A Million Bucks by 30 How to Overcome

Very helpful and hilarious
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book was very helpful and hilarious. I have already begun to use some of Alan's advice and tricks. I will never buy an umbrella again. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book belongs in your family library
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This book really spoke to me because it provided practical ways to save money, and Alan gives great ideas on how to apply that saved money to different vehichles that grow your wealth. Although I'm not sure if I could follow all of Alan's suggestions (see the raman noodles story), I know I can and should follow most of his ideas. I will pass this book onto my son so that he can follow Mr. Corey's great advice as he grows up - and hopefully my son will be a millionaire before 30 too!

Entertaining & Legit
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was a fantastic book, especially for an easy fifteen bucks... (although it's a bit counter intuitive to be spending money on books rather than sacking it away)

"bigal" has a great way of making his story interesting and funny (quite, actually) and by the end of the book, you really feel like you associate with the author. His story is very inspirational, and ultimately doesn't tell you exactly what you need to do to become wealthy but rather repeats one key point; you must save more than you spend. Alan did get pretty lucky with his financial ventures, but the point the book makes is that he was in a position to get lucky strictly due to his determination and saving... most young people would never have had the chance since their funds would be wrapped up in car payments and plasma tv's instead of investments. He doesn't once encourage blowing all of your money on one investment or trying to daytrade, and actually preaches against it.

If nothing else, this book leaves you thinking that if he can do it, so can you.

LUCK ?
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
It amazes me that people always use the word LUCK when talking about up markets (or use the word luck when talking about almost any form of success). I can write a book on this but I will just say this: I notice that people who really believe in themselves and have extreme desire (steaming from their belief), things just seem to happen to them - they just get "lucky"....

made me think, great use of frugality, creative, awesome book to read
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
awesome book from a cheapskate who became wealthy through frugality, using common sense, and limiting his outflow while investing strategically. I highly recommend this book to anyone having trouble living paycheck to paycheck or for someone who is going into college or for someone who is looking to cut down on expenses, put together a savings plan and work an exact plan to long-term wealth.

Good gift, great book!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this book as a gift, and thought it wasn't for me. But then I just read it and I couldn't put it down and I loved it! It's perfect for anyone of any age wanting to get some motivation in their life, financially-speaking.

It's down to earth, humorous, and easy to read. The author makes investing really easy to understand. It's actually kinda fun, believe it or not. It's definitely worth getting or giving, great book.

One of the Most Inspiring Books I've Read
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
In Alan Corey's book, "A Million Bucks by 30", he recounts with painstaking detail how he, an average Joe from an average Middle-Class American family became a millionaire. He achieved this feat through extraordinary penny-pinching, smart partnerships, sheer determination, and lots of(not-so-so-hard)work. I was in tears by the end of the book because he breaks down his efforts and his networth every step of the way, and you feel his struggle, and you also see his progress. So when, at the end of the book he is triumphant (after many years living as a pauper during his climb to the top and dealing with some who thought he was a super-crazy cheapskate) and he can then enjoy the fruits of his years of struggle, I just wept a bit. It was so inspiring to see that with sheer determination and a never give-up spirit ANYONE can become rich. Especially, when he frequently stated throughout the book that he had no particular talents. What Alan Corey DID have, though, was a vision that he NEVER lost sight of. I LOVED IT!

Jesus H Wheelchair This Is Good!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A Million Bucks By Thirty is ostensibly a self help finance guide but the book could just as easily be stocked in the humor section-I mean this is in a positive way; not like his advice is a big joke...I have adopted many of his tips.

Alan's wry tone and wacky non sequiturs makes it the perfect gift for a cynical recent high school or college grad. What the Punky Brester more could you want?!

Get rich
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
While not everyone will be interested in using all of Alan Corey's techniques to become a millionaire (eating ramen noodles every day for three months, for example), I think most people will benefit to his no-nonsense approach to saving money and building wealth.

His book is full of funny stories (like going with a group of friends on the Jerry Springer show with a made-up story, as a way of getting a free spring vacation) and some extreme cheapskate anecdotes, but mainly this is the story of a guy who set up a very ambitious goal: to become a millionaire by age thirty and, despite having a low salary in the most expensive city in the country, managed to accomplish his goal--ahead of time. As he said, he couldn't control his income but made sure to control his outcome.

