Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life

by Ruth Soukup

Living Well, Spending Less is Ruth Soukup's first book, following her wildly successful blog of the same name. She gives her readers even more of what they love about the blog: lots of creative, helpful ideas and advice for moms on a budget along with stories from her own journey to discovering what the Good Life is really all about.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Christian, Finance, Money, Personal Development, Personal Finance

237 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2014

About the author

New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and entrepreneur Ruth Soukup is dedicated to helping people break through fear and overcome the obstacles that stand in their way so that they can create a life they love.

Through her top-ranked Do It Scared® podcast and her wildly popular Ruth Soukup Weekly newsletter, which reaches more than a million weekly subscribers, she provides easy-to-follow guidance for following your dreams and reaching your goals.

She is also the founder of the Living Well Planner®, Living Well Spending Less®, and Elite Blog Academy®, as well as the author of six bestselling books. Her practical advice has been featured all over, including in Women's Day, Entrepreneur, TODAY, Martha Stewart Living, Family Circle and Fox News. She lives in Florida with her husband Chuck and two daughters, Maggie and Annie.

Find out more & subscribe to Ruth's weekly newsletter at www.RuthSoukup.com

Reviews

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is deceptive, because it claims to be about controlling spending, but it's actually a religious book, with a Christian point of view that creeps into everything. As a non-Christian, I found it hard to take, because everything has a religious bent. It's possible to write an advice book with a wider audience: Soukup simply chose not to do that. "What Color Is Your Parachute," was written by a former Episcopal minister who made no secret of his faith. Nevertheless, Richard Nelson Bolles managed to keep the God talk to a minimum in his book, and it has enough universal advice that it's readable by someone who is not a Christian. Not so this book.

Soukup should have titled this book "Living Well, Spending Less with Jesus."

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more, "Spending Less".....what I got was "I, me, my, our". I won't be fooled again by someone who charges me to talk about her life.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I listened to this audio book thinking it would be a great way to get some good ideas for getting organized and boosting my savings account since I have some pretty big goals for the next year or two such as selling our condo and buying a house, and possibly doing IVF or adoption- all of which are expensive. While this had a lot of great tips in it for spending less, time management and organization etc,it wasn’t quite what I was expecting… Much more of a biography of sorts with many religious overtones and bible versus. Looking at the Goodreads and Amazon blurbs, it says nothing of it being a religious/preachy book. It was so much less on the ideas/advice and so much more on the spiritual side which wasn't really what I needed with this book. Still, I'll take away a few of the good idea's Ruth had and try to put them to use!

*FYI the audio version was fantastic. The narrator did an amazing job. I actually thought it was the author narrating this story, she was so convincing! So 5 star rating on the actual audio part :)

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruth is a blogger who made her foray into personal finance writing after a series of financial missteps. This book is targeted at Christian women who (surprise) spend a lot of money. This ‘wisdom' is divided into 12 secrets:

1. The Good Life is Not What We Think It Is: A life well lived is not so much about what we have but about who we are
2. Contentment is a Choice: Longing for what we don’t have keeps us from the Good Life
3. We All Have a Sweet Spot: Finding that place where our passion and ability intersect
4. Written Goals Can Change Your Life: A clear long-term vision and written goals allow us to reach our full potential
5. We All Get the Sam Twenty-Four Hours: The Good Life starts with personal discipline and good time management
6. Less Stuff Equals More Joy: Lower your family’s stress level by clearing out the clutter
7. We Need to Spend Less than We Think We Do: Why stewardship matters
8. Saving is a State of Mind: Learning to live within our means affects every single thing we do
9. How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half: The simple changes that can save hundreds at the checkout line
10. A Clean House is a Happy House: The best reasons for keeping a tidy house, and how to get it that way
11. The Best Things in Life Are Free: The things we want most in life are things we can’t buy
12. We Get More When We Give: The Good Life needs to be shared

If you’re helplessly in debt and addicted to shopping, maybe the first part of this book will speak to you. I personally found it ridiculous and frustrating to read. While I appreciated the end goal the author is aiming for and believe the inclusion of supporting scripture is useful, I couldn’t help roll my eyes at the absurdity of spending levels. Just stop buying more scarves. JUST STOP. If you too found the examples silly and annoying but want something meatier, check out Mr. Money Mustache for some primo cut-down-on-spending-improve-your-life material.

