This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Patricia is the winner of my review copy of The Real Cost of Living by Carmen Wong Ulrich. Patricia said she has a handle on her finances, but her adult children are not there quite yet. She wrote:
At 60, I’ve pretty much figured this stuff out. What kills me, though, is seeing my 4 adult kids (aged 30-40) frittering away money on Starbucks, eating out, etc. If I mention stuff like that to them, it goes in one ear and out the other. But, if I could say, “Hey, I won this book and I’m passing it on to you”. . . . .
Patricia, I am (more…)
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The impact our behavior and motivations have on our financial decisions is the focus of The Real Cost of Living by Carmen Wong Ulrich. Ulrich, who has a degree in psychology and was the former host of CNBC’s On the Money, says she sees money differently because she was not trained in the profession:
Economics has finally recognized that we are not rational creatures; we’re not all about the accounting. Behavioral economics, the study of the neuropsychology behind how we behave with our money, has won Nobel Prizes. But it’s also about time – especially for those of us in personal finance – to realize that there is a lot more going on than money when it comes to making decisions about our money and our lives.
What spoke to me the most was the chapter on the real cost of bad habits. (more…)
Full disclosure: I have never met author Natalie McNeal but I consider her a frugal blog friend.
When I received Natalie McNeal’s The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life
Lucky me, because there are so many funny and true moments in this book that I can share them and you’ll know how much this book deserves your $8.56 (on Amazon.com, anyway). Incidentally, I read the entire 179-page book on a flight from Providence, RI to Phoenix with time to spare. The Frugalista Files is fun.
On changing her life: “Being a spending slut is ruining my life. (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Jane is the winner of my review copy of How to Shop for Free: Shopping Secrets for Smart Women Who Love to Get Something for Nothing. Jane said she would like to add this to her budget and savings library. She wrote:
This book looks like it contains a wealth of couponing and savings info. I would love to have it in my budget and savings library. I also think it would make a great gift for my college sophomore daughter!
Jane, I hope you enjoy reading the book. But most importantly, please pass this on to your daughter so she can also benefit from the tips. I know money can be tight when you are a college student, but college is a great time to learn to manage your income.
The first runner up is Jennifer Nicholas, who wants to use the book’s tips to score more items for the care packages she sends to deployed soldiers. The second runner up is Tiffani W., who is a Kathy Spencer fan and has become a coupon hound.
If you missed my review, author Kathy Spencer shows you how to get the best deals at popular stores like Rite Aid, CVS and Target. In her 237-page book she also shows you how to lower your cable bill, eat healthy on a budget and get discounts at the mall.
If you didnt win my review copy and would like to read the book, you can order it from Amazon for $10.58.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Nanette is the winner of my review copy of Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In. Nanette made it her goal to declutter her home this year. She writes:
This might really help me. I had as a goal for 2010 to clean and declutter my home. It has been a (almost) yearlong project and I will need to continue into 2011. Not what I had envisioned!! I have made some progress but not enough. I seem to try to get everything done on week-ends and still have fun. Doesnt quite work out that way. I need a fresh idea! (more…)
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Leah Ingram shares tips to turn trash into cash in her 250-page book Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In, which was borne out of her blog, SuddenlyFrugal.com. You may be tempted to hire someone to clean up the mess, but why spend money when you can be making money? Ingram writes:
There’s no reason to pay anywhere from $50 to $100 an hour to hire a professional organizer to go through your closets — you can do that yourself. That’s where this book comes in. It will help frugal folks like you get your home in order and help you find ways to make money from things you no longer need or want.
In her book, Ingram shows you how to (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
Karen Reed is the winner of my review copy of Enjoy Your Money!: How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It. I asked you guys who your financial role model was and Karen said it was her mother. She wrote:
MY financial role model, without a doubt, is my mother. She grew up during the depression and knew what it was like to literally have nothing. She taught me from a very early age that even pennies make dollars. Most people if they drop a penny will leave it. I pick it up and so do my kids! MY mother has taught me to not live beyond my means, which in this world is sometimes hard to do.
Karen, I can only imagine (more…)
Personal finance books dont have to be boring. “Enjoy Your Money!: How to Make It, Save It, Invest It and Give It”
Youre never too young or too old to discover these ageless principles. They apply to the seasoned business executives as well as the entrepreneur with his first lemonade stand. Warren Buffet caught his vision at age five and started investing at age 11. My grandmother started multiplying her money in her mid-60s. At age one hundred and two, with her sharp mind intact, shes accumulated a small fortune.
