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Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life [Kindle Edition]

Ruth Soukup
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (157 customer reviews)

Print List Price: $15.99
Kindle Price: $9.11
You Save: $6.88 (43%)
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishing

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Book Description

In Search of the Good Life

Have you ever that your life--and budget--is spiraling out of control?  Do you sometimes wish
you could pull yourself together but wonder exactly how to manage all the scattered pieces of a chaotic life?  Is it possible to find balance?



In a word, yes.



Ruth Soukup knows firsthand how stressful an unorganized life and budget can be. Through
personal stories, biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire you to make real and lasting changes to your personal goals, home, and finances. With honesty and the wisdom of
someone who has been there, Ruth will help you:

    *    Discover your "sweet spot"--that place where your talents and abilities intersect.
    *    Take back your time and schedule by making simple shifts in your daily habits.
    *    Reduce stress in your home and family by clearing out the clutter.
    *    Stop busting your budget and learn to cut your grocery bill in half.
    *    Bring order to a messy life and create a practical cleaning schedule that works.

Who Needs This Book?

Living Well, Spending Less was written to bring hope and encouragement to every woman who
currently feels overwhelmed or stressed with a life--and budget--that feels out of control. It speaks to the mom trying to juggle all the demands of a busy life with the pressure to keep up
with those around her.  It is a practical guide for those of us who often long to pull ourselves together but don't always know how. It is real, honest, packed with practical tips, and speaks to the heart of the matter--how can we live the life we've always wanted?

Want to know if this book is for you?


    *    Do you ever find yourself comparing your life to those around you?
    *    Have you ever wished for the courage to follow your dreams?
    *    Do you ever struggle to stay organized or get things done?
    *    Have you ever felt loaded down with stuff you don't need....or even want?
    *    Do you ever struggle to keep your finances on track?
    *    Have you ever wished for a cleaner house?
    *    Do you sometimes long for deeper, more authentic relationships in your life?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, this book provides real and practical solutions from someone who has been there. Ruth doesn't just offer advice, she walks it with you, and shares with brutal honesty her own mistakes, failures, and shortcomings.  It is encouraging,
motivating, and life-changing.

What Others Are Saying:

"An incredible book that will teach you how to spend smart without compromising a great life. Ruth's stories and practical advice will make you want to be a better mother, wife, sister, and friend."
     --RACHEL CRUZE, coauthor with Dave Ramsey of Smart Money Smart Kids

"Ruth knows firsthand how mamas like us live crazy busy lives, and she steps
in as a friend to help us manage and love every minute of it.  She offers her best tips for gaining control over the chaos with wisdom-based insights on all things thrifty and family. I'll be reading
it again and again!
"
     --RENEE SWOPE, bestselling author of A Confident Heart

"I couldn't stop reading. I tried to--only because I had other things I needed to do--but I couldn't. Rarely is there a book so adept at weaving personal story with practical tips. I found myself craving this good life that Ruth writes of--a life that is possible for anyone who reads
this book.
"
     --EMILY T. WIERENGA, author of the bestselling memoir Atlas Girl

"In this book, you will be inspired by Ruth's authenticity and honesty as she shares her own journey from spending time and money chasing after more to discovering she already has all the makings of a rich and full life right where she's at. If you struggle to simplify your life and
wish you could savor the here and now, this book is a must-read.
"
    --CRYSTAL PAINE, founder of MoneySavingMom.com and author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode


Editorial Reviews

Review

"More than just a financial guide. Packed with doable tips and infused with warmth, honesty, & humility, this fabulous title will touch the hearts--and lives--of women of all ages."
     --CHRISTY PITNEY, CBA Retailers Resources

From the Author

My hope and prayer for this book is that it will bring hope and encouragement to women everywhere, especially those who are struggling to juggle all the pieces of a busy and chaotic life.  My intention is not to tell you what to do, but to share openly the strategies that have worked for me, as well as be honest about mistakes I have made along the way.

xoxo, Ruth

Product Details


Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
78 of 85 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars √ Will You be Content or Obsessed with More and More? December 29, 2014
Format:MP3 CD
LIVING WELL, SPENDING LESS is a well-written, practical guide on escaping from the constant "Must have more" lifestyle that is so prevalent today. The author, Ruth Soukup, comes across as a modest person--not so much lecturing you on what you should do, but instead, sharing lessons that she had to learn the hard way. The author clearly states that she is a Christian, and that this book is based on "what the Bible has taught me about the Good Life."

The "secrets" in this book grew out of the author's experience as a young girl. Ruth became enamored with building the perfect dream home; she would find photos of wonderful houses and dream of her life in these wonderful mansions. As an adult, she continued that habit, constantly buying more and more unnecessary things: "I'd spend hours drooling over magazines and catalogs, tearing out pictures of all the things I liked, all the things I knew I wouldn't be able to live without, all the things I knew would make me happy."

Of course, Ruth finally realized the trap she had sprung on herself. She discovered that having fewer things actually translated into greater happiness: "The love of things can so easily consume us. The pursuit of it all--more toys, cuter clothes, a prettier house, a nicer car, a newer computer, a fancier phone--makes us forget all the things that actually matter. Not until I observed firsthand the real and immediate changes in my kids after getting rid of their toys did I truly begin to understand. My lesson to them was really their lesson to me: less stuff equals more joy."

