Thrifty Thinking: Frugal Isn't Cheap, It's Smart.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

Choosing to save rather than spend doesn't mean that being frugal guarantees a boring, no-frills life. FRUGAL ISN'T CHEAP: Spend Less, Save More, and Live BETTER (New Page Books, August 2013) is realistic. It promotes financial responsibility, but isn't extreme. Certified CPA Clare K. Levison offers tips on bringing in extra income, juggling various forms of debt (mortgage, loans, credit cards), challenging to save 20%, the most cost-effective way to make large purchases, ways to trim your budget, and how to pass financial responsibility onto kids.

If you already live very frugally, you won't find a ton of new information here, although you may find a few tips. This book is really written for those who know they need to do more, but are afraid of the "extreme couponing" lifestyle or of giving up all of their creature comforts. It's practical, with manageable steps to take and a roadmap to get from where you are today financially to where you want to be.

 Clare K. Levison is a certified public accountant and national financial literacy spokesperson for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Clare has more than a decade of corporate accounting experience and is also an active volunteer, serving as PTA president, Girl Scout leader, and Sunday school teacher. She lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, with her husband and two daughters.