Great book re: living on the cheap

[frugalone]

I found this great book on Amazon by Annie Brewer. I think it would come in handy for anyone who is moving out on their own for the first time, or maybe has had a set back like homelessness, losing their possessions in a natural disaster, etc. It's just entertaining to read, too!

I especially like the chapter where she talks about how few products you really need to clean a house. You can even do without a vacuum cleaner (though I'm not sure I'd wanna try that, with pet fur etc. in my house!)

http://www.amazon.com/How-Start-Out-Over-Shoestring/dp/1480112291/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379097392&sr=1-1&keywords=How+to+Start+over+on+a+shoestring (http://www.amazon.com/How-Start-Out-Over-Shoestring/dp/1480112291/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379097392&sr=1-1&keywords=How+to+Start+over+on+a+shoestring)

[reader99]

Hmm, self published. I may be doing that soon myself. It looks great, as a book I mean, cover art etc

[reader99]

I bot the Kindle version. I already have to disagree with her about buying a bed at a used furniture store, because of the rising bed bug problem. Even if you examine that particular bed closely and find no bugs, it may be delivered in a truck that has delivered a lot of other used furniture including some with bugs.

[frugalone]

Yeah, I'm not sure I would buy a used mattress. We used to get them at the Salvation Army years ago. I think they were from motels that had bought up/new ones. They were all treated etc. But somehow nowadays, I just wouldn't do it.

I also don't think I could do w/o all my books and just have a laptop for music, books, etc. Some of my books I"ve had from childhood and they are some of my most precious possessions.

[iris lilies]

I would find it SO TOTALLY AWESOME to live without a vacuum sweeper, a big one, anyway.

That means that I would have hardwood floor throughtout the entire house, yay!

When single one needs: a futon/sofa to sleep on, a small table and 2 chairs, and likely a chest of drawers.

The only think you have to buy is the futon or upholstered furniture, the other stuff can be thrifted or free stuff. Although with bedbugs around and loving wood furniture, that's a new problem. Back in the days before bedbugs, I could have furnished an entire 2 bedroom house or apartment for practically free.

[reader99]

When I moved from a furnished efficiency to an unfurnished 2 bedroom I started by buying a futon and a lamp - a place sleep and a place to read. I also ate sitting the couch at first. I keep my non-hanging clothes on the closet shelf, so until I started renting rooms I didn't buy a chest of drawers.

[try2bfrugal]

When I moved from a furnished efficiency to an unfurnished 2 bedroom I started by buying a futon and a lamp - a place sleep and a place to read. I also ate sitting the couch at first. I keep my non-hanging clothes on the closet shelf, so until I started renting rooms I didn't buy a chest of drawers.

When I had my first place on my own, I didn't have a dining room table or a TV. DH (then the boyfriend) would come over and we would eat on TV tables in front of the aquarium and watch the fish swim around.

[SteveinMN]

My first purchases when I went out on my own were a dining-room set and a vacuum cleaner. :help:

OTOH for quite some time I slept on my old twin mattress on the floor and my "end table" was one of my moving boxes.

[ToomuchStuff]

I'd like to find this book at the library and check it out. I ended up with the most expensive house furniture, when I was looking for my home. A relative died, and I went from a bed, my clothes and some minor misc, stuff, to pretty much a houseful.

Never had the minimal experience (except the cash part).