Review of Chick Living: Frugal And Fabulous (Paperback)

A disappointment. I picked up "Chick Living" from the library because it's about the various things you'll need to know when you're learning to live as an independent adult. It's also about living in a way that doesn't expend tons of money. Anything it can say will be handy, right? Well... its crippling flaw is that it's trying to cover such a wide array of topics that it can't really go into them far enough to be useful. You get a tiny little paragraph for each thing, basically, and most of it is stuff that you'd know even before you tried to live on your own. (And that's weird, because there's all kinds of stuff that you don't learn until you stumble into it when you're living by yourself.) Each subject is a lot of common knowledge, and is so brief that it's scarcely of use. For example, it tells you that if the toilet is running, you jiggle the handle; if that doesn't work, you call a plumber. If the toilet is blocked, you put the plunger in it and move it up and down, and if that doesn't work, you call a plumber. Seriously, that's all it says. The book is aimed at a female audience, which is peculiar, since the subject matter itself is unisex; the book's presentation is what makes it female-directed, with its pink and green ink (a decorative addition that makes the book pungent of chemicals, which turned me off of reading it for a week after I first opened it) and its writing style, which is identical to that used in teen girl fashion magazines such as "Jump" and "YM," including catchphrases such as "get glam." (I've never met anyone who really talks like a teen girl fashion magazine, so this stuck out to me.) The chapter on finances is where the main juicy I-didn't-know-that stuff is, but it mostly tells you to get some other book, which happens to be one I'd checked out at the same time, so I said "okay" and dropped Chick Living back into the library return slot.

Product Description
You're young. You've used up the handful of decorating ideas you ever had and, frankly, it's time to take down the tapestries and the pushpin-worn posters. You're livin' in the real world now, sister. And, you're broke. So what if your mom thinks you're sassy and sophisticated-it's high time you showed everyone else you truly are. In Chick Living, Kris Koederitz Melcher teaches us how to live frugally while oozing fabulousness. Melcher's got your back with real-life lessons in necessity such as securing renter's insurance, getting enough calcium in your diet, and when to take your car and yourself in for a routine checkup. We can all learn a lesson or two from Melcher who, in her first year out of college, paid every bill on time and had funds left over for starting a Grown-up Girl wardrobe and a savings account. What's a Grown-up Girl Wardrobe, you ask? What's a savings account? Never fear, oh sweet young dear. Help is on the way. It's an expensive world out there and this guide is here to tell you what to spend on and when to put your money away. Quit dishing out three bucks for your morning latte and start making your frothy favorite at home. Discover the beauty of a yard sale and have enough cash left over for a monthly dinner-out splurge. Invest in a few classics for your closet but avoid the enticing lure of fad clothing. You'll find everything here but the kitchen sink (although Melcher tells you what should be underneath your sink). Whether you're in search of a job, a roommate, a couch, or a recipe, Melcher's preparedness savvy is the ideal remedy for the just-out-of-college blues or the woes of any fund-hungry chick. You'll thank your extra pennies that she's put her hard-won wisdom and experience into a guide for the rest of us.

About the Author
Kris Koederitz Melcher is an editor who has worked in publishing and public relations for several years. She has written, pitched, and placed articles in publications like Modern Bride, New Woman, Parade Magazine and more. She strives to live a frugal and fabulous life in Leawood, Kansas, with her husband and daughter.

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