Molly's Money Saving Digest - My Review

I have had several people tell me over the years that I should be a salesperson because I'm so convincing when I talk about something I love. I don't know how convincing I am, and I can promise you I will never go into sales (you never know what kind of financial situation people are in and I'll never push people into parting with their money for something they may not really want or need), but when I find a product that really works, a product that does exactly what it says it will do or something that goes above and beyond my expectations, then I just HAVE to tell about it! Before I buy anything on-line, and sometimes even before I go to a store to purchase something, I always search for consumer reviews first. I highly depend on the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of others before dishing out any of my dear hubby's hard-earned money.

So, all of that to say that I couldn't be happier to have been given the opportunity to review the January 2010 edition of Molly's Money Saving Digest. I first learned about Molly and the Econobusters website a few months ago and was intrigued. I'm all for any help in being frugal and finding ways to be a better steward of all God has blessed me with, be it our finances, my family, my home, or even myself!

The first thing that caught my eye with Molly were the fun, colorful illustrations that the website and digests are made up of. So inviting! But in the January 2010 edtition I found much more than I ever expected could be contained in a monthly publication!

First of all let me start off by saying that I'm no pie-maker. I love the IDEA of baking pies... my home smelling all 1950-ish, and of course I'm in my heels and apron in this fantasy! But alas, I've never made my first pie, from scratch or otherwise. No-bake cheesecake? That I've got covered. But after reading Martha Greene's easy step-by-step instructions on homemade pies I'm feeling an overwhelming urge to get all domesticated and try my hand at making my own pie crusts and filling them with something yummy! My family will wonder what in the world has gotten into me! Speaking of my family, we have been in a bit of a breakfast funk for a while, eating the same things over and over, so I think I'll also try Ms. Green's recipe for fruit-filled turnovers. What a great excuse to eat (mini) pies in the morning!

A large part of January's Money Saving Digest is all about organization, complete with printable forms to help us organize our time, our money, and our stuff! One thing that has made the biggest difference for me as far as organizing and time-saving goes (and helped take a dreaded task and turn it into not so big of a deal) is writing out a weekly menu and making my grocery shopping list straight from that menu. In January's digest Molly has also included a week's worth of meal ideas complete with a printable shopping list so you can just print and go! How much easier could it get?!

One thing I really appreciated, and I believe is a new addition to Molly's digest (although I could be wrong), is her Kid's Corner where she addressed a couple simple financial issues just for kids. It's never too early to start teaching our children how to be financially responsible!

While all of this is really good I have to say her ideas on how to frugally decorate our homes has to be my favorite. I love her suggestions! They couldn't be easier, cheaper, or prettier and I plan on copying her nearly to the T! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so Miss Molly should consdier herself flattered!

Whether it's help with organizing, decorating, menu-planning or one of the many other things Molly covers in January's Money Saving Digest, you'll find lots of good ideas and great advice that make the monthly cost of $4.95 for each digest very much worth it. When your family is treated to yummy made-from-scratch pie for breakfast that $4.95 will quite possibly be the best money you've spent in a while!