It's almost as though Yankee Magazine had today's shaky economy in mind when it published "Living Well on a Shoestring" back in 2000. The book's subtitle, "1,501 Ingenious Ways to Spend Less for What You Need and Have More for What You Want," certainly applies to us now as we struggle to conserve every possible dollar.
"Living Well" is loaded with more tips than you'll likely ever use for holding onto your money. Many are just plain common sense, quite a few are pure Yankee ingenuity, but most of them are worth trying. As the book notes, frugality is about finding clever ways to save money.
Throughout the book you'll find first-person stories and hints about saving money. While some of them are a bit over the top, for the most part they're creative and ingenious ways to accomplish or acquire what you need and keep your money (or most of it) in your pocket. Small savings steps, as the book points out, can add up to a big difference.
Some of the categories in the book include: inexpensive games to make for kids, health-care home remedies, spending less on hobbies and sports, automotive (buying a car, taking care of it, basic maintenance), cutting costs in your home office, and electronics and small appliances (repairs and troubleshooting).
The chapters on spending less at the grocery store and preparing thrifty meals at home offer practical, down-home ideas. One hint suggests deleting one unnecessary item from your weekly grocery list on a permanent basis, and multiplying the cost by 52 weeks to see how much you'll save in a year.
For those who are either looking for a job or have one and need to maintain the appropriate look, the chapter "Thrifty Ways to Dress Well" offers tips on spotting a quality garment, how to give old clothes new life with a few basic alterations, how to darn socks and repair a zipper, stain removal and more.
Perhaps one of the best things about consulting an older book such as "Living Well" is that it's generally available at a reduced cost. Look online for used copies, some as low as a dollar, or hunt through book sales in your area.