If you're looking for an approach to personal finance that's genuinely personal and not the usual banal instruction that treats money management like homework (i.e. necessary, boring and to be completed as quickly as possible in order to move on to better things), then Your Money or Your Life is a refreshing place to start. Earning and spending are forever interwoven with our actions, and I appreciate this book's healthy attitude toward thinking conscientiously about the function of money in our everyday lives. There's lots of filler here too, mostly in the form of real-life examples and moralizing, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're seeking a narrative context. The most useful advice for me is the section on assigning values to spending (relevant self-assessment is good practice no matter what your situation), but this presumes a good handle on the basics of budgeting, which is fundamentally the most important. The section on investing seems dated and carelessly limiting even though I understand the author's intention to want to simplify the process. The goal should be to pursue the smartest option, and that doesn't always mean the simplest. Overall, a helpful book that I found less helpful with each successive re-read.

My spouse and I read this book over 7 years ago, at a time of real financial difficulty. I have re-read it many times since, and above all, followed its guidance with real determination. It has been life-changing for us, giving us the tools and inspiration we needed to bring our actions in the material world ever further into alignment with our deepest values.

A bit too 80s new-agey in places for my taste, but it really does hammer home the point that you're trading your time for money, and at some point your time is more valuable than the extra cash. It also made me take a closer look at where my money is spent and whether my planned expenditures align with my values. In terms of implementation, I didn't follow their steps too closely, but I still got a lot out of reading this book.