This is the title of the book that Kerry Taylor wrote on the topic of saving money. Once you read her book, even if you thought you were ‘frugal’,  you will understand the real meaning of ‘frugal’. She is the epithome of frugal. Until I read her book, I was spending money lavishly without realizing!

Some of her tips among the 397 that she gives include renting instead of owning your own home (read the book to see why, and why it seems to go against everything that we’ve been taught so far!), living in the suburbs instead of the big city, if you have to buy your own home, buy it smaller than (you think) you need. If you have more than one car, sell one and use the bike instead. Aha! she also says to use fans instead of airconditioners, just as I mentioned in my previous post here. I’d say great minds think alike!

Her book does focus a lot on living and consuming smart, but she also tackles financing and traveling. Paying off your debts is top priority with her, and I fully agree. If you buy index funds, buy them at a discount brokerage. Don’t insure your children unnecessarily. Regarding traveling, she has 18 different tips on how to save money. One of my favorite is ‘passing lame souvenirs’ (how guilty I am of this one!), and ultimately stay at home and rediscover your own space, and she calls this ’staycation’. Great name for a great tip!

If you really want to save money, I’m 100% that you will find a lot of great gems among the 397 that she describes in her book. It’s not expensive, and I urge you to buy it. Trust me, I didn’t know what saving money WAS before I read her book!