Love Your Life, Not Theirs

By: Rachel Cruze

Narrated by: Rachel Cruze

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rachel Cruze shines a spotlight on the most damaging money habit we have: comparing ourselves to others. Then she unpacks seven essential money habits for living the life we really want - a life in line with our values, where we can afford the things we want to buy without being buried under debt, stress, and worry. The Joneses are broke. Life looks good, but hidden beneath that glossy exterior are credit card bills, student loans, car payments, and an out-of-control mortgage. Their money situation is a mess, and they're trying to live a life they simply can't afford. So why exactly do we try so hard to keep up with the Joneses? Are we really living the lives we want, or are we chasing someone else's dream, just trying to keep up appearances on social media, at church, and in our community? Why are we letting other people set the pace for our own family's finances?

In Love Your Life, Not Theirs, Rachel shows you how to buy and do the things that are important to you - the right way. That starts by choosing to quit the comparisons, reframing the way you think about money, and developing new habits like avoiding debt, living on a plan, watching your spending, saving for the future, having healthy conversations about money, and giving. These habits work, and Rachel is living proof. Now, she wants to empower you to live the life you've always dreamed of without creating the debt, stress, and worry that are all too often part of the deal. Social media isn't real life, and trying to keep up with the Joneses will never get you anywhere. It's time to live - and love - your life, not theirs.

©2016 Ramsey Press (P)2016 Ramsey Press

Somewhat disappointed

Much of the book was a regurgitation of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. Some of the content is really good but seems directed to a young person or couple. It's a good book if you haven't heard this stuff before but not a lot new. I liked Smart Kids, Smart Money and Total Money Makeover more.

24 of 25 people found this review helpful

Copy cat book read in a patronizing tone

I was really excited to get this book, but about halfway through I got really annoyed with it. It is pretty much a carbon copy of Rachel's dad's book, Total Money Makeover. I guess if you haven't read Dave Ramsey's works, it has good information. However, I could not stand the way this book was read. It felt like I was being patronized and she makes a huge emphasis on every other word. Very annoying. If you're going to buy this book, buy it in print. I don't think I can finish listening to it.

33 of 37 people found this review helpful

I'm a Dave follower so I already knew this stuff!

Wish I would've read the reviews before getting this book. I was looking for some character building but what I got was Rachel going through the baby steps. I'm a Dave follower and I'm very familiar with The Total Moneymaker. This book just reiterates the baby steps. A bit disappointing. Quit listening half-way through.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Similar content to other Dave Ramsey content

The book is good. However if you're very familiar with Dave Ramsey the content can be redundant as the steps and principles that she goes through are very similar to the Dave Ramsey baby steps.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

The Spark I Needed to Renew of Debt Free Journey

What made the experience of listening to Love Your Life, Not Theirs the most enjoyable?

Rachel narrates this book so it adds that extra personal touch.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Being a newly Ramsey "follower" and also a spender I thought I couldn't learn anything new from this book because "I have already heard it all". I was pleased that most of the book was actually fresh information and give me that little kick i needed to get back on the debt free wagon and take control of my future.

Any additional comments?

While this book doesn't force you to save save save. It does make you reflect on your life and it give you the power to decide for yourself what you really want to get out of this book.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Money management home run!

I really like listening to Rachel's money advice and a perspective from someone my age. She is very in tune with the modern challenges we face as young adults and gives excellent comparisons and connects her life in her sophomore book. I highly recommend this to anyone on or looking for a financial road map.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Wendi Wilson , Groesbeck, Texas

I love this book! It's empowering! I love her blogs and just listening to her. She's educational, but very entertaining! Thank you, Rachel.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Very inspiring

Loved it! Completed in 2 days flat. I've had the paperback for over a year and just haven't taken or had the time to read.

Total money make over junior.

This easy listen, although Rachel's voice is not always soothing. It is just an extension of the Ramsey way. Good refresher, but that's all.

Dave Ramsey Jr.

This book is pretty basic. It's just Dave Ramsey repackaged to talk to a demographic he is not likely to reach - 20 and 30 year olds, who are dealing with young families, low paying jobs, and social media. The section on debt is even more hypocritical since Cruze has never had any herself. She also advises other people not to help their kids with college loans, though she hasn't been confronted with this as a parent yet and doesn't allude to having to pay any college loans of her own. And she encourages people to use debit cards in lieu of credit cards, especially when they travel. I argue that by travel she means in the 48 contiguous states of the USA and for vacation. That's a limited perspective that might work for us, but doesn't for a great deal of Americans. Many of us regularly travel for business (reimbursable) and internationally. She flippantly dismisses credit card users for just arguing the benefit of rewards. Having an emergency fund that could cover emergency evacuation or unexpected bookings is important. Similarly, insurance for purchases and options for merchant dispute resolution are benefits that you do not receive with a credit card. It sounds like she's grown up with a lifestyle and has continued to perpetuate a lifestyle, where her rules make sense. For those of us who are bit more mobile and have expenses that are bigger than our own, this book's advice has little tactical benefit. For my part, I totally didn't need to buy this book... honestly... Suze Orman has free books/tv shows and there are numerous free podcasts ("Afford Anything" by Paula Pant comes to mind) that offer the same info from more believable authors. If you've never read anything about Financial Independence or debt free lifestyles, this can be helpful. If you've ever read anything else before, ever, this is a bit redundant and basic.

Great book

Really enjoyed listening to this book. Interesting, useful and inspiring. I definitely recommend this book!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

It's good, but nothing new.

This was a great book, but nothing new. I've ready her other books and Dave Ramsey's book and this was just the same content, but a different cover. :) still a great read!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful