Review: 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget
By Meg | June 21, 2009
Disclaimer: I did receive this book free of charge from with the understanding that I would review it. However, neither the authors nor anyone else associated with this book has at any time given me any type of input in regards to the type of review. As with all my reviews, the review is my honest opinion.
Who isn’t trying to save money these days? Being called frugal, once often a insult, is now a compliment. But while some of us may need to pinch every penny we can regardless of short term happiness or long term consequences, most of us just want to live better on what we have and still have enough left over to feel financially secure. If you fall into the latter group, then this book is definitely for you! (Though, even the most experienced tightwad might learn a thing or two!)
Unlike some money books, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget won’t leave you feeling like a bad person if you drink the occasional latte. Nor will you be asked to compromise your health or ethics, or live like a monk. To the contrary, you’ll learn how to make your own beauty products, find the best wine for your buck, travel comfortably, save money while being green, and make gourmet lunches that will have your coworkers jealous. You will save money — but it definitely won’t feel like you’re cutting back!
10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget covers a wide range of topics in just the right amount of detail. There is something for everyone, regardless of income or interest. One reason for this is because it is written by the many authors of the financial blog Wise Bread, as well as other guest writers — 20 in all, each providing their own perspective and expertise.
In addition to frugal living advice, the book also includes personal financial advice that is simple and easy to follow. But instead of forcing you into some one-size fits all plan, the information provided will help you learn how to budget easily but effectively for your needs, find a good financial planner, understand investment terms, and avoid being ripped off by.
If this review sounds overly positive it is just that I truly can’t think of anything negative to say! Even the price is right: just over $10 on Amazon! And while I’m a big fan of using public libraries, this book is a good one to have on your shelf. In fact, it’s one of only two money books I actually own and plan to keep (though I’ve read many more). The other is The Complete Tightwad Gazette. Which is my favorite, I can’t say. They’re both filled with great tips and I highly recommend both. But if you can’t get both right now, I would start with 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget because of it’s conciseness, organization, and up-to-date internet resources.
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Money, Productivity, Reviews, Shopping, Spending Money
Related Posts:
The Fabulous! Festival for May ‘09
By Meg | May 27, 2009
This is a bit belated, as May has been one heck of a month for me, but better late than never!
The May edition of The Fabulous! Festival is up at Here’s Looking Like You Kid! Thanks again, Jaynie, for hosting!
The next edition will be hosted on June 15th by Barry of 3stylelife, so be sure to get your posts ready and submit them here by June 12th!
Tags: Beauty, Blog Carnivals, Fabulous! Festival, Fashion, Shopping, Style
Related Posts:
It’s a fabulous April!
By Meg | April 20, 2009
Two bits of good news :D
First, I’m very honored to say that the fabulous Living Almost Large interviewed me at her site!
And second, the April edition of The Fabulous! Festival is up at 3stylelife! The next edition will be hosted on May 18th by Jaynie of Here’s Looking Like You Kid, so be sure to get your posts ready and submit them here by May 15th!
Tags: Beauty, Blog Carnivals, Fabulous! Festival, Fashion, Shopping, Style
Related Posts:
Our new baby!
By Meg | April 15, 2009
We just got this little one Tuesday! Her name is Chloe and she’s a Rhode Island Red chick.
Tags: Home & Garden
Related Posts:
His, her, and our money
By Meg | April 7, 2009
One thing that has always confused me is how some married couples split all their income into “his money” and “her money” and pay bills separately — even paying for groceries separately! I was raised to believe that marriage is a partnership of equals and that any income is first and foremost “our money”. But I see, again and again, some couples who seem to believe that the only money that is yours, the only money that you’ve “earned”, is what’s on your paycheck.
Now, I do believe in separate “fun” money accounts where each partner gets an allowance that they can spend however they want — including buying presents for the other. And I do believe that in you’re an abusive relationship that it is a good idea to hide away some money to get yourself out of there. There may even be a few other reasons to keep finances separate for legal reasons (or even to stay legally unmarried just to avoid combining finances in some cases).
But to completely split finances in a loving relationship where there are no odd legal complications? To have to ask, “Are you going to pay for this or should I?” or “How are we going to split the cable bill?” That just seems like a recipe for disaster! And with money problems being a leading cause of divorce, wouldn’t it just be simpler to have a joint account at least for things like household bills and groceries?
Ultimately, I say do whatever works. But I can’t help that sneaking suspicion that in most of those cases that the couple really isn’t committed to each other. I hate to be so judgemental, but it feels like they’re preparing to get divorced. After all, they’ve kept their finances so neatly separate that splitting things could hardly be easier!
Then there is the other side — how us “our money” couples seem to be judged by others, especially by singles (though at least I can understand that since marriage is hard to understand from the outside). You don’t have to look far to find examples of how negatively it is viewed. Find a post about a divorce online (there are plenty celebrity ones), read the comments, and you’ll find plenty of fiery remarks about how (usually) she was a gold digger that isn’t entitled to even a quarter of HIS money — even though he made it while they were married. What? All she did was spend money and time keeping herself beautiful? Ever think that maybe that’s what HE wanted, too, and that she wasn’t just doing it to pamper herself?! Personally, I’d never want to be a trophy wife — that’s just too much work! I can’t even keep my nail polish from chipping when I do wear it.
Even us non-celebrities have to put up with comments like “How lucky you are that you can just stay home!” and “It must be nice to have someone to take care of you [i.e. financially].” And then there are the whisperings that so-and-so is taking advantage of their partner because he makes the money. Never mind how much unpaid work a partner actually does — let alone their value just as a loving spouse!
And that’s the crux. How do you measure each partner’s value or how much they bring to the relationship? There are plenty of ways to contribute to a relationship that not only don’t bring in a paycheck, but are probably impossible to value in financial terms!
So, do you try to tally it all up and agree that she deserves X% and he deserves Y% — and then spend the rest of your marriage adjusting the calculations whenever he or she starts doing a new chore? It may sound “fair”, but I don’t think it is fair to either spouse and I simply can’t believe that that would lead to a happier marriage.
Instead, I believe that the secret to a happy marriage is seeing each spouse as an equal partner who contributes in unquantifiable ways to a true partnership. And again, do what works for you, but I think that in most cases this leads to a joint account with maybe a couple personal accounts for “fun” money. It works beautifully for my husband and I.
If you’re in a relationship, how do you split or combine your finances? Or if you’re single, how do you plan to if and when you are in a relationship? Do you think splitting finances is the key to marital bliss or a recipe for divorce?
Tags: Behavior & Etiquette, Marriage, Money
Related Posts:
Leave a comment! 12 Comments »
Recent Comments