Book Review: Stretching a Dollar to Save and Make Thousands

I suppose you can say that I’m in the “No B.S.” frame of mind these days.

Last week we learned how to grab the affluent and potential customers with No B.S. — Outrageous Marketing and Advertising.

This week we’re going to get down to the nitty gritty of doing the ever popular strategy of “more with less.”

One of the really terrific things about tight economies is that they force entrepreneurs to focus on where the value is.  I used to think that lack of money or capital was a bad thing. But now I’ve come to see it as the market’s way of making sure that we keep our focus where it belongs — on providing real value to the targeted group of customers we’ve deemed as “ideal.”

This is where Lisa Sims’ book “Stretching a Dollar to Save and Make Thousands” is a real asset to the busy, many-hat-wearing entrepreneur. If you think that you are too busy to read this 50-page paperback – then you’re probably the target audience for this book.

Look at it this way — invest an hour or two with this book and SAVE yourself hundreds of hours and dollars in wasted energy and activity.

What You Will LOVE About This Book

It’s short.

I didn’t think it was possible to get that much useful advice in 50 pages. But Lisa Sims does it.

The first chapter is called “Coupons.” At first, I was confused about why she’d start with that, but then I realized that this book is for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses who are probably running their businesses from home. And where better to start than with the mundane activity of clipping coupons. Here’s the start of the chapter:

“To become a good money maximizer, it’s imperative that you look for coupons before making a purchase to save your business money. The best place to look for coupons is online. Whether you get free shipping or save $20 or $100, every little but helps and can be invested in your business.”

Then she goes on to give you a list of web sites where you can get coupons.

It’s just that simple.  I love that.

Why Listen to Lisa?

If you’re part of the workforce that has recently been displaced and are taking on the challenge of going at it alone —  congratulations! That’s what Lisa did. You will feel like kindred spirits.

She’s been through the process and has been kind enough to document her processes along the way. She doesn’t over-intellectualize and she doesn’t lecture. It’s like having someone at your desk guiding you through the start-up process.

Even if your business is past being a start-up, there are great tips and resources that you can use to improve the profitability of your business.

Who Should Get This Book?

If you’re a solo entrepreneur, home-based business or just thinking about starting a business, this will be a good use of your $11.00.  I’ll bet you save or make ten times that much from the ideas Sims offers. With the holiday season coming, this would be a terrific gift for someone you know who has recently started their own business or has maybe been complaining about the cost of doing business.

“Stretching a Dollar to Save and Make Thousands” is just the kind of real-world, no B.S. advice entrepreneurs can use right now. If you’re struggling with the concept of doing more with less – this book will give you what you’re looking for.

For a daily dose of dollar stretchers visit Lisa Sims’ blog or follow her on Twitter at @BizMoneySaver.

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About the Author: Ivana Taylor is CEO of Third Force, a strategic firm that helps small businesses get and keep their ideal customer.  She’s the co-author of the book “Excel for Marketing Managers” and proprietor of DIYMarketers, a site for in-house marketers.  Her blog is Strategy Stew.

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