What a huge volume of information, useful information. Easy to read information too, a book that has an alternative to almost everything you could think of.
The sub-title is "Promoting thrift as an alternative lifestyle". I believe it lives up to that.
My grocery bill has dropped and I am beginning to think differently.
It was almost 1000 pages, took me 3 successive renewals at the library but absolutely worth the time and effort to read this amazing book.
I would buy a copy but am confident I could reserve it again from the library if I wanted a refresher course.
Monday, August 29, 2011
GET REAL by Mara Rockliff
What kind of world are you buying?
This easy to read book sure packs a punch, not to mention pricks a conscience!
I had not read anything quite so confronting regarding everday spending. I did skip the cahpters on food, thinking that what is true for the USA may not be (hopefully) true here, so I opted for ignorance as a default.
It is easy to read and is well written but the content is quite unsettling. I had never thought about the conditions in which garments were made or how much the workers were paid. This book actually lists questions to ask the staff where you buy the goods, would I do it? I think I'd be more comfortable just op-shopping in the future.
I am glad I read it and would reccomend it to everyone & it will certainly change my spending habits!
This easy to read book sure packs a punch, not to mention pricks a conscience!
I had not read anything quite so confronting regarding everday spending. I did skip the cahpters on food, thinking that what is true for the USA may not be (hopefully) true here, so I opted for ignorance as a default.
It is easy to read and is well written but the content is quite unsettling. I had never thought about the conditions in which garments were made or how much the workers were paid. This book actually lists questions to ask the staff where you buy the goods, would I do it? I think I'd be more comfortable just op-shopping in the future.
I am glad I read it and would reccomend it to everyone & it will certainly change my spending habits!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Nothing Left Over by Toinette Lippe
I picked up this book from our local library thinking it was on simplicity. It says on the cover " A Plain and Simple Life", and in that I am interested.
While I found the latter half of the book to be dry as she labored about ordinary life it did contains some truly amazing insight and has left a lingering sense of wonder in me.
I am grateful for coming across this book and feel my time invested has been wonderfully rewarded as I gleaned some insight from aother perspective. I love books for this value and I get to learn new words.
I learned "diffident" from this book. I had to go to the dictionary to discover its meaning, as I was only presuming from reading the text. It means, Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. I got that by a quick google search!
From Toinnette I gleaned the concept of contentment as, 'being satisfied with having enough for my needs'. It is a little different than minimalism or frugal living but not entirely disssimilar, but broader in its application as a life philosphy. It oozes generosity as we are constantly faced with supply beyond our own needs. For example, she seeks quality in clothes rather than spend masses of time in searching through second hand stores for suitable items. This is something I have done many times only to then send them back as they are ill fitting or otherwise not suited for the pupose intended. This is more time efficient and I have taken it on board and shall shop smarter. I have very plain taste in clothes also so this should be a matter of simply changing how I buy clothes.
One particular passage struck me from this book, it was her commentary on a bible passage. Not something I was expecting to discover in the pages of this unassuming book but it really is a treasure worth keeping.
I will quote the entire passage as I would like a copy of it;
"There is something in the third chapter of Genesis that addresses the question of fear and presence. Remember when God calls to Adam and says, "Where art thou?" and Adam responds, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself". This is the first time in the Bible that God asks man where he is. Until then, presumably, this had not been necessary because Adam and Eve were simply present. But once they had eaten of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, they wandered and their minds wandered, and both God and they no longer knew where they were. Once fear enters, we are no longer present. Fear is fear of the unknown. In the present fear doesn't exist.
