Frugal Living for Dummies book

I started reading Frugal Living for Dummies by Deborah Taylor-Hough which I got from the library thinking that it might be a little bit easier read then some of the other books that I have read recently.  It is an interesting read and it has an interesting organization method to the chapters.  It is a quick read at 248 pages but I don't know it provides a ton of interesting advice.  There is a section on homemade personal care items including a scrub made from olive oil and salt.  I never thought about that as a combination but it is used as a face scrub (and I would guess body scrub) to exfoliate and then hydrogen peroxide to acts as an astringent (because it isn't supposed to dry you out as much as rubbing alcohol).  They also recommend desitin diaper rash cream for blemishes so I guess I am set if I get a pimple :)  If you are between products and haven't gotten to the store to buy more, try these and see if they work first.... and then let me know! 

 Topics were basics, eating, family, home, and gifts.  It gives ideas for the grocery store, shopping at second hand stores and topics that are common sense.  I think that everyone knows it will cost $60 or more to take a family to a move and about $5 to rent a movie and watch it at home.  Then they follow with an idea that this saved $55 should be put towards a vacation which seems like a crazy conclusion.  A family is staying home to watch the video to save the money because they don't have the $60, not so that they can put it towards a vacation.  I use coupons at the store to save money on groceries to support my family.  If I saved around $575 for the month, that doesn't mean that I have that money to put into the vacation fund.  I didn't disagree with most of the ideas in the book except this one because it seems like a strange way to fund a vacation.  I hope to fund a vacation through using frugal measures through the year but I don't think that I am going to over $600 closer by skipping going to the movie and couponing, a little closer to saving in general. 

When you get to the end of the book, it just ends.  There is no wrap up or anything and the next page is the index.  It is a little strange but I guess they covered the topics that they wanted so they were done. Overall, I don't think that I would recommend the book for others.  If you truly do want the frugal living guidebook, I think that there are other more interesting reads out there with recipes and concrete steps to help save money.  Hope this review helps you to know whether you should skip this at the local library or bookstore!!