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

On the road to $1M rating:

I read this book in just one sitting, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alan Corey tells the story of how he made $1M by age 30 through a combination of lucky real estate deals and a degree of thriftiness that would have made a monk look at him with envy.

The book is not for those looking for an easy-to-replicate strategy to get rich, since Corey makes most of the money refurbishing and flipping real estate in a rising housing market that we are unlikely to see again in the near future.

Moreover, Corey takes the concept of “cheap-is-chic” to a whole new level, giving up nights out, cinema and any other type of treat for several years, living in a room the size of a closet in order to save on rent, and putting up with countless other indignities. I kept wondering, is this the way I would want to live my twenties?

What did I like about the book, then? To begin with, I loved the uplifting message that you can make money -or, for that matter, any other thing you put your mind to- no matter how bleak your financial situation. As somebody who has just started her first job, I appreciated the reassurance that I, too, can make it, even if I do not have the highest wage, the bonuses or the rich parents.

I also appreciated the fact that he was able to do everything on his own. I refuse to believe the books which suggest that in order become rich you need to start with a team of CPA’s, lawyers, and various agents. What kind of person can afford to hire them, apart from somebody that has money to begin with?

So if you are looking for a book that is easy to read and written in a funny, unassuming and inspirational tone, I would recommend you give this one a try.

On the road to $1M