Help not just to survive, but to thrive

 Living well is the best revenge. Living well on the cheap is the best revenge against the tough economic times that many of us are going through these days.
   In that regard, Yankee Magazine provides assistance in the form of a paperback with all sort of tips — 1,501, the book’s cover says — to straighten out one’s finances, save money and live comfortably. "Living Well on a Shoestring" by Yankee Books came out in 2000 but its information couldn’t be more timely.
   Want to stop using your credit cards but don’t want to cut them up, in case you need them in an emergency? Encase them in a block of ice in your freezer. (Having to thaw them out will give you time to think about whether you really need to pile on more debt.)
   Want potential burglars to think you have a big, bad dog patrolling inside your living quarters? Place a big dog food bowl outside the front door, drape a heavy-duty leash on the porch rail (or coil it on your front steps) and toss some industrial-size dog toys outside the front door.
  Want to save money on your food bill? Spend to save by stocking your pantry. That way you’ll have the ingredients to make tasty meals and won’t be forced to go out to a restaurant to eat. Eating out is more expensive in several ways — in money, time and nutrition, to name a few.
  Want to save money on clothes? Here again, spending can save. Buying a few well-made garments that you love, that make you look like a million bucks, that you wear a lot and that will last for years is far more economical than repeatedly buying cheap clothes that get worn a few times, then shoved to the back of the closet or given away, the Yankee editors advise.
  These are just some of the ingenious ideas contained in "Living Well on a Shoestring." There are tips on paying off credit card debt, increasing one’s income, dressing better while spending less, entertaining, decorating inexpensively — even a chapter titled "Holidays and Gift Giving on a Budget."
  This book’s charm is that it coaches economizing without making it feel like going on a bread-and-water diet. Saving money becomes a game one has a very good chance of winning.