Be Thrifty: How to Live Better with Less

by Pia Catton (Compiler), Califia Sumtree (Editor)

Book by

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Self Help, Money, Reference, Economics, Home Economics

372 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 2009

Reviews

[Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this is less a frugal living book and more a frugal living encyclopedia, which is to say there is a little information about a lot of topics. In fact, there was so much that I feel like I couldn't really get the full benefit of the book having checked it out from the library so I might need to get a copy of it for myself. I think some readers might complain about the lack of depth, but I feel like that's really unachievable unless you wanted a truly encyclopedia sized set. That being said, the index of the book contains a list of all the source materials they used for the book so if you want more depth on a specific topic, you can easily find a book dedicated to just that one thing.

In the realm of frugal living, the book seems to focus primarily on Do It Yourself activities. It includes everything from maintaining your home and car to cutting your own hair (or your family's hair). It even includes a section on knitting, though it claims it's not a frugal activity, which I have to disagree with. You might be able to buy a sweater at a thrift store for $8, but when you make it yourself you can use more elaborate patterns (which you can get for free) as well as better quality materials and construction. Plus, if you think of knitting as entertainment, the number of hours you can spend making even a small item means that your hobby comes out to pennies-per-hour in fun.

I think the benefit of this book is that it does give a lot of options for costs savings, so the reader can pick and choose which activities apply to their lifestyles, range of skills, and willingness to be radically frugal. Then they can do further research on the topic to really improve their cost of living without reducing their quality of living.

[Jillaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried that this book would be similar to many articles I've read over the years that get me all excited about finding new ways to save money only to tell me that I should stop buying Starbucks and brew my coffee at home (I'm not a coffee drinker) or I should brown bag my lunch (I'm a stay-at-home mom and we already did this before my husband started working from home).

While there were lots of things I'd heard before and that I already incorporate into my life, there were also a lot of great and useful tips I plan to try. I liked how the book was organized with essays and anecdotes by different people about how they employ different thrifty practices AND specific and practical ways to be thrifty, such as ways to run your freezer more efficiently, recipes for homemade cleaners or excellent food, home maintenance tips, and ideas for cost-saving gift giving. I found myself adding sticky notes to the pages that I want to come back and reference again.

I loved the authors' premise that being thrifty is not about being cheap. The word thrifty is related to the word THRIVE. I believe I was raised in and continue to run a thrifty household, therefore much of what I read really did just reiterate practices and philosophies that are second nature to me, but, as I said, there were some good practical tips. I would recommend this book to anyone who does feel like they need some good ways to bring down their spending or make their money stretch further but isn't sure where to begin or how they could do more. The areas covered are broad, so there is something for everyone.

The organization of the book made it easy to read in small portions. The topics are also clearly spelled out and so it was easy to skip over the portions that don't apply to me (alchol--I'm a teetotaler--and babies--my kids are all over age 10).

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and fun read, though probably better used as a reference than as a read-through book. A nice general guide to living life within one's means. This book is a compilation of many short articles written by experts in different subjects. Provides tips on how to DIY lots of things, from making your own facial exfoliation scrub to how to rewire a lamp to how to cut a child's hair.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A useful, wide-ranging resource. Some of the chapters will be more relevant for some than others (I do not need to know how to build a campfire!), but overall this book is a great tool to help anyone become a little more thrifty. It's also a great jumping-off point for different methods of thriftiness. None of the chapters are comprehensive, but all have useful information that is a good starting point for deeper research into areas of interest.

[Laura M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book, even for those that have been living the frugal life for a while. There were certain chapters I skimmed over or skipped (I don't have kids, I don't need to know how to frugally buy a Chanel suit, etc.) but others I liked so much I am tempted to purchase the book (true to my frugal nature, I checked this one out from a cooperative library).

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your typical book on economizing, this one starts out by pointing out examples of thrift in the Bible…and then also in Buddhist writings. It covers many different areas: home repair, gardening, how to cook the basics, exercise, healthy eating, and meditation. It veers again into atypical areas such as how to make a martini or margarita and how to entertain. An interesting read.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of ideas and things you wouldn't even think about when it comes to being thrifty. There are recipes for food, directions on making baby wipes, cleaning supplies, staples to keep in your pantry, budgeting tips, how to unclog a toilet and so much more.

