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211 reviews for:
The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
David Bach, John David Mann
3.52 AVERAGE
211 reviews for:
The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich
David Bach, John David Mann
3.52 AVERAGE
Simply written financial advice written in a story format. Maybe being a self made millionaire is within my reach and I don’t have to make it so complicated.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first personal finance book I've read in this particular format. David Bach tells a parable of 27-year old Zoey who feels lost and seeks guidance for her future. Zoey travels from Brooklyn to the Freedom Tower in Manhattan everyday for work. Her job demands around 50 hours a week but it doesn't ever seem to pay enough to keep up her lifestyle. She doesn't live extravagantly; she has a roommate, she doesn't have a car, she doesn't travel, etc. However, she still has a mountain of debt in credit cards and student loans. Whenever she finds something she'd love to do like traveling or purchasing a beautiful piece of art, she spits out the common refrain, "I can't afford it". She ends up meeting a man of seemingly humble means who teaches her the three simple lessons to financial freedom.
I believe I had first heard about David Bach on one of my favorite podcasts, "HerMoney" with Jean Chatzky on Episode 63 about his 18-month sabbatical. I didn't quite relate to that story of his, but this parable of Zoey did speak to me. While I am not 27, I am close to that age and she has many of the same spending habits that catch me up when trying to save. Bach lays out three very simple keys to success. They seem commonsense but many many people don't realize they aren't doing these things and they should!
I'm a huge fan of personal finance books and I would highly recommend this fast but motivating book. Fans of Jean Chatzky or Gaby Dunn would love this book. Honestly, immediately after reading the galley, I pre-ordered the book and signed up for follow-up materials on Bach's website. I also checked out two of his previous books, "The Automatic Millionaire" and "Smart Couples Finish Rich", from the library to read next. No more lattes for me! ;)
This is the first personal finance book I've read in this particular format. David Bach tells a parable of 27-year old Zoey who feels lost and seeks guidance for her future. Zoey travels from Brooklyn to the Freedom Tower in Manhattan everyday for work. Her job demands around 50 hours a week but it doesn't ever seem to pay enough to keep up her lifestyle. She doesn't live extravagantly; she has a roommate, she doesn't have a car, she doesn't travel, etc. However, she still has a mountain of debt in credit cards and student loans. Whenever she finds something she'd love to do like traveling or purchasing a beautiful piece of art, she spits out the common refrain, "I can't afford it". She ends up meeting a man of seemingly humble means who teaches her the three simple lessons to financial freedom.
I believe I had first heard about David Bach on one of my favorite podcasts, "HerMoney" with Jean Chatzky on Episode 63 about his 18-month sabbatical. I didn't quite relate to that story of his, but this parable of Zoey did speak to me. While I am not 27, I am close to that age and she has many of the same spending habits that catch me up when trying to save. Bach lays out three very simple keys to success. They seem commonsense but many many people don't realize they aren't doing these things and they should!
I'm a huge fan of personal finance books and I would highly recommend this fast but motivating book. Fans of Jean Chatzky or Gaby Dunn would love this book. Honestly, immediately after reading the galley, I pre-ordered the book and signed up for follow-up materials on Bach's website. I also checked out two of his previous books, "The Automatic Millionaire" and "Smart Couples Finish Rich", from the library to read next. No more lattes for me! ;)
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Great for if you have absolutely no clue what to do, and I wish I would have read this book in my late teens. By now, I've figured all of this stuff out but it would've been nice to get started earlier.
The writing is a little clonky but accessible for a wide range of reading levels. Some numbers in the book are a bit overestimated (who gets 10% interest???), but the underlying ideas are valid. Don't be like Zoey!
The writing is a little clonky but accessible for a wide range of reading levels. Some numbers in the book are a bit overestimated (who gets 10% interest???), but the underlying ideas are valid. Don't be like Zoey!
Good primer for money management. I want my high school senior to read it!
I read this as a 27yo female, and at the time it was refreshing reading a story about another 27yo female trying to figure out her finances and life’s goals. Not really *new* ideas for me, but all good reminders. The story itself was a nice way to tie the ideas together, although not completely captivating or as believable as real life scenarios.
I’ve loved the other financial books I’ve read by David Bach, but those are written as a self-help guide. This was written as a novel, and I didn’t like the writing style; I ended up putting it down after two chapters.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Solid basics, but there were a few takes that I didn’t understand. First of all, the author says that it’s better to let your money grow pre-tax and pay taxes later. This is actually not true as a blanket statement, especially when you’re you and most likely at a lower tax bracket. Second, the author says budgets don’t work. I understand the sentiment behind this - he urges the reader to make things automatic instead. However, you need to have a plan of what you spend in order to know how to automate. Third, as a female-focused book, I didn’t like the aspect of the wizardly old man guiding the naive young girl about personal finance…it kind of gave be the ick. I did appreciate the narrative fiction-like approach and thought that was innovative.
Financial book in a fiction format.
I loved this quick read. This book is for people who need a starting place with their finances.
I loved this quick read. This book is for people who need a starting place with their finances.
blerrrrgh. ok, while conceptually, i truly appreciate the approach to PF education through a story instead of dry chapters of bullet points and commands, the writing is cringe-worthy throughout and i really resented the representation of a semi-clueless 20-something woman needing to have PF basics mansplained to her by this semi-mythical old dude, resulting in her reactions of "wow!" a few too many times.
do better.
do better.