No secret treasures, just good motivational reading.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed the book. I went a similar path in the 1990's when I moved to San Francisco after college, landed three job offers on arrival in customer service, took two of them, worked my tail off and bought a condo in the pre-trendy SoMa District at only $130,000. 2 years later, sold my condo in a week's time and profited big from an unforgettable bidding war. Took my profit to buy/flip/sell a home in Oregon, profited there too. Stayed in retail, stayed single, no dating, kept in touch with stockbroker and CPA. I reached over $600,000 net worth by age 30. The key was that I learned San Francisco and Portland, Ore would grow like crazy after religiously reading business news and talking to random people on lunch breaks. I had no girlfriend, no pet, no commitments, no dating. I didn't even want to live in California but opportunities took precedence over my personal desire for some kind of life; I in effect kissed my 20's goodbye when I was 26. It was a very very lonely life. And that is what it takes- get a grip on it and plan your dastardly deeds to improve your money situation. This book will tell you the same kind of stuff. It's not unique, not a case study, just a very inspiring example of what one of many Gen-X/Y cheapskates have already done or tried to do when the economy is roaring like a freight train. This book would have been so much better if it was a collection of success stories from other people because the author is not the only champ out there, and that's what so great about these kinds of books. Don't miss your train this time around when the economy bounces back. You'll be sharing your own success stories.

Attitude counts
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A variant of "Steal this book" for the new millenium. Enthusiastic, humourous, engaging and best of all, financial advice that is "age appropriate". A reality bite for those in their 20's and 30's, who don't want to move back to their parents.

Dicipline, Dicipline, Dicipline
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This book is a great blue print for how to get to one million dollars. It was nice to follow along as the author narrated his journey. Alan was able to get to a million dollars before thirty as he said with out any special skills, high paying job, or real connections. However, there was absolutly nothing in this book that stood out from any other investment book I've ever read. In fact I think that is why this book is so great. The author admits that he is your average Joe and his simple steps can be applied by anyone. The key here is to have the discipline to apply the simple concepts put forward in the book. I will repeat that, there are no secrets here just one man's account of how he was disciplined enough to apply common sense basic wealth building strategies to make it to one million dollars.

The concepts here are simple and you have probably heard them all before. Live below your means. Have a savings account. Once you have savings start to invest. Don't get involved in credit card debt. Buy a house. Buy another house and rent it out. Use the equity from your past investments and compounding interest to buy more investments. Acquire 1 million dollars. Retire.

I was with the author until about $100,000 or so then he started to get lucky. I really do believe investing in real estate is great way to go but the fact his New York property doubled value in two years is not going to happen for everyone. However, if you don't buy any property ever you will never make any profit, so the take away here is to get into the game.

In the end this was a quick read, and a motivator to reinforce concepts learned elsewhere. Hey if Alan can do it, hopefully you and I can too.

Interesting
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I wanted to hate this book because it basically says 'if you are okay with not having a life until you are 30 then you can be a millionnaire'.

But when I started reading it, I kind of got into the whole concept. The author is actually funny (sometimes when he is not even trying to be) and some of his tips are dowright unethical (reuse the same popcorn bag for free refills - time after time after time), but I found his story kind of inspirational.

You can tell that the author firmly stands behind his recommendations and he has the guts to get out there and just do it (although a fair amount of luck was also involved).

I liked the writing (straightfoward and entertaining) and if you are ready to basically stop living for a set number of years, then this is the book for you.

Well written, but without the New York real estate explosion he wouldn't have made it.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
It's written as sort of a tip-guide to making a million. He's cheap and that's great and he has some great methods for unconsciously living below your means. The hidden savings account is a great one. Eating for two dollars a day in NYC is also awesome. The fact is he got into Red Hook and Clinton Hill real estate just as (or before) they completely exploded. So, as long as you can buy a two bedroom in Clinton Hill for $100,000 you should be all set as well. It came across to me as a tale of a real estate flipper which was not what I was looking for.

Also I thought the book ended very abruptly.

Greatest money book that I've read.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A Million Bucks by 30 is one of the best money books that I've read so far. When Alan Corey graduated from college, he set as his goal to be a millionaire by the time he was thirty. The book reads like a novel. What will he do next to reach that goal. He has such great money ideas but best of all, he thinks outside the box. He gets a job in NYC for $40,000 a year. How many people would become millionaires on a salary like that in an expensive city like NY. He does it. The book is a great influence. You can't do it exactly like Alan did it, but you get the idea. On sleepless nights, I read to put myself back to sleep. This isn't the book to do that. It keeps me awake wondering what he will do next.

inspiring read!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I'm not one to read "how-to" books, especially not financial ones, but I found this book to be engaging, inspiring and funny! I enjoyed reading about Alan's journey as well as learning about saving and investing money. His easy-going, conversational writing style made it an easy read.

I have made some financial changes in my life, for the better, after reading this. Even if you're not interested in investing in real estate, there is plenty of advice about having fun while saving your money and how to not spend foolishly. Very practical things you can do to save a little here and there, which adds up..and then what to do with the money you've saved.

