Books,  Reviews

Review: Jane Austen’s Guide to Thrift: An Independent Woman’s Advice on Living within One’s Means by Kathleen Anderson


Do you like Jane Austen? Yeah. Me too. And I also tend to be somewhat of a…thrifty shopper. Before the advent of smart phones, I had been known to drive from store to store to find the best bargain before I would make a single purchase.  So when I received an email about Jane Austen’s Guide to Thrift, I knew that I needed to have this book.

With precision, wit and a good bit of sense, Kathleen Anderson researches Jane Austen’s most famous characters and comes to the conclusion that not only the characters, but Jane herself, show themselves to be thrifty women who would be incredibly smart shoppers.

In this book you will find guides to:

*Clever investing
*Keeping up appearances on a budget
*Giving and receiving graciously
*Finding treasures at flea markets and church rummage sales
*Planning a party that only looks extravagant
*And more

Though some books (and films) have explored what would happen if Jane Austen or her characters were suddenly thrust into current society, none have taken this angle. Would Elizabeth Bennett have looked at a service like Match.com to find her perfect match? Would any of Austen’s characters have spent their time pouring over fashion magazines or spending $$ to get the right look?

With today’s economy, many people are looking to stretch budgets and tighten their belts. Kathleen Anderson offers tips on fashion, health…even relationships! All of the advice is taken from the actions, conversations and characteristics of our favorite Austen characters.

I enjoyed reading this. It’s a good reference guide and brings up many suggestions that I hadn’t considered previously and the best advice for how to implement them. With a fun sort of Austen-esque tone, the book takes you through all of your favorite Austen books and plotlines and delves into the characteristics of each – giving each one a specific set of ideals that would work in the modern world.

Even letters between Jane and her own sister are given the treatment, opening more ideas for ways that you can save money like Jane Austen would.

If you love Jane Austen or the regency period and you tend to be thrifty (or are looking for ways to be so), this is a great book for you!

This review originally appeared here at Radiant Lit.