Old Style Inspiration Books

luxor4t

I enjoy
Hovel in the Hills by Elizabeth West (set in the 1960s)
Cranford by Mrs Gaskell - lots about 'elegant economy' as the ladies are all hard up for money but very proud.
The five little Peppers and how they grew which I think is by L M Alcott, lots of re-using tacking thread etc when they make coats

More auto-biographical, but still excellent reads are the Molly Weir books set in 1930s Glasgow
Shoes were for Sunday, Best Foot Forward, A toe on the ladder, Stepping into the Spotlight, etc
She was brought up to be thrifty and use her abilities, lots of recipies, ideas and good sense.

suered

Lillian Beckwith - more autobiography than novel, I think - about crofting on remote Scottish island - some laugh out loud moments as well.
(http://www.electricscotland.com/books/lillian_beckwith.htm - sorry if I'm not supposed to link)

elona

Joan Jonker wrote a lot of books set in the 30's and 40' and has lots of "humour" and stories that revolve around neighbourlieness, setting coal fires and washing clothes by hand after setting them to "steep" overnight.

Seakay

Binder Twine and Rabbit Stew
Wood Smoke and Pigeon Pie
both by Joan Kent they are recollections from a farm before and during WWII

Nella Last's War
edited by Richard Broad and Suzie Fleming, it was on TV with Victoria Wood

balmaiden

I second Hovel in the hills and follow up, Garden in the hills, by Elizabeth West. Elizabeth and her husband Alan bought a run down house in North Wales and lived the "simple" life. There is also a little known later book called A Patch in the Forest written when they were pensioners and moved to the forest of Dean.
Elizabeth also wrote a "frugal" style cookery book which I have but I believe it is hard to come by now.

kickstart_3

Helen Forrester has written some good books !!!

hornetgirl

The Family from One End Street by Eve Garnett was a favourite of mine when I was younger. Although really a children's book it still makes interesting reading - all about a dustman, his wife and their horde of children.

Margaret54

Hi all, i too loved Nella Last's War and i thought it was brilliant. Victoria Wood was just great in it. I have seen it twice now. I also love to read books about people doing their very best to make ends meet with very little, and have always read these type of books. I have just finished on eof them. I also love Joan Jonker books, as they are very warm stories with all the characters, and the bond of friendship they had. I buy most of my books in charity shops for very little (depending where you shop) as some are dearer than other places, and then i pass them on to friends or take them back to a wee charity shop to be sold on to others who will enjoy them. It is nice to hear of other people liking this type of book too:) I think cos my family had very little money and for many years i had it very tight with being on my own and raising my own children at the time you just had to get on and do it, and charity shops were such a great help to us for clothes etc. I always used to get some great wee bargains and no one new any better as to where we got the stuff from.

thriftlady_2

What about I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith (she of 101 Dalmations) ? It is set in the thirties and is about the Mortmain family who live in a crumbling castle with no money. Its theme is growing up and first love but the descriptions of the family's efforts to manage on nothing are inspiring and fun.

rheme

The book 'Her Benny' by Silas Hocking is highly recommended. See link below

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Benny-Tale-Victorian-Liverpool/dp/0900389036