Live Well Spend Less: Easy Ways to Save Money In Every Part of Your Life

by Sophie Gray

More cash in your hand, better food on the table and a better sense of wellbeing are all the direct result of applying the strategies outlined in this book.

Live Well Spend Less incorporates tips, suggestions and serious strategies for living well with a light-hearted, easy-to-apply and, honest approach. Covering all aspects of life, there are suggestions for making money as well using less of it.

Sophie Gray aka the Desitute Gourmet wants to motivate and encourage rather than hector and lecture. It is not a book about investment, mortgage repayment or banking. Each chapter includes immediate as well as longer term suggestions. The immediate ideas are to capture the initial enthusiasm and motivation and longer term strategies will result in bigger savings given time or effort.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Sophie Gray is the face of, and inspiration behind, destitute gourmet and the ‘dg' series of cookery books and www.destitutegourmet.com. She is a popular speaker and teacher on food, family life and finances, and is a regular contributor to Food Magazine and Taste Magazine.

destitute gourmet has gathered an international ‘community' of like-minded followers who Sophie communicates with daily through her Destitute-Gourmet Facebook page. She also engages with the cost-conscious global community via Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram; destitute gourmet has a Youtube channel and is about to release a money-saving phone app.

Sophie presents a local programme of live ‘taste everything' demonstrations for groups of 100.

Her family-friendly recipes are easy to make, tasty, healthy and affordable, and frequently include gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives. Menu planning, smart shopping tips, how to use leftovers, and advice on eating in season are fundamentals. She is married to Richard, and they have two teenagers, Isabella and Jack. Sophie works fulltime communicating the destitute gourmet philosophy from their home in Auckland, New Zealand.

Reviews

[Deyara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good tips, and I took heaps of notes. I've made a start on getting my grocery shopping under control, hope it works!

[Jessica Cleghorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the text bubbles in the book were a little odd or seemed purposeless to me , but overall I really appreciated this. Lots of practical advice, and extra useful as it was specifically geared to a New Zealand readership.!
Not all of the chapters were relevant to me as a flatting university student as opposed to a parent, but many were. The section on heating was especially useful and I've gathered some ideas for the flat. There's something in here for everyone!

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good practical money-saving tips here, from traveling with kids, to grocery shopping, to growing your own food, to birthday presents and parties.

[Grace Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's safe to say this book is somewhat outdated - both in terms of financial suggestion as well as in some passing comments made. I also think this book would be more effective for people with families or in different situations to myself. Generally this book is an easy read and has a light tone. I think it has some ideas to offer that are practical and achievable. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but it was a good break from the heavier/more complex financial texts I often find myself reading.

[Cheryl Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! well worth reading and alot to think about.

[Fiona Gilliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably do a lot of this already. I could save heaps, but my husband does the groceries!

[Tania]

A book to flick through.