Book Review: The Ultimate Cheapskate's Roadmap to True Riches.

This month we look at Jeff Yeager's wonderful book, The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less. Yeager discusses his philosophy for leading a happier life by consuming wisely.

Yeager points out research that shows that money only improves person's level of happiness if that person is living below the poverty line. In that case, more money truly does improve one's quality of life by offering adequate food, shelter, medical care, etc. But for folks who aren't living in poverty, more money (and this may at first seem counterintuitive for some) does not mean more happiness.

Yeager says that we can lead happier lives and improve the health of our planet through becoming wiser consumers. You can do this by learning how much is really enough for you and not always wanting more and more. Yeager calls this constant desire for more the "Money Step," a vicious circle of needing to make more money to buy more stuff. By breaking this cycle you can more fully enjoy life instead of worrying about money (and debt) and always working harder at a job you may not like.

This book isn't filled with practical tips, like how to recycle old household items or coupon-clipping, etc. It offers a philosophy of how to live and convinces the reader to examine his or her life and priorities. Yeager presents his philosophy in a humorous (sometimes sophomorically humorous) and easily accessible way.