Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites [Plastic Comb]

David G. Cooper (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...clever, well-organized and easy to read. If you like the Tightwad Gazette Books, you'll love Not Just Beans." -- Kim Tilley, frugalmoms.com, February 2000

"...not only the best cookbook I've seen, but a complete family savings guide as well. Highly recommended." -- Terry Rigg, homemoneyhelp.com, August 2001

"If you had to get by with one cookbook, you could eat quite well with this as your only guide." -- Cheri Sicard, fabulousfoods.com, July 2000

About the Author

For over 20 years, Not Just Beans author Tawra Kellam has lived the frugal lifestyle. Her mother's determination to persevere through extraordinarily difficult financial circumstances is the basis of Tawra's frugal thinking.

Tawra is known on the Internet for her expertise in frugal living.Tawra, her husband and 2 kids live in Wichita, Kansas. In the last 5 years, they have paid off $20,000 personal debt on an average income of $22,000 per year.

Tawra is a housewife who likes to say that she has a "masters" in domestic engineering with an emphasis in economics and pediatrics.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 268 pages
• Publisher: Not Just Beans (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967697409
• ISBN-13: 978-0967697406
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,648,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real life (and tastebud) saver!, December 6, 1999

By 

"lpvonnie" (Sun Valley, NV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites (Plastic Comb)

When I recieved my book I sat and read it from cover to cover. The hints and tips and funny anecdotes add such a human touch to this cook book! The recipes are fun and easy to follow. I have made recipe after recipe and my family continues to be amazed at the culinary delights I present to them! The love and family history that Tawra has poured into this book make for an AMAZING kitchen tool. I have been a confirmed "Frugal" for a long time, but since reading the Complete Tightwad Gazette and using Not Just Beans, my family has NEVER been so well fed and my Tightwad grocery budget is EVEN lower! Thanks Tawra for putting this COMPLETE cookbook together!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the Beans!, February 14, 2002

By 

Julie Post (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites (Plastic Comb)

I am a cookbook junkie and since adding Not Just Beans to my collection, I find myself turning to it before all the others. All the recipes that I've tried have been wonderful. I've easily been able to adapt many of them to lower fat recipes using 2% milk, light cheese, fat free sour cream, etc... The Jar Mixes section came in especially handy over the holidays and I received rave reviews for all the "Gifts in Jars" that I gave out. My daughter and I have had tons of fun in the Kids section making Slime, Play Dough, Finger Paints and Christmas Ornaments.

Best of all are all the time and money saving tips spread through out the book. I'm even making my own household cleaners thanks to this book. Bottom Line: Not Just Beans is a MUST HAVE for Frugalites everywhere!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eat Better While Saving Money......., December 2, 1999

By 

Linda S.Campbell (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites (Plastic Comb)

NOT JUST BEANS is so packed full of money saving recipes it will pay for itself the first week you use it. Tawras humerous anecdotes make this book one that I often sit down with and read even when I'm not looking for a recipe. But something will catch my eye and suddenly I have the desire to whip something up. We have never eaten so well for so little money. Her recipes are easy, delicious and economical. You will wonder how you wasted so much money in the grocery store in the past. Her book is a way of life that we can all afford and at the same time eat like kings (and queens).