is never a bad idea to get new ideas on how to ensure your approach to money, work, consumption, etc. are in line with your values. And there are some go ...more
This book holds so much good advice, it's really a shame that it's written in such a silly fashion. The authors try to be funny and make jokes, but they're just not funny and pull you out of the text. When they start talking about gazingus pins and stuff, I was wondering if there actually was such a thing whenever this book was written, before I realized they were just being funny. Maybe in the seminars this book is based on, they were, but on the page, it's really lame. Also, they try to convin
...more
This is a powerful book. Others probably think the same as I had to wait a year for my hold to come through at the library! It was absolutely worth the wait.
This is not just a book about personal finances. It's a book about life and how to structure yours to match your values. Not in the "follow your passion" kind of unhelpful advice, but at a much deeper level. It addresses consumerism, which destroys not just our finances but also the planet and its limited resources. It aims to help you disco ...more
This is not just a book about personal finances. It's a book about life and how to structure yours to match your values. Not in the "follow your passion" kind of unhelpful advice, but at a much deeper level. It addresses consumerism, which destroys not just our finances but also the planet and its limited resources. It aims to help you disco ...more
http://simplemom.net/book-club-readin...
reading dates: January 1 - March 5, 2009
So I didn't actually follow the book club thing, and in fact I haven't visited their forums yet.
This book was alright. There was some good advice about reducing expenses, redefining your definition of "needs," and the principle of generating enough interest income to cover your expenses. But the tone was so cheesy, the examples seemed incredibly out of date, and the exercises seem overly complicated for the purpose. ...more
reading dates: January 1 - March 5, 2009
So I didn't actually follow the book club thing, and in fact I haven't visited their forums yet.
This book was alright. There was some good advice about reducing expenses, redefining your definition of "needs," and the principle of generating enough interest income to cover your expenses. But the tone was so cheesy, the examples seemed incredibly out of date, and the exercises seem overly complicated for the purpose. ...more
Great content, but the moralistic or motivational speaker tone is grating. Still, don’t pass up this book. This puts into perspective quality of life over material possessions with some functional tools for financial control.
Sobering. I’m interested in the psychology of money and the writing feels old-fashioned at times, but the message is clear. Money is not the end and it shouldn’t control how one lives one’s life.
This is book #3 of my ongoing effort to read the five personal finance books that blogger Chris Reining recommends to everyone. This one is of course a classic, and I was all the more eager to read it given this new edition's foreward by Mr. Money Mustache, my beloved guru on all things related to being happy, healthy, and wealthy.
In short, this book lives up to the hype. The authors really do present a fascinating and empowering way of thinking about the confluence of your money, time, and goal ...more
In short, this book lives up to the hype. The authors really do present a fascinating and empowering way of thinking about the confluence of your money, time, and goal ...more
The first time I tried to read this, I only got through a chapter or two before putting it down. Possibly it was just wrong place, wrong time, and I may have been turned off by the first step in the YMOYL process, which can feel a bit rigid or nitpicky. But I think the real issue is that I was reading an older version -- it's absolutely crucial to read the current edition (the 2018 version, not the one from 2008). The new revisions are significant, and the tone shifts from its original early-90'
...more
This is a must read not only for the money advice but how to live your best life and the mindset to achieve it.
Despite the silly title and the very outdated information about investing in government bonds (which may have been corrected in later editions - I read this book several years ago), this would be my top recommendation to anyone looking for a good personal finance book.
You don't have to use everything in the book or agree with all of the authors' points to get something out of this book. One of the more useful exercises is the calculation of your net worth, which includes inventorying everything ...more
You don't have to use everything in the book or agree with all of the authors' points to get something out of this book. One of the more useful exercises is the calculation of your net worth, which includes inventorying everything ...more
I do not know much about the life of the author. But I imagine that Dave Ramsey had a lost twin sister who was abducted from her evangelical family and raised on a commune near San Francisco and fed a steady diet of locally sourced vegan organic food and the Grateful Dead albums. Her philosophy is to live simply without debts and save for the future. The book is full of inspirational stories along these lines :" Juanita was stuck in a toxic wall street legal firm and in a loveless marriage. She
...more
I'm going to be the first one against the wall when the "frugal living" revolution comes.
(This is your Depression-era grandparents' personal finance book. A really radical, anti-consumerist, deeply challenging book. I agree with everything in it, except that I'm also incredibly resistant to everything in it. Reading this was like an exercise in seeing how resistant Inder can become - at times, I felt so threatened, I wanted to physically put it aside. Still, it's good to know it's out there. As ...more
(This is your Depression-era grandparents' personal finance book. A really radical, anti-consumerist, deeply challenging book. I agree with everything in it, except that I'm also incredibly resistant to everything in it. Reading this was like an exercise in seeing how resistant Inder can become - at times, I felt so threatened, I wanted to physically put it aside. Still, it's good to know it's out there. As ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #debtfreecommunity: December: Your Money or Your Life | 1 | 18 | Jan 03, 2020 03:45PM | |
| Your Money or Your Life | 7 | 22 | May 14, 2019 01:16AM | |
| Goodreads Librari...: Page Count Request ISBN 0140167153 | 2 | 13 | Jan 31, 2016 02:52PM | |
| YNAB Book Club: Your Money or Your Life | 2 | 59 | Sep 15, 2014 03:04PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Vicki Robin has lectured widely and appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America" and National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition" and "Morning Edition." She has also been featured in People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Woman's Day, Newsweek, Utne Magazine and the New York Times. Vicki has helped launch many sustainability initiat
...more
News & Interviews
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day.
To create our lis...
24 likes · 1 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.”
—
60 likes
“Americans used to be 'citizens.' Now we are 'consumers.”
—
32 likes
More quotes…
May 17, 2009 07:05AM