Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life

by Ruth Soukup

Overview

“If you struggle to simplify your life and wish you could savor the here and now, this book is a must-read.” —Crystal Paine, founder of MoneySavingMom.com and New York Times–bestselling author

Have you ever felt that your life—and budget—is spiraling out of control? Do you sometimes wish you could pull yourself together but wonder exactly how to manage all the scattered pieces of a chaotic life? Is it possible to find balance? In a word, yes. Ruth Soukup knows firsthand how stressful an unorganized life and budget can be. Through personal stories, biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire you to make real and lasting changes to your personal goals, home, and finances. With honesty and the wisdom of someone who has been there, Ruth will help you:

• Discover your “sweet spot” —that place where your talents and abilities intersect.
• Take back your time and schedule by making simple shifts in your daily habits.
• Reduce stress in your home and family by clearing out the clutter.
• Stop busting your budget and learn to cut your grocery bill in half.

This book provides real and practical solutions from someone who has been there. Ruth doesn’t just offer advice, she walks it with you, and shares with brutal honesty her own mistakes, failures, and shortcomings. It is encouraging, motivating, and life-changing.

“An inspiring book full of step-by-step instructions and spiritual wisdom. I love how Ruth is transparent about her mistakes as she leads us to reevaluate our priorities. This book is a great biblical guide to living well and finding joy!” —Courtney Joseph, founder of Women Living Well Ministries

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310337737
Publisher:	HarperCollins Christian Publishing
Publication date:	08/22/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	395,277
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup is dedicated to helping people break through fear and create a life they love. Through her top-ranked Do It Scared® podcast and her popular blog, Living Well Spending Less, she provides easy-to-follow guidance for following your dreams and reaching your goals. She is also the founder of the Living Well Planner® and Elite Blog Academy®, as well as the author of five bestselling books. Her practical advice has been featured all over, including in Women’s Day, Entrepreneur, Family Circle and Fox News.  She lives in Florida with her husband Chuck and two daughters, Maggie and Annie.

Table of Contents

Introduction 13

Part 1 Living Well

Secret #1 The Good Life Is Not What We Think It Is 19

A life well lived is not so much about what we have hut about who we are

Secret #2 Contentment Is a Choice 35

Longing for what we don't have keeps us from the Good Life

Secret #3 We All Have a Sweet Spot 53

Finding that place where our passion and ability intersect

Secret #4 Written Goals Can Change Your Life 69

A clear long-term vision and written goals allow us to reach our full potential

Secret #5 We All Get the Same Twenty-Four Hours 91

The Good Life starts with personal discipline and good time management

Secret #6 Less Stuff Equals More Joy 109

Lower your family's stress level by clearing out the clutter

Part 2 Spending Less

Secret #7 We Need to Spend Less Than We Think We Do 127

Why stewardship matters

Secret #8 Saving Is a State of Mind 143

Learning to live within our means affects every single thing we do

Secret #9 How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half 161

The simple changes that can save hundreds at the checkout line

Secret #10 A Clean House Is a Happy House 179

The best reasons for keeping a tidy house, and how to get it that way

Secret #11 The Best Things in Life Are Free 201

The things we want most in life are things we can't buy

Secret #12 We Get More When We Give 217

The Good Life needs to be shared

Notes 235

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Ruth Soukup has learned contentment does not come with a Pottery Barn label. Every woman who struggles with wanting more should read this book before she discovers a stack of receipts and a trail of regrets. It’s never too late, as Ruth so engagingly and shares, to discover that the Good Life—God’s best—is free. — Glynnis Whitwer, author and executive director of communications at Proverbs 31 Ministries

Living Well, Spending Less is relatable and helpful without being condemning. Ruth takes a complicated, emotionally laden issue like spending and makes it seem possible to come to terms with what’s keeping us stuck both in our finances and in our lives. — Edie Wadsworth, author of Coming Home and blogger at Lifeingrace

I couldn’t stop reading Living Well, Spending Less. I tried to—only because I had other things I needed to do—but I couldn’t. Rarely is there a book so adept at weaving personal story with practical tips. I found myself craving this good life that Ruth writes of—a life that is possible for anyone who reads this book. — Emily T. Wierenga, author of the bestselling memoir Atlas Girl

Living Well, Spending Less is an inspiring book full of step-by-step instructions and spiritual wisdom. I love how Ruth is transparent about her mistakes as she leads us to reevaluate our priorities. This book is a great biblical guide to living well and finding joy! — Courtney Joseph Fallick, author of Women Living Well and Women Living Well.org

Ruth Soukup knows firsthand how mamas like us live crazy busy lives, and she steps in as a friend to help us manage and love every minute of it. In Living Well, Spending Less, Ruth offers her best tips for gaining control over the chaos with wisdom-based insights on all things thrifty and family. I’ll be reading it again and again and recommending it to friends who long to live and love the good life that God has for them! — Renee Swope, bestselling author of A Confident Heart (book and devotional) and Proverbs 31 Ministries’ radio coho

Living Well, Spending Less is about more than planning a better budget or maintaining an organized home; it offers tips for easing stress and improving time management. Here, Ruth gifts us with a simple yet powerful blueprint for realizing true, deep contentment with all of the good things that this life has to offer. — Kasey Knight Trenum, blogger at time2saveworkshops.com

Living Well, Spending Less is an incredible book that will teach you how to spend smart without compromising a great life. Ruth’s stories and practical advice will make you want to be a better mother, wife, sister, and friend. Trust me, you’ll be happy you read this book. — Rachel Cruze, coauthor with Dave Ramsey of Smart Money Smart Kids

Ruth’s book inspires, motivates, and comforts at the same time. Her book is about far more than saving money; it’s about learning how to be content and satisfied, regardless of your financial situation. It made me wish Ruth lived down the street so I could meet her for coffee and a chat. — Stephanie Nelson, founder of Coupon Mom.com

In this book, you will be inspired by Ruth’s authenticity and honesty as she shares her own journey from constantly spending time and money chasing after more to discovering she already has all the makings of a rich and full life right where she’s at. If you struggle to simplify your life and wish you could savor the here and now, this book is a must-read. — Crystal Paine, founder of Money Saving Mom.com and New York Times bestselling author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode

It doesn’t take more than a trip to Target or a glance at People magazine for me to come face-to-face with my own insatiable desire for more. More beauty. More designer clothes. More gadgets. More happy. But, as Ruth Soukup discloses through her signature honest and down-to-earth style, “more” will never make you and me “full.” But here’s the good news: The life you crave is far closer than you can imagine. Ruth will show you how to get there. — Michele Cushatt, speaker and author of Undone.