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A selection of hand picked books on living frugally and green
We've rated
them on the basis of how useful we find them. Following the link to to Amazon
does not commit you to buying but you can find more details on the individual
book, other people's reviews etc. If you buy from Amazon via the links
here they pay us a small commission, which helps pay our hosting costs.
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Low Cost Living
By: John Harrison
Like many people we were influenced by John Seymour's classic self sufficiency book and Tom & Barbara in the Good Life. Sadly, we never quite made enough money to buy those 5 acres in the countryside.
We did learn to live frugally and although much of what we learned is common sense, a lot of it isn't obvious. Recently there has been a resurgence in the desire to be self sufficient, take control and live a greener life.
Discover the benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables, raising chickens, making butter, cheese and bread, and brewing your own beer. Save energy, save on your bills. Harvest food for free and avoid waste. Play the supermarkets at their own game and get the best deals.
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Frugal Living for Dummies
By: Deborah Taylor-Hough
Back to basics, home economy. Maybe a bit American for UK readers though.
The dummies series of books are consistent in style, quality advice delivered in a readable and understandable way. This is no different. Packed with tried-and-true techniques for cutting costs and stopping the insanity, Frugal Living For Dummies is the ultimate financial survival guide for many of us but look for a second hand copy, so you start as you mean to go on.
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Precycle!
By: Paul Peacock
On the cover it says "Discover the simple pleasure of making things yourself and banish the need for recycling by not buying all those plastic containers, bottles, tins and cans from the supermarket"
Well, fair bit of hype in that! However, there's an awful ot in here that is of interest to those who want to take control of their life and be self-sufficient and to those who want to save money. Better written than some of his books - I think his heart was in this one
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How I Lived a Year on Just a Pound a Day
By: Kath Kelly
An inspiring book. This is the true story of how one woman lived for a whole year on just a pound a day. An entertaiing and easy read that gets you thinking.
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The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less
By: India Knight
A very informatiuve book that suggest ways of spending sensibly and responsibly - not just the cheapest which could be a false economy. Contains a lot of good advice and references to useful websites.
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Live More, Spend Less
By: Sarah Flower
As the author of Low Cost Living, I thought this book looked like a 'me too' from the title. However, it's not - I'm glad to say! I approached the subject as someone into self-sufficiency but she is more concerned with enjoying a good standard of living on less cash.
There's quite a large chapter on beauty products (which I admit to just skimming) as well as some rather good recipes for cheap but good meals. Some tips on money and mobile phones - bit more sophisticated than my don't get into debt and chuck the blessed thing away.
Overall, if you just want to cut your costs, this is well worth getting but don't look for a self-sufficient green ethos.
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Choosing Simplicity: Real People Finding Peace and Fulfillment in a Complex World
By: Vicki Robin (Foreword), Linda Breen Pierce
Life is getting faster and more complex - well this is the antidote.
Personal stories from people who live a little more richly by spending less. Inspirational rather than a practical guide. Perhaps for the more spiritual side.
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The Penny Pinchers Book Revisted
By: John and Irma Mustoe
The sub-title really says it all "Living Better for Less". It's simply a huge collection of tips and hints on how to save money by re-using, make do and mend.
Some of the ideas in here are better than others but it's a book you'll read through and go "Aha, that's a good idea" as well as laughing at a few. Some you will think are just basic common sense but one man's common sense is another man's revelation.
I would be amazed if you could read this book without finding ideas to save yourself money and it is really an enjoyable read. This quote sums up the style brilliantly: "Our food processor is over 20 years old, still wonderful, but the oft-replaced bowls are rubbish 'built-in obsolescence'. I was never afraid of flying until the booklet mentioned they were made of the same material as aircraft windows."
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