Want to get more out of budgets sexy without the guesswork? Below we walk through the essentials in plain language, with practical steps you can use right away.
Key Takeaways
- Box when I checked it this week. (Shout out to Penguin Random House and the XY Planning Network!
- A column where yours truly was, *ahem*, once featured when he randomly came up with the critically acclaimed (I can say that now!) Lifetime Wealth Ratio™.
- This concept was introduced by the budget blogger J.
- Money on his website, Budgets Are Sexy.
Is Budgets Sexy Worth It?
There’s a new finance book out called “The One-Page Financial Plan” by Carl Richards, and I was pleased to see three copies of it sitting in my P.O. Y’all rock!) If that name Carl Richards sounds familiar, it may be since you’ve read his first book, The Behavior Gap, or you follow his famous “Sketch Guy” column over at the New York Times.
- Worth noting: here’s what my new favorite journalist said ;) One useful number in figuring out how well we’re saving is something called the Lifetime Wealth Ratio.
- To begin, take your total net worth and divide it by the total amount of income you’ve earned over your entire life.
- More importantly, you can get your total income from your Social Security statement.
Where the Real Savings Hide
By adding up the value of your current assets (including all investments and retirement and other savings plus equity in your home), minus your debt, you’ll have your total net worth… This number represents one of the best methods I’ve seen to close the gap between our past and future selves. If that doesn’t make you like him I don’t know what will!
- Except for his new kick-ass book that just dropped (see what I did there?).
- Remember that as much as I’d love this post to be about me, it’s not… It’s about Carl and how I’m giving two of you a free copy of The One-Page Financial Plan, of which one comes with his autograph! :) (I’m keeping the 3rd book for my own nerdy PF library, naturally).
- And let me tell you this - this ain’t your daddy’s financial book.
A Closer Look at Budgets Sexy
The One-Page Financial Plan: A Straightforward Method to Be Savvy About Your Money The inside flap sums up the book perfectly: The fact is, in a single page you can prioritize what you genuinely wish in life and figure out how to get there. That’s since a excellent financial plan has nothing to do with what the markets are doing, what your real estate agent is pitching, or the hot stock your brother-in-law told you about.
- As a rule, it has everything to do with what’s most key to you.
- I agree 100%, which is why I’m actually going to read it from front to back - making it the first book in years I’ve done so with!
- I’m hoping it’s on par with Ramit’s I Will Teach You To Be Rich, one of my all-time favorites.
What to Know About Budgets Sexy
Since Carl knows we all have A.D.D., and any $$ book must be entertaining and jam packed with informational nuggets for us to care. In short, so not only does he tell you what you require to pay attention to (he’s spent the last 20 years and over 39,500 hours helping people with their money!!), but he also DEMONSTRATES you.
- In the form of 25-50 doodles included within to be sure you’re still paying attention, haha… And my favorite of these doodles look like this: Here is what Seth Godin says about the book: “This isn’t a money book, it’s a life book.
- And you’ll remember reading it for the rest of your life.” Whether you win it or not, you should definitely check it out!
- More about Carl Richards… Carl Richards is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and the director of investor education for the BAM ALLIANCE, a community of over 130 independent wealth management firms throughout the United States.
How Budgets Sexy Really Works
Worth noting: he is the creator of the weekly Sketch Guy column in the New York Times, and is a columnist for Morningstar Advisor. Carl has also become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences and visual learning events near the world. (He’ll be headlining our Financial Blogger Conference this year too - woot!) Through his straightforward sketches, Carl makes complex financial concepts straightforward to understand.
- His sketches also serve as the foundation for his first book, The Behavior Gap: Straightforward Methods to Stop Doing Dumb Aspects with Money (Portfolio/Penguin).
- His commissioned work is on display in businesses and educational institutions throughout the country.
- More importantly, he lives with his family in Park City, Utah.
Getting the Most From Budgets Sexy
Like what you see? Wish a free copy?
- Answer this question below in the comments and I’ll randomly select two of you to win one: Who would you provide this book to, and why? (You can say yourself) I’ll keep this open until Sunday night (Easter, the 5th) @ midnight and then update this post with the two winners.
- Remember that and U.S. only, I’m afraid… Can’t go over my shipping budget now can I? ;) You can learn more about this new book here: The One-Page Financial Plan Or follow Carl on his site here: BehaviorGap.com ***Giveaway now over*** The two lucky winners are… Samantha (commenter #57) and Mary (commenter #162).
- Thanks for participating y’all!
Tips That Make a Difference
Highly recommend you picking this up for a few bucks on Amazon or hitting up your local library! It’s a solid one! :) , - Large thanks again to the XY Planning Network for hooking us up with the autographed copies.
As a rule, if you’re after a (fee-only) financial advisor who is focused on Gen X and Gen Y clients, you’ll wish to check them out. I’ve met plenty of the advisors in this network - they’re awesome. (Visited 40 times, 1 visits right now) Get blog posts automatically emailed to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I save money on budgets sexy?
Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. Y’all rock!) If that name Carl Richards sounds familiar, it may be since you’ve read his first book, The Behavior Gap, or you follow his famous “Sketch Guy” column over at the New York Times.
Is it worth shopping around for budgets sexy?
Usually yes. Worth noting: here’s what my new favorite journalist said ;) One useful number in figuring out how well we’re saving is something called the Lifetime Wealth Ratio.
What should I check before buying?
Read the terms, confirm any code still works, and factor in shipping or returns. To begin, take your total net worth and divide it by the total amount of income you’ve earned over your entire life.
Smart Ways to Save More on Budgets Sexy
- Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
- Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.
- Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.
- Pair cashback with a coupon so you save twice on the same order.
- Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line on budgets sexy: a little research goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is a click away.
Originally published at budgetsaresexy.com.
