you don't have to be rich

read another one! i know i'm just flying through these books. but hey! a) they aren't that deep or dense. jean chatzky writes in as everyday language as possible. and b) honestly, only part of the books apply to me at this stage in my life. not that i've completely breezed through the other parts. i know i'll need them some day. it's just that i make note of them and keep going; whereas when i come across something i need to know or can use, i slowly digest the information. and sometimes i even head to my computer to do a little research.
anyways... you don't have to be rich is more about america's attachment to the happiness money is supposed to bring us. we work so hard to get our paychecks in order to pay for the things we buy to bring us happiness. for this book she had the roper organization poll a bunch of people in america to find out not only our feelings about money, but also how we use our money. the poll is included so you can compare your answers to america's.
this one was a little harder to get something out of. i know i have issues with spending. when i am making money i'd find it isn't as important to budget; whereas when i'm broke i become a budget nazi. the key, it seems, is to get into a groove and stay there. she talks again about setting goals and how to reach them, in a little more depth in this book. i think that would help me in the long run. i do like to have something i'm trying to reach towards. currently my short-term goals are to find a job, pay off my credit card debit, figure out the best way to pay off my student loans, and lastly save for the future (namely a rainy day or the next time i lose my job).
oh and living within your means. apparently most of america doesn't know what that means anymore. they think that if you can pay off the minimum payment on your credit cards (not paying the whole debt) qualifies as living within your means. but living within your means involves being able to pay off your entire credit card each month and not putting a whole bunch back on it. i'm not totally crazy about credit card purchases, and i know my boyfriend hates seeing me pull it out to pay for something, but since i've been so short on cash lately, it's been the only way to go. i can only imagine what it'll be like to pull myself out of it.
but i'm onto the next book: pay it down! from debt to wealth on $10 a day. i think that'll help. and getting a new job.