"That's interesting, albeit a bit confusing. What's astonishing to me is that someone who earns an annual income in the $200,000 range could manage not to be a millionaire."

Also, depending on where you live, that $200K may not be much money. We live in the SF Bay Area. Housing and other necessities are SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive here than elsewhere in the U.S. Same with NY, LA, San Diego, etc.

>> That's interesting, albeit a bit confusing. What's astonishing to me is that someone who earns an annual income in the $200,000 range could manage not to be a millionaire. <<

If that person has a million dollar mortgage, then that $200,000 a year gets eaten up pretty quick...

DH & I read "Millionaire Next Door" in college. It complete revolutionized our thinking. We now live in a house valued at 0.6x (moved up from .4x) our household income in a perfectly safe 1920s-era neighborhood which my sister (now in foreclosure) tells her children is "the ghetto". We just laugh...all the way to the bank!

I already have the book on cd, having preordered. I considered it worth the money.

It certainly makes living like a lot of people think rich people do seem silly. This is the fourth book of his I have.

Love your books.
America needs it.

My husband and I have been debt free for years live in a financially mixed neighborhood...meaning that the home values vary greatly. We have found it's a great place to live since we don't feel any pressure to keep buying more material things. We just enjoy having extra money to donate to the causes most important to us...church, grandchildrens college funds, etc. ...life is good and God is great!

Dr. Stanley, I've loved all of your books so far and look forward to reading this one. TMND was the first money book to change my financial outlook on life so many years ago when I read it for the first time. The concept of "wealth-building productivity" declining as home values increase beyond $500K is really interesting. Your findings continue to motivate me to keep my eye on frugality and maintaining PAW status.

This sounds like it would be really neat to see on paper. I am such a visual person, it is hard to picture this without some sort of chart.If you could post one, it would be helpful for this visual learner. Thanks.

This is an interesting article. I enjoyed your appearance on The Dave Ramsey Show.
I have read your books and look forward to reading Stop Acting Rich.
Sincerely...Phillip James

I so totally feel alright owning a house that is worth less than our annual income, even better now!

That's interesting, albeit a bit confusing. What's astonishing to me is that someone who earns an annual income in the $200,000 range could manage not to be a millionaire.

Also amazing is that people think that living in a home valued at $1M makes them millionaires. Fat chance.

Listen to David!

I enjoyed listening to your segment yesterday with Dave Ramsey. At least three of my family members (uncles) are multi-millionaires and live in paid for homes and drive paid for cars. I can remember where they started out and have seen their wealth grow over the years. I am working towards a debt free goal and who knows, maybe one day I can have a life-style like them. But for now, my husband and I are a one income family living in a house that is worth less than 200k and I am able to raise my boys at home and pay off debt. Thank you for giving encouragement to the "little" man that we can make it in the "game" of life even though we don't always look like it.

Loved listening to you on Dave's show yesterday. Plan on getting your book, or perhaps the audio version, later this month when I have a commission check. (I currently don't have an envelope for books!) :-) Keep up the good work, Dr. Stanley and Dave!

Great info. Good to know we are on the right track...Enjoyed the Dave Ramsey segment.

It isn't the numbers I find the most interesting, but rather, the discrepancy. Are your findings the same for other items? ie High end vs Low end for automobiles, and "toys?"

Great interview on Dave Ramsey yesterday.

Okay, so I get the fact that many millionaries don't live in million-dollar homes.

But are you saying that by surrounding ourselves (at home) with people who make less, we will be driven to overcome our living situation?

Couldn't the answer be that these millionaires are so active at work and socially that they use a home as merely a place to rest and recuperate for the next day?

Or perhaps they are choosing comfort over glitz and showiness of the high-dollar houses.

I loved the interview!
Can't wait to get the book!!!

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