Friday, March 27, 2015

Living Well Spending Less





From the publisher's website: "
Ruth Soukup knows what it is like to want what you can’t afford. And she knows the downward spiral of out-of-control spending and how it can consume your life, eat up your time, and destroy your relationships. When she finally hit bottom with her finances and her marriage was on the brink of divorce, she had to learn a totally different way to think about money...and discovered true happiness along the way.

In Living Well, Spending Less Ruth shares her secrets with warmth, total honesty, and practical help in every chapter. Following her wildly successful blog of the same name, Ruth gives her readers even more of what they love: lots of creative, helpful ideas and advice for families on a budget along with stories from her own journey to discovering what the good life is really all about.

With personal and creative challenges in each chapter, Living Well, Spending Less is perfect for small group study or discussion. As readers change the desires of their hearts and shift their priorities toward treasures that last, they will find a life rich in faith, family, friends, and creativity—and a budget that balances."

First of all, I really really enjoyed reading this book. Ruth does an amazing job of explaining these 12 secrets of the good life that she has implemented in her own life. The book is set up in two parts, Living Well and Spending Less. One of my favorite aspects of this book, is that she starts with your heart and mindset first. She talks about being content first. How important it is to be happy where you are. Yes change the things that need to change, but be happy where you are and with what you have.

She goes on to discuss using your time wisely and setting goals before going on to the more practical items of saving money at the grocery store, decluttering and cleaning routines. I enjoyed reading her personal stories and examples and encouraging words to help others make needed changes in their lives. I highly recommend reading this book. It is truly one of the best books of its kind that I have read in a long time.