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Business. Christian Nonfiction. Religion & Spirituality. Nonfiction. HTML: In Search of the Good Life Have you ever felt that your life�??and budget�??is spiraling out of control? Do you sometimes wish you could pull yourself together but wonder exactly how to manage all the scattered pieces of a chaotic life? Is it possible to find balance? In a word, yes. Ruth Soukup knows firsthand how stressful an unorganized life and budget can be. Through personal stories, biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire you to make real and lasting changes to your personal goals, home, and finances. With honesty and the wisdom of someone who has been there, Ruth will help you: * Discover your "sweet spot"�??that place where your talents and abilities intersect. * Take back your time and schedule by making simple shifts in your daily habits. * Reduce stress in your home and family by clearing out the clutter. * Stop busting your budget and learn to cut your grocery bill in half. Who Needs This Book? Living Well, Spending Less was written to bring hope and encouragement to every woman who currently feels overwhelmed or stressed with a life�??and budget�??that feels out of control. It speaks to the mom trying to juggle all the demands of a busy life with the pressure to keep up with those around her. It is a practical guide for those of us who often long to pull ourselves together but don't always know how. It is real, honest, packed with practical tips, and speaks to the heart of the matter�??how can we live the life we've always wanted? Want to know if this book is for you? * Do you ever find yourself comparing your life to those around you? * Have you ever wished for the courage to follow your dreams? * Do you ever struggle to stay organized or get things done? * Have you ever felt loaded down with stuff you don't really need....or even really want? * Do you ever struggle to keep your finances on track? * Do you sometimes long for deeper, more authentic relationships in your life? If the answer to any of these questions is YES, this book provides real and practical solutions from someone who has been there. Ruth doesn't just offer advice, she walks it with you, and shares with brutal honesty her own mistakes, failures, and shortcomings. It is encouraging, motivating, and life-changing. What Others Are Saying: "An incredible book that will teach you how to spend smart without compromising a great life. Ruth's stories and practical advice will make you want to be a better mother, wife, sister, and friend." �??RACHEL CRUZE, coauthor with Dave Ramsey of Smart Money Smart Kids "Ruth knows firsthand how mamas like us live crazy busy lives, and she steps in as a friend to help us manage and love every minute of it. She offers her best tips for gaining control over the chaos with wisdom-based insights on all things thrifty and family. I'll be reading it again and again!" �??RENEE SWOPE, bestselling author o… (more)
User reviews
Overall Rating: 3.00
Tips Rating: 3.50
Delivery Rating: 2.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Living Well, Spending Less by Ruth Soukup had some great tips for learning to live with less but with a fuller life.
Overall Thoughts: First let me admit that I have read both Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and The Power to Prosper: 21 Days to Financial Freedom (both of which I highly recommend)so my expectations for this book were maybe set a little high.
1: The first half of the book is solely focused on the author, her shopping addiction, and her issues. Which is fine if I was picking up a biography but that was not what I thought this book was about.
2: I had two issues with her using bible versus (in the amount she used): I felt she was disingenuous and judgmental. Examples: She mentions a ton about Dave Ramsey and gives him credit. However later when she mentions a 30 day spending freeze (which she posted about in 2012--I checked) she never mentions or gives credit to Financial Fast (which was published in 2010 but was making the Christian Financial rounds earlier). Another example is the vacation with the rich friends. She projected a bit when she said they seemed unhappy with all their stuff. She had no concrete proof of that other than she wasn't having fun on the vacation because they weren't doing things she wanted to do. Instead of focusing on what she knew to be a fact (she would have been happier on a different type of vacation), she choose to focus on how the other couple seemed to be buying friends. It was things like this that really put me off on the author.
3: She did have some great tips buried in there and I did visit her blog. There are some great worksheets, plans, etc. It is well worth the look and honestly I wish more of the practical tips would have been focused on. Ruth knows her stuff but it just wasn't delivered in the best way.
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Charity Spencer / Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
Charity did such a good job making it feel like the author was narrating that I had to check to make sure it wasn't self-narrated. I was impressed how personal she made the narration feel.
Final Thoughts: Though I had some issues with the delivery of the message, I would still recommend spending some time on Ruth's site. She has some great tips!
Note: This is not mentioned on the back of the CD so it should be noted: This is a HEAVILY faith-based book. I believe her tips are universal and can be used/implemented by everyone. However, for those that hold different beliefs this book will not work for you.