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Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom Hardcover – July 19, 2022

by Sam Dogen (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 483 ratings
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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!
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Portfolio
  4. Publication date
    July 19, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    7.62 x 1.12 x 9.46 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0593328779
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0593328774
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Slice through money's mysteries like a true financial samurai. Buy This, Not That. You'll learn.

What is 'good debt' and 'bad debt', and the right way to pay down debt or to invest

Strategies and tips for building passive income streams

Rules for spending — from coffee to cars to mortgages and marriage

Financial Freedom, Sooner Than Later. Buy This, Not That by Sam Dogen

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Financial Samurai and this book have prepared me for life after basketball! A straightforward guide to live a balanced, financially free life.”
—SHAUN LIVINGSTON, three-time NBA champion

“A no-nonsense guide to living your best life now while also ensuring a financially independent future.”
—EMILY CHANG, anchor and executive producer of Bloomberg Technology and bestselling author of Brotopia

“A one-of-a-kind book! Bold advice from someone who’s not just done the math, he’s lived it. A must read!”
—KUMIKO LOVE, founder of The Budget Mom and bestselling author of My Money My Way

“Step-by-step, chapter-by-chapter, Sam shows how to make optimal money choices that focus on wealth building—not just saving for saving’s sake, but for living life on your terms.”
—DAVID MCKNIGHT, bestselling author of The Power of Zero and Tax-Free Income for Life

About the Author

Sam Dogen founded Financial Samurai in 2009. One of the pioneers of the modern-day FIRE movement, he was previously at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, from which he retired at age 34. Dogen is a graduate of The College of William & Mary and received an MBA from University of California Berkeley. His passive investment income exceeds $300,000 annually. Dogen lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children. This is his first book.
 
Learn more about Financial Samurai at www.financialsamurai.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Portfolio (July 19, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593328779
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593328774
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.53 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.62 x 1.12 x 9.46 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 483 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Sam Dogen

Sam Dogen

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Sam Dogen is the mastermind behind FinancialSamurai.com, one of the largest independently-run personal finance sites with roughly one million organic visitors a month. He launched Financial Samurai in 2009 when the world was falling apart and his net worth was taking a beating. His inspiration was to help himself and others make sense of the chaos.

As a finance veteran since 1999, Dogen writes from firsthand experience to provide the most helpful insights possible. He spent 13 years working at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, holds a BA in Economics from The College of William & Mary, and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

In 2012, he left his day job in finance at age 34 to be permanently free and pursue being a writer. He has lived in seven countries and has traveled to over 60 countries so far.

Dogen’s writing delves deeper into investing, real estate, retirement planning, career strategies, and more, so we can all achieve financial independence sooner, rather than later. Financial Samurai is also proud to be one of the pioneers of the modern-day FIRE movement.

Since the financial crisis, more than 80 million visitors have stopped by FinancialSamurai.com to learn, share, and grow. In addition, Dogen’s work has been highlighted in major publications such as CNBC, MarketWatch, Forbes, The Consumerist, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, and many more.

Dogen is also known for The Financial Samurai Podcast and the one-of-a-kind eBook, How To Engineer Your Layoff, which teaches employees how to negotiate a severance package and be free.

When not writing or podcasting, Sam can often be found on the playground taking care of his two young children or on the softball field or tennis court.

To receive Sam's weekly newsletter, please sign up here: https://www.financialsamurai.com/newsletter