Now for some other quick tips:
Skip Chapter 9 and only shop at Aldi. Don’t buy what you don’t need. That’s all.
DO think about reading Chapter 4 - this was probably the best chapter in the book.
Don’t read Chapter 10. While I’m sure Ruth means well, here’s an excerpt from one of the cleaning recipes:

“1 cup vinegar … 1/2 cup baking soda […] Mix together vinegar and baking soda in bucket”

For those who never took an elementary science class and made paper mache volcanoes… Vinegar is an acid (specifically acetic acid) and baking soda is a base. Mix them together and they undergo a chemical reaction and neutralize each other’s pH. Do you know what the byproduct of this reaction is? Carbon dioxide (bubbles and blows away), water, and sodium acetate (a salt). While this recipe sounds great, you’d get the same result so far just by pouring some table salt in hot water. Oy.
To top that off, she recommends essential oils (listed as optional) as additives to cleaners. No offense to the folks that strongly believe their Young Living oils will cure cancer, but the only commonly-used essential oil that has shown any antibacterial properties in the lab is thyme oil. If you’re using anything else, it just makes things smell good. Which isn’t a bad thing. You’re just not getting any antibacterial action. And you probably DON’T need any antibacterial action for things like window cleaner. Just don’t kid yourself that anything containing essential oils as the active cleaning ingredient has any sort of antibacterial property unless it’s specifically thyme oil.

All in all, this book might be interesting if you’re just getting your feet wet with getting your finances under control. But if you’re already paying down debt, try out mrmoneymustache.com instead.

[Jacqie Wheeler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would have more creative tips about how to save money, but the first half was how to hit your goals and be organized, and the second half was the basics of saving money. I didn't learn much from it.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I expected. I had no knowledge of Soukup's blog, so I went in blind. Right away, I was put off by all the Bible verses. I have no problem with Bible verses when I'm expecting to read Bible verses, but they caught me off guard in what I thought was a book about saving money. I sort of felt like I was being preached to.

Soukup talks a lot about her shopping addiction, which I couldn't care less about. The second half of the book is what's actually worth reading. This is where she has actually tips for shopping and saving money. I realized when I got to the part about having a rock bottom price list that I actually HAVE been on her blog before. One day I realized that I had no idea what was actually a good price for chicken breasts, so I tried to Google it, and happened upon her Rock Bottom Price list. It was helpful to know what a decent price for meats, etc, is.

I'm being generous with my 3 stars. I could take or leave this one. I don't know how regular readers of her blog will feel, as I have no idea if this is a regurgitation of content or not. (I know most bloggers-turned-authors are careful not to do that, I just don't know from personal experience whether she has or not.) This was a quick skimmy kind of read, certainly nothing I would spend money on.

[AudreyLovesParis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but the author's self-absorption and overuse of Biblical quotes ruined this book for me. Don't bother reading it.

[Erin Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am I a memoir? Am I a financial book? Am I a productivity book? Disappointed in this one.

[Ivonne Rovira]

If you’re looking for a book to tell those in the bottom three quintiles of America how to stretch a dollar, then Ruth Soukup’s Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets to the Good Life is not for you.

And, even if you’re looking for a guide to decorating for less, which is ostensibly what appears in Soukup’s blog, this book is not for you.

However, if you have a disorder where you’re driven to buy expensive décor and constantly remodel your home, even though it already looks like a Homerama showplace, whether due to bipolar disorder or something else, then Living Well, Spending Less might suffice. And if you want this DIY guide to beating feelings of inadequacy that drive such destructive behavior suffused with Biblical verses, quite a bit of other religiosity, and Christian testimonies from the once-famous, you have hit gold.

I have not assigned any stars to this book because its value depends on what a reader desires. It ranks as one star for me because it was not remotely what I wanted, but other readers, depending on what they seek, might enjoy it more.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - I really loved this book! The conversational tone and plethora of practical ideas for transforming your bank account AND (more importantly) your life, really spoke to my heart. So much good information packed into a short, quick read. I am currently combing through her website printing out all the helpful worksheets she has for EVERYTHING! Totally re-organized my bedroom closet after reading about her 40-hanger wardrobe, and am eager to complete so much more after reading this tome... feeling very inspired! Next up - slashing the grocery bill and starting to use coupons! :-) I love the way the author integrates her faith into this topic... the Bible does indeed have much to say about money and how we should use it!

