I need frugal books

**mom2bobsarah** · 12-16-2008, 09:14 AM

Hi all, I was hoping someone could help, sorry if posted in wrong place. I am looking for any books on frugal living and I thought maybe some of you have books that you would part with, for a reasonable price. I can check Ebay or Amazon but thought I would see if anyone here wants to unload theirs first. Really looking for a TWG or Ramsey books but willing to read anything you guys think is worth the time. My worst spending is groceries, I am a shopaholic when it comes to food (baggage from childhood that I need to work on). Thanks in advance.

**Momto2Boyz** · 12-16-2008, 09:17 AM

The best frugal way to frugally read frugality books is to check your local library if you can! I check out the TWG several times a year, but our library has a whole section on frugal living with lots of good books! Hope you find what you are looking for!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-16-2008, 09:47 AM

I have to agree, the best place is to check the library. It's very frugal because it costs nothing. Most libraries will also let you keep the books for an extended period of time has long has no one else is wanting the book.

**LastDragonfly** · 12-16-2008, 09:58 AM

I concur. My library has some frugal books. They actually bought some when I brought in a list request since their frugal section was poor.

They bought some Peggy Layton emergency food and preparedness
Mary Ball-dehydrator
The complete Tightwad Gazzette (books 1, 2, 3 in one copy)
and some others
I'm hoping they will get some more Peggy Layton books.

**mom2bobsarah** · 12-16-2008, 10:03 AM

Thank you for the library idea, but ours is very small with little selection, perhaps I can get them to order some.

**staciah** · 12-16-2008, 10:10 AM

These are my lastest that I took out of our Library:

Miserly Mom By Jonni McCoy
More Make your own Groceries By Hartwig
Homemade - 702 ways to Save money and the Earth By Reader's Digest
Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things - 2317 ways to Save Money and Time By Reader's Digest

I love the Reader's Digest books I may invest in buying them from Amazon.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 12-16-2008, 10:54 AM

I got that Reader's Digest Homemade book and that's honestly the best thing I've invested in that's updated. TWG is good for some ideas but a lot of them are pretty outdated.

I'd give you a copy of the book I'm writing if I could! I'm on Chapter Nine.

**nuisance26** · 12-16-2008, 11:13 AM

~If your grocery shopping is a big problem, the book you really need you probably already have. A basic cookbook. I love my Better Homes and Gardens red and white cookbook. I also love www.Allrecipes.com. Learning to cook more of the things you'd normally buy prepared will save you tons of money.~

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-16-2008, 12:19 PM

I say try to local library, but also half.com (ebay company). I loved Misery Moms and have Dave's TMMO book and workbook, can't part with them though. I also have the Suze Orman's Road to Wealth that I picked up in Walmart.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 12-16-2008, 04:43 PM

Try www.powells.com they are a bookseller out of Organ that deals in used books. Currently has Tightwad books 2 and 3 for under 5.00 each. Personally I bought all of my books used at our local goodwill bookstore. But I understand that they don't have bookstores all over. I would recommend getting one book at a time and watching your used bookstores. Also I would post on my local freecycle that I'm looking for them and see if someone has them to part with.
I agree that a good cookbook will save you tons! Making a proper menu will help also and sticking to it and your grocery list.

Laurie in Bradenton

**craftypam** · 12-27-2008, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by mom2bobsarah

Thank you for the library idea, but ours is very small with little selection, perhaps I can get them to order some.

addall.com dealoz.com are 2 websites that tell you how much the book is and shipping at several sites so you know the cheapest place to buy. Also I don't know if your library does this but mine will check all over including out of state to get the book for me. It is better if you have the chance to check out the book before you buy to make sure it is really what you want. Hope this helps.

**Milly** · 12-27-2008, 09:21 AM

The best book I ever read on frugality was "How to Live on Nothing" by Joan Ranson Shortney. It was published in 1968, so it's been around for 40 years, but the advice still holds true, especially if you're in dire straits.

Let me also recommend the AbeBooks website to you. They're a great resource for good, inexpensive copies of all sorts of books. They even have the out-of-print Shortney book for a dollar and change.

**pbobber** · 12-27-2008, 09:26 AM

Talk with the local librarian to see if there are any lending agreements with other libraries. Mine does and I can borrow books from libraries in all surrounding counties. Also in Indiana you can pay a yearly fee and borrow books from any public library in the state.

**Thrifty Mom** · 12-27-2008, 10:06 AM

One of my favorite cookbooks is Dining On A Dime. It gives lots of good ideas with basic ingredients & how to make your own items you might normally buy. Like mixes, cream soup, etc. My other favorite cook book is Joy of Cooking. I owned it for years with out opening it ( because it doesn't have fancy pictures), but have found that it holds a wealth of information on just about any food topic, including a section on canning/freezing/preserving.