Day#10: Read one personal finance book.
Here’s today’s installment:
It’s a Sunday, so I picked a task that we can do from the comfort of our own homes. I also chose a task that can kill a few hours, since most people will be too busy during the weekday for a task like this one -
Today’s Task: Read one personal finance book.
If you already have a personal finance book at home but you haven’t read it yet, now’s your chance. You can also borrow books from friends or relatives, or buy from a second hand shop. Just make sure that whatever you buy, the information is up to date. Also, as much as possible, buy something local. The ideas in local books will be of more help, especially if they point to local banking and investing information.
Want some free books instead? Check out the following:
- Thriving on Less: Simplifying in a Tough Economy by Leo Babauta. It’s about adjusting your lifestyle to make it more sustainable and allow yourself to live well in a tough economy.
- Money Matters for All Ages, which I reviewed before, is a guidebook on financial planning for the rest of your life.
- Tips for Change from Money Management International. Just a collection of money-saving tips. Although written for a US audience, 98% of the tips are applicable everywhere (FP’s note: I wouldn’t drink tap water though, so know which tips to pick and use).
- Plan Z: How to Survive the 2009 Financial Crisis by Robert Pagliarini. An alternative take on how to deal with the financial crisis. (FP’s note: I don’t think it’s a good idea to avoid paying off credit card debt as early as you can if you have the means to do it, things are not as bad here as compared to the US. But if you’re financially desperate, it’s okay to just pay the minimum each month.)
- Building Wealth: A Beginner’s Guide to Securing Your Financial Future by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Meant for US readers but most of the ideas are basic enough to be applicable to the Philippines. Just like the title says, it’s for beginners who are just starting to be aware of their financial responsibility.
Remember: don’t stop with just one! Over the next few months, make it a point to read other financial planning and money management books. You’ll find that many writers contradict each other so it’s good to have multiple perspectives on a single issue. But for today, one book should be fine.
Read MoreThe Millionaire Next Door – A Review
I’ve just finished listening to the audio book version of “The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. I’ve heard good things about it, so I thought I’d check it out for myself.
The premise of the book is simple: the authors conducted a survey of self-made millionaires in the US, to see what characteristics they share and how they got to be millionaires.
In the first part, the authors share their discovery of a surprising fact: millionaires often did not look the part. They did not dress like millionaires, they don’t come from wealthy families, and most of them don’t even have an MBA or high levels of tertiary education.
Here’s an excerpt from the book (emphasis mine):
“In time we discovered something odd: many people who live in expensive homes and drive luxury cars do not actually have much wealth…. Many people who have a great deal of wealth do not even live in upscale neighborhoods.”
Then the authors move on to discuss the common characteristics of millionaires and how they acquired their wealth. Not surprisingly, it involves discipline and planning.
Here’s a brief summary of the book’s main points:
Read MoreFree Ebook: Thriving on Less
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Almost the entire world is facing a financial crisis. During times like these, it’s important to cut back on our spending and save for the future. But is it possible to do that without sacrificing your enjoyment of life?
Leo Babauta’s new free ebook, “Thriving on Less: Simplifying in a Tough Economy” addresses the steps we have to take to lead more enriching lives – and save money in the process. A much needed message in tough economic times.
Here’s what you’ll learn from the ebook:
- How to create a simple lifestyle
- How to focus on “enough” instead of “more”
- How to beat the effects of advertising
- Steps on how to make small financial changes
- How to look at large, long term expenses
- Tips on how to change spending habits
- How to get out of debt
If you want to download a free copy of this ebook, simply click here.
Read MoreGreat free ebook on how to become a blogger
I just finished reading this excellent (and FREE) ebook by Yaro Starak and gideon Shalwick called “The Roadmap to Become a Blogger”. It basically lays down everything you need to know about making money from your own blog (which I also discussed to some extent in a previous post).
What I love most about Yaro and Gideon’s ebook is that it has action steps. Meaning, there’s a list of stuff you have to do to implement their advice. I love action steps because they are practical, and they note down all the tasks you need to accomplish. ( I used action steps in the post “How do I start as an online freelance writer?” to better explain what aspiring writers need to do.)
Anyway, going back to the ebook, you need to sign up before you can download it. Don’t worry – if you don’t like the email updates you receive, you can always unsubscribe. They carry out the mailing list using Aweber, which is a trustworthy, spam-free service.
Also, please note that some of the advice might not be applicable to Filipino bloggers, especially if your target audience is local. Still, it’s a great resource for beginning and veteran bloggers alike.
Click here to download this handy ebook.
Image credit: Graphic taken from Yaro Starak’s blog
Read MoreFree ebook on how to save gas
WiseBread is giving away a free downloadable ebook titled “Wise Bread’s Wise Driving Guide: 108 Tips to raise your fuel economy”.
The tips range from the simple (make fewer left turns, keep tires well inflated) to the advanced (hypermiling, drafting). Anyone who drives a car can benefit from these tips.
To download the ebook, go to the site and subscribe to it via email or RSS.
You won’t regret the subscription. Apart from the fact that it’s free, their tips are always practical and useful. I’ve been reading WiseBread since they started, and I’ve learned so much from their blog.
Image Source: WiseBread.com
Read MoreWhere to find free (or cheap) books
It’s no secret that I love books. I try to read at least 20 books a year (my former creative writing profs would argue that this isn’t enough). However, books are generally expensive. In fact, you’re very lucky if you find a brand new book from a major bookstore at only P 150.00. In fact, browsing through National Bookstore’s online catalog, the cheapest fiction book I could find was A Pocket Book of Short Stories from Simon and Schuster for 85 pesos. And guess what? You can actually download all those short stories from the internet for free.
If you’re an avid reader who doesn’t want to burn a hole in both your pockets just because you happen to love books, here are some frugal ways you can acquire them:
Where to find CHEAP books:
Used books stores. One of my favorite used books stores is Diplomat Bookstore in P.Tuazon, in the Daily Supermarket Complex. Scout and I acquired Robin Morgan’s The Demon Lover for a mere P149. When we went there this weekend, they even had a sale – some shelves were P99/book, and buy 1 take 1 to boot! That means P49.50 per book. We took advantage of this deal and added 2 new interesting books to our collection. Apart from the great price, many of Diplomat’s used books look good as new.
I also like the used book stalls in Riverbanks Mall in Marikina. There’s 2 of them there, and other stalls have a used books/magazine section as well. I found Michael Cunningham’s The Hours for P100 (it looked brand new) and a Woody Allen collection that was already out of publication (it looked new too, and cost me only P200).
Read MoreHelp Iligan and CDO
Reader Discussions: