Tough economic times have people from all income levels tightening their belts.  With gas prices fluctuating daily and the cost of living taking its toll on people in even the most subtle ways, a few helpful household tips can assist men and women with keeping more of the green stuff in their bank accounts.

Drawing upon personal knowledge, Rebecca DiLiberto wrote the Penny Saving Household Helper: Five Hundred Little Ways To Save Big and dispelled the myth that she was a spendthrift.  Despite a confession concerning her love to shop, the author provides credible advice and inventive solutions to people’s questions about frugality.  Pocket-sized and well worth its retail price of $12.95, the Penny Saving Household Helper works hard to provide informative answers about lowering utility bills, “beefing up” budget meals, maintaining the things that you already own, entertaining on a dime, and low-cost travel.

A quick read full of positive results, DiLiberto explains the sheer necessity of scaling back in order to enjoy the finer things in life.  Rather than look forward to opening a mailbox full of uncollected debt, a person can save money by eating homemade pickles and enjoying a sunshine-filled day playing tennis with friends.  He or she may even go so far as to employ homemade remedies to soothe a stomachache or whip up a batch of all-natural kitchen cleaners courtesy of the recipes included in the book.  DiLiberto’s back-to-basics approach is how many of our grandmothers and great grandmothers ran their households.

The Penny Saving Household Helper isn’t about giving things up.  Instead, it is a primer designed to get you to enjoy the things that you have more of.  Being financially fit takes a sincere effort.  Having money in the bank can be the difference between mere survival and a slightly more comfortable lifestyle if your job goes by the wayside.  One hundred and ninety five pages of suggestions, entertaining ideas, and affordable alternatives, Chronicle Books’ the Penny Saving Household Helper is a welcome addition to anyone who is looking for ways to cut back, spend less, and save more.

Thinking that I knew everything I could about frugality, DiLiberto proved me wrong.  Unlike other books that address the topic, she cuts right to the chase.  There is no reason to skip through pages searching for specific information.  The book contains four main sections, “In the Kitchen,” “Around the House,” “Lifestyle,” “Fun & Leisure,” as well as an introduction, index, and acknowledgments.  Her wealth of knowledge addresses a number of individual and family concerns, and makes adopting a simpler lifestyle fun.