Money Can Buy Happiness: How to Spend to Get the Life You Want

by M.P. Dunleavey

Through easy-to-follow financial advice and engaging anecdotes from her career as a personal finance columnist, Dunleavey reveals that, when used wisely and well, money can become the root of ongoing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767922786
• ISBN13: 9780767922784
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Harmony
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Worth Reading

I've read MP's MSN columns for years but never understood how someone who is in debt can write about getting out of it. But she is an interesting writer so that's why I bought the book. It's not full of earth shattering information, but it's kind of nice, sweet good-to-know stuff. Won't change your life, well maybe a little, but it will make you think and perhaps point you in the right direction.

Are you wasting money on things that don't make you happy?

The author MP Dunleavy has learned her valuable lesson plan through personal experience. The book is an easy and enjoyable read full of good common sense strategies to analyze your current situation and discover ways to structure your budget goals to enjoy life the way you find most enjoyable and important. I would highly recommend this book even if you aren't in a financial crisis but just want to take a fresh look at your own habits and goals.

Book is not just about money

When I ordered this book, I was half expecting instructions on how to hire a personal concierge. But I've read the author on MSN.com and knew she writes more on dealing with debt than servants. This is really the next step after all the recent books on research regarding happiness (such as The Science of Happiness) - applied happiness. Dunleavey uses an investment motif which helps get across the point that it is important to get parts of all happiness areas (like diversifying your portfolio) and also it makes seem less selfish. This book is not just about spending money. Some things don't always cost money, such as building good friendships and family relationships though when it does (such as traveling to see family) it is money well spent. And the book makes clear that saving money so that you don't lose sleep at night worrying about debt or retirement is very important. Much of the same ground is covered in Get a Life: You Don't Need a Million to Retire Well from the happiness in retirement angle. And the book recommends Your Money or Your Life for the savings angle. If you have not already read all these books, then get this one. It is an easy read with lots of real-life examples. It'll help re-orient your spending of both money and time to that which will maximize your enjoyment of life.

Sensible, fun book

This author really puts the "personal" in personal finance. Dunleavey helps readers figure out what's most important to them and then helps them figure where they can cut back so they can spend more money doing what they love.This is an uplifting book that tells readers how to have a nice life on a tight budget. Yes, money can buy happiness!