Comments on: Addicted to “Solutions”

By: Gal @ Equally Happy

Gal @ Equally Happy — Fri, 13 May 2011 04:37:22 +0000

When I first started working on my health and finances I read a lot of blogs and books. There were some interesting ideas and many of them were helpful, but it soon started getting repetitive.

Like you, I still read them because there are occasionally little nuggets of wisdom but once you have the basics, the rest is up to you. There is no magic bullet and no real secret waiting to be found.

By: aeko

aeko — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:00:55 +0000

During the time I was trying to get my finances in order, I read every blog I could get my hands on relating to frugal advice, lowing my debt, and how to do it. I noticed some of the advice was the same, some of the advice “spoke to me”. I eliminated the blogs the offered little help and kept the ones that did help me. Three years down the road I have a nice emergency fund, a nice saving account, don’t spend more that I earn, etc. Your blog is a keeper, thanks for the help.

By: Pat S

Pat S — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:51:36 +0000

Reading wont do anything for you unless you act!

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:08:22 +0000

Actually you don’t even need a single book if you think about it. Fat people need to eat less calories than they burn and they will lose weight. Those in debt need to earn more and spend less, and they will prosper. People who suffer from depression may feel better if they get up, go outside, exercise, go to the local animal shelter and walk the dogs on death row every day. If they don’t feel appreciated, this dog walking will do it, the sad creatures are so thrilled to be out of the cage. Sadly each of these requires will power and backbone. Instead people buy “self help” books by the pile (look for the self help books at garage sales, all those books are there, generaly in almost untouched conditon) thinking some book will give them a “magic bullet” where they will get thin without cutting calories, get rich quick without working hard and saving, feel better by popping the supplement flogged by the author of the anti depression book. Doesn’t happen folks, you have to do the work. Fat people, please don’t tell me it’s “glandular” or “hormonal.” For proof, look at photos of Nazi concentration camp victims, there are no fat ones! Eat fewer calories than you burn and you will lose weight, sneak eat and you will gain weight.

By: EngineerMom

EngineerMom — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:24:45 +0000

I agree about change having to come from within.

A friend of mine went through AA about 12 years before we met. She mentioned that change can’t happen until the pain of staying the same becomes worse than the perceived pain of the change.

I think that rings true for more than just alcoholics drying up, though. Until continuing on as you are becomes a more painful experience than your perception of the pain of making the changes to your life to alter that course, nothing will happen.

This definitely relates to Trent’s earlier post about hitting bottom, and how the experience is different for different people.

By: Tyson

Tyson — Wed, 11 May 2011 23:12:12 +0000

I read books on various subjects that I want to grow in. I usually find one book that really just ‘speaks’ to me, but its helpful to find other pieces of information that you can input or execute for your plan. They key is though, is to change behavior if you are not currently at where you want to be. Knowledge only provides so much…knowledge without execution is useless.

If you continue to do what you always have done, you’ll continue to get what you currently have. Gotta move.

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:14:23 +0000

In addition to acquiring nuggets of knowledge, being well read helps give one the ability to question if many commonly held truths are legitimate. Like installing a programmable thermostat does not guarantee you’ll reduce your home energy bill.

By: Kevin @ Thousandaire.com

Kevin @ Thousandaire.com — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:03:14 +0000

As a fellow blogger, reading gives me ideas for writing. And I agree that there isn’t a single solution. I think it is healthy for you to read lots of books for intellectual curiosity. For someone struggling to get out of debt, I think that person probably only needs one book (as long as it’s a good one)