The Latte Factor: Why You Don't Have to Be Rich to Live Rich Hardcover – Illustrated, May 7, 2019

Forget sacrificing your beloved brew - the "Latte Factor" is a metaphor for the small, daily expenses that accumulate into a significant drain on your net worth over time. In plain English, Bach explains how redirecting these seemingly small amounts into savings and investments can lead to considerable wealth accumulation. No matter your age or stage in life, this book offers valuable insights that prove sometimes life-changing lessons come in small, easy-to-digest packages. Prepare for a fresh perspective that will transform your outlook and your bank account. Highly recommended!

I read this book, and then a few days later, I reread it. Here is why it inspired my perspective and attitude change toward taking responsibility for my financial independence. It made me aware that only I could guarantee this independence, and it made me aware of the simple and sure ways of how I can do it. It is that simple, that multidimensional, and that powerful.I am a writer myself, also of motivational books. Reading this book reinforced my wish to write some of my books in the form of a parable where the doubts and feelings of the learning character are shown and to which the readers can relate.I felt for Zoey, I rooted for her, I understood what she felt, and as she was, I was inspired by what Henry had to share with her. Just like Zoey, I could see the general misunderstanding of what paying ourselves first truly meant.While reading the book, I applied the ideas described in it to my finances, especially to how I was approaching them. That brought relief because I stopped putting the responsibility on others, or blaming others, or hope for my finances to take care of themselves somehow, and instead, I took care of them myself, in simple and proven ways.I can't recommend enough reading this book. And not only reading but doing so many times. Read it, and you will feel empowered and in control. I will surely read it the third time soon, and sometime later again.Update several rereads and almost two years later:Upon the latest reread in 2021, I became aware of one more area where the Latte Factor can be utterly helpful. It is about engaging in upsets. We can't avoid becoming upset, but we can choose either to stay upset or move on. I heard about this idea from other authors, but reading The Latte Factor helped me recovering from an upset a little bit faster than maybe I otherwise would. Here's how: as soon as I observed myself getting upset about something and didn't judge it, I asked myself if I could save myself trouble and drama by labeling the upset as my latte factor and moving on to what motivated and empowered me. So The Latte Factor approach can help you concentrate on what is important in your life, not only from the financial investment perspective but also how you "invest" your emotions. I found this experience enlightening.I am curious now, what else I will discover when I reread the book next time.

I have read dozens of self help books over the years, many of them devoted to building wealth and prosperity. A common thread that runs through them is the concept of developing a “wealth mindset.” The Latte Factor is the first book to walk me through one person’s story of personal growth, not just in the area of wealth. David Bach has created a beautiful parable of Zoey, a young girl on the path to a rich and fulfilling life. As Zoey’s mentor tells her, “You don’t have to be rich to live rich.” She finds her mentor in the most unlikely place: as a barista in her favorite coffee shop. Henry, who turns out to be much more than “just” a barista, teaches Zoey the building blocks of wealth.The Latte Factor isn’t just about giving up your daily latte or scrimping and scraping to build a nest egg. It’s about setting goals and priorities, and then ensuring that you reach them by paying yourself first. It’s not about creating a budget, eating ramen every day, and never going out with friends. It’s about making those payments to yourself automatic so that you never even miss the money.David Bach, known for financial management books such as The Automatic Millionaire and Smart Women Finish Rich, has paired up with John David Mann to tell a story that is sure to inspire generations of young people to start consciously creating their lives and their financial freedom. And, while the story may be geared toward twenty-somethings, this fifty-something found it inspiring and enlightening. Using a fictional format and the tale of how one young woman learns the key concepts Bach has espoused in his other books, The Latte Factor is sure to become a perennial bestseller.

The Latte Factor is a simple way to get across three money habits by using a story to drive these points home. Most adults would probably prefer bullet points - tell me the advice straight out. But for a young person who probably gets tired of rote memorization from school, this easy to read tale by David Bach might get its points across without the youngster realizing it! I am asking several 15-your-olds to read this book in the hopes that they start some good money habits prior to earning a living. They will thank themselves in a few decades! And when they are older, and ready for a more adult book on money specifics, David has other books ready for them to read! But at this age, just even getting them thinking about how to handle money is a positive.