- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Fig Tree; 1st Edition edition (6 Nov 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1905490372
- ISBN-13: 978-1905490370
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 15.8 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 40,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less
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Product Description
Review
India Knight shows you how to say no to waste, save pots of money and look good while you are doing it (Sunday Times )
A joyous read, The Thrift Book might be the only surefire investment out there (Harper's Bazaar )
A blueprint for living well, however broke you are, with thrifty tips on looking fab, cooking, pampering and partying (Cosmopolitan )
A triumphant treat and a useful and sensible manual (Independent )
Brims with tips on how to live well on little cash (The London Paper )
Endearing and informative (Fay Weldon Observer )
Belt tightening at its most fun (Closer ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
A joyous read, The Thrift Book might be the only surefire investment out there (Harper's Bazaar )
A blueprint for living well, however broke you are, with thrifty tips on looking fab, cooking, pampering and partying (Cosmopolitan )
A triumphant treat and a useful and sensible manual (Independent )
Brims with tips on how to live well on little cash (The London Paper )
Endearing and informative (Fay Weldon Observer )
Belt tightening at its most fun (Closer ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
India Knight shows you how to say no to waste, save pots of money and look good while you are doing it Sunday Times A joyous read, The Thrift Book might be the only surefire investment out there Harper's Bazaar A blueprint for living well, however broke you are, with thrifty tips on looking fab, cooking, pampering and partying Cosmopolitan A triumphant treat and a useful and sensible manual Independent Brims with tips on how to live well on little cash The London Paper Endearing and informative -- Fay Weldon Observer Belt tightening at its most fun Closer
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
332 of 342 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.
98 of 101 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book
Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.
Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you were a younger person than I, then perhaps this book would be of more interest. It was enjoyable, but a lot of the tips and hints are ones I already implement. This is probably more useful to those who have had a really nice life-style which has suddenly come to an end. It is still a well-put-together book, however, and a good read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Worthwhile read
India Knight writes with flair, enthusiasm and most importantly humour, this is not the first book by this same author that I have read and she is consistently on the ball and up... Read more
Published 26 days ago by Dollar
A common sense book
I first bought this book a couple of years ago and found it a great read but I was too busy working full time to put much into action (such window boxes and going on thrifty... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lara54321
Entertaining Thrift
Above all else, I enjoyed reading this book - it's very clear and amusing. Basically it is on the "introductory" side of thrifty living but ideal if that is what you are looking... Read more
Published 9 months ago by lylyth
Great Book!
This book just keeps giving! Full of helpful tips, not only on how to save money but on what to spend money on! Read more
Published 14 months ago by R. Ward
Did anyone edit this book?
I read the Kindle edition of this book. I enjoyed the book (and had previously enjoyed "The Shops") but there are a huge number of typing errors which really ought to have been... Read more
Published 15 months ago by AH
An original and beautifully written guide to cutting costs
I wonder if much of the criticism of this book is because of downright inverse snobbery. No, it isn't a book if you're nearing the poverty line or worse but if you've got a... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Vivian Darkbloom
worth a read
I really enjoyed reading this book. I think that India Knight has got a good way of writing and sense of humour, which makes it pleasurable reading. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Hayles
Sound advise.
A brilliant money saving book. I found it very interesting and couldnt drag myself away. I have used several recipes or ideas and was very pleased with myself for saving money.
Published 23 months ago by cakebaker
This book is the problem, not the solution
When my partner chose to go back to university I suggested we need to economise to pay for it. So she went out and bought this, the stupidest, laziest book to be printed barely... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mr Gladstone
Thrift? Erm ... no!
It's only honest to admit that at the best of times India Knight annoys me - I find her columns compulsive reading but invariably am irritated by something she's written, unlike... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Snowleopard
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