I recommend this book to people of all ages but it would make a great high-school or college graduation gift. Thanks, Alan!

Suprisingly entertaining and legit!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was on my way to the bathroom at borders. I needed some reading material, so I saw this thin catchy "get rich quick" book (considering the millionaire next door's avg. millionaire is 56 years old). Figured it would be a P.O.S. book...

I couldn't put this book down read it in a day! Chapters are short, filled with good info, and are funny at times. However, most people will dismiss this book as a sham, or make excuses why it can't be done now, excuses blah blah blah... Realistically, they just can't hack all the sacrifices that it takes to be a millionaire and would rather look like millionaires rather than actually be one, you know, "all hat and no cattle".

This book exposes the eternal formula for wealth! HERE IT IS: Live below your means/increase your means and invest the money in appreciating assets (stocks, real estate, and businesses), not personally working for your money (passive income), because J.O.B. = just over broke. Leverage (other people's time, money, and knowledge) is also needed and he demonstrates the use well, even if it seems risky at some points in the book. It all worked for him, but remember the book wouldn't have existed if it didn't He could have easily been financial road kill if the economic environment turned on him. Yes, getting rich isn't as safe and secure, like a paycheck (at least working-class perceives it that way).

WHY THIS BOOK WILL NOT WORK FOR MOST OF THE POPULATION, THE PAY CHECK TO PAYCHECK MAJORITY...

If your balls deep in life (2 car payments, jumbo mortgage, kids, etc..), this book will seem ridiculous/risky to you, you have bills to pay with no extra money to invest, go back to work and make everyone else rich instead (government with taxes, your boss, and banks with your mortgage, credit cards, and auto loans).

You can't invest (buy appreciating assets - cashflowing property, businesses, or stocks) with thin air! You need to live below your means to get starting capital. If you can't control your spending and save money consistently, then don't bother reading this book, it won't work for you. All of his "luck" is built on this foundation of saving and investing.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. You can call him lucky about real estate booming at the time (he even admits it), but he sacrificed and had the cash when the opportunity arouse. This doesn't have to happen just with real estate, but with any asset class (stocks, businesses, etc..), but most people don't have any extra money saved to take part in that opportunity, they spent it on furniture or a new car.

He stresses the following important topics: There are no "secrets" to getting wealthy just following a basic formula religiously, having written goals with sub-goals, persistence (he sent 700+ resumes to get a job in NYC and he didn't take "no" for an answer), saving/sacrificing by living below his means (even when he was a millionaire), and taking educated risks.

Another thing that I LOVED in this book was how he had a time line with his age and his net worth itemized after each chapter, never seen that before, nice touch.

If you still have an opened mind (and aren't rationalizing your terrible financial position) on wealth and are willing to make the sacrifices, this book is legitimate and I can confirm most of the parts personally. But at times in the book, he hints that you can't just be all about getting rich, you have to live your life at some point. It's all about balance, plus a million bucks is an arbitrary number, what it can DO FOR YOUR LIFE changes daily!

Well written, good tips, but his outcome was still mostly luck
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I thought this book was a good read, but most people are going to miss the point that the author's outcome (ie, having a net worth of $1 million) was mostly due to luck. Just look at his breakdown of what his assets were at the end of the book. His multifamily house essentially doubled in value in the space of a couple of years, and accounted for a large chunk of the $1 mil.

To borrow one of Taleb's (Fooled by Randomness) phrases, you have to look at "alternate histories" here. Not what just happened to occur, but think of what COULD HAVE occured if the author used the exact same techniques, but in different environments that he would have no control over. The author happend to be the right age and live in the perfect time and place to benefit from an unprecendented real estate market. What if he instead was born five years later (or at any other time for that matter) and did the exact same things? If he did the exact same things NOW, he could easily have wound up with negative equity in his property, if he could finance it in the first place. His outcome discussed in this book would probably be in the top 1% of possibilities. He even addresses the fact that he benefitted from luck, but totally undervalues that impact of course.

Don't get me wrong, his money saving techniques are all valid, but that is no where near the reason for his net worth getting to $1 mil that quickly. Eating ramen is more for show, to try and make a statement to your friends. In the end, doing those type of things will certainly help, but it's still a drop in the bucket when compared to luck beyond one's control.

In the book, Corey makes the point that you have to spread out your assets so that you can be in the position to get lucky with one of them. I agree with that completely. But you still have to GET lucky!

While I think most readers could learn something from the author, it would be wildly inaccurate for the author to claim this is an instruction manual on how to get to $1 million. You can't just say "buy real estate in a perfect environment, and it's value will increase by 50% per year." Not to mention the fact that he got his last $100k or so from the advance on this BOOK DEAL! Haha. If the book was titled, "A Sure Fire Way to $100k by 30" that would be much more reasonable and would factor out randomness.

