Customer Reviews

Frugillionaire: 500 Fabulous Ways to Live Richly and Save a Fortune

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book is the weakest out of the many books on dramatic cost cutting. Out of 500 tips maybe 5 are worthwhile but I'm sure you've thought of these already. It looks to me like the writer saw a hot trend and slapped a book together in a couple of days. I really feel cheated by this book and that hasn't happened in years. Usually in these type of books there are few ideas that are just stunning because there so powerful but not here. Take a look at other authors like Jeff Yeager and others like 10001 Ways To Live Large On a Small Budget for much more quality info. I pay for information to find a handful of amazing ideas that I may not be aware of, not a bunch of general slogans like think before you spend, live below your means or live simply. This book is filled with puffy slogans and very little hard information. It's definitely not worth the purchase price and looks like it has been reviewed by friends of the person who wrote it.

I was looking for a book that would give me some pointers on how to live on a most basic budget. What I got was a list of items that I've seen for years in women's magazines at the supermarket. The opening chapter that was displayed to view led me to think it was written in a style that was just what I was looking for, but I'm sadly disappointed.

This is the first review I've ever made on Amazon and I buy a LOT of stuff from Amazon. I'm glad I got it on Kindle, because I'd had to see a tree sacrificed for print.

I checked this book out at the public library, and am sincerely glad I didn't spend any money on it. I made it through the first chapter, and sampled the rest. Didn't find a single new idea I could use. Granted, I am already a fairly frugal person (but no black belt, by any means), but I thought I would find something I could try. Most of the advice was extremely basic (e.g., don't shop when you are hungry). To make things worse, each paragraph began and ended with an exclamatory sentence. If you really have no idea how to reduce your spending, and have a high tolerance for exclamation points, do what I did: check it out from the library.

I paid .99 for this waste of time to read nothing new or couldn't be found with an Internet search of the many valuable blogs and frugal living websites full of tips. I made it to tip #96 and thought it was a joke.
"Instead of splurging on sofas, recliners, love seats and chairs- sit on the floor! It's the norm for many cultures around the world." I don't consider having a couch and chairs splurging!

I'm amazed after reading this book that the smallest expenses can turn into lots of "found dollars" over time without feeling deprived. Why spend on items that will inevitably become "stuff" that's really not needed? It not only saves you money, but will reduce the stress factor because you don't have to find "time" to use those impulsive buys. This book contains fantastic ideas for ways to save on beauty, household, travel, entertainment and more. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to relearn a simple lifestyle, save money, reduce the stress in your life and become a healthier individual! It certainly shows you the way to become a "frugillionaire!"

I was looking for a book that explores the 'frugal' mentality and how you can be happy having less stuff. Explore the lifestyle, written by people who has done it and are living more fulfilling lives.

However I found just a book with 500 tips to save money.

My frustration is that was looking for something else, however the book has some (I said SOME) good tips, so it can be worth if you know what you're getting yourself into.

This book is full of things you already know - seriously, all 500 are ridiculously common sense (cook at home instead of eat out, set your thermostat lower, ...)

This book is way too basic, and contains so much basic random common sense that even the most wasteful, non frugal person won't learn anything new. It seems like a book that somebody with a cousin or networking connection in the publishing world came up with over cocktails at a party...which then became a cheaply produced book in no time flat....a misguided favor gone rogue!. Truly one of the worst wastes of paper and ink on the planet, and not worth the space on your Kindle either. It pains me to think I wasted money buying it, time reading it, and thus, I had to write this review to make others aware of how awful it is. Don't buy this book! Try one of the many other books on frugal living, and if you like historical things of this nature--you might enjoy The Frugal American Housewife(1800's, with many reprintings since).

When I saw this book I figured "Who wouldn't want to save a few bucks". I thought I might pick up a tip or two. I was pleasantly suprised when I realized that the book is packed with hundreds of money saving ideas and suggestions. The book is laid out in such a manner that you can read a few tips a session if you choose. I found it very hard to put down. Every parent should buy one of these for their children just getting starting out on their own (after they buy one for themselves).

A lot of financial self-help books seem to offer advice that is either outdated or irrelevant to all but a select category of readers. Others emphasize questionable "get rich" schemes. In contrast, this book offers 500 basic money-saving ideas that almost anyone can apply.

This book is well-organized and easy to read. Each idea is clearly presented in a short, simple paragraph (averaging maybe 100 words).

Having already implemented several of the book's suggestions in the past, I found myself wanting to add a few "caveats" and pointers. For example, in the chapter on Travel, anyone who has already traveled extensively on a budget will likely know even more about how to save money than is presented here. Nevertheless, the brief tips that are offered are right on-target, so for individuals who haven't traveled very much (yet need some money-saving trip ideas), the chapter definitely offers 40+ valid ways to save.

There are chapters with ideas for saving money on food, home and garden, fashion and beauty, entertainment, transportation, children, and more. As with the Travel chapter, many of these seem like common sense and the kinds of things that you simply "learn by doing" over the years -- but then that's part of what makes something "good sound advice" isn't it?

There might not be much here for a senior citizen with a lifetime of experience -- but for a young adult or single parent, or for a new family just starting out in a stuggling economy, this book offers 500 legitimate money-saving ideas (and it might make a nice little gift for someone like that!).