The Art of Frugal Hedonism: A Guide to Spending Less While Enjoying Everything More

Buyer beware -- This is a nice little book. An entertaining read. AND you will find yourself thinking about things in slightly different ways. It is like looking at your life through one of those prism tubes. A slight little twist and things take on a different aspect. So if you don't want to upset how you live your life right now. Don't buy the book. However, if you want to add something to your life then MOST definitely read this book. It wasn't preachy and I found myself laughing at some of the author's stories. It has something for everyone. From little things you can do to completely over the top (in my opinion) things you can do; however, I do know a couple of younger former co-workers who would probably have a blast with the aspects that I feel are over the top. Just a matter of perspective. I found myself thinking about what I wanted out of life now that I've been retired for a couple of years. Retiring was a cultural shock. I really wish I had found this book then. However, later is better than never. It has helped me resolve some guilt trips from friends who haven't retired yet. Their issue. Not mine. I found it eerie how some of the suggestions are resolutions I eventually came to these past couple of years and it helped solidify a game plan for how I want to spend the rest of my life. I had to learn the hard way how to slow it down. I had to relearn how to enjoy life without watching a clock or having to allocate time for myself in a day planner. You honestly don't need to stay perpetually busy ALL the time. If you want to sit on the patio enjoying a cup of coffee, then enjoy it. I have every intention of handing this off to a friend who is going to be retiring next year because if I had a cultural shock at taking that step -- she's going to have a mental melt down. So it has been money well spent. Now I am wondering how many more people it will find it's way as we pass it along.

I have always enjoyed a good frugal/simplicity book, and this one is up there with the best. The authors are clever, humorous, and realistic about ways to live more frugally as well as to reflect on why we might do that. Great ideas and great read!

This Ian very well written book that I’ve read twice now. I was more into the second time and I must say the writing is not only funny but beautiful. Absorb the message, and read it twice if you need to. This is our planet and our budget to save.

I enjoyed the authors' humor, Australianisms, and general outlook. However, many of these things only work if: you're an extroverted people person, so you LIKE sitting with a group of people shelling peas or have a huge group of friends to share things with; you live somewhere bike-able or walkable; you have space for a garden; you are physically fit and certainly not disabled in any way, even mildly, and other things like that. I'm a shy introvert who lives in the SF Bay Area in a condo , so ... right off the bat, not so helpful. You'll need to cherry-pick what you can use here and what you can't.

I liked the concept of frugal hedonism (i.e. Enjoy life cheaply). If you've read about minimalism or books like (Early Retirement Extreme, which I highly recommend), there isn't too much new here (sorry to the authors, though it was still an enjoyable book). It gives you the basic tips of bring lunch to work and don't buy drinks when you're out. Still, there are some gems. I did enjoy their clear love for life. The book has an Australian bent but still applicable to an American like me. I wish things would have been expounded more. The book contains many chapters each on a single topic. Some chapters are less than a page long. I wish the chapters were longer and more in depth. Has the internet destroyed our ability to focus to such a degree that we can only read and write chapters (or blog posts or book reviews) that are only a few hundred words?

Easy, enjoyable read, and includes the best advice on how to use the first 5 years of a child’s life that I’ve ever read, anywhere, and I’ve read dozens of childrearing books. This kindle book was so good that I’m buying a hard copy as well

I prefer physical books for when you want to flip through and find a particular section and found this book inspiring enough after reading the ebook that I bought it in paperback just for ease of revisiting certain sections!

I loved this book! The authors set a light tone for a serious message. Simple and sustainable living is not a fad. It is a way of living for those who choose not to make consumption the end-all and be-all of their lives. I'm inspired by this book and have put some of the ideas into play (e.g., Living in an old small house four blocks from work and downtown and the library, not renovating said house, etc.).

This is a wonderful book, and I wish I had read it years ago. Some of the points are new insights, some are things I intend but struggle to achieve or stick to, others are things I already do without thinking, but there's nothing like reading stories of real experiences to evoke ideas more strongly, to validate where we may lack confidence, and to encourage where we struggle. As someone who has always struggled to deprogram herself from consumerist society, this will help me a lot, and it was immensely fun to read, too. It will stay on my bookshelf a long time.

If I were to criticise this book - and I will not - I would say that the title is misleading.'Frugal Hedonism' is about so much more than having more fun on less money.But I will not criticise this book.Generally when people talk cost they usually only ever think in terms of money - FH appreciates there are many other 'costs' and is full of humorous ideas to avoid them all - not just the monetary kind.This book is all about adding value and joy to your life nearly effortlessly.I can't think of a better title. Let's leave it as it is.Enjoy it (at your leisure).

Written with energy and an engaging quirkiness, this book gives loads of ideas on living a better life (and doing that cheaply) - and it is that way round. It is not a budgeting or money management book but one about celebrating life in ways that take us away from the effects of the endemic advertising we live with and the burdens of meeting social expectations. It was a worthwhile read and I will keep this (I tend to pass books on if they don't have any staying power) and will dip into it. Thought provoking, life affirming and fun.

One of those books which is hard to put down. A real focus on quality of life, rather than quantity of money. Realistic, inspiring and an interesting read. I really like the writing style. Now I only wish there was a follow on book.. here's hoping one will be published.

A brilliant way of looking at being frugal and thrifty, I loved the ideas and the way it was written, a total keeper I'll read and reread