Fun Read and Motivating
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love true stories about the ways that people created their own opportunities for being succesful. The author has a witty and sarcastic writing style that makes you want to cheer for him. Throughout the book you can just tell from his determination that he is going to find a way to make it.

Even though a large part of his success was luck and timing, you have to have the guts to be in the game to make any money. This book is a relief from all of the other fake real estate authors out there that are just trying to motivate you by selling the lifestyle and theory.

Great, informative, entertaining, and well, the author is just swell.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1P5MMBB4FT8A2 Probably my favorite personal finance book I've ever written. Great for all ages (even 30+ like me). It's a funny, fun, and a quick read. You'll come away learning something and will have fun learning it. That was my plan and I think it was executed.

Good Book
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading this book. It is written in a way that makes it fun and funny to read. I think that a lot of people can relate to Alan Corey. Recent college grads not making too much money thinking about what they want to due with their lives. Although it is entitled Million Bucks by 30, I think it would be helpful for all ages. It is rare that an author explains almost step by step how they became millionaires. So it is refreshing to read a book like this.

Very inspiring and sometimes funny book.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This book is a good read.

Inspiring, makes me want to work harder to achieve my own goals.

It CAN be done. This guy proves it.

Not a Hunting Deer Hunting Book, But Still Great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This guy tells a great story about how he managed to gain wealth. There are a lot of finance books out there that one might gain a few nuggets of useful information, but this book has a great overall message...anyone can reach their goals with dedication and a little risk. The humor always helps the financial subject, as well. Great Job, Mr. Corey.

Solid Advice, Tips, and Ideas to Save Money
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you're anything like me you like things to be put into layman's terms and A Million Bucks by 30 does this. The author specifically details how he went from graduating college with 10g's to his name thru all the steps he took to amass one million dollars. He gives great advice and tips along the way and manages to keep the book interesting by keeping the mood light and funny. With a high propensity for risk, a lot of discipline, and a little luck, this book gives you the path to one day become a MILLIONAIRE BABY!!!!

5 stars
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was walking around barnes and noble looking for real estate/investment books when i came across this one. I feel lucky that I ran into this book because it's completley changed how I handle my money. It's simple and to the point. I'm two years out of college. When I graduated I went out and bought flat screen tv's, camera, xbox,ipod and brand new car. I was doing everything wrong. Then I read this book which this kid did the complete opposite. And now I will never go out or buy a new product ever again. Thats a big point I think the Corey is trying to make. Instead of buying toys for himself, he bought real estate and gave himself the opportunity to be lucky. The book was worth the 15 bucks and it only takes a couple days to finish.

Okay, but Flawed
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is a good book, but it's unrealistic. For one, the author starts his life with absolutely no debt after college and has 10,000 in the bank. While this is possible, most people who have just finished college, leave with debt, and barely can scrape a 1000 together. As a new graduate, I've recently been hired in a decent paying job. With the excess of money, I wanted to learn how to make good investments. The author is able to show how living simply can yield a larger savings account. That's not my issue. I know how to save. LOL The funniest thing is that he moves to New York and finds a four-hundred dollar a month apartment in the projects. This is dumb luck. Of course he's saving a lot of money, but it's not realistic. As a NYer, a cheap apartment in the hood is 1050/mo, not four hundred. His experience is not common. So, while he's able to save forty thousand in five years--not that difficult if you consider interest and steady saving, he's able to buy his first apartment for 100K. Not realistic. A nice apartment in the city (any borough) is about 300K. Dumb luck. He fixes the apartment up, and eventually flips the apartment. He invests in properties. Not a smart move in New York in 2008, to flip houses for a large turnover. So....this guy lucked out, but he includes his properties in the equation. He is not actually a cash millionaire...No respect for that. I contemplated returning the book after reading it once...Again, this book is not realistic.

money maker at full throttle
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
It takes a lot out of someone to do what Alan had to do to reach a million. He started from a paltry 10k in savings and ended with a million at age 29. He did it by saving money, holding small jobs, making sacrifices, renting assets, adding value to properties, forming partners and etc. He doesn't throw his message at you unreasonably, in fact, he makes light of his money management abilities and low paying job and turns it into an interesting personal story.

Laughing my way to more money
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A very entertaining way to learn the basics about saving now inorder to enjoy it later. The story is told as if anyone can become a millionare by being extra thrifty and taking some calculated risks. This book is a much more enjoyable read then other financial books out there because Mr. Corey appeals to everyone and delivers his message in a very funny way.