Cheaper, Better, Faster by Mary Hunt

Wow!  Where has this book been?  I could have definitely used this book a long time before now!  This book is full of the most helpful tips and has over 2,000 tips and tricks to save you both time and money.  They are categorized into different chapters, such as pets, automobiles, kids and babies, gifts, etc.

 

We actually have been having some flea problems with our dogs and I used the tips in this book to address the problem naturally, first.  It worked and I didn't have to go out and buy some really expensive medicine.  I also liked the home section, particularly the "fake vent" solution.  I had never thought of that, but it would be very neat to try.  The tips in the cooking chapter are also quite handy and I'm surprised at how many I didn't know, considering how much I enjoy cooking.

 

This book would fit a man just fine, but I think a woman would profit from it a lot.  I like how many of the tips and tricks use common household things that you either have or can get from any store.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt

This was another book that I was a bit hesitant on.  I had honestly only heard Dave Ramsey's financial advice and had taken his class so I just usually don't really read anyone else's stuff on money.  Not because I think they're bad, but just because I live Dave.  However, after consideration, I figured that I wouldn't be a bad idea to read what Mary Hunt had to say.  I'm so glad I did!  And honestly, so is my husband!

I'm a very visual person so the diagrams that she uses and her thought processes made a lot of sense to me.  She broke it down into terms I could understand but she didn't make it on a level that was insulting either.  She has 7 rules for money that all families should abide by.  Her rules are:

1) Spend less than you earn
2) Save for the future
3) Give some away
4) Anticipate your irregular expenses
5) Tell your money where to go
6) Manage your credit
7) Borrow only what you know you can repay

After I finished reading this book, I was inspired to do our budget myself.  That never interested me before but I actually had a lot of fun with it.  My husband was glad to let me try the budget this month.  He usually does the budget but was willing to let me apply what I learned to see if this budget worked out better.  I'm excited to see how much we'll start saving and to battle that whole materialistic mindset that creeps into our lives and makes us want more, more, more.

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Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.