Waukegan Public Library - economy

Have You Heard About... Living Large in Lean Times

Fran J — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 06:33:12 +0000

… ways to spend smarter and save money? Clark Howard’s Living Large in Lean Times is a lot of common sense, with some new twists that you might not have thought of. This is a brand new, up-to-the-minute book on the current recession we are going through. There are more than 250 ideas and lots web sites for further ideas to check out.

Clark tells us how to save money in a neighborly, over the backyard fence kind of way. Some of his ideas I thought were laughable they were so outrageous, but other ideas sure made a lot of sense. When I went to several of the web sites, I was very impressed at what they had to offer in the way of saving more money and how to spend what little you might have more wisely. The book is nicely divided into sections, so you only need to read what is of importance to you if you don’t have time to read the entire book.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Cherries in Winter

Fran J — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:40:15 +0000

…how to get through hard times? In Cherries in Winter: My Family’s Recipe for Hope in Hard Times, Suzan Colón writes with candor of her family history in hard times and includes a few wonderful, old fashioned, stick-to-your-ribs recipes. This book is a history of sorts on how her family survived the Depression, with a ‘make do, can do, and we’ll survive attitude’ that is relevant today. This book is not so much of what has happened in the past, but of how Suzan copes with the present day economy and the loss of her job through reading her grandmother’s cookbook and journal.

If you remember the hard times of the Depression, the 2000/2001 recession, or are just going through a rough patch financially, this extraordinary book is for you. Told with laughter and a few tears, this short read is wonderfully in tune with today. One of the highlights in the book is about mashed potatoes – how they were made way back when and how Suzan makes them now is a hoot. If you miss the humor in it, you need to go back and start at the beginning of the chapter. This book makes you feel like you can do anything you really set you mind to. I loved it!

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

Fran J — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:17:25 +0000

… how to save money at the grocery store? Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America’s Cheapest Family, by Steve and Annette Economides, guides you past clipping coupons and watching for sales, though that’s a good start.

Most of this book is common-sense, but there are lots of small tips you might not have thought of. It’s a lot of reading to absorb, but even if you just skim through it, at the end of each chapter are three ways to slowly start saving more money when you shop. Also, at the end of the book are a few penny-wise recipes to try.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)