[B Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference book, that helps explain the difference between thrifty and cheap. Divided into somewhat lengthy chapters, based on a normal household’s area of spending, the advice and tips are doable and the testimonials are relatable. I will definitely be giving copies as wedding shower gifts.

[Teckla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting with lots of good ideas about different ways one can save at the grocery store and elsewhere but also at home.

[Katrina Clohessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes some great eco-friendly tips on how to be green and thrifty simultaneously.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book as I am using it for everyday purposes with the COVID crisis. Times are tough and it has a lot of great advice for families.

[Aimee]

So much information, it's better as a reference book rather than reading cover to cover.

[Aron Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have some mixed emotions about how the book was put together, but overall, it's an excellent reference guide. It's like the encyclopedia of thrift.

First of all, the book itself is very well designed. The texture, paper quality, font, color and illustrations are all excellent. Even the binding has a new type of hinge on it that I haven't seen before that allows you to open the book up fully without any problem. The cover is cut at the exact same dimensions as the pages instead of having a lip like most books, which is also uncommon. The overall styling and design is very modern, and that's a plus because this is the type of book that you should have on your shelf, ready to grab and look something up whenever you need to, not in ebook format.

The reason I'm calling it an encyclopedia is because it's pulled together from many sources, and has a lot of different authors and references. This is the one part that felt a little bit weird to me. I just read I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi, and I noticed some of his ideas sprinkled in there, almost verbatim. For example, he recommends trying an a la carte method of dealing with subscriptions. Such as, cancel your gym membership and pay a walk-in price every time you go, and see if that ends up being cheaper. Or cancel Netflix and buy individual TV episodes on iTunes instead. He uses some statistics about gym memberships to back up his point, and it's all found copied in this book. He's referenced in small text along the side of the page, at least.

Ramit is also quoted toward the end of the book, talking about personal finance. Again, he's referenced, but it came across very strange to me. Ramit has a very forceful way of writing that's easy to identify, and it's disorienting to be jumping through different voices and tone from paragraph to paragraph.

On another occasion, I found a recipe that I liked. I Googled the first couple sentences of introduction so I could find it online and print out a copy. I found it easily on Google Books, ripped from a cookbook. Funnily, the only thing changed was that the original says it's a great vegetarian recipe, and the copy says that you might want to consider adding in chicken or turkey. In this case, there was no reference on the page saying where the recipe was taken from.

It's annoying that there's so little original material, but the fact is, the stuff that they use is very good. They've taken the best tips they could find, and compiled them all together in one concise volume. You want to know more about any specific area? Just look up the books or authors referenced in that section.

That's why I've given it 5 stars. If you're new to living a thrifty lifestyle, this book will help open your eyes to many different areas of life where you're probably wasting money. For someone like me, who has read dozens of books on personal finance and thrift, there's still something in this book that you can pick up on. For me, it was trying some of the thrifty recipes. I know there are a lot of cookbooks out there specializing in cheap meals, but I never considered getting any because I'm on a relatively expensive gluten-free diet, and it seemed better to try to avoid foods that usually contain gluten instead of modifying all these recipes with more expensive ingredients. Now I realize that there's a lot for me to learn in this respect, and I'm inspired to look into it more. If this helps me trim my food budget by even 1%, then the book will pay for itself.

Give this book a try. Especially if you're just getting started and you don't know where to begin.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the better money, thrift, frugal living books i have read. there was a lot of information about many different things in life. they were not vague as other books tend to be. they have great examples. some advice is common sense but still a good read.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the information here is just plain common sense, which is good considering there seems to be a lack of common sense out there nowadays.

However, even for someone with a healthy common sense perspective, this book holds several treasures:

- How to make your own Mozzarella Cheese (there goes my diet, lol!) and household cleaning products.
- Step-by-step instructions to cut your own hair.
- Basic fix-it yourself techniques.
- I finally know my Planting Zone!
- Natural pest control options.
- Thrifty shopping tips and where to go to get online bargins.
- Tips on how to haggle like a pro.
- How to maximize your take home pay.
- 20 great wines for under $10.
- How to remove tough stains using eco-friendly items found in most homes.

