I have just finished the reading of the book the millionaire next door . 

It consists of three themes: Who are the rich? What kind of lifestyle do they live? How they become rich? 

Before reading the book, I have a fixed image about the rich which shared by most people who learn the lifestyle of rich people mainly from meida. More often than not the media portray the rich living a extravagent lifestyle by spending lavishly and buying expensive stuff like luxurous cars and houses. However, being rich doesn't mean somebody has a lot of money. It also mean that a person's ability to generate wealth from what he or she has right now. It is about the accumulation of wealth. This book introduces two kinds of people: PAW and UAW: the prodigious accumulator of wealth and the under accumulator of wealth. PAW save before spend and UAW spends before save. PAW will save the money in the first place and use the money to invest so as generate more wealth, while UAW spends in the first place. Just like what the writer believes:

What makes the biggest difference between PAW and UAW is their concept about money. Most millionaires in the book live a modest lifestyle, while some high-earning people spends what they have earned to maintain a upper middle class lifestyle. They become millionaire by budgeting and controlling expenses and they maintain their affluent status the same way. By living a modest way and one can save money in the first place, then use the amount to invest in the hope of getting more returns. Most millionaire have the habit of budgeting and know what they have spend on each category including food, cloth and housing. 

If you want to get rich, you must show good discipline and get control of your spending. Delaying gratification will reward you in the long run. We will face a lot of risks in our life time and we do need money to give us a more secured life.