Getting a Life: Real Lives Transformed by Your Money or Your Life

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Summary: Some good info, but annoying
Review: After I read this, I was left with a pretty sour taste. A lot of the book is taken up with "See how rich and extravagant we were, and now we're on the YMML program and see how wonderful we are", definitely not the kind of story I want to read if I'm stuck in debt trying to get out.

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Summary: Profound and practical!
Review: After reading "Your Money or Your Life," I was primed for delving into this book. It has changed my life! While I loved YMOYL, this book revealled practical means of achieving simplicity and happiness. The honesty of the authors was amazing in today's world of plastic-like people trying to "get ahead." Plus, the change is truly my thinking, so everyday changes will manifest as a result. In fact, I made two changes today (thanks to the book) in an effort to slow down life to make it more meaningful. However, I now need advice on how to get a "financially proficient" husband to understand simplicity when he doesn't have time to read! (He's caught in the catch-22 of the American Dream). Basically, this book makes sense and made a lasting impact on me. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Profound and practical!
Review: After reading "Your Money or Your Life," I was primed for delving into this book. It has changed my life! While I loved YMOYL, this book revealled practical means of achieving simplicity and happiness. The honesty of the authors was amazing in today's world of plastic-like people trying to "get ahead." Plus, the change is truly my thinking, so everyday changes will manifest as a result. In fact, I made two changes today (thanks to the book) in an effort to slow down life to make it more meaningful. However, I now need advice on how to get a "financially proficient" husband to understand simplicity when he doesn't have time to read! (He's caught in the catch-22 of the American Dream). Basically, this book makes sense and made a lasting impact on me. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: Finally! A book that answers the tough questions!
Review: I am so glad this book is available! For those of us who have read _Your_Money_or_Your_Life_ but have had nagging doubts/questions, this book goes a long way toward making it clear that, yes, even _I_ can follow the 9-step program and make it work! Blix and Heitmiller do not give us any new theory in this book, and for those looking for such, they will no doubt be disappointed. But what _are_ abundant in the book are examples, examples, and more examples of how different folks have approached the 9-steps and made (often dramatic) changes in their lives. This book dares to ask the really glaring questions left over after reading YMOYL; questions like: "What do I do about health insurance?" "Can I _really_ follow the steps if I have kids?" "Is it better to follow the program in a city, or in the country?" "How much do _real_ people find they need to live fulfilled lives? I _can't_ live on $550/month...can I?" "Do real people following the program _really_ just invest in Treasury Bonds, or do some folks go a different route?" All these questions and more are answered in Getting_A_Life_, if not by the immediate stories of Jacque and Dave, then by the stories of some of the thousands of other folks that have followed the program. Several of those in our Voluntary Simplicity Study Circle have said they wish they had read this book _before_ YMOYL, so that they could really see how dramatically people's lives were changed by the program. A good, _practical_ follow-on.

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Summary: good book but too yuppy for a poor artist like me
Review: I loved YMOYL and hoped this book would be as good. While I did learn a few things, I wished they had spent more time talking about others and less time talking about themselves. They were typical rich yuppie types with more money and stuff than they knew what to do with. The poor things have $9,000 a year in IRA interest alone besides the number of other investments they had. Not to knock having money, but I'm a starving artist type that had never bought into the yuppie dream. I would have liked to maybe hear about someone like me or more about people with lots of debts that need ways to get out from under them. (thankfully, I have no debts). :) It just seemed like they needed two books, one for the yuppies with lots of money, who suddenly become socially aware and want to divest themselves of their things, and one book for people who are naturally frugal, or poor, or in debt. If you're in the last category, this book won't appeal to you as much.

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Summary: excellent book, shows that you still can have a decent life
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It deals with two middle class people who lived a typical american lifestyle. they had high paying high stress jobs, a beautiful home and lots of toys. They decided to trade in the overconsumption lifestyle for a more fullfilling and more simple life without a paycheck and stress from employment. If you are looking for how to get by on $600 a month, this book will disappoint you (see other reviews below). The authors live on $3000/month which may seem outrageous if your current standard of living is half of that. Their lifestyle includes more than the basic necessities such as food and shelter to stay alive. They go on vacations and trips, have hobbies, own an economy car, go out for dinner occasionally, live in a normal house in a decent neighborhood, read the newspaper etc.. Their life is simplified but still includes most comforts and some luxeries of today's society. Living more simply does not mean deprivation to them, but removing clutter (especially "stuff") from their lives and focus on what they enjoy in life and have TIME. The book goes into detail on what kind of life they lead, standard of living etc. and detailed financial balance of their $3000/month budget. I would only not recommend reading this book if you plan to lead a complete bare bone life or if you are in a very low income segment. The only criticism I have is that they do not think inflation is an issue. Although that may be the case for some basic food items and electronics, I think the ever increasing healthcare premiums will skyrocket as you get older.

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Summary: A must for breaking away from consumer culture
Review: If you are interested in simple living, this book is a must (together with its companion volume, "Your Money Or Your Life"). It gives the personal and human side of the process of breaking away from the high-paced consumer culture. Interviews with others going through the process show how many different paths people are taking. At first I thought a quick skim through this book would be enough, but I've found myself coming back to it again and again in the last two years. The few negative reviews below don't seem to have much to do with the book, which is pleasant and unpretentious.

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Summary: If you liked Money or your Life you will love this book!
Review: The authors expand more deeply on the material that is available in money or life. It is packed with many real life examples with some gut wrenching situations which can only question what a person has learned during lifes learning process. The book is dedicated to Joe Dominguez who died recently - I only found out in this book - I am sure he would have loved this book it is genuine! The authors write in a sincere helpful manner which makes it an easy read. I like the depth and ideas which the book gives. It is well researched which must have taken a long time to produce. The audio version of this book which I have listened to on a number of occasions is well worth the investment. It is well produced and extremely professional in its presentation. I was concerned that it would be to similiar to Money or Your Life however the material is different with deeper examples on how the principles have been applied. I recommend this book highly the authors are sincere, genuine and truly "Walk the Talk"

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Summary: excellent book, shows that you still can have a decent life
Review: This book is a far way from helpful. The authors have done an O.K. job in transformming their lives. But they seemed to have trouble giving the reader some ideas on how to achive it. They gave about a dozen examples of how people achive "F.I.", but no new ideas. (we've read this before when it was titled "Your Money or Your Life) Anyone who has read "YM or Y L" should consider themselves done with the subject. Blix and Heitmiller give off some sort of cockyness about the lives they lead. Maybe someday we will all get there. Thanks for listening.

Rating:
Summary: Get your life elsewhere !!!
Review: This book is a far way from helpful. The authors have done an O.K. job in transformming their lives. But they seemed to have trouble giving the reader some ideas on how to achive it. They gave about a dozen examples of how people achive "F.I.", but no new ideas.(we've read this before when it was titled "Your Money or Your Life)Anyone who has read "YM or Y L" should consider themselves done with the subject. Blix and Heitmiller give off some sort of cockyness about the lives they lead. Maybe someday we will all get there.Thanks for listening.