Clark Amy Allen - The Good Life for Less: Giving Your Family Great Meals, Good Times, and a Happy Home on a Budget

THE

Good Life
for Less

THE

Good Life
for Less

Giving Your Family Great Meals,
Good Times, and a
Happy Home on a Budget

AMY ALLEN CLARK

with Jana Murphy

A PERIGEE BOOK

A PERIGEE BOOK

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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THE GOOD LIFE FOR LESS

Copyright 2012 by Amy Clark

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First edition: January 2013

ISBN: 978-1-101-60098-6

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The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not
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publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

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Dedicated to Ethan & Emily

My inspiration for all the good things in life.

INTRODUCTION

S ome of us learn to budget and live frugally while were still banking out of a ceramic pig with a coin slot in its back. Personally, I didnt start figuring it out until I was grown and married, nine months pregnant, and facing looming financial ruin. I was working as an insurance agent, and my husband had a promising job at a dot-com start-up. We were making great money and living a life that seems luxurious to me now. We ate out often and spent money freely. We werent reckless, though; we were saving as much as we could. Still, we were counting on things to remain the same, and that wasnt meant to be.

We had decided I would stay home with our son after his birth, and I was counting the days until Id become a first-timeand full-timemom. I vividly remember my husbands midday appearance at my office, and the sinking feeling in my heart when I looked at his face. We sat on a bench just outside the office as he broke the news to me that he had been laid offa blow neither of us ever saw coming. Everything in our world was about to change.

Shocked, and days away from becoming first-time parents, we examined our finances and went into emergency mode. Not only would I not be a stay-at-home mom but my job suddenly became the only source of income we had. Our first real, carefully made budget was one in which no matter how we looked at it, our income was not going to cover our bills. It was too late to start spending carefully, or to put aside money for tough times. We were in big trouble, and we were going to be there for a few years to come.

If I could go back and whisper in my own ear when I was a newlywed, I would tell her to be careful with moneyto live frugally from the beginning, to not waste, and to be grateful for all the true blessings in her life: a happy marriage, good health, a roof over her head, and the precious family we were about to start. Id tell her that even though the happy couple might one day prove you actually can live on love for a year or two, its a lot easier to both live and love if you have enough money to pay the bills.

With a little luck and a lot of pluck, Ryan and I were able to get back on solid financial ground, a journey I documented on my website, MomAdvice.com. I learned to embrace living small and spending carefully, and I discovered that I find great happiness in knowing we live a life we can sustaineven if misfortune ever comes calling again.

This book is the handbook that I wish Id had when I was just beginning to learn how to make the most of our money. It starts with the basics of establishing a budget and walks you through getting the most for your dollar, whether youre shopping for groceries or paying the electric bill. Equally important, it shares countless ways to ensure that even while you are living frugally, you are living wellcreating family traditions, foods, and celebrations that the people you love will cherish and remember. This is not a book about doing without. Its a book about making the most of your money; spending carefully and wisely; and using your wits, creativity, and goodwill to give your family a good life for less.

Fortunately for me, frugal habits have become a way of life for our family. My husband and I now have two beautiful children, a home of our own, and careers that seem to be on the upswing. But I have become, for life, a penny-pincher, a careful saver, a homemaker who chooses creative over costly, and a mom and wife who knows togetherness and tradition are the keys to my happinessthings no amount of money can buy.

AUTHORS NOTE: As a writer and blogger, I work as a spokesperson and freelance writer for many stores and brands, including Kenmore, Walmart, ALDI, Kelloggs, and Goodwill. Despite having these relationships, I will always be honest and truthful about what options work best for my family and what products and stores I truly recommend to save on your family budget. All opinions and thoughts on these products and services are my own and are in no way a reflection of my relationship with any company.