Millers 254-page book is geared towards young people. He writes about four culturally diverse high school seniors who meet in in-school suspension and discover that their parents suck at (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Gabrielle wins my review copy of Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years, for her funny comment about needing the book not only for her spoiled children but her husband as well. She wrote:
My teenager, you mean my hubby. I need this for my teenage like husband! HAHA!! No, but we have two pre-teens whom my mother-in-law has spoiled to no end & ruined any attempt I have put in to teach them about money, saving, & spending when needed instead of on any little thing they can afford.
Gabrielle, I love your honesty about your kids being spoiled. It is my hope that this book helps them learn about money and the importance of saving. Although the book is aimed at teens, Im sure your husband will also learn a couple of things. When reading the book, I was reminded I had to set money aside from my freelancing paychecks to pay for federal and state taxes when the time comes around. Im no longer a teen but the learning never stops.
If you missed my review of the book, author Jill Russo Foster says that teaching teens about money is the key to avoiding debt. Her easy-to-read book includes information from creating a budget to avoiding identity theft. This book is the first in a series of three books on personal finances by Foster.
Gabrielle, email me to claim your prize and include an address where I can ship the book to.
If you didnt win my review copy and would like to get the book for your teen or youd like to brush up on the basics, Amazon has it for $15.25.
If you are the parent of a teen and have been looking for the right time to talk to him or her about money now is the time. Jill Russo Foster, author of Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years
Ive come to believe that financial education is the key for everyone. The sooner you start learning about money and personal finance, the sooner you can take control of your own finances. This book will start you off in the right direction and teach you how to build good financial habits.
Foster, who is now in the mortgage industry, started her financial career right out of college when she began working as a bank teller in an affluent neighborhood. She recounts that most people she saw at the bank wore designer clothes, had the latest car and were also on the overdraft list.
In the book, Foster uses examples of five teens that were given her book to read and later tells of the changes they made to change their money habits. The teens stories and her own she admits to having 27 credit cards at one point make the book easy to read. Your teen will be able to relate to the teens’ stories and learn from their success and failures.
This 84-page book will teach your teen about the basics of managing their money think allowances and babysitting money while thinking of long term goals like saving for college and short term goals like buying an iPod. The book is divided into five chapters that are filled with worksheets and practical examples for teens to understand. The chapters include information on creating a budget, the banking system, establishing credit, strategies for paying for college, avoiding identity theft and making major purchases.
This book is the first in a series of three books on personal finances by Foster. If you would like to win a copy of “Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years” for your teen, leave a comment explaining why your teen needs to read this book. If you cant wait to get a copy, you can buy it on Amazon
Buying a copy supports BargainBabe.com.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Being green is not only good for the planet but your wallet as well. Thats the premise behind Shift Your Habit: Easy Ways to Save Money, Simplify Your Life, and Save the Planet by Elizabeth Rogers. She describes green changes that will decrease your carbon footprint and lists the dollar amount each one will potentially save you.
Like many people, Rogers thought it was expensive to go green. Then she realized she was wrong and decided to write a guide to help people identify how to save money by being eco-friendly. She writes:
In my own experience, Ive noticed that becoming greener has made my life richer and healthier, and, paradoxically, less expensive. This was a revelation. Like most people, I thought going green would put a serious strain on my finances. But I found, in reality, theres no need to compromise ecological principles in order to save cash. And, perhaps surprisingly, you dont need to give up comfort, convenience, or style in order to tread more lightly on the earth.
The biggest money-savings are for people who own their own homes. Changes like lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater from 140 degrees F to 120 degrees F can save up to $70 per year for an electric water heater, and up to $40 or more per year for a gas water heater. As an apartment dweller, my utility bill is included in my rent so I won’t see any savings for changing to energy-efficient ways. Everyone can save up to $200 per year if they replace standard household cleaning products with home remedies.
Shift Your Habit is more like a guide that can easily be skimmed to find specific information rather than a long drawn sermon that preaches about the benefits of green living. The book is laid out in an easy-to-read format as each chapter has a theme, tables, and charts for quick access and understanding. One cool chart is titled Vintage Baby and lists price comparisons on new and used “must-have” baby furniture.
One of my favorite features in the book is titled Swift Shifts. These are stories about families and individuals who have made changes in their daily lives and have noticed a difference in their checkbook. The testimonials are written in the first person and really help drive home the fact that anyone can afford to be an environmentalist.
The book is packed with practical tips that long-time environmentalist may know, but I had a couple aha moments when I asked myself why I hadnt thought of the change before. If you have an aquarium, instead of pouring the old water down the drain, it can be used to feed your plants because it contains high levels of nitrogen and other nutrients that help plants grow. This adds up to a $15 per year savings on fertilizer costs.