Thank you Ruth, for a very usable and life-changing book!

[Teresa Costa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am currently working on making my life more simple and organized. As such I am reading all books I can find on the subject.

Yes, this book is religious. And I think that a lot of very outwardly religious women who want to talk in their Bible studies about "how hard it is to change" will love this book. It's very enabling. It's written by someone whose idea of a grocery budget for a month was over $1000 - her "spending habits" never landed her family in the legitimate poor house and her idea of "the good life" is continuous comparisons to people who drive Audis? (sorry don't know what they are called I live on a real budget and drive a 2000 paid off Town & Country van) It's written more with a "church audience" in mind. NOT so much for someone who is taking practical steps to organize his/her life.

So, typical rich Christian homemaker wife complaining at how her shopping doesn't fill her void. This book was a waste of time to read. (the ONLY redeeming feature is she has some recipes in the back for non-harsh cleaning supplies that you can make at home.) If someone truly wants to know how to get their life on order read: The Life Changing Magic of Tidying up. But that's actually about doing, and not such as this book is.. whining about all the reasons she has to do it. This woman may have a wildly popular blog but I have absolutely NO DESIRE to read it after this book.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is deceiving. The title of it drew me in and when I opened the book I discovered it was a Christian book, heavy with verses. I grew up Catholic and I am open to all things, but this threw me off. As I went on I felt zero connection to the author or her content. As someone who is not religious, I did not feel a connection to the verses or words she used.

I was also unsympathetic with her "shopoholic" issue because it appeared very fake. I could not connect with her at all and I could not figure out what her motive or intention was in writing this book. It didn't feel like it was for her reader, but more for herself: a collection of bible verses to remind her of how SHE wants to live.

Also, it is hard to believe that after her husband was the sole financial provider of the family that he quits his job for her to be a full time blogger. Maybe she can sustain an entire family on it and if she can, good for her! But it came across as very snobblish. She sounds like a very wealthy woman with no concept of what money is, how it works, and what it's for.

Sadly, I took nothing from this book at all. It was not what I expected and I think the publishers are at fault. They should have made it clear this was a Christian book rather than noting at the very bottom of the back cover, in tiny font that this was a Christian-themed book.

[Suzanne Arcand · Rating 1 out of 5]

If there were a way to put less than one star, I would. I really disliked it (an understatement) for two reasons. First it doesn’t deliver on what it promises. Second, it presents itself under the false pretense of a self-help book.

"LIving Well Spending Less" was quoted in a book that I enjoyed so I decided to give it a try. I can always use a few hints on how to save money and manage my time better. But all it doles out are generalities and platitudes. Was there a single person left who needed to be told that “Written Goals Can Change Your Life”; that the biggest most important tasks must be scheduled first?

Not only is this book almost devoid of practical advises, but the few recommendations Ruth Soukup gives are unrealistic. She’s a neat freak. As part of her daily routine she:
• Mops all the floors;
• wipes down sinks, shower and bathtub;
• dusts all surfaces;
• etc.

Those are only a small sample of her 23 everyday tasks, which, according to her, can be done in one hour. I don’t know how she does it. Just the three activities listed here would take me more than that and I reside in a modest house. Plus, if you work outside the home, you simply don’t have enough time in your day to do all that and still include more meaningful things in your life such as : “Nurturing Your Friendships, Practicing Hospitality and Cultivating Creativity.”

But it all doesn’t matter since all the self-help advises are just a pretext to proselytize. This book should be shelved in the Christian books section. Most of the quotes—and they are very many—are from the Bible and from no other spiritual wisdom whatsoever. It must have taken an effort to discuss “insatiable desire” without referring to the Hungry Ghosts from the Buddhist tradition. When she touches on gift giving, Christmas is the only holiday that is mentioned. In her conclusion, she talks of “Becoming like-minded with Christ…”. I have nothing against Christianity but I have a grudge against Christianity disguising itself in something else. Nowhere on the front and back cover, in the introduction or even in the summary on Goodreads does it specify that this is a sectarian religious book.

So since I have to give it one star, kicking and screaming, let it be for her recipes for green cleaning supplies which you can find here: Cleaning Recipes. I’m providing you the link so you don’t have to buy the book.