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
483 global ratings
This book saved my financial Life
5 Stars
This book saved my financial Life
I've been a part of the FIRE community for years. While it has been a great experience overall, you'll see the same information recycled repeatedly after some time. It's all the same, nothing original, and many so-called gurus have no real financial training. Financial Samurai is an exception and has completely changed the personal finance and financial freedom space. Sam brings originality and 13 years of experience at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse to the table, and it shows. I was over 70,000 USD in debt before I found Financial Samurai. Now I've sliced through the debt with Sam's literary sword, and I'm completely debt free. Sam continually encourages you to save until it hurts, and I'm hurting. Like all things in life, you pay now or pay later. My aggressive savings pain will be relieved when I reach retirement age, and I don't have to burden myself or my country.Sam also gives out great recommendations on personal finance tools and investment platforms. I followed his advice on real estate in the Sun Belt, and I'm up 6.4% this year, though the S&P 500 is down a whopping 18%. I'm not beating inflation, but I'm beating Wall Street, and I'm ok with that. Sam's contributions are the most significant added value financial freedom information you will find on the internet for free (at his blog). Everything in the book is covered in his blog. Though the book is well-organized, you can easily find what you're looking for to achieve financial freedom. I would start with a purchase of his book, then dig through his blog site for some original real gems. I love that Sam is Asian American and shares his unique cultural experience in America with his audience. I've learned so much, and it's a narrative worth reading. I love that Sam is conscientious, and his morals come through in his writings. He often writes about leaving a legacy, his parent's sacrifice, his wife, and his kids. Reading his blog, you'll see he has great morals and values. I'm continually motivated to fight for a better life. I'm continuously inspired to do more extraordinary things. Sam is the virtual mentor you never had in real life. Don't miss this opportunity to improve your life. Never Retreat! Never Surrender!
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Top reviews from the United States

Marnie Weiss
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, excellent financial advice
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very good, PRACTICAL financial advice in lots of different areas - saving, investing, assessing your financial health, etc. Also, you can use the book more like a "workbook" - read the chapters most important to you and then go back for others when you need or are ready for that info. The book is an "excellent investment!"
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Will Heath
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent personal finance book
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
I love Sam's writing style - very straightforward with no fluff. There's tons of useful information here and I frequently consult this book when making important life decisions. If you like the Financial Samurai website then buying this book is an absolute no-brainer. Highly recommended to people of all ages.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I wish I read Buy This, Not That 15 years ago when I was just starting my career and knew nothing about finance, money or investing. I wish I read it 5 years ago when I left my job with a goal of achieving financial independence. I really think this book is a must read for anyone who is looking for a practical and informative guide on how to achieve independence and wealth. Sam lays out actionable items, provides clear real world examples, and he does it all in a way that is easy to understand and follow. For followers of the Financial Samurai blog and newsletter, this book wraps up all the lessons he teaches us each week with a nice little bow. I've already purchased an additional copy for my 16 year old nephew and I plan on buying a few more to hand out to people in my life who I know could benefit. Great book.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Financial Education at Its finest!
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I thought Sam's book was so clear, well written and thorough. Anyone who wants to go on a journey of financial guidance and education should pick up a copy of BTNT asap. So many people I know who are geniuses in their particular areas in life are really bereft at finances... Its incredible....This book will help them immensely....BRAVO! Great job..................Steve
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Jet
4.0 out of 5 stars I like the examples Sam does to further cement the message for readers.
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Overall the book offers solid advise. I will certainly read it a 2 or 3 more times. Really like tge advice around finances pertaining to family.
2 people found this helpful
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Real Estate Arbitrage
5.0 out of 5 stars That creative thinking is what makes eveything work.
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
I have been in investing in Real Estate for 40 years. I started once I knew that inflation was a reality and that investing in what goes up was critical to be able to retire. I started learning this when I was 7 years old, when I needed a penny to buy a 6 oz coke. It was 6cents. The week before it was 5 cents. I suddenly realized that I was helpless to buy something to quench my thirst at the little league game. I did what every little kid would do, I looked in the dirt and found one after 10 minutes. When I was done, I got the 1cent back and laid it in the sand right where I found it. That one lesson was worth 10 PhD's from any college.
From there I watched and learned how prices went up (1960's-1970's). I stated buying real estate, home after home, as a teacher, who made little money. This went on for years. Now I own real estate in Hawaii, California, and Arizona.
The discussions in this book ( I just bought 3 of them), are important to your thinking process. I own over 2,000 other books on real estate and finance. I never read them I just look at the titles of the chapters and pick out what motivates me from there. That is because many of them are repetitive. This book isn't. It presents thinking that the others don't. We are in trying times. Things will not work as before...just look at inflation and the dollar. Stocks will tank soon, and real estate will be the bedrock to plant your wealth on. If we get through this, you will have something that is real. That is why they call it REAL ESTATE! Read and learn, and at the same time (don't wait - time is critical), get out there and explore real estate in different cities and states. A Great migration is happening out of the coasts and big cities and into less populated areas. Do your own research, and take action at whatever level that you are capable of. Read, learn, and go see it yourself. Trust yourself and prosper!
16 people found this helpful
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Buddhist slacker
5.0 out of 5 stars You'll be glad you bought this
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book was not available at my library, and I didn't want to pay $17. Turns out this was a great investment. I already knew the things about saving money and investing in stocks that was in this book, and I own my condo free and clear. But he does put his own spin on it and has a lot of rules and charts which are nice. Even though I'm going to retire with a pension plus social security in 6 years, I'm still trying to figure out what my next financial move will be. This book had a ton of stuff about real estate investing which I had no idea about. Worth the money just for that, because it was so clearly and accessibly presented. Also, naturally, he has a very inspirational chapter about starting your side hustle. Which was also in itself worth the money. I'm definitely going to be acting on my new knowledge and starting New Life at 60 lol.

