by Daisy Luther
I wrote a new book.
If you’ve read my articles or books before, you know that I like to take a personable approach to the advice that I give. Reviews often say that reading my books is like sitting down for a chat with a friend.
Lifestyles of the Flat Broke and Resilient is NOT that kind of book.
Well, not unless you’re looking for a friend who will provide you with sometimes-unpleasant advice based on personal experiences. If you’re looking for a no-holds-barred guide to surviving poverty, this is it. If you are interested in my personal story – the underbelly of it that I don’t normally write about – you may want to read this book.
When I set out to write about this new situation of widespread poverty that many are experiencing for the first time, a friend of mine suggested that I tap into the emotions of my experiences and not just share the facts. He suggested that I share the ugly, dark truth because there are so many people living in that darkness right now. It’s a change for me, because I tend to err on the side of optimism when I write.
But the topic of surviving poverty is different.
Anyway, I took his advice. Because this situation is different. There’s an emotional aspect that is often overlooked.
I wrote about my own dirty little secrets, about the desperation and the shame that goes hand in hand with losing everything.
I wrote about some dark, difficult times I experienced over the years during which I had to make terrible decisions. I’m going to share some memories that are not ones I treasure. In fact, they’re things I pushed to the back of my mind because they were humiliating or painful.
I hope that it helps you realize you aren’t alone. I hope that it demonstrates that this time you may be going through, as hard as it is, will not last forever and that things will one day get better. I hope that it offers suggestions that help you see through the haze of final notices, bill collector harassment, and wondering how you’re going to keep your family from becoming homeless.
This book isn’t for everyone.
This isn’t advice for folks who are just down a few hundred bucks a month. It’s for people who are truly desperate. It’s for those who are trying their best to keep the lights on, some food in their bellies, and a roof over their heads.
This advice is not neatly packaged in a cheerful format.about
It’s not a gentle entry into frugal living. It’s about what to do when you are afraid you and your family will be homeless within a short period of time. It’s about what to do when you literally have no food – not just no food that you like – no food.
It’s pure survival.
Some people will read this book and disapprove. They’ll say my suggestions are unethical or immoral. I submit to you that those people have never been at the level of poverty that the people who need this advice are experiencing. I’m not suggesting anything that is illegal. You are the only one who can determine what is necessary in your situation.
Here’s what you’ll find in Lifestyles of the Flat Broke and Resilient.
Please keep in mind that I’m neither a lawyer nor a financial advisor. This book is about my personal experiences and should not be used in place of professional advice.
- Part One of the book focuses on the painful stuff: taking responsibility for your situation, figuring out where you’re at, talking with your family about your situation, and handling your emotions.
- Part Two is about what to do. Consider it a toolbox. Each job does not require every tool in the box. Pick and choose the tools you need.
- Part Three is about the details – specific information about specific financial categories with which you must deal.
- Part Four is about putting all this information together. I wanted to share my story and tell you where I’ve been and where it took me.
This wasn’t the easiest book to write. I revisited some dark places. I told you the ugly, embarrassing truth about some terrible times. I relived that despair. It was hard to write. It was scary. The whole time I was writing about these experiences, I wondered what you, the readers would think of me when you learned that I fed my kid from a garbage dumpster or watched my car get towed away by the repo man in the middle of the night or any of a number of horribly embarrassing things that happened during those times. Would you think, wow, I no longer want to read anything she has to say if she let herself get into that position?
But I did it anyway.
I did it for a reason.
If you are going through this, i want you to hold out hope. I want you to know that I really, truly, understand what you are going through. I want you to know that I had these dreadful experiences, but I got through it. I got through it by doing what I needed to do. I got through it, and you can too.
You can do this.
You can learn more about it and get your copy of the PDF here. I’m not sure yet if there will be a hard copy of this book – it really depends on whether or not it seems to resonate with people. I’m offering it for $6.49 as an introductory price which will go up on Sept. 2. Your purchase of this book helps to support The Organic Prepper website and is greatly appreciated.
As always, if you cannot afford this book, please drop us an email and we will provide it to you at no charge, no questions asked. Use the subject line “Free Book” and email us at books @ theorganicprepper.com (remove the spaces). We’ll get that book out to you within 48 hours. Trust me – I know what it’s like not to have a spare $6 to spend and if you think this will help, I want you to have it.
If you get the book, please let me know in the comments what you think of it. Your feedback helps me improve.