There is actually a reference in the next chapter that I have always found both fascinating and relevant. It says, "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod". When I was studying Hebrew I discovered that the word nod means "restless" or "wandering". I don't know why the word was not translated in the King James version. Giving it a capital letter like that makes us think that it is a country in its own right. I believe that what is meant here is that after killing his brother, Cain no longer knew how to be still and in the present moment and that he became a wanderer, or nomad." (Pages 212 - 213 Nothing Left Over by toinnette Lippe 2002)
She adds the bible text & comments after relating a story about how she became anxious over the where abouts of her adult son and how it drew her out of the present, even though it turned out that he was fine. Her fear was of the unkown. I so appreciate the story and need to live more in the present, because it is all I have. I am confident that I can develop the habit of living in the present, it will only take practice and effort.
This is a book that inspires me that any topic is worthy of writing about and is of value.
While I found the latter half of the book to be dry as she labored about ordinary life it did contains some truly amazing insight and has left a lingering sense of wonder in me.
I am grateful for coming across this book and feel my time invested has been wonderfully rewarded as I gleaned some insight from aother perspective. I love books for this value and I get to learn new words.
I learned "diffident" from this book. I had to go to the dictionary to discover its meaning, as I was only presuming from reading the text. It means, Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. I got that by a quick google search!
From Toinnette I gleaned the concept of contentment as, 'being satisfied with having enough for my needs'. It is a little different than minimalism or frugal living but not entirely disssimilar, but broader in its application as a life philosphy. It oozes generosity as we are constantly faced with supply beyond our own needs. For example, she seeks quality in clothes rather than spend masses of time in searching through second hand stores for suitable items. This is something I have done many times only to then send them back as they are ill fitting or otherwise not suited for the pupose intended. This is more time efficient and I have taken it on board and shall shop smarter. I have very plain taste in clothes also so this should be a matter of simply changing how I buy clothes.
One particular passage struck me from this book, it was her commentary on a bible passage. Not something I was expecting to discover in the pages of this unassuming book but it really is a treasure worth keeping.
I will quote the entire passage as I would like a copy of it;
"There is something in the third chapter of Genesis that addresses the question of fear and presence. Remember when God calls to Adam and says, "Where art thou?" and Adam responds, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself". This is the first time in the Bible that God asks man where he is. Until then, presumably, this had not been necessary because Adam and Eve were simply present. But once they had eaten of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, they wandered and their minds wandered, and both God and they no longer knew where they were. Once fear enters, we are no longer present. Fear is fear of the unknown. In the present fear doesn't exist.
There is actually a reference in the next chapter that I have always found both fascinating and relevant. It says, "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod". When I was studying Hebrew I discovered that the word nod means "restless" or "wandering". I don't know why the word was not translated in the King James version. Giving it a capital letter like that makes us think that it is a country in its own right. I believe that what is meant here is that after killing his brother, Cain no longer knew how to be still and in the present moment and that he became a wanderer, or nomad." (Pages 212 - 213 Nothing Left Over by toinnette Lippe 2002)
She adds the bible text & comments after relating a story about how she became anxious over the where abouts of her adult son and how it drew her out of the present, even though it turned out that he was fine. Her fear was of the unkown. I so appreciate the story and need to live more in the present, because it is all I have. I am confident that I can develop the habit of living in the present, it will only take practice and effort.
This is a book that inspires me that any topic is worthy of writing about and is of value.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Song Of Songs by Solomon
"Thus, I have become in his eyes,
one bringing contentment"
one bringing contentment"
Ah, water to my soul. I picked up the bible to read last night for the first time in...a long time.
The above is what I read & then savoured through an unsettled nights sleep.
I felt divine contnentment at no longer 'trying' to please one who is already.
The above is what I read & then savoured through an unsettled nights sleep.
I felt divine contnentment at no longer 'trying' to please one who is already.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey
I liked the concept of this book but it took me some effort to get through it.
The chapter on Martin Luther King was fascinating but too graphic for me, the images play in my head well beyond reading.
I enjoyed reading about Gandhi. I have not read anything else about him. History was not really taught when I went to school nor have I developed an interest since then. I found it fascinating that India called Gadhi a holy man but has not adopted his philosophy, they continued in their ways.
