Back to basics: How to make it through hard times

by Franz Sidney

If you desire to take control of your life and finances, but feel lost in a sea of information, this book is for you. Franz explains in detail how to get started right away to be self reliant and to be in control of just about any aspect of your life that you feel needs improving. You might wonder how to make a simple but effective plan to get out of debt; or you might be trying to control your impulse buying. “Back to Basics” will show you how to save money at home and when you are out and about, holidays included; it will give you step by step instructions on how de-clutter your home, help your kids to earn their gifts, eat healthily, cook from scratch, grow your food and much more. It is also packed with useful and down to earth information on how to prepare for periods of unemployment, social unrest, pandemics and illness. In a friendly, conversational tone, Franz shows you just how easy it is to sprout seeds and grains and incorporate them into your daily diet, how to use a dehydrator to enrich your food storage, and even how to make your own toiletries at home. Add to that a strong focus on how to take charge of your own health with diet and natural medicine and you really have more than enough to get started on a satisfying journey to self-reliance. Once you have mastered the basics you will be craving for those more in-depth books that you once found too complicated. Franz is available to help with any questions you might have! Franz is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and works with rebuilding your life after a major setback, and with anxiety and emotional problems that might cause physical issues. Check her articles www.franzsidney.com A podcast is coming soon!

Genres: Nonfiction

194 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2011

Reviews

[D.J. Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Sidney exhorts her readers to live lives of self-reliance and frugality. In the best of times, such a life is a freer life, less shackled by cupidity for the illusory pleasures of unnecessary things and crippling frivolous debt, but if, as she suggests, our global economic downturn is only beginning, her advice may be truly essential.

Ms. Sidney gives broad, across-the board advice, ranging from economic gift-giving to physical uncluttering of personal space to food storage even to making one's own hygiene products. Her slightly offbeat sense of humor shines through both in her illustrating cartoons and in many charming asides.

The book is in the nature of an invitation and also an introduction, and one of its great virtues is the way is consistently invites the reader forward to learn more. Whether by identifying other books to study (the writings of John Seymour) or listing useful online resources, Ms. Sidney welcomes the reader into an ongoing process of learning more and living better. Few readers will follow her to every destination she reaches, but all of us could surely benefit by following her to some.

[Fabrizio Poli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franz Sidney tells her story, sharing great ideas throughout the book about how to save money without compromising lifestyle. We live in a society so focused on "keeping-up with the Joneses" that often we end up with a house full of stuff we could actually do without. We are constantly bombarded with information and pitched left, right & center hundreds of times a day to buy, buy, and buy!

Franz takes us back to basics & really gets you thinking about what you spend your money on. She teaches you some great stuff about natural health, even how to make your own toothpaste for a few cents.

Your life will be a lot better as a result of reading, studying & applying the gems within this masterpiece! Buy a copy for friends & family for Christmas, they will be eternally grateful!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book did have some good information, it wasn't exactly spectacular. It has a lot of the same ideas as several other books I've read. What I didn't enjoy was the preachy-ness of it. Personally, I was raised on organic whole milk straight from the cow and have no issues with either my digestion or allergies, nor any of the other conditions she associates with dairy. Also, I would like to point out that one can drink alcohol without going on a bender and ending up hungover. I don't drink to get drunk, I drink because I actually like the taste of wine and I DON'T like feeling gross the next day. The writer's ability to intertwine the two throughout the entire subject just rubbed me the wrong way. All in all, a decent book, but not anything I'd write home about.

[Michele O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes, I read it in 1 day. loved it. am going to try lots of things.

[ProudHamsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book for beginners. I live in Greece so I was already prepared for crisis and already practice most of them

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm passing this on to my children to read & recommending to my friends. Everyone should know how to be self reliant especially in this economy. This is a great beginner's book.