I read a book within the last couple weeks called Green With Envy - Why Keeping Up With the Joneses Is Keeping Us In Debt. It was a $3 find at Big Lots :)

This book was a pretty quick read and serves as a great reality check for us to remember that "the grass isn't always greener on the other side". Unless you are walking in the other person's shoes, you really have no idea what their financial situation is, and you shouldn't concern yourself with it.

The book showcased a few couples who racked up an astonishing amount of debt just trying to keep up with their peers because they felt like they "needed" to. They "needed" better clothes, "needed" bigger houses, "needed" more vacations. So they started to buy those things, even though they didn't really have the money for them.

Each couple seemed to be able to juggle their finances for awhile so they could keep up their new-found lifestyle, but eventually it caught up to them and had a moment of panic when they realised just how much debt they accumulated.

Through the process of getting their feet back on the ground with their finances, each one of them wished that they could just go back in time, when they didn't have the debt, when they didn't spend all their money on "stuff". They were scared of what their friends would think of them when they found out, but they realised that their value isn't held within the stuff they own.

In conclusion, I found this book to be a good, quick read. We all need to remember that instead of keeping up with the Joneses, and thinking we will find contentment and that value is in the stuff we posses; we need to live within our means and remember where true contentment comes from, the stuff we cannot buy.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Right now you can download a free copy of Daisy Chain for Amazon Kindles! Don't have a Kindle? No worries, just download this application for your computer here and read them right from your PC!

Right now on Amazon.com you can get a free download of the book Peculiar Treasures for Kindle!

Don't have a Kindle? No worries, becuase you can download this free application so you can read them on your computer!

Click the image above to get 2 free Valentine's Day Craft E-Books! They are filled with cute ideas sure to make the day extra special!

Click here to download your copy of the Christmas Craft Ebook - I especially like the Elf Candy Cane Holder! It has quite a few ideas I would love to make, with pictures of the finished product for each tutorial. I might make a few things from this book to go along with Christmas gifts, let me know if you make any of them and how they turned out!

The Dave Ramsey web store is having a sale on most all books, CD's, DVD's, software & accessories!

This would be a great opportunity to pick up some books that are otherwise pretty pricey! Order now so you have a chance to read them before the New Year - you just might be able to keep your resolution to get out of debt following his advice!

Click here to sign up for this book summary. This is definately going to be added into my list of things to read!

Click here to download the Thanksgiving Hotline Cookbook from Martha Stewart!

More recipe downloads:

33 Hearty Slow Cooker Recipes

Quick and Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes

27 Secret Restaurant Copycat Recipes

In my house the 5:30 - 7pm time frame is probably the most hectic. Trying to fight traffic to get home at a decent time, getting dinner and laundry started, catching up on email, to-do lists, appointments for the next day and talking about the day with my love don't leave me with the ability to spend 2 hours in the kitchen cooking dinner. These time saving recipes will fit in very well on the days that I need a quick go-to meal that is still healthy and delicious. Check them out for yourself!

Through the month of November you can download the Desiring God Audiobook for free from Christian Audio!

Add the download format of Desiring God to your cart and enter the coupon code NOV2009 when prompted during checkout.

Discount Price for November: $0.00

Download List Price: $16.98

Also, All John Piper audiobook downloads are only $4.98 each until November 21st!

Click here to download "An Ex-Mas Feast," the First Story in Say You're One of Them, by Ukem Akpan. Download instructions are provided. This will only be available through Nov. 9th.

I don't know about you, but I have a huge list of books I want to read. If I were to go to the store and buy every single one for retail price, I would end up broke rather quickly.

I want to introduce you to a few places I use to find some free or cheap reads:

Free eBooks. There are a number of sites that offer free eBooks, but this site has listed the top 20 sites to choose from.

PaperBackSwap - Trade your old books for new ones! See how it works here.

Swagbucks - Earn Swagbucks by searching the internet and redeem for Amazon.com gift codes and purchase books for free or cheap there

Cashcrate - I complete a few paid surveys here and there and will sometimes use the money that I earn toward my next purchase.

Half Price Books - I cannot reccomend this place enough! They usually have what I am looking for at a great price, and they will also buy back your old books!

Garage Sales - There are a few places to find advertised garage sales. Check your local paper for listings, Craigslist usually has listings, and you can also use these websites: Garage Sales Tracker, Gsarl.com, Garage Sale Hunter,

Check the Craigslist free section or book section, 2nd hand stores, ebay and finally the Library are all good places to find great books inexpensively.

There is a coupon for 40% off 1 regularly priced item at Border's with this coupon. You can also get the sale on their site by using code BRE1129H

There are several books on Amazon.com right now that have been drastically reduced -

$700 Billion Bailout by Paul Muolo is only .87¢!

Starting Out in the Evening by Brian Morton is only .73¢

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali is only $1.41

The Golden Compass: Movie Storybook .81¢

Unchecked and Unbalanced $1.98

You can get free shipping if you are an Amazon Prime Member or spend $25. You could also redeem some Swagbucks for Amazon gift certificate codes. These would make some very nice, inexpensive Christmas gifts!