The chapter on Paul Brand was a good read too
Henri Nouwen is a name I have come across before. I admire that he found his place in a community for the diasabled but I am left confused.
In reading this I see that my questions and doubts regarding the Christian faith are not unique and they do in some way create a path for the inquirer, which is not what I was expecting. My dear friend in the church said Yancey was one of her favourite authors, I can see why. He expresses the doubts & questions that must be so common and yet comes to safe conclusions. I find myself on the outside looking in. I value the independent thinking and am more looking for questions rather than answers. A big turnoff for me in the church was that they had an answer for everything, even if it was sometimes illogical. My favourite answer is I don't know, which I find very satisfying.
The chapter on Martin Luther King was fascinating but too graphic for me, the images play in my head well beyond reading.
I enjoyed reading about Gandhi. I have not read anything else about him. History was not really taught when I went to school nor have I developed an interest since then. I found it fascinating that India called Gadhi a holy man but has not adopted his philosophy, they continued in their ways.
The chapter on Paul Brand was a good read too
Henri Nouwen is a name I have come across before. I admire that he found his place in a community for the diasabled but I am left confused.
In reading this I see that my questions and doubts regarding the Christian faith are not unique and they do in some way create a path for the inquirer, which is not what I was expecting. My dear friend in the church said Yancey was one of her favourite authors, I can see why. He expresses the doubts & questions that must be so common and yet comes to safe conclusions. I find myself on the outside looking in. I value the independent thinking and am more looking for questions rather than answers. A big turnoff for me in the church was that they had an answer for everything, even if it was sometimes illogical. My favourite answer is I don't know, which I find very satisfying.
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer
What a delightful story!
I am into saving and am part of an online community called Simple Savings, so this seemed like a book I would like.
I did.
Sarah writes very well and the story is about ordinary people, believeable characters (mostly) and how people are not always what you assume from the way they look. Everyone has a story.
I did borrowed the large print edition (so it was extra easy to read) from Mornington Peninsula libraries.
The book
The story of a womans journey of being out of control with spending to learning to live a new and fulfilling way through the Penny Pinchers Club that meets in the basement of a local library. She is fuelled by the idea that her husband is going to leave her and ir becomes her driving passion in her new quest. The group provides more than just household hints, they take her into their lives and help her. They go through her finances, shop together and meet up. It is quite a communal effort and story of people helping each other.
She is transformed as she gains the confidence that comes from takeing responsibility for her actions & then doing something to create a different future. Most notably when a new challenge appears near the end of the book her approach to money is then applied to this life situation with the same successful results.
I liked the story line & the characters, it is well written and easy to read .
She even included some hints on the last page.
It is well worth the time to read this book.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Greetings From Somewhere Else By Monica McInerney
Took me ages to get around to reading this but it was a delightful read, thoroughly enjoyable!
The characters were all believable, and the story line was easy to follow.
I enjoy her character descriptions and way of describing landscape that I hae never seen so that I then form an image in my head.
I would elaborate more but I am not up to it today.
I like everything I have read by Monica McInerney so far & have been recommending & loaning them to friends & family.
The characters were all believable, and the story line was easy to follow.
I enjoy her character descriptions and way of describing landscape that I hae never seen so that I then form an image in my head.
I would elaborate more but I am not up to it today.
I like everything I have read by Monica McInerney so far & have been recommending & loaning them to friends & family.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Happiness Handbook by Dr Timothy Sharp
A self help book like no other I have read.
I have read tons of self help books and maybe even more Christian books promising change. Don't get me started on sermons that promise to 'change your life', I tried them all.
I went looking for Dr Sharps book after reading a review at the barefoot investor on 100 Ways to Happiness: A Guide for Busy People, by Dr Timothy Sharp. I din't find it but I did find the Happiness Handbook and I am glad I did.
Here is the link to the review article at barefootinvestor.com
I have read tons of self help books and maybe even more Christian books promising change. Don't get me started on sermons that promise to 'change your life', I tried them all.
