Books & More

The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness

ten_command_book This was the first book where I used survey results to help people get a grip on their personal finances. In The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness (which was published in hardcover as You Don’t Have to Be Rich), I analyzed the results of a unique survey in which we questioned 1,500 Americans about their financial attitudes and behaviors.

The goal was to see how much money people actually do need to guarantee a happy, comfortable life. We got down to the nitty-gritty, looking for specific behaviors that – if you really adopt them – can significantly improve a life. The results of this proprietary survey – conducted with the help of the Roper Center – were pretty remarkable.

I found that while a certain amount of money buys comfort, money can’t make you happy – at least not in the way most people believe it can. But it can make you miserable, if you’re managing it wrong.

The book explained how to “own your money” to create a happy and comfortable life. Outlining the financial habits of happy people shows how anyone can be a part of this group, no matter what they earn. Using real life examples, The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness reaffirms that finances don’t have to be a source of stress and that living within your means can be extremely rewarding!