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Thrifty: Living the Frugal Life with Style
Best-selling author Marjorie Harris offers a timely and entertaining guide to living the richly frugal life. From tips on how to haggle to becoming a frugal fashionista, maintaining your home on a budget, and thrifty gardening, travel, and entertainment, Harris provides essential guidelines to living a quality life on less. Written in her trademark witty, engaging, and accessible style, Thrifty is packed with simple and savvy tips drawn from Harris' own fulfilled, thrifty experience. Bonus tips come from renowned experts such as best-selling author Margaret Atwood, chef Jamie Kennedy, actor R. H. Thomson, travel writer Sylvia Fraser, and The Globe and Mail's style columnists.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
12 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 24, 2012
Harris and her pretentious friends clearly lead privileged lives. Their sense of thrift is far from my own. There is nothing new on offer in this book, unless you don't know what to do with leftover lobster. (I'm not kidding, see page 57.) Throughout the book Harris includes tips from her friends, all of whom are of the same generation and socio-economic strata. Former GG, Adrienne Clarkson, notes that knitting your own socks is a thrifty activity. Has she bought yarn in recent years? It's a fun hobby, but far from thrifty, particularly when you can buy socks at so cheaply at any big box store. Even the chapter on gardening, Harris' area of expertise, lacks insight.
The first step towards true frugality is not buying this book.
The first step towards true frugality is not buying this book.
November 12, 2010
The brief Margaret Atwood sections were the best part. Honesty, the thrifty tips were just not that thrifty. The Tightwad Gazette is still the gold standard.
February 15, 2016
This is more a 1.5 star review than a 2 star.
My main issue with this book is pretty similar to what other people have mentioned - it's not new information in any way, shape or form. Buy used clothes, eat less meat, host swaps and potlucks,
The author strikes me as someone who never really paid interest to thrift until it was absolutely necessary (aka she went broke), and now is frugal only in ways that suit her. As an example, you should definitely be making your own no-knead bread (in a $150 cast iron pot). The book I want to read would tell me how to get that cast iron pot for under $40. The leftover lobster recipe has been touched on by a number of reviewers.
I was also hoping for something a little more relevant to a younger generation. A lot of the advice in this book seems to be coming from people who are 60+, and it shows when the book suggests selling your vintage clothing back to the designer you purchased it from 30 years ago, or 'YouTube' as a great place for organic beauty product reviews. Not a specific channel - just YouTube.
This also showed in the suggestion of having a 'gold party' - where all your guests bring their unwanted gold jewellery to be appraised and purchased by a jeweller. I have yet to meet a millennial with so much unwanted gold jewellery that they feel the need to sell it off.
The travelling section was just ridiculous. A packing list isn't a sign of frugality, especially coming from a woman who refuses to travel without a tablecloth, and an Oyster card does not, in fact, "allow you to to hop on and off buses to your heart's content" while in London. You do actually pay per trip.
Overall, I recommend this book to upper-middle class women in their early 50s who are considering living on a budget for the first time in their lives.
My main issue with this book is pretty similar to what other people have mentioned - it's not new information in any way, shape or form. Buy used clothes, eat less meat, host swaps and potlucks,
The author strikes me as someone who never really paid interest to thrift until it was absolutely necessary (aka she went broke), and now is frugal only in ways that suit her. As an example, you should definitely be making your own no-knead bread (in a $150 cast iron pot). The book I want to read would tell me how to get that cast iron pot for under $40. The leftover lobster recipe has been touched on by a number of reviewers.
I was also hoping for something a little more relevant to a younger generation. A lot of the advice in this book seems to be coming from people who are 60+, and it shows when the book suggests selling your vintage clothing back to the designer you purchased it from 30 years ago, or 'YouTube' as a great place for organic beauty product reviews. Not a specific channel - just YouTube.
This also showed in the suggestion of having a 'gold party' - where all your guests bring their unwanted gold jewellery to be appraised and purchased by a jeweller. I have yet to meet a millennial with so much unwanted gold jewellery that they feel the need to sell it off.
The travelling section was just ridiculous. A packing list isn't a sign of frugality, especially coming from a woman who refuses to travel without a tablecloth, and an Oyster card does not, in fact, "allow you to to hop on and off buses to your heart's content" while in London. You do actually pay per trip.
Overall, I recommend this book to upper-middle class women in their early 50s who are considering living on a budget for the first time in their lives.
July 7, 2013
How to live a more thrifty lifesyle: do not, on impulse, buy mediocre books about living frugally. What I learned: that I should be glad I'm not married to R. H. Thomson as his money saving tips seem rather excessive and bizarre.