Also, I was doubting myself about sticking it out at my job for the pension, but he had a chart for pension valuation and I was happy to see that his calculation was very similar to mine and we came up with about the same number. I really love all the charts and numeric rules of thumb which are fairly unique to Sam's philosophy.

Every single young person just starting out should definitely buy this book. If they follow this book, they'll definitely be able to achieve FIRE no matter what kind of job they have.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Gordon Larose
5.0 out of 5 stars The best "how-to" guide EVER for building personal wealth - BUY IT!
Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
I could call this book "The Wealthy Barber for the 21st century" but that doesn't do it justice. The advice is specific, actionable, customizable, and full of practical how-to-do it formulas & tables based on real-world analysis and experience. Yes, he suggest levels of saving and discipline that most of us would balk at, and the truly poor couldn't possibly do - but let's face it, the truly poor aren't his audience and probably aren't buying this book. If you have a bit of financial wiggle-room and would like to *gradually* and *reliably* become financially independent, this book will get you there!
One person found this helpful
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Alex Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Approach to Finances
Reviewed in Canada on February 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book is a must read for everyone it does not matter your age. Sam is able to provoke thinking in your finances that can have impact for your entire life.
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Wizzo
3.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete Real Estate Advice
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
Whilst Sam's book is good, both the property purchase section (i.e. getting neutral on real estate through buying your own home) and property investment section (i.e. getting long real estate) are completely silent on interest-only mortgages.

The real estate cashflow analyses do not say whether the mortgage financing is repayment or interest only and the reader must assume that all modelling is based on capital repayment mortgages.

The challenge with this oversight, is that (at least in the UK), if you don't have substantial pre-existing wealth, most residential property investment is normally undertaken with an interest only mortgage. A quick search shows that interest-only mortgages do exist in the US but Sam makes no reference to this financing routes and thus his real estate analysis is flawed and incomplete. Sam really needs to examine closely the merits (or otherwise) of interest only financing, particularly for buy-to-let (as its known in the UK), or real estate investment (as it would be known in the US). He then should identify whether its a good route for those with low net worth.

Additionally, Sam's salary and earnings examples show how enormously high US salaries can get (I mean, who in the UK or EU earns £300-£350K family income in the 30s or 40s - even relatively few Russell-group University educated husband and wife professionals in London would earn £150K+pa each). So for EU/UK readers, the US income examples (as well as net worth) for various age groups are wildly unrealistic (and thus somewhat disheartening). I also think the income and expense examples are somewhat unrealistic in that they assume that someone can save large amounts when living in one of the major world cities, e.g. London, for example, which, again, without family help, is extremely hard.

I would still recommend the book, as the author clearly has attempted to provide real insights that the western education system (i.e. EU/UK, and US) completely overlooks.

Overall, 7.5/10, and I look forward to the second (and third editions, which will hopefully address the above points).

By the way, some of the critical comments that I think are actually helpful from the US have had their ‘helpful’ comment boxes turned off by Amazon - why is that?
One person found this helpful
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