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Communities
Live Well on Less Than You Think
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Welcome to my new book review series, covering Live Well on Less Than You Think by Fred Brock. We’ll be covering a chapter a week until we get through the book.
The first chapter of Live Well on Less Than You Think is an introduction. There aren’t any money saving tips here, but Brock gives us the financial history of three generations: The Matures (1909-1945), the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), and Gen X (1965-1978).
This was an interesting chapter to me, after just having finished (Not) Keeping Up With Our Parents by Nan Mooney. In contrast to Mooney’s interviewees, who seemed to feel entitled to spend, spend, spend, Brock presents a Generation X that is focused on frugality and financial independence. It was a refreshing change.
Brock asserts that each generation’s lifestyle management system is directly influenced by the generation before. The Mature generation was frugal out of necessity, having lived through the great depression.
The Baby Boomers were the first generation to experience the widespread availability of credit. They have a more laid back approach to money than their parents did.
Since they grew up in an era when it was common to stay at one job for a long time, they assumed their jobs would last forever too. Because of this, they didn’t worry about juggling debt, and tended to not plan for retirement early.
The Gen X generation grew up seeing the beginning of widespread job layoffs in their parent’s generation. Because of that, the Gen X generation is skeptical and self sufficient.
Gen Xers tend to change jobs every 5 years or so, tend to think a fulfilling job is more important than job stability, and tend to have a more entrepreneurial spirit than their parents.
Gen Xers also tend to be more frugal, but not out of necessity like the Mature generation. They tend to be frugal, because it helps them live the lifestyle they want. They can afford to work a fulfilling, but low paying job, because their lifestyle allows them to.
As a sociology major, I found this chapter of Live Well on Less Than You Think very, very interesting. I realize that there are many exceptions to all generalizations, and not every baby boomer, for instance, is a spendthrift.
However, I did find the generational studies, especially of the Gen X generation, very thought provoking. I identify with a lot of the qualities that Brock presented about the Gen X generation. My husband, however, who is on the very tail end of the Baby Boomer generation, behaves more like a Gen Xer when it comes to finances. I wonder if that’s my influence on him? 
Stay tuned for chapter 2 next week, when we talk about my favorite subject: Debt.
Do you notice any generational behavior when it comes to finances? Do you identify with the examples Brock gives, or do you consider yourself an exception?
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Promoting Christian Literature
Thank you, Lynnae, for your book review. I enjoy these, but I thought your review was more opinion than examples from the book. You said you found it “very very interesting” but did not elaborate enough for me.
Best Wishes,
Francine
Thanks Francine. I had a hard time reviewing this chapter, without rewriting the whole chapter, which would do Fred Brock a disservice. I anticipate that it will get easier once we start getting into actual ways to save money.