Book Review: "The Corporate Slave''s Financial Plan" — 5 Money Tips for Financial Freedom Even on a NT$30K Salary

“The Corporate Slave’s Financial Plan” (社畜的理財計劃) offers busy office workers a practical set of financial methods to help them break free from the poverty cycle and achieve financial freedom. Through detailed chapters, the book covers everything from identifying bad habits to creating an effective financial plan, and even includes guidance on managing finances as a couple. Here are my key takeaways from this book — I hope they can provide some inspiration for those of you looking for a better approach to managing money.

Why Do You Keep Falling Into the Poverty Trap?

Avoiding the “Fat Wallet” Trap

The book mentions that having a wallet stuffed with receipts, loyalty cards, and loose change will leave you completely clueless about your financial situation. If you don’t know where your money is going, it’s easy to get stuck in a poverty loop. If your monthly expenses exceed 70% of your income, it’s time to take a hard look at your spending habits. Treating yourself occasionally is fine, but avoid spending without limits. Create a “splurge wallet” — a set budget for stress-relief spending — to prevent unconscious overspending.

I Don’t Like Tracking Expenses

I’ve mentioned before that I really don’t enjoy tracking every expense. The reason is that through planning and execution, once I’ve spent all the money I’m supposed to spend, I know I can freely use whatever’s left.

Sounds a bit tongue-twisting, right? What I mean by “spending all the money I’m supposed to spend” is that I’ve already put away everything I need to save. So whatever remains, I can spend guilt-free. For more on smart spending, check out How to Learn to Spend Without Saving, and Still Save Money

Because You Have Lots of Bad Spending Habits

Flawed Consumer Psychology

We’re constantly lured by discounts, cashback offers, and the result is we end up spending even more. Co-branded cards and installment plans tempt us into accumulating mountains of debt. These all stem from our “selection bias.” The book recommends establishing a golden ratio for household expenses and finding the sweet spots for saving. People who manage to save aren’t stingy — they simply know how to spend money on the things they truly love.

You Often Think More Is Better

This really comes down to a spending misconception born from inner dissatisfaction. Have you noticed that as you buy more and more things, and can’t bear to throw them away, your home gets messier and your mood gets worse? That cycle where you think buying things makes you happy is actually planting a ticking time bomb in your home. Whether the things you buy are expensive or cheap, if they still work or look fine, you just can’t bring yourself to toss them.

A Proper Saving and Investment Plan for Financial Freedom

Correcting Your Money Attitude

First, prepare a “household wallet” and use division to calculate your daily spending limit. Manage your assets across three accounts. Start by setting goals — anyone can afford to buy a home with the right plan. Leverage compound interest, extend your investment timeline, and building your own monthly retirement income isn’t a dream. The book suggests that instead of feeling stressed by fixed monthly savings, continuously log your “income and expense notes” to make spending crystal clear. Creating “personalized expense categories” makes tracking more motivating. When budgeting, prioritize what matters most and take action immediately — otherwise it’s all just talk. When tracking expenses, focus on the big picture and don’t stress over small overages.

Couples Managing Money Together: Saving NT$30 Million Before Age 40

Family Financial Management

The book provides numerous case studies of couples managing finances together. It emphasizes that proactively showing family members the “household ledger numbers” can spark their interest in financial management. Three techniques are shared for getting your partner to voluntarily reduce their spending money. While couples tracking expenses separately may seem respectful, it actually hides potential problems. Instead, play financial “games” together to open up communication channels about money. One case study in the book shows how inviting children to monthly family finance meetings can nurture their money sense from an early age.

Rich People Think Differently Than You

Shifting Your Financial Mindset

No amount of money will give you a sense of security — only happiness will. Learn from failed spending experiences and honestly face your shortcomings. Understand Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and discover your true desires. Money lost in the past can’t be recovered — the only thing that matters is seizing the present. If you don’t know how to spend money, you can’t earn money. The more skilled you are at spending, the wealthier you become. Don’t suppress your desires — doing so only makes your spirit poorer.

Afterword: I Hope That After 40, You’ll Become Someone Who Masters Money

The book’s core financial philosophy isn’t about how much money you spend, but about spending it in the right places. Categorize where your money goes as “consumption,” “waste,” or “investment.” Build your own values and don’t deny your true desires. Save six months of salary as an emergency fund — this is the most basic and most conservative form of investment. Credit cards are useful tools, but obsessively chasing cashback percentages only exhausts you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Further Reading

Lazy Conclusion

懶大

金融科技新創 CEO | 獨立財務顧問

By the time I read this book, I had already been reading several finance-related books in a row. If you read them carefully, you’ll realize that what you truly need is a plan and the discipline to execute it — because the real methods have been telling you all along.

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