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I recently received a review copy of Sharon Harvey Rosenberg’s first book, "The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money". Sharon runs a popular blog by the same name and tells her own personal story in this book. Since I love to "live well" and also "save money" I thought it would be a worthwhile read and a useful book to review here.
In the book, Sharon weaves her tips through the tale of her own journeys by using her Dream House as the main character of the book. There is a Mediterranean mansion in her neighborhood that she covets. She first fell in love with it in the mid-1990's when the asking price was $425,000. As of March 2007 it was listed for $2.6 million. Needless to say quite a bit of appreciation given its prime neighborhood in Miami. Sharon knows this house in great detail and shares her musings in a way that would make any Law of Attraction vision board guru proud. As the book wore on I was just dying to know whether she ever achieved her goal of owning the Dream House which had taken on a life of its own. While I wasn't as impatient as Nina at Queercents was as she shared in her review of the book that she jumped to the end of the book after Chapter 3 to see the outcome (I guess I am too linear or obedient for that...), I was truly rooting for a happy ending. Spoiler Alert: Unfortunately we were both disappointed. Sharon is still in her three bedroom apartment as she writes at the end of the book:
No I don’t have a house, but I’ve given my children the deed on dreams, frugal living, and hard work. And with those gifts, I can live comfortably on my balcony because I already have a dream home in South Beach.
At first I felt very letdown. I thought - what is the point of all this frugal living if you don't get the bonus prize? Then I calmed down a bit and realized that with strong financial fundamentals like Sharon has, she is already living her dream as she chooses too, and who knows, maybe one day that or another Dream House will be hers.
The book is a fun read and Sharon spins a great tale and has the talent of wit. My favorite is:
"If you think the stock market is just another form of legalized gambling..." (page 62)
Personally I hate shopping. I think that is why some of the frugal tips get lost on me. Yes I love to save money, and I am very conscious about how I spend it, but the thought of investing tons of time to pinch a penny or two irritates me more than the two pennies are worth. Time is a limited resource; money, in general, is not. Depending on what you do you can potentially earn more money, you can never buy time. For example, I know you can get awesome deals from yard sales. You can get designer stuff in great condition for pennies on the dollar. The catch? You have to drive around regularly to find those deals. Personally I'd rather be on my bike, hiking, or kayaking somewhere. But if you thrive on shopping and finding a bargin or DIY projects, many of Sharon's tips will be an adventure and joy for you.
For instance, I love her "Cost Per Wear" matrix on page 40. What it proves is sometimes quality items are worth the extra spending up front versus simply striving for the cheapest deal. I am all about value. While I've never calculated my cost per wear on my own items, I can guarantee you the $40 biking tights I bought 10 years ago cost me a fraction of a cent per wear. I have now worn a hole through them and need a new pair, but I got my money's worth. I've learned never to skimp on buying outdoor and adventure gear. Comfort, safety, and enjoyment rest on my choices.
On the other hand, I don't see myself clipping coupons anytime soon because most of the fresh and organic food I buy doesn't come with coupons. Coupons for mass manufactured food products abound.
