I was given The Automatic Millionaire as a birthday gift back in March. Since then I have increased my 401k contribution from 3% (which is matched by employer) to 17%. I have also set up two money market accounts, both of which draw automatically from my checking account on a biweekly basis. The 1st is for long-term savings, the 2nd is for down-the-road home repair and projects. My tithing is now automatic, splitting my monthly contribution between two causes that are very important to me (the environment and animal welfare).
I am paid biweekly and receive expenses for travel. Instead of just spending this away, I have set aside my last expense check plus my 1st biweekly paycheck for the month of May – in May I receive three biweekly checks. This I have set aside in my money market account in order to earn interest and to cover my bills (minus mortgage) for the next six months. I will plan to set this amount aside every six months. Now that I no longer have to worry about covering my bills on a monthly basis, I can comfortably increase my 401k from 17% to the yearly max.
Thanks to this book I am now paying myself first, have cut my latte factors, stopped budgeting, and will be contributing regularly to two great causes! All this without altering my lifestyle! And it was so easy!
