
The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living: Save Money, Plan Ahead, Pay Off Debt & Live Well
by Daisy Luther
Racehorse Publishing, 2020 (321 pages)
Right after the holidays, many of us begin to tighten the belt and vow to save some money. After all, we have partied, bought gifts and done a lot of eating and baking. Reality suddenly sets in. That's why I reached for this title. The author went through a really rough patch and found that she didn't want to buy into the debt-laden American dream anymore. She wanted to become frugal, and her financial recovery showed her it was actually freeing. No more debt, and no more stress. As the author states, "Frugality can actually be fun, it can make your life fulfilling and free from stress, and best of all, it can make your dreams come true."
And the book showcases that frugality doesn't have to mean living a mean hard life. You can create a life you love and fill it with the things that are meaningful to you, without having to worry about where your next meal is coming from. The author takes us on a journey by giving us lots of tips on how you can go from crisis to feeling triumphant at saving money in a wide variety of ways. There's a chapter on the kitchen, on shopping, on getting the kiddos on board, gardening, and grabbing the sales.
One of her kitchen tips is that when times are tough, you are better off shopping once a month. It saves money by buying things in bulk. Forget about special dieting when things are tight. You might not be able to eat low-carb or paleo. You might have to rely on grains and starches more. She recommends buying canned fruits and as many potatoes as you can. Protein, she says is the costliest for the budget. Don't expect meat to be your main, you are going to be stretching it by adding lots of vegetables, or breadcrumbs. Nowadays eggs are a luxury, and she suggests making a few breakfasts for dinner recipes. She has a few suggestions for adding more beans to the diet for protein (how to soak and get rid of the gassiness). For families that don't like beans she says to try refried beans or to puree them to add to soup. There are many more tips. Some you may already know, but it is good to be reminded. Some might be something new for you. Oftentimes, the topic of frugality is one best read about over and over again, as tips that will hit you often will be different at different times.
It is an interesting read, and the author is a good writer. As you are reading you feel as if she is right there telling you the story. She has a great sense of humor. Luther is a coffee-swigging, globe-trotting blogger. She writes about current events, preparedness, and survival on her website, TheOrganicPrepper.com. She writes about living well frugally on her website, TheFrugalite.com
She has written several books, including The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living and The Flat Broke Cookbook.
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