I went looking for Dr Sharps book after reading a review at the barefoot investor on 100 Ways to Happiness: A Guide for Busy People, by Dr Timothy Sharp. I din't find it but I did find the Happiness Handbook and I am glad I did.
Here is the link to the review article at barefootinvestor.com
http://www.barefootinvestor.com/are-you-self-help-tragic/
This book gives you simple practical steps to actually help you be happier, and build on it. It looks at goals, how to figure out your purpose (something many stuck in church attendence are still searching for). It is only 10 chapters long but packs inenough information to keep you busy for ages.
One nteresting thought from the book is how he deals with 'feeling lost', he sees it as having its roots in not having any goals and therefore no life direcion. Well duh! you might say and rightly so but I didn't know that in the 90's and took that feeling and went in search of meaning through the New Age and all its shenanigans and then into Christianity. I still love God but no longer am I attending a Church for weekly meetings.
He had a fairly simple system for working out your life purpose be they one or a few, but for some reason I was fearful of this and didn't do it.
He looks at our thinking and its role in happiness. This has helped me question my thoughts rather than just letting anything run around my head. This has been an area of interest for me for years. Probably sparked by one of the self help gurus I read in the 90's but to his credit, Dr Timothy Sharp gives you tools to actually make some improvement in this area.
I really can't speak highly enough of this book. I read a library copy but it would be well worth owning a copy for ongoing reference, and who knows maybe even to tackle the 'purpose' issue that got so overdone in church that it turned me off.
I'd still like to read 100 ways to happiness, a guide for busy people by Dr Timothy Sharp and may just have to spend the $$ to get myself a copy. I am confident it wil be worth it!
This book gives you simple practical steps to actually help you be happier, and build on it. It looks at goals, how to figure out your purpose (something many stuck in church attendence are still searching for). It is only 10 chapters long but packs inenough information to keep you busy for ages.
One nteresting thought from the book is how he deals with 'feeling lost', he sees it as having its roots in not having any goals and therefore no life direcion. Well duh! you might say and rightly so but I didn't know that in the 90's and took that feeling and went in search of meaning through the New Age and all its shenanigans and then into Christianity. I still love God but no longer am I attending a Church for weekly meetings.
He had a fairly simple system for working out your life purpose be they one or a few, but for some reason I was fearful of this and didn't do it.
He looks at our thinking and its role in happiness. This has helped me question my thoughts rather than just letting anything run around my head. This has been an area of interest for me for years. Probably sparked by one of the self help gurus I read in the 90's but to his credit, Dr Timothy Sharp gives you tools to actually make some improvement in this area.
I really can't speak highly enough of this book. I read a library copy but it would be well worth owning a copy for ongoing reference, and who knows maybe even to tackle the 'purpose' issue that got so overdone in church that it turned me off.
I'd still like to read 100 ways to happiness, a guide for busy people by Dr Timothy Sharp and may just have to spend the $$ to get myself a copy. I am confident it wil be worth it!
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
New York Times Bestseller Revised 3rd Edition
A finance book. I like this one. I have read quite a few but this one is simple and do-able. I got started on his babysteps from a forum list of the 7 babysteps, it is that simple.
I have read Noel Whittaker, Paul Clitheroe, Anita Bell, Scott Pape, Bob Katz and one from Crown financial ministries. I also bought Joyce Meyers, How to handle your finance series and listened to that over & over, thats where I got onto Bob Katz & Frank Demazio but they were just full of information that didn't seem all that relevant to me nor did the inforamation seem to lead to action, not action that lasted anyway.
My favourites would have to be Charles Stanley's The Millionaire Next Door and The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason, followed by The barefoot investor by Scott Pape. At least Pape is Australian and relevant with his weekly news & tips from the radio that I hear weekly. I got onto Ubank for high interest online savings thanks to The Barefoot Investor newsletter.
