Announcing My First Book: “Frugaling: Save more, live well, give generously”

After months of conversations, writing, editing, and preparation, I can officially announce the release of my first book, Frugaling: Save more, live well, give generously! You can pre-order it on Amazon and it’ll be automatically delivered to your Kindle or supported devices on August 24th.

Today, I want to talk about the reasons why I wrote this book, the process, and share some special bonuses.

About six months ago a well-respected writer and blogger took an hour of his time to talk with me. As we talked on the phone, I picked his brain about simple living and frugality. We saw eye to eye about the need for people to live minimally.

At the end of the talk he emphasized that I should write a book. Between flattery, confusion, ignorance, and gratitude, I hung up and froze in my chair. For years I had been writing, but doubted whether I was reaching anyone — whether my writing was any good. I had thought about writing a book, but inner insecurities prevailed and prevented me from writing one.

But here was someone I respected, and he was pushing me to publish. Something clicked. I realized that Frugaling was about more than personal finance, and I needed to compile that into a book.

When I started Frugaling, I knew about student loans and credit cards. I had lots of debt, and could share my desire to be done with it. In those early days, my articles felt like a reproduction of other personal finance gurus’ advice. The solutions were simplistic: create a budget, get a good credit card, and don’t eat out as much. They weren’t necessarily bad suggestions, but they seemed to miss perspective and depth.

Unfortunately, despite good intentions, many personal finance gurus were missing large populations in need of help. And I had simply joined the herd of regurgitators.

Then I had a comically simple epiphany: we are all individuals. One set of bullet points, “tips,” and “rules” won’t ever apply to everyone. And frankly, many financial gurus and “experts” are white and middle class or higher. Their experiences will likely differ significantly from various diverse groups and economic statuses. I wanted to reach a broader audience and speak to many pitfalls and problems that systematically prevent others from succeeding financially.

That revelation motivated different directions in my writing. Coupled with the inspiration from a respected author, I decided it was time to write and publish a book. Additionally, I wanted to make it affordable because ideas about personal finance, simple living, and minimalism should be accessible to all.

Using articles from Frugaling.org, new material, and a bold premise of reaching diverse audiences through personal finance, this first book will help readers build a foundation, philosophy, and resistance. Together, these sections aim to provide readers with a healthy dose of encouragement to live well on less. Let me explain what I mean.

Saving more, spending less, and preparing for the future are usually the first steps that people take to become more frugal. The foundation section provides an overview for why I decided to pursue frugality, new ways to pay off debt, and savings experiments that can be started today.

But saving money isn’t easy in a culture that idealizes consumption. Society tends to favor those with material wealth over inner health. As a consequence, frugality can be challenging and trying over longer periods. That’s why I added a section about the philosophy of frugality. If you’ve ever tried to save money, but wondered why you should, this part’s for you.

Armed with a strong foundation and philosophy for going frugal, the last section helps readers develop a resistance to advertising, marketing pressures, and the systemic problems that hold people back financially. I want readers to get upset with how we’re portrayed as mere consumers.

Now, I want to segue into some bonuses for readers today. Rather than have you wait for August 24th to begin reading, I want to share a couple parts from the book today! Click here to read the first few pages and introduction.

Here’s what people are saying about Frugaling:

“Sam provides a fresh perspective into the world of personal finance. In a world of copycat books almost entirely focused on earning more and spending less, Frugaling invites us to find freedom by thinking different about our finances, our lifestyles, and the world around us. It is a must-read.”

–Joshua Becker, BecomingMinimalist.com

“I’ve been following Sam’s website Frugaling for six months now, and it’s clear that he is passionate about questioning consumerism. The methods in which he communicates his message are crystal clear, and I look forward to reading his posts each day.”

–Brian Gardner, NoSidebar.com

“Sam is a refreshing voice in the world of finance. Super authentic and upbeat, and I always leave happier after reading his thoughts. It’s like having (home-made) coffee with a friend :)”

–J. Money, BudgetsAreSexy.com

“Sam is candid in sharing his experience paying off student debt while pursuing an intentional lifestyle. He combines storytelling and his unique Frugaling philosophy with smart, practical advice for young adults looking to pursue the lives they want instead of being trapped by debt.”

–Anthony Ongaro, BreakTheTwitch.com

“Sam’s work will both challenge and inspire you to rethink your relationship with money and the world as a whole – to live a fuller, richer and more meaningful life.”

–Stefanie O’Connell, TheBrokeAndBeautifulLife.com

“Sam writes with a genuine, thoughtful voice on topics of minimalism, frugality, and life improvement. He brings great insight to the issues he covers and challenges readers to question their own assumptions about our image-obsessed culture of endless consumption. A must-read for anyone grappling with the questions of what it means to chart a life that’s outside the ordinary and not focused on following the herd.”

–Mrs. FW, Frugalwoods.com

I want to say thank you to all of these authors for their praise, encouragement, and help along the way. Please visit and check out their sites. They’re all fantastic writers and evangelists for saving more, spending less, and living well.

Lastly, I want to say thanks to you! I really appreciate your readership and hope you’ll support me on this first book. Be sure to share it spread the word on Twitter (#savelivegive) and Facebook. If you’re an Amazon Prime and/or Kindle Unlimited customer, the book will be free for the first 90 days. Otherwise, the book is $2.99.

Click here to go to Amazon.com and pre-order today!

Your frugal friend,

Sam