[Ntombezinhle Nzama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually thought this book would actually be more about finances so I was a bit dissapointed to know it wasn't exactly what I thought it was. BUT I was pleasantly suprised by the well rounded advise in the book about generally "living well" and ghe practical tips

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. If you can't stay out of Pottery Barn and Anthropologie or you care what other people think of what car you drive, then this book might be for you. Maybe it has to do with the age of the book versus when I am stumbling on it, but everything seemed kind of "duh" and not new information. Maybe only redeeming if you need to know how to not care about keeping up with your friends who are millionaires and invite you to stay in their guest house...and you end up hating it?

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't sure whether to rate this a 2 or a 1 on Goodreads (I personally give this 1.5 stars out of 5) but bumped it up to a 2 because there is some good advice in here. Here are some of the advice I liked from this book:

+ Write down your goals and break them down into steps
+ Realize your priorities, and those priorities don't include "things"
+ Another person's success doesn't negate your own
+ Take a break from people or things (i.e. Facebook) that make you jealous
+ Practicing gratitude combats jealousy & insecurity
+ Sometimes it's ok to fail, and failure is almost never fatal
+ Make money decisions based on what you want 10 years from now, not what will make you happy right now
+ Make a list of habits you want and write down every step
+ Declutter what you have and set limits for what you have in your house
+ Celebrate your success

As other people have mentioned, this book is very religious to the point where the author constantly quotes different verses from the Bible and assumes that you, the reader, are also Christian because she talks about how we all must live the "good life" according to the Scripture.

But the real negative aspect of this book is the fact that the author just isn't relatable. Even if you happen to be a Christian, stay at home mom like the author, Ms. Soukup is someone who was born into a wealthy family, never had to worry about money (she outright admits that when she was in college, she used a credit card to buy everything and her dad paid it off without ever giving her a lecture about budgeting) and was a shopaholic her whole life.

That was until it began to interfere with her marriage and her HUSBAND had to put her on an ALLOWANCE. Only THEN was she able to learn that she had to budget... you know... like literally everyone else. And THEN the author briefly mentions that her husband later becomes a stay at home dad so he can help take care of the kids while she focuses on her blogging career (!!).

What on earth did they do for income at that time?? Even if you do have a successful blog that warrants it being a full-time career, does it really make enough money where that can be the sole income provider for a family with small children? (Maybe I don't know enough about blogging, so who knows)

Ms. Soukoup has lived a life of privilege without acknowledging it and the reason why this is an issue is that some of her financial advice just flat out doesn't work unless you already come from a middle class or higher income background. For example, she talks about how having a savings account is a necessity, but if you are living below the poverty line, having a savings account is either not an option or it's extremely difficult to maintain one.

Other than some of the advice I listed above, I really don't think there's anything in this book that "average" people haven't either already figured out (The way she talks about how you form a budget is laughable because it's just common sense).

I say skip this one.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I read a review of this on a blog and decided to give it a try. I can always use help with budgeting and cutting spending. The review warned that the book was Christian based and Bible based. Since the blurb doesn't indicate either of those facts, I appreciated the heads-up. As I read, I skipped over religious parts and the numerous Bible verses.

The first part of the book, the author talks about her shopping addiction, her spending problems, her depression, and how her marriage and family were affected. She then segues into living the good life, mostly from a Christian perspective, but some of the advice is still useful and applicable even if you aren't Christian.

In the second half of the book, Soukup gets to the part I was most interested in, the budgeting and spending. Again, I ignored all of the irrelevant religious info. There's lots of practical advice, information, and encouragement. Reading the info after reading about Soukup's own struggles made it more relevant and she talked honestly about the pros and cons. The whole book was written in a conversational style which made it easy to read.

Soukup indulges in a lot of self-promotion for her blog, which got tiresome, and her attitude was snobby at times but overall, the book was well-written and worth a read.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher for review.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than I expected and the author's story hits very close to home for me. I spent feeling as though each purchase brought me closer to completion when in actuality, it made me feel incompetent. When listening to this boo, it humbled me and made me feel embarrassed that I would entertain the notion that I needed more, when in fact, I had/have more than I could ever ask for!

I am not a religious person, but I respect and see the value of the scripture quotes as well as nonreligious quotes that is used to set the theme of each section. I asp loved the al encompassing "living well" which focused on more than just saving money.

A must read!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just a finance book. Lots more in it to help you think about "The Good Life". Loads of practical stuff... though most of it is not new to me, it's always encouraging and refreshing to read how others put the same ideas to work in their own life.

