Suddenly Frugal Review
Over the past six months or so I’ve taken many steps towards living a more frugal life. During that time, I’ve learned a lot of valuable information from many people — information that I will carry with me forever.
Though I’ve learned a lot over the past six months, I know there’s still a lot more to learn, so when an opportunity arises to read a book on living frugally, I take it.
Shortly before Christmas, I was in Ocean State with my mom when I came across Suddenly Frugal by Leah Ingram for $2.99. For that price, there was NO WAY I was passing it up since I knew at Amazon, B&N, etc. it would be way more. And what better way to practice frugality than by not buying books at full -price, which I admit, I’ve always done. Bad, bad me!
When I first started reading Suddenly Frugal, I was excited but a bit skeptical. The front of the book clearly states that you could potentially save your family up to $25,000 a year! Yes, that’s right, $25,000 a year. That’s a substantial amount. Is it really possible?
While I was skeptical, I knew there were many areas in my life that could use significant cutbacks, so I was willing to give her book a chance.
Throughout Suddenly Frugal, Ms. Ingram offers up a bevy of helpful frugal living tips on home repairs, car repairs, family entertainment, grocery shopping and more. She left no stone unturned, which I loved. I’m a stickler for details, so the more information given to me, the better. And this book was most definitely filled with it.
Another aspect of Ms. Ingram’s book that I loved was the Total Savings section at the end of each chapter. It was astounding to see how much we could save every year by following her advice. By the end of the book, it totaled $25,000 in savings. So to answer my earlier question, yes, it’s possible to save that amount. And I for one know it would help my family if we could save even half of that.
When I finally finished Suddenly Frugal, I was upset because I wanted to keep reading what Ms. Ingram had to say. Her writing style is easy to follow and not condescending in any way. I detest reading books that make you feel stupid. If anything, Ms. Ingram’s book builds you up and shows you that no matter what lifestyle you’re accustomed to, you can live a more frugal life with a little time and effort.
So if you’re looking for a great read on living frugally, Suddenly Frugal is a wonderful choice.
If you’re interested in learning more about Leah Ingram and her frugal living tips, make sure to stop by her Suddenly Frugal Blog. And don’t forget to bookmark it.
*If you are interested in having me review your book, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Thank you!
Sandra Kumskov says:
Nicole, I’ve been a fan of frugal living at various times in my life, and some of the stuff has stuck – would be very interested to get hold of this and have a read, always like to learn new stuff. Thanks for the review.
Chrystal says:
I love frugal goodies, thank you for sharing this one!
Angie - The Work at Home Wife says:
Great review, Nikki!
Gwynne says:
With my income the last couple of years barely hitting $10,000, frugal has been a necessity for me! I might just have to look up this book for some ideas on how to cut back a bit more!
The Gratitude Guru says:
Great review! i am going to go check it out and see if I can follow her advice.
I was thinking of cutting back on unnecessary spending and living within a budget. I think it would be a good practice and I certainly can see the benefits.
Thanks for the post, Nikki!
Be Well.
Paul.
http://www.AllAboutGratitude.com
Nikki says:
Paul,
I’m sure you’ll love it. There’s so many areas to cutback, it’s amazing. I wouldn’t recommend doing it all at once. Do a few at a time so you don’t overwhelm yourself. That’s what I’m doing.
Nikki says:
Gwynne,
There really is some awesome advice in it that will help you, I’m sure. You may want to check out the Living on a Dime ebook series. Those have some good tips, as well. They’re just not as informative as Suddenly Frugal.
Nikki says:
Thanks, Nikki.
Nikki says:
You’re welcome, Chrystal.
Nikki says:
You’re welcome, Sandra. I did see it at Amazon last night for $9.95. Maybe eBay has it for cheaper. I thought it was great when I saw it at Ocean State. They do get some great books there.
Bailey says:
I love Ocean State. When I was teaching I found some of the best books there and the other teachers would ask me where I found the stuff. Nobody would believe me when I said Ocean State. I can thank my MIL for introducing me to the store. I had never been to one until I met her. When we moved here I was thrilled to find we had one in town.
I must confess to being even cheaper, I will put this on my request list at the library. Along with not having to pay the cost of the book, I am also working on the clutter issue. The fewer books I buy, the fewer I have to store later. Unless it is one I am going to reread, I am trying to resist buying.
Nikki says:
Ocean State is great for so many reasons. My dad and daughter don’t agree, but my mom and I don’t care. We’ve gotten some awesome deals there that we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.
As for the library, that’s a great idea. I can tell you what’s helped me in the clutter department is my Pandigital. I pretty much stick with books that are either are or under $5. Usually under $1 if possible. I also download samples of the ones that cost, that way I don’t spend money on them if I don’t like them. Also, if I like something I download, and I know I’ll keep referring back to it, I can keep it on my Novel without it cluttering up the house, which is great. I can say, though, that I’ll keep referring back to Suddenly Frugal, so it will continue t come in handy.
Leah Ingram says:
Thank you for the lovely review of my book Suddenly Frugal. I’m glad that you liked my writing style and my voice; I work hard to make sure that I write as “real” as I talk.
FYI, I have another book out now, also in the Suddenly Frugal vein. It’s called “Toss, Keep, Sell! The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out Clutter and Cashing In.” You can read more about it here: http://www.suddenlyfrugal.com/2011/01/daily-decluttering-from-toss-keep-sell/
I’m working on a third Suddenly Frugal book now. I hope it will be out by the end of 2011 or early 2012.
Thanks again.
Leah