Frugal Village

Title of Book: Surviving the Tough Times: How to make ends meet NOW!
Author: Pat Mistretta
ISBN Number: 1-59113-621-0
Genre/Market: Self Help
Publication Date: December 31, 2004
Book Length: 188 Pages
Publisher: Booklocker.com
Price: $14.95
Paperback
4 out of 5 stars

Surviving with Dignity During Trying Times

Pat Mistretta has written a practical and resourceful self-help book for anyone that is experiencing difficulty in making ends meet. Surviving the Tough Times covers topics varying from emotionally coping and prioritizing during trying times to stretching your money, reducing expenses, and alternative ways to create income. This book should be placed in the hands of any person that is financially struggling. The beauty of this book is that not only does it offer solid resources and information, but more importantly it offers hope, inspiration, and encouragement.

This book is easy to read, but it’s far from simple. The information and resources compiled are worth their weight in gold. Anyone that has ever experienced or is currently experiencing any financial hardship or life altering financial changes will appreciate the tone. How often do we read books that talk down or above average people when it comes to money? This book is written from someone that has experienced hardship and came through on the other side. It’s written with wisdom, but from the heart with thoughtful consideration for the human
element.

Many similar books are lacking in specifics and get vague in many key areas. Although I found myself wanting more details in areas such as meal planning, instead of offering small tidbits that fall short, this book offers solid resources to find solutions to your questions. In other words, it helps the reader to help themself. It is a vehicle to taking the proper steps from qualified sources such as government agencies and local assistance, while keeping in mind that readers are individuals and their circumstances vary person to person.

Chapter thirteen was my favorite chapter. It focuses on simple indulgences. It prompts the reader to nurture themself. This is a vital message. It reminds us that not only do we need to care for ourselves, but that amidst hardship we can still feel greatly blessed by what we have instead of deprived for what we don’t have. It serves as a gentle reminder that there are moments and experiences that don’t carry a pricetag. It conveys the importance of taking time out from the stress to mindfully live in the moment and the benefits of doing so.

“We all go through difficult times in our lives. Some only last a short time, while others seem forever to go through, Mistretta has said. “You need to be informed, strong and determined to get through your situation, but there is help out there and you take it day by day.” Continuing along these words is her book Surviving the Tough Times. It provides current information and resources to help those that are experiencing hardship and most importantly the reader’s
dignity remains intact. I highly recommend this book and it’s my hope that it reaches the people that can benefit from it most.

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