Plus, lots of handy recipes.

[Carmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

inspired me to rewire a lamp. Also has a lot of tips you'll find in other, similar books (make a price guide for grocery shopping so you know if you're actually getting a good deal, etc.) but it felt like it pulled together a lot of good ideas that I would actually use. Enjoyed the cost-benefit analysis of gardening- yes, gardening is worth it if you figure out what is going to work for your garden. For example, Corn isn't really worth it when around here good local corn is going to come available for less than a dollar an ear when it is in season and can be cooked and frozen compared with the space you would need to grow it. Beets on the other hand are a bit pricer, do well in our garden and are things my family likes to eat so we plant lots.

[Blog on Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living better on less is the theme of a cute, small yet comprehensive book called “Be Thrifty* not Cheap” edited by Pia Catton and Califia Suntree (nice name!) (Workman). In it, the pair cover a lot of ground – from stretching your food budget to D.I.Y. household repairs – all the while, stressing ways to be smart rather than stressed. Their advice, from bulk calculations, to negotiating skills (look them in the eye and be nice) to even philosophical quotes from Cicero and Socrates, all serve to make their point in an informative and enjoyable read. The basics? Buy well, quality over quantity and keep things working a long time; think of saving as new found income. They even give you a real penny to get started!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific book! Based on the premise that the word "thrift" is a derivative of the word "thrive," the book gives countless suggestions on how to enjoy life while saving money along the way. Whether you are looking to save a few dollars here and there, or really wanting to have begin a thrifty lifestyle, this book will help you do it! From basic home repairs, (and when to just call an expert), packing lunches, growing herbs, getting out of debt, maintaining your car, vacationing, and taking care of yourself, I found this book to be a great resource!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book! It was a culmination of a number of different contributors talking about ways to do more with less. I literally sat in the car (while my daughter slept in the back) and read this book cover to cover. It was a super-quick read, but it was also very timely and realistic. Obviously, some chapters were more meaningful than others, but by and large I got something out of the entire book. I might actually go out and buy a copy (as opposed to taking it out of my local library). LOL!

[meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection from various books or other places. It is presented in a straightforward and abbreviated fashion. You get all the meat without all the fat.
There was a lot of common sense stuff or stuff that has been around for a while, but often explanations were better, more concise or relatable, and yet more detailed. Some of it was a bit too thrifty for me. But it did have a range of topics, a lot that I don’t or won’t ever need (cocktail parties are not an issue for me).

[Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an okay book. I love that it is put into sections so you can go straight to whatever you are most interested in. Some of the stuff here is very self-explanatory and others are either just plain cheap (and you can easily tell) or seem like it would be more of a hassle or expensive to do them than whatever you are originally trying to save money on.

[Jennie Morton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic. If you haven't ever thought about being frugal or are a college student, this is a good starting point. I guess I forget there are people out there who don't realizing making pizza at home is way less expensive than ordering in or that vinegar can be used for cleaning. If you've been thrifty for years, this is not going to be as helpful but I did find one or two useful tips.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just skimmed this book as it was pretty dense and had several sections that didn't really apply to me. It's ok, but a lot of the suggestions I've heard before and a lot is common sense saving tips.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun book, with some helpful thrifty tips. It reads sort of like those little one page sections in magazines titles "how to save,live on a budget, ect...with helpful hints on how to save on household items,gifts, expenses, ect...there is even a hair cutting tutorial. It's worth a spin through.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book was great but I rented it from the library and I think it would be much more helpful as a go-to when I need a guide on say gardening, fixing, etc. It will really come in handy when I'm a homeowner especially though:

[Heydi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and fun guide to living on less. A little vague for my taste but if you've never lived on less than this would be a great place to start. If you are looking for ways to further tighten your already choking belt then I would look elsewhere,

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some helpful tips in it. This book says if you do things the old way then you can save money and it is true, but at the same time I don't have all the time in the world to all that. This book makes you question how much is your time worth.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great ideas in this book!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda fun to read.

[Sannasue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, but since we were already doing a lot of the suggestions, it didn't help as much as I would have liked.