The Hip Girl's Guide To Homemaking

The Hip Girl's Guide To Homemaking

Decorating, dining, and the gratifying pleasures of self-sufficiency - on a budget!

Author Kate Payne

Publisher Harper Design

Paperback 288 pages

Discover the simple joys of homemaking in today's world! Blogger Kate Payne takes you through the basics of setting up your first apartment, through entertaining and all things in between, expertly utilizing thrift stores, garage sales, recycling, the hardware store, Craigslist, markets, street finds, co-ops and last of all retail.

The book is arranged into three sections.

Part One: Room-by-Room Guide to a Homey House, Homie

Part Two: Impressive Acts of Domesticity: Do Try This at Home

Part Three: Life after Restaurants

Kate demonstrates that you can live well, though frugally with some resourcefulness and creativity. Her book is filled with practical advice on function and comfort. Not only will you live healthier and greener you will discover the rewards of self-sufficiency.

Kate gets right to the point. Use what you have, start gardening on your front steps, in a window and on your little balcony. Get only what you need, why spend money on expensive and chemical laden cleaning supplies when vinegar and baking soda work very well, without the side effects.

A cool idea that I'd like to try from the book is hosting a food (or craft) swap. "Hosting a swap is a fun and easy way to trade goods you make with others. Make (or gather) stuff that's edible and swappable, i.e. a loaf of bread, a jar of preserves, a half-dozen eggs from your backyard chickens, portions of soup, packages of homemade candy, etc."

The Hip Girl's Guide To Homemaking is an easy read, Kate doesn't bog you down with too much information. At the end of each chapter she provides excellent resources in case you want to learn more. Take it from someone who's been there, this book summarizes the basics, and more, of everything I have learned about homemaking from my first apartment through now, and with the money I've saved can now enjoy some fancy splurges.

The Hip Girl's Guide To Homemaking is available in both my Canadian and US Amazon stores. Harper Collins Canada is one of the world's leading English-language publishers.

HarperCollinsCanada