I wonder if Harris would have done better writing her memoirs. as she seems to have had an interesting life and career, the description of which dominates the book.
I have read better books on living frugally. The most jarring tip was on how to use up leftover lobster.
I wonder if Harris would have done better writing her memoirs. as she seems to have had an interesting life and career, the description of which dominates the book.
I have read better books on living frugally. The most jarring tip was on how to use up leftover lobster.
December 1, 2010
This is Thrift 101, super basic stuff. Good for people with well-paying jobs, comfortable lives, and health insurance- and I'm not being snarky. Everybody's got to start somewhere, if they become interested in living a thrifty lifestyle, and this is not a bad place to start. It wasn't a good fit for me, thought, thus the low rating.
February 11, 2012
The book is divided into seven chapters:
The Thrifty Citizen
The Frugal Fashionista
The Frugal Foodie
The Frugal Home
The Frugal Gardner
The Thrifty Traveller
Top 20 Tips for Living the Frugal Life with Style
Not a lot of new stuff to learn but good reminders.
Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2011/01...
The Thrifty Citizen
The Frugal Fashionista
The Frugal Foodie
The Frugal Home
The Frugal Gardner
The Thrifty Traveller
Top 20 Tips for Living the Frugal Life with Style
Not a lot of new stuff to learn but good reminders.
Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2011/01...
May 29, 2012
Wasn't a BAD book, by any means, but it was very obvious that none of the interviewed contributers were 20-somethings, trying to START in the world, but were 40's and 50's who have some valid points, but made their start at a time when the world wasn't such a financially hard place. Didn't see a TON of value in there for somebody just getting their start on life, but over all the info was good if you've already got a decent paying job. Worth the read, but don't plan on finishing the book with tons of nitty-gritty tips.
October 3, 2013
This was the least thrifty book on thrift I have ever read.
June 11, 2018
Incredibly upper middle class. A good reminder that thrift itself is a bourgeois quality. And yet it was a pleasant read with a couple of good tips here and there.
October 13, 2025
This was a cute time! Very easy and quick read. Not a ton of new information for me but that’s because I suppose I’ve been raised to live a thrifty life. I also have an inborn love for the hunt of good finds amongst resale shops and estate sales. I thought the cooking section was most inspirational, but I did laugh at the part where she informs the thrifty reader on what to do with all of their leftover lobster.
May 17, 2018
Thrifty: Living The Frugal Life With Style taught me a few things and made me laugh all at the same time. I have spent the past 30 years honing my skills as a frugal homemaker. Wish I had found this book a few years earlier! If you are of the same mindset as me and thrive on saving a buck or two or three, then you will want to pick up this enjoyable read!
November 29, 2025
I selected this book as it had a fun cover and was recommended highly by a library patron. It can be skipped by those who are already careful with money as many tips are things you might already do (make your own meals, attempt fix it projects, travel inexpensively, and do your own chores)
January 7, 2026
Nothing really new or earth shattering in the book about how to be thrifty and save money. It is basically thrift 101.
One thing I liked that it is better to pay more quality than to throw money at junk.
One thing I liked that it is better to pay more quality than to throw money at junk.
September 15, 2020
Pretty standard. No new information but informative if you are just getting started.
January 2, 2021
meh. not much new here, gardening section was good. did like finding out that thrifty comes from thriving.
June 27, 2022
pg 100: the ideal of the frugal life: making things complete, quelling the desire for more acquisition
April 25, 2024
Not much to take from this if you are already frugal.
March 12, 2016
This isn't just a book of tips about how to save money, it is a manifesto for living frugally and living well. I love the positive mindset of this book and the philosophy it espouses: "To thrive is all-important. Being thrifty should enhance a feeling of well-being rather than deprivation." And another favourite quote: "The essence of frugality is quelling the desire for acquisition. It's about making things complete." The book is organized around fashion, food, gardening, home, and travel. There are many useful tips in each section, of course, and little profiles and advice from other people. I would have liked a section on computers, technology, and automobile issues, but that was beyond the scope, I suppose. I liked the autobiographical content in the beginning and the chapter called "The Thrifty Citizen". It is a very affirming and encouraging book that distinguishes between "cheap" and "frugal". Being cheap means everything comes down to a number, a price. Being frugal (according to the author) comes down to knowing yourself well, what you really need to be happy and therefore are willing to pay a little more for (necessary luxuries), and what you might want temporarily but doesn't actually add much to your satisfaction in life. Experience is more important than things.