I think the greatest "secret" in this book is right at the beginning of the book--contentment, or the lack of it. We tend to not be content with what we have, in spite of massive material accumulations.
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36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
As a writer for several parenting publications, a blogger and a mom, I am constantly reading books by supposed "experts" who swear they have the answer to help others achieve a better, happier, more fulfilled, less chaotic, (insert your own adjective here) life. However, their suggestions are often so complicated and out of touch with the audience they hope to help that all they actually achieve in creating is more stress for the reader. This is why I found Ruth Soukup's book, Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life, so surprising and refreshing. Her writing style is straightforward and heartfelt. She talks to the readers as if you are simply having a chat over coffee. She doesn't pretend to have all the answers and very humbly reveals many of her own challenges and failings. Yet, through her own life experiences she is able to provide very practical and common sense advice to help others find what the "good life" means to them.
Anyone who reads this book, no matter their circumstances, will be inspired to look inside themselves and discover that they have far more power to change the quality of their own lives then they may realize. The topics are universal to the struggles so many of us face and yet that we often think are our issues alone. As you read Ruth's words and her stories, you'll feel as if they are your own and through the wisdom and insights she has gained during her experiences, she'll lead you towards the "good life" that is meant for you.
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67 of 75 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed - confused by the 5-star reviews. January 13, 2015
Format:Paperback
As a stay-at-home mom of two and the bill-payer of my household, I could not relate to this book at all. The author is all over the place with stories and Bible verses, that don't even match up to each other or to the topic of each chapter. I am an easy sell on a book - I liked this one because of the title and the cover. The title of this book should be: "Long-winded stories about the mistakes I made in my quest a designer lifestyle." I can't relate to the author's life at all. She has some social anxiety issues that had her moving her family to new cities frequently, and then the kicker was when she said her husband became a stay-at-home dad so she could BLOG. DO WHAT? And I am to take FINANCIAL advice from this woman? She also babbles on and on about her lack of confidence as a writer - which seems strange in a PUBLISHED book on the topic of saving money. She's all over the place - the chapters start on one topic and veer so far off course with gossipy stories about her life - dropping names, businesses, designer labels. So strange that gossipy stories are followed by these "deep" Bible verses that confuse the entire message. This was a waste of $12.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars This book is a keeper! December 30, 2014
Format:Kindle Edition
LIVING WELL, SPENDING LESS is a well-meaning guide to living beyond the lackluster, complacent lifestyle so many find themselves living in today. Author, Ruth Soukup, presents the texts narrative in a modest, easy-to-follow perspective; this book does not seek to lecturing, but rather presents practical, hard knocks testimony on how to live the type of existence the author refers to as "what the Bible has taught me about the Good Life."

This book does not approach budgeting as a smoke and veils symphony, rags-to-riches type self-help book, which is so often written by many of the authors contemporaries. This book stems from the author's experience as a young girl. Soukup, like so many newlyweds, became enamored with building a dream; a dream home, dream vehicle, dream wardrobe, and ultimately a dream lifestyle. As time went on, this dream became a nightmare, as all of these trappings began to weight heavily on all aspects of her young life.

Over time, Soukup discovered that a life of rustic simplicity, mixed with a few well placed, affordable bells and whistles, translated into both a greater sense of happiness, but also a steadfast, maintainable frame of mind. The author describes this situation as, "The love of things can so easily consume us. The pursuit of it all--more toys, cuter clothes, a prettier house, a nicer car, a newer computer, a fancier phone--makes us forget all the things that actually matter. Not until I observed firsthand the real and immediate changes in my kids after getting rid of their toys did I truly begin to understand. My lesson to them was really their lesson to me: less stuff equals more joy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars a little disappointed
I was hoping to learn something I hadn't already read in a magazine article. A little too much on the religious it can offend those that don't share your same beliefs.
Published 1 day ago by Barbara Hildebrand
5.0 out of 5 stars Great motivation
I love how this book touches on so many aspects of living well, with a focus on your relationship with God. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Mk momma
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book
I really enjoyed this book! I've read many books on how to be frugal, but this one addresses the HEART. Highly recommend.
Published 1 day ago by Megan Baker
4.0 out of 5 stars I did enjoy reading it
The older (ahem) I get, the more I find myself wanting to de-clutter and streamline my home, my wardrobe, my life in general. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Ala Book Lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Not only great advice for what the title says
Not quite halfway through but loving this book! Not only great advice for what the title says, but also tips for goal setting and just generally getting the most out of life!
Published 3 days ago by Crystal5
4.0 out of 5 stars Great way to refocus
I quite enjoyed this book, and it helped me refocus my priorities, and gave me great tips on how to get there.
Published 4 days ago by Kylie Peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars trying to live this way
loving this book, it is speaking to me.
Published 4 days ago by Alina Gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Love the book!
Published 4 days ago by Missy Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
It was great
Published 4 days ago by jennifer warford
5.0 out of 5 stars loved it
one of the best books I've ever read... she really spoke to me .. I can't wait to read more of her books...
Published 4 days ago by Judy Hilliker
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More About the Author

Ruth Soukup is a writer, speaker, wife, and mom, and founder of LivingWellSpendingLess.com. Begun simply as a way to hold herself accountable as she attempted to replace her overspending with a sustainable budget, LivingWellSpendingLess.com has since grown to be one of the top personal finance blogs on the web, averaging over 1.5 million visitors per month. She is also the founder of EliteBlogAcademy.com, an online course for professional bloggers and communicators.

She has contributed to articles in Woman's Day magazine, Redbook Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and ALL YOU Magazine, has appeared on The Daily Buzz, and has been a regular contributor to TheBetterMom.com, Proctor & Gamble's HomeMadeSimple.com, and P&GEveryday.com.; She also writes a feature column for Harbor Style Magazine and appears regularly on WINK News in SW Florida as a Money Saving Expert.

Ruth lives in Florida with her husband and two daughters. Her mission is to create a home filled with joy and purpose, and she firmly believes that a life well lived is not so much about what we have, but who we are.


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