Books to save you money

By Leslie Sumida

"Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons" - Woody Allen

Oh, the economy. It's on everyone's mind and not just in that abstract "Boy, those numbers on the Big Board sure are depressing" way. People everywhere are feeling the pinch and looking for ways to cut back and make those precious dollars go further.

Luckily for you, I have gathered a collection of books to help you with your finances and teach you the art of stretching a dollar 'til it hollers.

Pay It Down!: From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day

Jean Chatzky, c. 2004

Feeling like you're in over your head and buried in debt? You are not alone. Millions of Americans are in the same situation and looking for a way out. Jean Chatzky, financial editor for NBC's Today Show, has a plan to help you dig your way out on as little as $10 a day. Chatzky takes you through the steps of calculating exactly what you owe, provides different payment plans based on the amount and helps you understand and manage your credit score. She then goes on to show you how to track and lower your spending and "How to Deal When Things Go Wrong" (i.e. debt collection, foreclosure etc.).

What sets this little book apart from the pack are the very specific tips on how to accomplish these tasks. For example, instead of simply telling the reader to call the credit card company and get them to lower the rate, Chatzy coaches you on how to negotiate with the representative, including exactly what to say if the company resists working with you.

The book is short and the writing simple and straightforward-exactly what an overwhelmed person needs.

Live Your Life for Half the Price: Without Sacrificing the Life You Love

Mary Hunt, c. 2004

The key to a stable financial life is to spend less than you earn. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Not so easy to the many people who feel like they're living paycheck to paycheck. Syndicated columnist Mary Hunt and her family have done it and all while living a very good quality of life.

Hunt passes on her hard-won strategies for living below your means in her helpful guide on how to rein in expenses in your everyday life. Hunt explains the power of using cash, which kind of plastic is best then launches into the real meat of the book-her tips for cutting back. Here you will find a plethora of tips for saving money on groceries, eating out, phone service, big-ticket items, cars, insurance, travel and more.

Understanding that it is not enough to simply tell someone to control themselves, the author also includes a section on how to change attitudes about money and the questions to stop and ask yourself before walking to the register.

Chef on a Shoestring: More Than 120 Delicious, Easy-on-the-Budget Recipes from America's Best Chefs

Andrew Friedman, editor, c. 2001

Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Tom Douglas. The names conjure up amazing, gourmet food fit for a celebrity. But what if your budget is less Warren Buffett and more Early Bird Special Buffet? You don't have to relegate yourself to a lifetime of subsisting on legumes and rice.

Amazingly, you can eat very, very well even if you're on a budget. Culled from CBS's Saturday Early Show's segment, Chef on a Shoestring, this book contains the best recipes from the country's top chefs.

To lower the cost, Mario Batali substitutes cheaper pork for veal in his Pork Scaloppini with capers and sage. Other offerings include Bobby Flay's Saffron Risotto with Saut