The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living: Save Money, Plan Ahead, Pay Off Debt & Live Well

by Daisy Luther

Break the spending habit and free yourself from financial fear—save money, plan ahead, pay off your mortgage, retire early!

These days, more and more people are struggling to survive as their expenses go up, but their incomes do not. Making ends meet and achieving big goals like being debt-free, traveling, or putting your kids through college without loans is even more challenging.

Whether you need to get your finances under control, or you want to achieve some big goals, the strategies to reach them are the same. In The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living , you will find hundreds of fresh ideas for living a life full of joy without spending a lot of money. Learn how

This book will change the way you look at money—not having it, spending it, and saving it—to show you how frugality can make your life fulfilling and stress-free.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Self Help, Money, Adult

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

About the author

Daisy Luther  lives in a small village in the Pacific Northwestern area of the United States.  She is the author of  numerous books on emergency preparedness and self-reliance. On her website, The Organic Prepper, Daisy uses her background in alternative journalism to provide a unique perspective on health and preparedness, and offers a path of rational anarchy against a system that will leave us broke, unhealthy, and enslaved if we comply.  Daisy's articles are widely republished throughout alternative media. You can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest,  and Twitter.

Reviews

[Julee Jaeger · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the things you are doing to stay safe during a pandemic are money saving tips in this book: don't go out to eat, don't go out with friends, don't drive too much, cut back on entertainment outside of the house, don't take too many trips. Also do more DIY: cook at home, repair, grow your own food...activities that have become popular during the pandemic.

There is good advice on paying down debt, but avoid as a pandemic read.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

There is nothing groundbreaking in this book, but Luther does include a lot of DETAILS. Details on recipes or ways to make leftover scrap meals. I took some Kindle highlights to add to my notes like making a compost bin. To be honest, a lot you learn in this book can probably be viewed via a YouTube video from certain creators in like 20 minutes. It's probably better for me to digest the information Luther has to share via her blog than this book. First of all the timing for me reading this book is crazy. Early on Luther states that There are enough horror stories about sudden economic disasters on a personal level to fill a book, but needless to say, money problems can happen to anyone. I know this because I’ve been there more than once. and the only thing I thought of was COVID and how so many people can't afford to feed their families right now. So maybe someone in that situation might have a lot of takeways from the details, and follow the breadcrumbs back to the blog.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened to see this at the library when I was just browsing, and ended up extending my hold twice and then looking for a used copy of the book to buy. I have been called frugal (or "stingy" or "cheap") often by other people's standards, but Luther made me see that in addition to being strict with my own spending, there is a lot more I could be doing by implementing creative problem solving into my frugal lifestyle, as well as planning ahead to maximize my savings instead of just saying "no" to spending in the moment. I loved the undercurrent of preparedness and self-sufficiency themes she included in this book as well! Inspiring, easy-to-understand, and fun-to-read guide.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living... although not what I expected, the book provides valuable suggestions for spending less and saving more money for important things. Many unique, off-the-beat tips included that other financial books don't dare suggest, but sometimes desperate times may require creative living. A few thoughts and stories were repeated constantly, which is annoying.

[vishy]

Financial literacy is the name of the game in 2025 — this book’s a reminder that frugality can be fun and sustainable, not restrictive. I love challenges and financial freedom so I can actually spend on experiences and people I love! Luther goes into a lot of detail — it’s not revolutionary stuff, but I love the “hows” of things and she demonstrates that pretty well.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who needs to tighten up their budget quickly. Adopting a thrifty life quickly can be difficult, but she offers practical tips to do so right now.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book with a strange occupation for saving money on food specifically (I have no desire to seek out budget eggs or make a casserole out of my bucket-o-leftovers). Some helpful hits on what can be scrimped on, plus an appendix of what is typically on sale each month out of the year. Overall not the savviest frugality/budgeting book I've read (Lauren Greutman still takes that cake), but it has its moments.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some common sense information but so much of it is things the average person is not going to do. Things like darning socks, making all your own cleaning supplies and laundry soap, cleaning your used aluminum foil so you can use it again.

[Viktoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did end up keeping this book from the library until I had finished it, primarily for motivation. The sections I appreciated most were about mending items to avoid the cost of replacement and about eating more frugally, plus an appendix on what is in season and on sale each month.

[Rachel Mcloughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few good tips.

[Mon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think most of us are already doing 95% of what was written in here but can always learn that additional 5%.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas if this is your first frugality book, but Amy Dacyczyn's The Tightwad Gazette said it first and best.

[Willa Tseng · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to enhance frugalness and finding happiness in simplicity. However, some of the author’s tips are a bit odd/ bold.

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 2.5

Read May 2022

NYPL book

[Danielle Croft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas

[Katie Haasch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot great ideas on how to save money, plan ahead (financially), pay of debt and live well. Surprisingly there were some tips I was already doing and some I hadn’t thought of.

[Bri · Rating 2 out of 5]

a solid meh, if you grew up recycling cans to get groceries, not much you'll get out of it.

[Kallie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very few tips I never heard or thought of.

[Anna Urbanek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic, but well meaning.

[Lisbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This booked is packed with information! I enjoyed it immensely.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

she lost me at raw milk

⭐️⭐️

[Dimples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty depressing introduction & tone throughout the book about the author’s hardships. Repetitive in sections but very detailed for people new to frugality.

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative.

I could relate to different parts of her story. Very good ideas and projects. Really enjoyed this book. A very good read.

[Aya Blackwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some great ideas in this book but I don't think I have the willpower needed to pull them off

[Carly Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Details on Saving Money

Lots of examples and how tos for every situation in life....even on raising frugal kids! Cooking from scratch section is a winner!

[Caroline Croezen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with some good tips. I liked it.

[Tami Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice as usual, with practical ideas.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel conflicted.

There is some genuinely good advice in this book (like the snowball method, and some recipes that I plan on trying myself). However, the repetition and somewhat conservative ideas often get in the way of providing information. The author brings up Fanny Farmer and her father being brought up during the Depression frequently and has a habit of referencing things discussed one or two pages prior, to the point where it gets a bit tiresome. Additionally, the author's distaste for pre-prepared food (such as takeout and frozen food) seems a bit hypocritical. I agree that it can cost more to get convenient food than it's worth, but it makes little sense to preach against convenience and then declare your love for Nutella and Starbucks.

Additionally, her paranoia around chemicals is similarly complicated. I agree that we need to be more conscious about what we eat, as preservatives and additives aren't always healthy. However, neither is raw milk. Organic food is generally healthier, but in most places, is not affordable. The author can sometimes come off as smug when talking about her "decadent slices of organic tomato," which is interesting considering that this book is intended for those who are in a financial bind. I have little issue with the idea of a homegrown or even somewhat conservative lifestyle, but making everything from scratch and organic ingredients while homesteading and raising children is just not realistic for the average working person, even if you insist several times over the course of a book that it is.

[Wen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course it’s a white lady thinking she (re)discovers the world of financial literacy by cooking at home, bringing your own lunch, stop buying Starbucks, and spend below your means…

If you are close to any POC or immigrants families with a level head you would have realized it many years ago!!

I hate this book immediately when I read that she makes her two kids to share a room to (check reading) save money as they already move to… an already very cheap and below their means house! Seriously, lady, what is your problem? It’s one thing if you are just trying to survive and really need that money, it’s another thing that you are just self-centric and now find your newest fixation aka saving money so you take away perfectly reasonable needs (privacy and personal space) from your kids.

[Laurie Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad book when it comes to actual tips and things you can do to save money and be frugal. I did make some notes of some of her ideas when it comes to recipes, etc.

There are some things I am just not doing (making me own yogurt as an example) and some of it is really geared towards kids, so I skimmed over that.

But all in all, it made me want to tighten the purse straps a bit and have some motivation going into a lean May.