I learnt things from all the books & audios I listened to but the difference is now I am following a plan that is working (and has for lots of people). We have direction and meaning in our finances and above all purpose! Something I have always lacked. We have the most in the bank we have had in 10 years of marriage and we have no debt apart from the house. We work to a written budget each month which is a great planning tool also. I have started a christmas fund so we won't be short of cash at Christmas again. The budget is helping me think beyond one paycheck and start to plan and direct where the money goes. I have such hope and I am grateful I found Dave & his many resources, like a free podcast & free newsletters & online tools, and I don't think it is too late for me even at 41.
THE BOOK
It is a 13 chapter book, the first 7 chapters focus on debt and debt myths and the first 2 babysteps. Debt gets a lot of attention as it is such a drain on personal finance and is so prevalent in our culture. He adds in lots of success stories from real people who have followed the babysteps and been successful.
It is a very encouraging read.
We had just finished babystep 2 (pay off all debt other than the house) when I got thee book. We are now working on babystep 3 which is to build a 3 - 6 month emergency fund.
I bought the book mainly to get a fuller understanding of babysteps 4 which is to put 15% into retirement or superannuation and babystep save for the kids college (or university).
He outlines how to calculate how much you will need to be a self-funded retiree and why that is a good idea. Though I am not sure that it is the same here as it is in the US but I really don't know.
He even provides a formula for calculating how much you will need.
The chapter on babystep 5 is quite short but full of valuable information, like what a higher education won't provide. He helps take the emotion and guilt out and promotes the use of scholarsips and work.
Next is paying off the house, being ultafit, as Dave calls it. I aspire to do this and am confident we will get there. Mortgages here in Australia are higher than the US, in my observation. If you have purchased in recent times here your mortgage will be quite high like ours. Not all the information in this chapter is relevant to me. It does seem that fixed rate mortgages are the most common in the US, which is unlike here where the are predominantly variable. But the goal of paying off the house is still worthy as is this chapter.
In the final chapters he paints a brilliant word picture of conquering a mountain and the coast downhill on the other side, it is powerful.
I highly recommend Dave Ramsey's resources to everyone and plan to continue with this plan for a long time, simply because it works.
A finance book. I like this one. I have read quite a few but this one is simple and do-able. I got started on his babysteps from a forum list of the 7 babysteps, it is that simple.
I have read Noel Whittaker, Paul Clitheroe, Anita Bell, Scott Pape, Bob Katz and one from Crown financial ministries. I also bought Joyce Meyers, How to handle your finance series and listened to that over & over, thats where I got onto Bob Katz & Frank Demazio but they were just full of information that didn't seem all that relevant to me nor did the inforamation seem to lead to action, not action that lasted anyway.
My favourites would have to be Charles Stanley's The Millionaire Next Door and The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason, followed by The barefoot investor by Scott Pape. At least Pape is Australian and relevant with his weekly news & tips from the radio that I hear weekly. I got onto Ubank for high interest online savings thanks to The Barefoot Investor newsletter.
I learnt things from all the books & audios I listened to but the difference is now I am following a plan that is working (and has for lots of people). We have direction and meaning in our finances and above all purpose! Something I have always lacked. We have the most in the bank we have had in 10 years of marriage and we have no debt apart from the house. We work to a written budget each month which is a great planning tool also. I have started a christmas fund so we won't be short of cash at Christmas again. The budget is helping me think beyond one paycheck and start to plan and direct where the money goes. I have such hope and I am grateful I found Dave & his many resources, like a free podcast & free newsletters & online tools, and I don't think it is too late for me even at 41.
THE BOOK
It is a 13 chapter book, the first 7 chapters focus on debt and debt myths and the first 2 babysteps. Debt gets a lot of attention as it is such a drain on personal finance and is so prevalent in our culture. He adds in lots of success stories from real people who have followed the babysteps and been successful.
It is a very encouraging read.
