Crystal Paine's The Money Saving Mom's Budget ~ Reviewed

The Money Saving Mom’s Budget

By Crystal Paine

Published by Gallery Books Jan 10, 2012

Sold by Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc.

226 Pages

Book Description: 

FROM ONE OF NIELSEN’S TOP 50 POWER MOMS COMES ADVICE YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK—LITERALLY ! Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels.

With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” TIPS, plus WORKSHEETS, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can:
• Achieve a complete financial makeover
• Set up a realistic budget
• Never pay retail
• Slash your grocery bill
• Organize your time & your home
And so much more……

ABOUT AUTHOR: Crystal Paine is a wife and homeschooling mom to three young children who has been writing on topics related to frugality for the last five years—and living a frugal, simple, and debt-free life since she was born. Her blog, MoneySavingMom.com, is one of the top personal finance blogs on the web averaging over four million page views per month. Crystal has contributed to articles in Woman's Day magazine and All You magazine, as well as being mentioned on National Public Radio and CNN.com, in USA Weekend, and Real Simple magazine and numerous other local newspapers and radio and television stations.

REVIEW: The review copy of this book I received was an audio book. I loved that I could listen to this book read by Crystal on my way to and from work every day. I also liked the fact that this is Crystal and her husbands’ personal journey, of a young couple setting goals, working together to accomplish their goals; one of which was to pay off their house and be mortgage free.

I liked how she makes the approach to money planning simple and practical. She is an inspiration. It’s not overwhelming. She states if right now you can only save $10.00 per month toward your goal and de-clutter your home great. Stick with that until you can do more. Her point is start where you can.

Crystal includes helpful worksheets you can download and print out as part of the audio book. She breaks down the seven principles for financial success; which are

1. Set Big Goals (Dream) and break them down into bite-sized pieces!
2. Streamline your life and cut the clutter
3. Set up a realistic, workable budget
4. Take the cash-only challenge
5. Use coupons
6. Never Pay retail
7. CHOOSE CONTENTMENT – (IMPORTANT ASPECT – I like how she puts this)

CRYSTAL SAYS Make a Gratitude List, Stop comparing yourself to others; Become a giver; choose to bloom where you’re planted

She also includes

5 Questions to ask yourself about Clutter.

3  Ways to turn clutter to Cash

5 ways being organized saves you money

10 tips for having a successful garage sale

10 ways to earn an extra $100 per month

And other helpful resources.

I highly recommend this audio book. I enjoyed hearing the author read her book and how she breaks down the steps to financial freedom into manageable achievable steps. I finished the book inspired!

Nora St.Laurent

The Book Club Network

www.bookfun.org