I've just started this book so I can't really say much about it yet though I did have a thought about it and other books of this kind. I'm always interested in frugal/simple living books so usually take a look when I see one. But most of them talk about either stuff I already do/know or how to get out of debt, which I don't need. The getting out of debt made me think if most of these books get to their intended audience or if they are mostly read by people interested in this subject.
Anyway thought I would pass this on in case anyone else is interested.
Penny in FL (Login Bugpugmom) The Frugalista Files
I read this one
March 6 2012, 1:42 PM
I actually skimmed the entire thing while in the library, it was so much rehash of stuff we've long since covered here that I didn't have to "read" it. Nothing new under the sun.
...is encouragement. You are right--there's nothing new under the sun. But if a book or movie or something on the internet encourages you to stay the course, then it is worth the effort. For me, reading a book on organization always makes me want to get up and clean house!!
I think that's why I like decorating websites and blogs
March 6 2012, 5:18 PM
Seeing those totally clean & decluttered rooms makes me want to get up and start cleaning. Of course watching The Hoarders makes me want to get out the trash can and start tossing, without feeling like I should go buy things to make my house look like a magazine. Maybe I should stick to The Hoarders. lol
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The road to success is always under construction.
but reading these types of books help keep me on track. I've been reading a few lately for some reason.
One thing it did remind me of is that knowledge is not only power but it saves you money.
Frugal people do a lot of things for their self, from the simple like cooking to the big like building a home. Some of these might not save too much but we do usually get what we want. Also knowing how something works or is done helps us when hiring out work. I might not know all the ins and outs of something but I usually know enough to get what needs doing at a price I think is fair.
One kind of fun thing is, I checked this book out as an e-book from my library. Its very simple to do and is an underused service in my area. I need to take a good look around the site and see what else they have available.
to figure out what I don't like about it and Living on a Dime, the simple dollar, etc. etc. Not to pick on those particularly, but I'm heavily medicated and that is all that come to mind. Pioneer woman, hillbilly housewife... Flylady.
They are all trying to sell me something. Not that it is bad to sell things. I'm not sure if I can explain it. Maybe everything they say feels like a commercial (whether they mean it to or not.)
The cheapest family website is pretty low budget (predictably?!!) so there is a lot of stuff popping up and in between posts, etc. and I find that annoying. I'm pretty sure I won't ever go back because of that. I did read through a lot of things, though, and if someone was looking for ideas and could wade through the ads it might be a good place to go.
I've seen them on TV, but haven't read their book. I know their kids took short, cold (cool?) showers. I can't remember where I saw them... Dr Phil, I think? And he told them that they shouldn't tell people that because they would get ignored as too extreme. So I don't know how much is in the book.
They need to write the extreme frugality book... but then none of us would buy it only get it from the library... ;-P
...either do a daily thread with Tips from Mom, or just write a long post about them. We all want to know how to stretch a penny into a thin copper thread.... BTW, do you do any of the same stuff, or did you reject the old ways?
This message has been edited by MaxineS on Mar 13, 2012 1:32 PM
Wonder how they got their kids to take cold showers?
March 13 2012, 1:15 PM
Unless I took a shower with my kids, I don't think there's any way I could control their shower temperatures. Dh used to turn the knob off at the hot water heater when dd#2 had been in a long time. That got her out.
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The road to success is always under construction.
I'm lucky to get my kids to shower, forget making them take a COLD one.....
March 14 2012, 7:33 AM
seriously... I'm finding that what they say about 10 year old boys to be entirely true.... my son takes 1-2 showers a week, except for in summer where he goes to camp and gets all messy and takes one daily... but normaly??? If I tried to make them take cold ones, they never would...
...not the Dennis Quaid movie, but the original book by the Gilbreth kids (it was made into a movie in the late '40s). I don't recall that the old man made the kids take cold showers, but they were only allowed 3 or 5 minutes. Also, at their summer cottage on Nantucket, he had the constellations painted on the wall of the shower, so they learned astronomy while they showered. The Gilbreth parents were pioneering industrial engineers in the field of motion study and had 12 children. Very funny book!
Sandy in NJ (Login SandyinMI) The Frugalista Files
and didn't the dad have a system for them?
March 14 2012, 1:57 PM
I read the book so many years ago but I seem to remember the father instructing the kids on how to take the bath. He had worked out the most efficient way to wash. At least, I think I'm remembering the right book. I don't think I saw the movie.
to say not only do i remember it - i use it in the shower
start soap at hand one, proceed up arm across chest and down to arm tow - repeat in reverse on bottom of arm. (sliding soap across a lower section of chest - get pits on the way toward each arm) lower arm as soap approaches hand and do the same with legs, one fluid motion from second hip around back and front. (you've shampooed first and are rinsing your hair while washing your body) rinse body in shower water while washing face.
If i didn't do it this way - i'd never get out of the shower in under 15 minutes! (i also start shampooing while waiting for the water to get warm enough to switch the showerhead on. by the time the water's flowing my hair is done and ready to rinse)
I still laugh about this. You'd have to understand the relationship I had/have with my dad--which is basically no relationship at all. Anyway, it was a few days before I got married, and he and I were sitting in the living room. He had a few pieces of advice he wanted to give me. I don't remember all of it, but the two that really stick out in my memory were to put a little water in my hand and then a little shampoo, to stretch the shampoo, before washing my hair. I remember thinking, "why not add a little water to the shampoo bottle?" But the best advice by far was that I should always use a washcloth when I shower. This way I could use very little soap to work up a good lather, saving on soap. Then, before using my towel, I was to completely dry off with my washcloth, stopping to wring it out several times along the way. This would mean I would not have to wash my towel as often, which would save money on laundry costs but would also make my towel last longer.
I use a $1 scrubby thingie, and I use my towel right out of the shower. My Sorry, Daddy!