June 22, 2011
"Buy well and you buy once" – Janice Lindsay
“[…] used clothes are in a sense better than new. They’ve been broken in. […] Buying used meant the fabric had revealed its true nature, what it was like after ten or even fifty washings.” (29)
“Don’t ever give anyone a present that they have to live with – i.e., an object they can’t eat, drink, or burn – unless you are absolutely certain that they desire it and are willing to take on the burden of ownership.”(99)
“If you rid any room of one-third of the stuff, it will look 100 percent better” (118)
“I know this to be true: not everything has to be brand new and purpose bought. Don’t pass up anything you love if it’s under a certain price point that, in the grand scheme of things, you can live with. You will regret it forever. But don’t ever buy anything unless you really, really love it.”(113)
“[…] used clothes are in a sense better than new. They’ve been broken in. […] Buying used meant the fabric had revealed its true nature, what it was like after ten or even fifty washings.” (29)
“Don’t ever give anyone a present that they have to live with – i.e., an object they can’t eat, drink, or burn – unless you are absolutely certain that they desire it and are willing to take on the burden of ownership.”(99)
“If you rid any room of one-third of the stuff, it will look 100 percent better” (118)
“I know this to be true: not everything has to be brand new and purpose bought. Don’t pass up anything you love if it’s under a certain price point that, in the grand scheme of things, you can live with. You will regret it forever. But don’t ever buy anything unless you really, really love it.”(113)
April 19, 2012
This book was well written and organized, but fairly basic. Like a lot of writers, the author tends to write advice that is good for her lifestyle but doesn't cover a broad spectrum, especially for urban dwellers. Most of the information is what I'd consider common sense. I also feel like the author shies away from anything that might be considered "extreme" thriftiness. I also don't understand why this, and many other frugal books, has a chapter on why it's okay to be thrifty. Clearly the reader agrees if they've gone through the trouble to procure a copy. I would recommend this book to a clueless twenty something just starting out, but anyone who has spent any amount of time functioning as an adult will probably not find anything of interest within. I ended up skimming the last third of the book.
September 3, 2010
Some good messages about thrift as empowering your dreams, rather than deprivation. Making a choice to live a quality life, within your means. Thinking about what things bring you joy, and doing without the rest.
"The rules of thrift aren't meant to develop a stingy quality; indeed, it should bring on a feeling of well-being rather than deprivation. To thrive is all-important...Being thrifty means being self-aware."
"The rules of thrift aren't meant to develop a stingy quality; indeed, it should bring on a feeling of well-being rather than deprivation. To thrive is all-important...Being thrifty means being self-aware."
August 15, 2013
This book was like a collection of lots of things I have heard before. It was nice to read though it and hear about the some of the things I had forgotten. There were a few suggestions that I had never heard of before that I thought were good. There were also a few ideas that were a little extreme, but like she said, these are just what a few people she knows, does.
Want to read
December 29, 2010I'm not really enamored with this book so far, it's like Martha Stewart wrote a book on frugality.
So far she has dismissed some of the basic ways people can save money (like coupons) without giving you anything new.
I'll edit this when I finish it.
So far she has dismissed some of the basic ways people can save money (like coupons) without giving you anything new.
I'll edit this when I finish it.
February 4, 2011
I thought this was a pretty good frugal living/personal finance book. The author's voice was annoying at times, and she dropped too many names of people I'd never heard of (maybe because many of the them were Canadian), but overall I thought this book was full of interesting ideas and great advice!
April 20, 2011
Just a book of tips. It wasn't that exciting. I didn't really learn a whole lot of anything new. Her writing style was somewhat annoying as I hate reading anyone who considers themself so expert. Would not really recommend.
July 25, 2011
An extremely handy companion to have for the person looking to cut a few corners. There were several things in this book that I have not come across yet that have made me rethink my own personal space. A worth while quick read.
August 23, 2011
This book was really good. It was a fast read but it had some good ideas and a great attitude about living well on a budget and making wise decisions with money. The author is also a very good story teller which really made this enjoyable to read.
September 12, 2012
Unless you live under a rock, this book does not teach anything new. It was very hard for me to read the whole thing so I mostly skimmed it and shook my head that the author was even published for her ideas.
May 29, 2016
it wasn't bad, lots of good advice and tips but too wordy, tangents, it seems to encourage lying to get deals and overall not intriguing in the style of writing. But you'll find some good tips, then again you could find the same searching topics on pinterest.
November 27, 2010
No magic secrets were revealed. I did get a list of good wines to try under $15.00.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews