The Simple Home - Book Review

The Simple Home - Book Review

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Posted 2016-06-29 by KJfollow


I've been a fan of Rhonda Hetzel's simple living blog, 'Down To Earth' for quite a while, and couldn't wait to get my hand on her latest book.

I had thoroughly enjoyed Rhonda's previous books ( Down to Earth and The Simple Life ), so I had high expectations for this book - and it didn't disappoint.

In The Simple Home, Rhonda takes twelve aspects of home life that can be transformed by adopting simple living approaches, and assigns each one to a month of the year.

One of the things I like about the approach of one topic per month, is that it makes the transition to simple living more accessible to people who may be caught up in a very busy life, but are wanting to make changes bit-by-bit, over a year, instead of trying to overhaul their life in one go.

The reader can also choose to dip in and out of the book, reading the chapters that are most relevant to them, and applying the suggestions at a time that suits them best.



Following the introduction, the chapters include:

January: Organise the Year Ahead
February: Your Money and Your Life
March: A Food Revolution
April: Food Gardening in Containers
May: Laundry Love
June: Food Preserving and Storage
July: Simple Home Bakes
August: Domestic Crafts, Sewing and Household Linens
September: The Home Dairy
October: Spring Cleaning
November: Health and Wellbeing
December: A Time for Celebration

There are a number of recipes throughout the book, including Coconut and Raspberry Slice, Easy Cheese Crackers, Chocolate Yoghurt Cake, Lemon Cordial, Ricotta Cheese, Farmhouse Hard Cheese and Five-minute Bread.



There are also several recipes for laundry, cleaning and personal care products, including: Soap, Laundry Liquid, Wood Polish, All-purpose Cleaner and Citrus Fabric Softener.

The budgeting chapter looks at various life situations (eg. working couple with kids, families living on one income with one stay-at-home parent etc), and includes an action plan for each one.

Rhonda also provides various tips and advice on how to save and cut down on everyday costs, while working towards financial goals, such as reducing debt or paying off the mortgage.



The chapter on gardening is perfect for those who have thought about growing their own food, but weren't sure where to start.



I really like Rhonda's practical, no-nonsense approach, and Rhonda has a great way of explaining how (and why) she has made certain lifestyle changes and has chosen to live a 'simple' life.

The book reads as though you're receiving advice from a friend, and Rhonda comes across as non-judgemental and supportive of those who are considering making changes towards living a simpler life.

I highly recommend this book, particularly for those who are looking to simplify their life, get organised at home, save money and/or get back to basics.

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87330 - 2023-06-11 07:36:16

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