Friday, July 27, 2007

Live Well On Less: A Bibliography

Below are books which have contributed to my understanding and practice of cheerful frugality. I have linked to Amazon for ease, but you will check your library catalog before ordering...right?

This list is by no means complete. I read many of these titles simply because they were in my local library's collection. I am placing a star by my top favorites. You can also find additional book reviews by clicking on the "library bag" category on the sidebar.
Saving Money:
The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn*
Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom by Stephanie Nelson*
Shop, Save, and Share, How To Save Money Every Day,Half Price Livingby Ellie Kay*
Miserly Moms, Frugal Families, andMiserly Mealsby Jonni McCoy
Mega Cookingby Jill Bond*
How To Survive Without A Salaryby Charles Long*
The Complete Cheapskateby Mary Hunt
Yankee Magazine Living Well On A Shoestring
Frugal Luxuries and Frugal Luxuries By The Seasonsby Tracey McBride*
Living Well On One Income In A Two Income World by Cynthia Yates
Raising Kids On Just A Little Cash by Lisa Reid
Downsized But Not Defeated by Quinn and Miller-Lachman
Saving Money Any Way You Can by Mike Yorkey
Living Cheaply With Style by Ernest Callenbach

Money Management Philosophy:
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey*
The Millionaire Next Door and other books by Thomas Stanley*
The Overspent American and other research by Juliet Schor*
Consumer and real estate guides by Clark Howard
Debt-Free Living by Larry Burkett

Homemaking, Hospitality, and Decorating:
The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin
Design books by Alexandra Stoddard*
Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer*
Scaling Down: Living Large In A Smaller Space by Judi Culbertson and Marj Decker
Use What You Have Decorating series by Lauri Ward*
Homemaking books by Emilie Barnes
Mrs. Greenthumbs gardening books by Cassandra Dantz
House Thinking by Winifred Gallagher
Budget Living's Home Cheap Home

Simplicity and Contentment:
Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider
The Circle of Simplicity: Return To The Good Lifeby Cecile Andrews
Home Sweeter Home: Creating A Haven Of Simplicity And Spirit by Jann Mitchell
The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs
A Simple Choice: Practical Guide For Saving Time, Money, and Sanity by Deborah Taylor-Hough*
Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach
Celebrate Simply by Nancy Twigg
Six Weeks To A Simpler Lifestyle by Barbara Degrote-Sorenson
Your Money Or Your Lifeby Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

Secondhand Shopping:
Alligators, Old Mink, and New Money by Allison Houtte
Secondhand Chic by Christa Weil
The Rummager's Handbook by R.S. McClurg

Free online texts:
I collect old homemaking books, so I wanted to include some vintage titles that everyone could read. I have not read all these completely yet.
The Next-To-Nothing House*
The Furnishing of a Modest Home
Adventures In Thrift
Thrift In The Household (*especially its definition of thrift)
The Honest House

Today's assignment: check your library for books that will encourage you to live well on less. This subject can be hard to find, as it overlaps several categories. Periodically, I search the online catalog using the following keywords:

thrift(y) * budget * saving * frugal * simple * less * recycling * reuse * consumer * green * secondhand * home * homemaking * home economics * stewardship * sustainability * poverty


26 comments:

Laura said...

Thank you for putting together a bibliography. I'm constantly doing searches on your site for a book you recommended. I'm currently reading $64 Tomato and loving it! Thanks again for sharing your tips and ideas!

Anonymous said...

I was browsing for some of the books you listed on my library's website, and I noticed that Ellie Kay has written a new book! '1/2 Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income. I was sure you and your readers would want to know.

Btw, I came across this site while reading the Ladies Finishing School posts, and quickly added it to my favorites file. You have done an excellent job here.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the keywords.

I think I'll request some of the intriguing ones from interlibrary loan.

Jora

Meredith said...

The neat thing is that I found about 10 new-to-me books in the library catalog while recreating this bibliography for you!

I put several on hold. I will review them in the regular "Library Bag" series later.

