In a stumbling economy, one has to tread carefully, but can still move forward. This resource helps, one step at a time.

As the economic pendulum swings, it’s time to start living smart Living Well in a Down Economy For Dummies offers ideas for keeping more money in your pocket during a topsy-turvy economy. With more than 100 tips, it shows you how to tighten your belt without feeling a big pinch in your day-to-day life. Discover innovative and effective ways to cut expenses and boost your income in today’s economy. It isn’t about making sacrifices. It’s about setting priorities. Gain the skills you need to take control of your spending, make smarter choices, and stop the financial drain that can accompany a downturn in the economy. Inside, you’ll find practical advice on how to live and thrive when prices creep up or your income falls. Get tips for spending less in all areas of life—utilities, groceries, pet care, entertainment, and beyond. And figure out how to slip in some self-care without breaking the bank. You can do this, thanks to this no-judgment For Dummies guide. Reduce your expenses by cooking at home, doing your own car maintenance, cutting your own hair, and more Discover creative ways to increase your income, interview for better-paying jobs, and continue to save for college or retirement Save money on home maintenance, insurance, and other reoccurring costs Minimize your tax bill, improve your credit, and avoid foreclosure If you’re looking for practical tips on how to make ends meet that you can implement today, this For Dummies guide is for you.

About This Book The bad news! This book is not about how to get rich quick. It is definitely not about spending your life accumulating objects that will only turn to dust. The good news! This book takes a back-to-basics approach. It's about living well-for-less. It's about living from the inside-out. Within these pages it makes every effort to present materials in an easy-to-understand format. It is for everyday people who feel the need to live a more meaningful life that reflects their true potential. Never does it make any unrealistic claims to give a cure-all-solution to life's problems. Neither, does it imply that you can improve your life without putting forth honest and committed efforts. Our objective is to stimulate your mind, give you access to simple down-to-earth strategies that can help you to wake up, get up, go up, and stay up in any type of economy. Simply put, our aim is to help you "spend less than you earn and enjoy it." More about This Book Being a real estate broker for the past 13 yrs, I can truly see your vision and where this book is leading this next generation. The message in your book is so clear, and the life that you are living has inspired me and many of my close associates to step it up a notch in the way we handle our everyday finances. You demonstrated so clearly in your book, many of the key fundamentals to getting out of debt, a simple written plan of instructions that's easy to follow, and once you've built the wealth; how to keep it! Parents, I recommend you buy this book for your children before puberty. It's like putting money in the bank for your future. Ruben Surles Real Estate Broker San Antonio, Texas

Feel like you’re trying to dig out from under a mountain of debt without a shovel? Tired of working your tail off just to break even? Is the high cost of living taking all the joy out of life? Unless you’re one of the top two percent of wealthiest Americans, all of the above should sound painfully familiar. While they’re trying to decide between the ski lodge in Telluride and the Tuscan villa, for the rest of us, it’s an endless litany of corporate lay-offs, stagnant wages, crushing credit card debt, skyrocketing medical costs, exorbitant utility bills, the high cost of higher education.... And they call this “the good life.” Is there a better way to live? Can you get what you need and what you want without killing yourself to get it? “Absolutely,” says frugal-living guru Deborah Taylor-Hough, and in Frugal Living For Dummies, she shows you how. In this warmhearted guide to living the good life on less, Deborah shows you how to live within your means and enjoy doing it. Among other things, she shows you how to: Eat like a king on a peasant’s budget Take the sting out of gift-giving Dress well on a shoestring Save big bucks on family expenses Slash household expenses Save on medical expenses Involve the whole family in saving money Save more for the things you want From basement to attic, cradle to grave, Frugal Living For Dummies covers all areas of life with common sense advice and guidance on: Working with your partner to achieve financial goals Going to the grocery without being taken to the cleaners Quick and thrifty cooking techniques Providing kids the basics on a tight budget Putting kids through school without going broke Looking good and feeling good on a tight budget Frugal holiday fun year round Saving money around the house and driveway Finding quality in pre-owned merchandise Packed with tried-and-true techniques for cutting costs and stopping the insanity, Frugal Living For Dummies is the ultimate financial survival guide for the rest of us.