I'm looking for stories of ordinary people who have saved huge amounts of money by living very frugally. For example, I have a vague memory of having read somewhere about a waiter who could afford to live in downtown San Fransisco on approximately $20,000/yr. because he was so careful with his money.
I'm looking for stories of ordinary folks who saved their way into financial security, not people who have gotten luckier than most with business decisions (like Warren Buffett).
Thanks!
2007-09-12 10:31:28 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
Here are a couple stories for you.
Retired janitor leaves $700,000 estate...
http://frugal.families.com/blog/frugal-man-leaves-700-000-estate
Man leaves $2.1 million to his alma mater
http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/members/issue.tmpl?articleid=06270517594262
2007-09-12 11:05:09 · answer #1 · answered by likepepsi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but I saw this couple on Good Morning America recently. They call themselves the Cheapest Family in America, and they live on $45,000/year for a family of 7! They also have a book out called "The Cheapest Family in America" that I'm going to buy. I'm sure I could learn a few things from them.
http://www.homeeconomiser.com/
2007-09-12 11:14:59 · answer #2 · answered by WhoMe? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By living your life and constantly thinking the thought "I don't have enough money, i need to save the little that I have and "someday" i will have a lot" you will never accumulate anything worthwhile. You are living in scarcity therefore you will attract scarcity. Think BIGGER! You deserve more than that. By essentially pinching every penny you have, you're acting as if you will never have large amounts of money come to you...so you won't! Warren Buffett wasn't lucky, he thought big, he expected to get large sums of money coming his way...and he did. If you think small, your life will be small and so will your bank account...always, no matter what. Sorry, i just think you're approaching the idea of getting a lot of money "someday" total backwards...just my 2 cents
2007-09-12 10:54:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Im not sure if the guy *saved* his way to wealth, but maybe you can check out "The Pursuit of Happiness" with Will Smith. It's a movie about a guy who is now wealthy but started off homeless.
2007-09-12 10:39:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The source below is the website of a multi-millionaire that has helped thousands of people do just that. He has several success stories posted.
2007-09-12 11:36:53 · answer #5 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
read david bachs "the automatic millionaire" and check out his website- theres lots of stories like that-- I'll be one someday! ; )
2007-09-12 10:49:07 · answer #6 · answered by miss m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