We had just finished babystep 2 (pay off all debt other than the house) when I got thee book. We are now working on babystep 3 which is to build a 3 - 6 month emergency fund.
I bought the book mainly to get a fuller understanding of babysteps 4 which is to put 15% into retirement or superannuation and babystep save for the kids college (or university).
He outlines how to calculate how much you will need to be a self-funded retiree and why that is a good idea. Though I am not sure that it is the same here as it is in the US but I really don't know.
He even provides a formula for calculating how much you will need.
The chapter on babystep 5 is quite short but full of valuable information, like what a higher education won't provide. He helps take the emotion and guilt out and promotes the use of scholarsips and work.
Next is paying off the house, being ultafit, as Dave calls it. I aspire to do this and am confident we will get there. Mortgages here in Australia are higher than the US, in my observation. If you have purchased in recent times here your mortgage will be quite high like ours. Not all the information in this chapter is relevant to me. It does seem that fixed rate mortgages are the most common in the US, which is unlike here where the are predominantly variable. But the goal of paying off the house is still worthy as is this chapter.
In the final chapters he paints a brilliant word picture of conquering a mountain and the coast downhill on the other side, it is powerful.
I highly recommend Dave Ramsey's resources to everyone and plan to continue with this plan for a long time, simply because it works.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Charlottes Web by E B White
I recently re-read this delightful childrens book as I still have my copy from primary school book club. What a lovely read. I cried when I first read it, as a kid, and I cried when I saw the animated movie too. I was soft. No tears this time!
I liked the way she gave the animals all personalities (my favorite being the goose) and that they talked. When I read this as a kid I believed it! How gullible am I?
I no longer believe animals talk & understand english, though I do think some communicate in their own way.
This book may well have started me on my journey towards becoming a vegetarian, as I have always been impressionable. How could I eat a living talking creature? The vego stint only lasted 2 years, & I didn't eat many vegetables. It was mostly about asserting myself as an individual, being a stubborn rebellious teenager and defying my Mum.
I am confident now in who I am and am definately a meat eater.
I had forgotten some the story past Charlotte dying as I may have been too sad to take it in.
I especially enjoyed the latter parts of the book & E B Whites descriptive writing.
A simple story a joy to read even as an adult & a lovely easy piece of escapism.
Karen
I liked the way she gave the animals all personalities (my favorite being the goose) and that they talked. When I read this as a kid I believed it! How gullible am I?
I no longer believe animals talk & understand english, though I do think some communicate in their own way.
This book may well have started me on my journey towards becoming a vegetarian, as I have always been impressionable. How could I eat a living talking creature? The vego stint only lasted 2 years, & I didn't eat many vegetables. It was mostly about asserting myself as an individual, being a stubborn rebellious teenager and defying my Mum.
I am confident now in who I am and am definately a meat eater.
I had forgotten some the story past Charlotte dying as I may have been too sad to take it in.
I especially enjoyed the latter parts of the book & E B Whites descriptive writing.
A simple story a joy to read even as an adult & a lovely easy piece of escapism.
Karen
The Remarkable Replacement Army
I just read this e-book by Stan Firth on someone elses recommendation.
If I were fresh out of attending church it would be helpful, but I can't wind back time.
I read it as an ebook, free pdf, and I don't like reading off the computer. I choose the ebook for financial reasons, so that is not Stan's fault but mine.
So it may be worth reading, that depends on you as you are unique.
What I gleaned from the book was, some history and some encouragement.
It was worth reading, thank you Stan Firth for making this available to all.
Karen
If I were fresh out of attending church it would be helpful, but I can't wind back time.
I read it as an ebook, free pdf, and I don't like reading off the computer. I choose the ebook for financial reasons, so that is not Stan's fault but mine.
So it may be worth reading, that depends on you as you are unique.
What I gleaned from the book was, some history and some encouragement.
It was worth reading, thank you Stan Firth for making this available to all.
Karen
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