The Instant Millionaire

Do the very wealthy think differently than the rest of us?

The Instant Millionaire by Mark Fisher is a fable which has been re-released in this new second edition by the New World Library.  The book describes an amateur / mentor confrontation over a few days and conveys the lessons that the mentor teaches in an interesting way.  The old wise millionaire mentor attempts to teach the young ambitious, yet naive amateur how to get into the mindset of a millionaire in training. 

If you are looking for strategy on getting rich including specifics on wealth building, this book is not for you.  This is one of those books that you will be tempted to read multiple times and I must admit that I plan to read it again.  It is an easy read at about 120 pages, however the book will leave you thinking for days after you turn the last page.  Several of the principles, habits and, life approaches that the mentor describes are thought provoking and had me wondering how I could adapt them in whole or in part in my own life.  The book is nothing if not inspiring but yet it remains so abstract that it will leave most readers wanting more like a good movie with a short ending.

Overall I recommend this fable and it makes me want to read others like it including The Richest Man in Babylon and Think And Grow Rich.

The Instant Millionaire by Mark Fisher

..and the book winner is...

The winner of the book A Million Dollars By 30, drawn at random, is......cash instinct

Your instincts were correct cash. Please email me at themoneygardener(at)gmail(dot)com to obtain the book.

I'm giving away a million bucks!...by 30

I'm Giving Away A Million Bucks By 30!

If you are interested in obtaining a free copy of A Million Bucks By 30, by Alan Corey (reviewed and pictured in the post below this one)....please leave a comment on this post. I will draw a winner this week and you'll be sent a copy right away.

a million bucks by 30

"How to overcome a crap job, stingy parents, and a useless degree to become a millionaire before (or after) turning thirty."

A Million Bucks By 30 is a unique personal finance book by self proclaimed 'fame whore' and cheapskate, New York City-based entrepreneur, and author Alan Corey. By his own account Corey has no particular skills, and is not really good at anything, but yet he was able to reach a net worth of a million dollars before he turned 30. The basis for the 'fame whore' title are his many television appearances including Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Restaurant, and The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. The basis for the cheapskate moniker is due to the fact that, among several other examples, Corey maintained a food budget of $2 per day during his journey to a million.



My Thoughts on A Million Bucks By 30

What I really liked about this book was the simplicity of the writing, the story, and of the author himself. Not that Alan Corey is a 'simple' man by any terms, but it is refreshing to read a personal finance book that comes from a really down to earth, easy, and straightforward place. The book is an easy read, it's funny, it's inspirational, and it begins every chapter with guy in his twenties talking to himself.

Without giving the book away Corey proves that living an extremely frugal lifestyle, being innovative, creative, and a little bit lucky is the formula for financial success. The book is stuffed with loads of smart personal finance tidbits as well as several 'cheapskate strategies' (some that would even make Canada's Mr.Cheap blush). Some of these strategies are at the root of living below your means, while some are downright uncalled for. The book also delves into the world of real estate investing in a big way.

Overall I really enjoyed the book mainly due to it's humour, simplicity, and motivational qualities. It really makes you want to find a way to save an extra $100 this week. Corey does a great job of portraying himself as someone with no special money making advantage over any one else. I would argue that the man possesses an outgoing entrepreneurial spirit, great discipline, and an amazing will to win. Admittedly Corey got lucky due to a very hot real estate market, however his outgoing and courageous personality and dedication to his goals would have likely allowed him to succeed no matter what the market held. In summary the overriding theme of this book in my eyes is; sacrifice now for your future goals. Alan Corey took sacrifice to a new level as he focused on squeezing every dollar he could out of his every day twenty-something life. Absolutely worth the read and a great read for someone just out of university.

the moneygardener was not compensated for this book review

and the winner is....

The winner of the moneygardener book giveaway is...

TKO from Ontario!

TKO, email me and let me know where I can send the book.

Thanks to everyone for entering and for the nice comments.
____________________________________________

Check out these interesting posts from some of the blogs that I frequent:

Dividend Money explains why you need to start buying dividend stocks now!

Mr.Cheap is looking for a good sugar momma over at Quest For Four Pillars

The Globe & Mail's Market Blog suggests taking advantage of the recent weakness in shares of telecom players Rogers (RCI.B) and Telus (T.A).

the moneygardener book giveaway!

As a token of my appreciation for all those that follow the moneygardener, as well a gesture in the spirit of knowledge and information sharing here; I'd like to give away a quality investing book to a lucky moneygardener reader...

The Single Best Investment, by Lowell Miller is not just any investing book. This book's core message is probably the most in line with my long term dividend growth strategy as any other investing book that I have read. Miller eloquently describes what it takes to be a successful dividend growth investor, while maintaining a simple and down to earth style that is easy to understand. This book is a quality read for any novice to advanced do- it- yourself investor. The book reinforced many of the ideas and principles I hold about dividend growth investing. Thanks again to The Dividend Guy for providing me with this great book.

How do you win the book? Well it's simple, leave a comment on this post to enter your name in the draw. I will then post the name of the winner after the draw is held. Then all you have to do is email me your mailing address and I will send the book to you.

Good luck to all who enter the moneygardener book giveaway...and thanks for visiting!

the single best investment

I recently participated in the '4 Weeks on Dividend Winners' over at http://www.thedividendguyblog.com/, which is a great blog, that I happen to have listed on the right panel as a blog that you might like. I was very pleased to be the lucky winner of the book, 'The Single Best Investment: Creating Wealth with Dividend Growth' by author Lowell Miller. I have actually heard a lot of buzz about this book in the online personal finance world, and I was planning on purchasing it anyway.

Many Thanks to The Dividend Guy!

I will write a review on the book after and maybe during the read.