[Chris Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found it unrealistic and really for rich people that want to cut back a little... "Drive your Tahoe for another year" type advice

[Deidra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book club book for February. Didn't like it at all. The author was very self-righteous. Just not my style of book.

[Bobbi Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book attempts to remind the reader that overspending is an "addiction" and that our attachment to material things and "keeping up with the Jones'" will eventually lead down a very bad path--loneliness, bankruptcy, etc. Having more "stuff" will not make us happy and Soukup quotes Scripture to help us detach from wanting more and focus on the real things in life that will bring happiness such as family, friendships and service to others. "Retail Therapy" is NOT COOL, people!

What I really liked about this book is that Soukup speaks from EXPERIENCE. She is the author of a blog of this same title and shares links to helpful tools on her website for budgeting, grocery savings and much more. I especially found the chapter about grocery shopping helpful--with practical tips on getting the best "rock-bottom" price on everything you buy. (hint: it doesn't take hours and hours of coupon clipping!) I am going to recommend this book to friends, for sure and I may even listen to it again, just so some of the concepts get firmly planted in my brain!

[Shanae · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a few weeks to finish this book and I really can't explain why. Ruth Soukup provides a few great tips for living minimally and I appreciate the Christian perspective she brings to her writing. The problem here is that Ruth Soukup isn't saying anything new. We've heard this all before and, as a result, LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS is forgettable. If you have read her blog, visited the blogs of counterparts, or read any other self-help book about money management, then you've got Ruth's 12 keys and if you keep reading this books then you probably already know those 12 keys (and then some) by heart. This was a bust for me and I'm sad that I spent money on it. I expected something fresh from Ruth Soukup, but I did not get that. If you're new to self-help and money management books, then I recommend starting with LIVING WELL SPENDING LESS because the book is easy to read and very relatable, especially for mothers.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Ruth's blog for a while now, always finding something that I can use or think about. This book is no different. I can tell that I will be going back to it, letting things sink in and filter through my life. Spending less is an absolute goal of mine in 2015 (I have 20K in debt I want paid off by 2016, then it's college saving) and I have no doubt that Ruth's book will be a factor in that.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming with high recommendations, I expected a lot from this book and it truly delivered. There are both practical and spiritual truths attested to within its covers. All in all a great read and a book that encourages you to do more with your life while not guilting you into it. It leads the reader towards the "good life."

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to reset your values for the new year! No matter your circumstances you can relate to some aspects of this book! Easy read!

[Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am all about living well and spending less, but I didn't realize this book took a religious slant to this topic. -Too preachy for me.

[JH]

There was a Bible quote on every single page. If you are a regular reader of finance blogs and Suze Orman this book offers absolutely nothing new.

[Rachelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book unless you are looking for a religious supplement. I was hoping for more information on saving and organizing. Could have done without all the proselytizing.

[Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I didn’t feel duped into buying and reading this book, pretty much a disturbing waste of time, I wouldn’t go into as lengthy a review, but feel I need to push back at the sermon this book is (when it isn’t directly about herself.) My best lesson from this book: read the blurbs more carefully.

This is really a book about a troubled young mother who came dangerously close to losing her marriage and uses religion to stabilise and glorify herself. She heavily quotes the bible throughout.
If you think that this is about budgeting, you will be disappointed. She refers her readers to Dave Ramsey's website, and her own. If I had wanted to stare at a screen, I would have and saved myself the cost of this book. That said, with a quick look, I find her website to be much more helpful than her book.

I am quite a bit older than the author and have learned what she has learned without the crutch of religion and constant need for ego stroking and reinforcement this woman needs. She is naïve to think there is only One Way to achieve a happy life, but if that is what works for her, I am happy for her. Personally, her life seems like a house of cards.

Of 234 pages, I found useful information on 4 pages. 2 of those were cleaning recipes that probably can be found anywhere else. I found the solution that worked with her girls’ possessions interesting.

The most helpful hint I found in the entire book was the “eat the frog” concept, upon which an entire book is based. I am thankful for the introduction and the term later came up in a Netflix show I was watching, so one could take that as a coincidence, a sign or a message from God, whatever floats your boat.

The most useful thing that this book did for me was to be in my hand when a bug crawled into my house. You can’t kill a bug with a cell phone or a computer screen!