• Home
  • Welcome!
  • Mission Statement
  • The Compass Girls
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Champagne Living

Live the Good Life!

  • The Buzz
    • Men’s Corner
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Home
    • Snowbirds
  • Travel
    • Cruise
    • USA
      • Florida
      • Las Vegas
      • New York
    • Mexico
    • Europe
    • LGBTQ Travel
  • Food & Drink
    • Drink
    • Dine In
    • Dine Out
    • South Florida
  • Weddings
  • Cars & RVs
  • Gift Guides
You are here: Home / Buzz / Have you ever figured The Real Cost of Living?

Buzz Mogul

Have you ever figured The Real Cost of Living?

What do you think you’d find if you sat down and figured out the REAL cost of your choices would be? Would you be OVERPAYING for college? Is it REALLY cheaper to own than to rent? I can’t even FATHOM how much it cost me to have kids (sorry Ben, but you’re an expensive proposition). Not that you should make ALL of your choices based on money, but think about it.

In The Real Cost of Living: Making the Best Choices for You, Your Life, and Your Money by Carmen Wong Ulrich, she tackles how to make better decisions (both large as well as small) that involve $$$. Not only that, but she weights the real cost of money vs. the real PERSONAL cost of making certain decisions (unusual for a personal finance book).

Included in her “real costs” are:

  • Home
  • Marriage and Divorce
  • Family
  • College
  • Bad Habits
  • Being Your Own Boss
  • Credit Cards
  • Saving 
  • Investing

The only problem that I have is that when it comes to saving and investing, things (and figures) change constantly… so, take her advice, and do a little research to make sure that the numbers add up.


On a personal level, I found the chapter on college to be fascinating (considering “B” is a recent graduate). The cost of an education is extremely high these days, and when weighed against the declining job market, it’s a pretty interesting equation. For example what is the value of $40,000 in college debt when the pay for college grads has DECREASED by 10% yet tuition has risen 20%? She doesn’t suggest that you don’t go to school, but rather to look at the options to lower your costs (both during and after the college years).

Overall, The Real Cost of Living is a good guidebook to keep your finances in check. It’s uncomplicated methods and straight talk is refreshing.


The Real Cost of Living: Making the Best Choices for You, Your Life, and Your Money is available at bookstores everywhere.


We received a copy of this title for our book review. All opinions are strictly our own.


1 Comment

About Zipporah Sandler

Zipporah Sandler AKA Zippy is a lifestyle and travel specialist who after living everywhere from Providence to Paris found herself suddenly residing in South Florida (something she swore she’d never do).

Whether it be San Pellegrino water or Louis Roderer Cristal, Zippy suggests that you keep your life sparkling and your glass full.

« My postcard to Briggs & Riley
Travel Auction for Charity »

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    February 16, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Thanks for this review. There are so many financial "gurus" that its sometimes difficult to know whose word to trust.

    Some of it really is trial and error (ie investing).

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Eat what I eat!

Black Friday 2020 Deal

The Compass Girls – Feb/March issue

Giveaways

  • Portable Massage Gun
Shopbop.com

Fast Free Shipping Worldwide

  • JUST ARRIVED
  • SHOP HOME
  • SHOP ONE PIECE

Fast Free Shipping Worldwide

JUST ARRIVED

  • RE/DONE

    90s Oversized Cardigan

  • RtA

    Buy Lynette Top from RtA

  • Aliette

    Shop Aliette Aliette Logo Crew Neck Tee

< >

SHOP HOME

  • Taschen

    The New York Times Explorer: Cities & Towns s...

  • Taschen

    Buy 100 Contemporary Houses from Taschen

  • East Dane Gifts

    heart East Dane Gifts Tetris Retro Arcade Gam...

< >

SHOP ONE PIECE

  • We Are Handsome

    We Are Handsome on Sale

  • We Are Handsome

    Scoop One Piece Swimsuit by We Are Handsome

  • Zinke

    Buy Now at Shopbop

< >

Shop White Blouses And Tops, Black Graphic Tees, Tan Pumps, Designer Gowns and more. Get this widget.

Cars Bars & Pars – a men’s lifestyle blog

Dealspotr.com

Copyright © 2021 · Champagne Living Media LLC (2007)

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Flipboard
  • Email