Jana @sidetrackd said...

Although I haven't commented on the earlier posts, I've really enjoyed your perspective on this topic over the course of the week. Thanks for all of the tips, pointers, ideas, and for the bibliography.

Anonymous said...

What a great list - I have some of these books, but am printing your list so I can look for the ones I don't have.

Tasha said...

I frequent your blog and it is so fun and encouraging to read. Thank you for the work you put into this weeks "lessons." The book list is great.

I have a question about the Briwax: I got a piano off of freecycle last week and it needs to be refinished. Do you think the Briwax would work for this project. I'm thinking that several coats and lots of buffing would do the trick. I had not heard of briwax until your blog, but it sounds like a good option for this old piano.

Have a nice day.
Tasha

Renee said...

Just stopping by and letting you know how much I enjoy reading your blog everyday. One question I have as far as books is could you recommend any good books on organizing, and filing. I really want to be organized not only in our office for our business but also our personal items as well. IS their a system that has worked for you?

Shannon said...

You've done such an excellent job this week! I'm so inspired! Reading is without a doubt my favorite hobby and some of these books are my favorites, too. But your blog tops them with it's wonderful "real life" pictures and all your great finds:)

Kelly said...

Thats a great list! I've read a couple of them but I need to look for the rest at the library.

MrsB

Lori ~ The Simple Life at Home said...

You have done such a wonderful job! I've loved each and everyone of your posts and I'm looking forward to making use of them. Bless you for all your work this week!

Anonymous said...

Oooh, thanks for the great book list. I'm going to be checking my library soon! Keep the great ideas coming.
Blessings,
Trina

Tammy said...

I've "clipped" this post to my bloglines clipboard for further perusal. Thanks for all the book titles!

Alexandra said...

My favorite topic, books! I see a lot of my favorites too, but I also see a few new ones I'd like to read. Great list and the key words are very helpful. I'll definitely be checking out the free ones. Thanks so much for sharing. :)

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

Thank you for taking the time to make this list. I was looking at my library's online catalog as I was reading through your list. I've written down several call numbers, and a trip to my library is now in the plan for this afternoon!

Sherry said...

Wow! What a great list! I've bookmarked it for future reference.

Mama Squirrel said...

One of my old favourites was published by La Leche League: The Heart Has Its Own Reasons: Mothering Wisdom for The 1980s. It does show its age, but in other ways its advice is timeless, particularly about practicing contentment if you have chosen to be a one-income family.

Great posts this week!

Amy said...

You did such an excellent job this week, Meredith. You should be so proud of yourself! I know that all of these posts took so much time and energy, but I hope it helps to know how many people you have benefited and made our lives better by your blogging!

Anonymous said...

I know everyone else has already said so, but I want to say it, too! You really did do an absolutely wonderful job this past week. Everything you have written has proven to be a blessing!

With His Grace said...

We did Dave Ramsey as well...well still are doing it but we are almost there! HURARY!!! Our church did a GIANT push with it, some people stuck with it other didn't. It is hard some days when I want stuff...but the end result will be splendid! We love Miserly Meals that is one of my favorite cookbooks and I bought it when I was in college...long before I cared about debt!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Good list!

Just an FYI - a lot of these items / authors also have FREE podcasts - for those iPOD junkies out there(me included). :)

AmyR said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
AmyR said...

Thanks for the list of books, I ordered MANY of them thru interlibrary loan, and found that many of the suggestions I either already do, or wouldn't think of doing, like spending 500 on a vacation rather than 1000 (we stay home!) Did find some shopping tips that may help! Thank you so much!!
Amy R. (There seem to be a lot of Amy's in the blog world!!)

*carrie* said...

Meredith,

I am half-way through Frugal Luxuries and am not enjoying it as much as I'd expected. I'd be curious to hear why it's one of your favorites.

~~Deby said...

Thanks for this great list.
Deby

Mary Bernard said...

Love, love, love Hidden Art of Homemaking. I love to see that it's one of your faves, too!