Not Buying It

A journalist traces a year during which she and her partner struggled to stop consumer spending practices in spite of their American conditioning, an effort that had an impact on their careers, family relationships, and personal identities.

Parents will do just about anything to give their kids happy lives and successful futures. Unfortunately, the drive to give kids the best of everything leads to a financial strategy based in fear and competition, and results in millions of dollars worth of unnecessary purchases. Enough is enough. In Not Buying It, Brett Graff, the “Home Economist,” separates the truth about what parents need for their kids to succeed from the fiction perpetuated by ads, peer pressure, and internal fear. Graff shows how parents can save up to a million dollars by investing the money they would otherwise spend on overpriced and unnecessary purchases for their kids. Graff exposes the many ways that overspending can actually harm kids by encouraging narcissism and unhealthy habits. Her tips range from the everyday (understand when supposedly "organic" products aren't worth the extra dollars) to the long-term (consider investing in a smaller home for your family, which encourages intimacy and connection), making this a valuable manual for all stages of a parent’s life. An essential book for new parents as well as parenting veterans, Not Buying It is the definitive guide for families who want to separate the truth about raising kids from the hype.

We are living in the ‘post-truth’ era – a time of alternative facts, fake news, social media echo chambers, dodgy statistics and outright lies. Caught in the middle of a tsunami of information, we are arguably more politically engaged than ever; but when politicians and the media tell us the truth, we’re just not buying it. How did it come to this? And what responsibility do citizens have to check sources, to educate ourselves, and to pay for news? How do we stay reliably informed in a world where truth is supposedly a thing of the past? In Not Buying It, Charlotte Henry looks at the facts behind fake news, talking to some of the major players and key thinkers in politics and media to provide context, explanation, and, crucially, solutions. It’s time to take the truth back.

A humorously self-deprecating memoir; This book is a rollercoaster through the ADHD mind of a father trying to time-capsule his brain before a drunk t-bones him off the Hoan Bridge.

A brief meditation on the role of technology in his own life and how it has changed the landscape of the United States from "America's greatest philosopher on sustainable life and living" (Chicago Tribune). "A number of people, by now, have told me that I could greatly improve things by buying a computer. My answer is that I am not going to do it. I have several reasons, and they are good ones." Wendell Berry first challenged the idea that our advanced technological age is a good thing when he penned "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer" in the late 1980s for Harper's Magazine, galvanizing a critical reaction eclipsing any the magazine had seen before. He followed by responding with "Feminism, the Body, and the Machine." Both essays are collected in one short volume for the first time.

Personal finance journalist, Michelle McGagh, takes on a challenge to not spend money for a whole year in an engaging narrative that combines personal experience with accessible advice on money so you can learn to spend less and live more. Michelle McGagh has been writing about money for over a decade but she was spending with abandon and ignoring bank statements. Just because she wasn't in serious debt, apart from her massive London mortgage, she thought she was in control. She wasn't. Michelle's took a radical approach and set herself a challenge to not spend anything for an entire year. She paid her bills and she has a minimal budget for her weekly groceries but otherwise Michelle spent no money at all. She found creative ways to live have a social life and to travel for free. She has saved money but more importantly she is happier. Her relationship with money, with things, with time, with others has changed for the better. The No Spend Year is Michelle's honestly written and personal account of her challenge. But it is more than that, it is also a tool for life. There are top tips for your own finances including easy to understand advice on interest, mortgages, savings , pensions and spending less to help you live a more financially secure life.

Simple but effective techniques and strategies for the millions of Americans who suffer from a shopping addiction—from a leading psychologist in the field Are you a shopaholic? • Do you use shopping as a quick fix for the blues? • Do you often buy things that you don’t need or can’t afford? • Do your buying binges leave you feeling anxious or guilty? • Is your shopping behavior hurting your relationships? • Have you tried to stop but been unable to? If so, you are not alone. Nearly 18 million Americans are problem shoppers, unable to break the buying habits that lead them into debt, damaged relationships, and depression. If this describes you, or someone you care about, the help you need is here. Drawing on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, recent research, and decades of working with overshoppers, Dr. April Benson brings together key insights with practical strategies in a powerful program to help you stop overshopping. As you progress through this book, you’ll take back control of your shopping and spending and create a richer, more meaningful and satisfying life.

SPEND YOUR WAY TO FREEDOM LIKE A TRUE FINANCIAL SAMURAI Sam Dogen, creator of the Financial Samurai blog, knows that you need to spend money to make money. He’s taught over 90 million readers how to invest wisely in all facets of life, from education to parenting to relationships to side hustles, even choosing where to work and play. Now, in his Wall Street Journal bestseller, Buy This, Not That, the Financial Samurai takes the guesswork out of financial planning and shows you exactly what to buy, how much to spend, and how to optimize every dollar you earn so you can maximize wealth building and live life on your terms. The good news? You don’t need to be a millionaire or a genius to achieve financial freedom. It’s about making the most of your money, now and forever—and it’s never too late to get started. You’ll learn: — The Financial Samurai’s 70/30 framework for optimal financial decision-making — What is “good debt” and “bad debt,” and the right way to pay down debt or invest — Strategies and tips for building passive income streams that work for your goals and risk tolerance — How to invest in real estate, even if you can't afford to buy property — Rules for spending—from coffee and cars to mortgages and marriage — And so much more!