If you would like to win my review copy of Shift Your Habit: Easy Ways to Save Money, Simplify Your Life, and Save the Planet, leave a comment by Friday, July 16 at 9 a.m. explaining your reason for going green. If you cant wait, purchase it on Amazon for $10.08.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Stephanie Ann, author of The Cheap Divas Guide to Frugal and Fabulous Living: How to Shop Smart, Look Your Best, Decorate with Style, and Have Fun for Less Money!, shares her tips and tricks to living large on a small budget in her 224-page book. Ann is the creator of thecheapdiva.com, a budget style blog.
In her book, Ann shares her secrets to scoring deals and shows you how to make money by cashing in on your clutter or creating your own job. The book is a fun and fast read with hints of humor that come from anecdotes she shares about her time working in various home dcor and retail businesses. The book also includes a handy list of websites sure to save you money.
The book is divided into five parts: Money, Fashion, Beauty, Home Dcor and Entertainment.
So what makes Ann an expert in frugal living ? For starters, I was living the frugal lifestyle long before it was fashionable, she writes. With a series of low-income jobs and prolonged periods of unemployment, she said shes built a healthy sense of mistrust of employers and many healthy savings habits.
If you would like to learn the secrets to a frugal and fabulous life for free, leave a comment detailing your short-lived jobs and how they helped you learn to tighten your financial belt. You may end up being the lucky winner of my review copy – signed by the Cheap Diva herself!
Comment by Friday, July 9 at 9 a.m. PST for a chance to win. If you cant wait to get your hands on the book, you can purchase it on Amazon for $13.45.
Money is a great way to get close to your sweetie. That’s the premise behind “Get Financially Naked,” by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar.
The book is meant for women in a committed relationship who want to find out if they are financially compatible with their mate. “Get Financially Naked” also aims to help women gain and maintain control over their finances in a relationship.
Dealing with money can bring women closer to their partners and strengthen their relationships.
First, this book will help you and your partner get on the same financial page, which means your relationship is much less likely to get torpedoed by financial stress. Second, by learning to talk about money with your honey in a constructive way, the odds are high that you will dramatically strengthen your relationship.
The 148-page book is divided into three sections to help you:
1. Get the upper hand of your finances
2. Learn how to talk to your partner about money
3. Get tools to save and invest so you can turn your financial dreams into reality
There is also a 30-question quiz to take with your partner and worksheets to help you get “financially naked” because when it comes to money you want to know exactly what you’re dealing with.
Comment on this post for a chance to win my review copy. If you can’t wait, Amazon has it for $9.32 (orig $12. 95).
Readers who have previouslychided my ocassionallycrass language, hold back. This post is not intended for minors or the faint at heart.
I couldn’t resist grabbing “Bitches on a Budget” from my patient stack of books waiting for areview. But does the book has as much sass as the title? Yes.
Rosalyn Hoffman opens her322-page book with this essential question. How do you live a stylish life during the greatest economic downturn of your generation?No matter that the recession is technically over. Budget woes continue. And women rule the pocketbook. Here’s how Chapter 1 starts:
Bitches, we’re going to let you in on a secret: Women might only make $.78 for every $1 men make, but we’re the ones who drive the economy. We’re the ones who decide what to buy and when to buy it. You think we’re kidding? Just turn on the television. It’s talking to you, bitch. And even when it’s not – Rogaine and boner pills – it’s still about you!
Rosalyn gives budgeting a good name (it’s just another way to say edit, really), and attempts to do the same for what seems to be her favorite b-word. She writes about shopping, grooming, staying healthy, mental health, travel, cars, entertainment, entertaining and home decorating, food, and pets in her over-the-top girlfriend no you di-ent hand-waving, finger-snapping voice.
In other words, she makes saving money really entertaining. What more can you ask for?
Comment on this post for a chance to win my review copy. Or, you can pick it up at Amazon for $10.20 (orig. $15).
Elise Cooke, author of Strategic Eating, is a like-minded soul. In 19 quick and fun chapters, Elise spells out how to be the “weird shopper” who snags all the grocery deals, how to substitute ingredients to save, and helpful websites that have low-budget recipes.
She learned the tips and strategies she shares in her book by necessity. Now, she just has a very “lucrative (food) hobby.” I love it!
Elise is focused on eating right. “There’s more to this food finesse thing than saving money,” she writes. “Shoot, you could eat dirt and save bucks of money. The challenge is to eat nutritiously; otherwise, what’s the point?” My thoughts exactly!
In the 109-page book Elise shares:
- Common grocery store practices that trick you into paying too much, and how you can avoid them
- 3 ways to get food for free
- Why coupons may end up costing you more
- 4 easy methods of making perfectly portable meals, for families on-the-go
- Time savers that can let you put food on the table faster than ordering take-out
Leave a comment about why you should win my review copy by Sunday night. The winner will be announced Monday. Can’t wait? Buy it from Amazon now for $13.25.
