Favorite Books on Frugal Living

Today I thought I would highlight a few of  my favorite books on frugality.  I'm always looking for more tips and inspiration, so I read every book and article on frugal living, saving money, and personal finance that I can get my hands on.  Here are three of my favorites:

1) The Tightwad Gazette - I first read this about a year ago, after a frugal friend couldn't believe that I had never seen it!  (Then I wrote a complete review of it here.) It is the bible of all things frugal and is brimming with every tip you can think of.  One of the things that sets it apart is an emphasis on DIY - fixing things, foraging, recycling - rather than on buying.  Since the Tightwad Gazette newsletter, from which the book is taken, came out in the '90's, some of the information and definitely some of the prices are a little dated, but that takes away very little from the usefulness of the book.  Since the tips in the newsletter and book come from "tightwads" all around the country, there is also great variety in the types of ideas you can find.

2) Miserly Moms - I received this book from Freecycle, along with its companion, Frugal Families and loved it.  (This link is for the edition of Miserly Moms that I have, but there is also an updated edition here.)  The author, Jonni McCoy, writes about her famliy's transformation from two incomes to one, while still living well in ultra-expensive California.  Since I live within a large metropolitan area with fairly high prices, I especially appreciated that.  This book has lots of great ideas in many categories.  It's always interesting and instructive for me to see how different families handle different things; I have picked up so many tips from different people, books, and blogs that I now incorporate into our frugal lifestyle.

3) The Total Money Makeover - I finally, finally got this book from the libarary recently, after being on the waiting list forever!  So many frugal bloggers, like Crystal and Jessica rave about Dave Ramsey, and I have been dying to know what the buzz was about!  After reading the book in one day, I can now report that the buzz is true!  Yes, I am blessed to not be in a terrible financial position or drowning in debt, but I still found the book highly thought-provoking and even life-changing.  The combination of the the author's very dynamic style and the true personal stories of people who's lives have been changed really gives this book its punch.  I am still mulling it over and pondering what changes it might make in our life.  Meanwhile, I highly recommend it!

Do you have a favorite frugal living or personal finance book or other resource?

Find more great frugal tips at Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom and Mrs. Moneysaver.

Disclaimer: I was not paid to review any of these books, nor did I receive free copies.  However, I am an Amazon associate, so if you buy one of these books through my link I will earn a small commission.  My opinions are honest and my own.