Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Nice, new, not real simple at all
I think this is one of the best new magazines I've seen since...well, that I've seen. I suppose it helps that this economy is making everyone think about how to get more for your dollar, but I think the great thing here is that Budget Living takes a very realistic approach to how people live and shop, and then gives really smart clever ideas. First, I love that it's full of gorgeous things and people, and that tells me that I can live really well for less. The magazine is smart to include the occasional splurge purchase, because even people living frugally can and should splurge when it's appropriate. I've gotten the first two issues, and in it, there're tons of surprising and surprisingly easy decorating ideas, ways to host parties, fashion tips, cool travel spots, and investing advice I could actually understand and use! The writers seem to get it, and get what matters. Instead of blurring the issue with lots of talk of auras (I can't stand when real simple does that), Budget Living gives you what you need to know in a snappy, sometimes funny way. It's cleverly written, but I like that it doesn't seem to try to hard to sound this way or that. The magazine sounds like it's written by people I'd want to hang out with, people I trust. And from the items I've bought and the design ideas I've used, I think they're to be trusted. I really think that after reading a few pages, this magazine more than pays for itself. And even it weren't about living well on a budget, I'd want to read it. The editors should be commended for taking budget off the list of "dirty" words in magazines. Their motto on the cover is Spend Smart Live Rich, and if they deliver that this magazine will be phenomenally successly and a must read. For the first two issues, they have delivered. Keep 'em coming.
Rating:  - A fun catalog of [inexpensive], trendy things and ideas
I'm a graduate student. I live off my stipend. The sweats I'm wearing, I got at a garage sale... I also enjoy a great bargain, which probably puts me near the demographic for this magazine. I just finished reading the second issue that was packed with gift ideas and home decorating ideas. I like the way that the editors sort through the cheesy stuff at discount stores and pick out the few gems that look like they cost much more. I just wish I could decorate my apartment. Sigh. I also enjoy seeing models wearing nice dresses and jewelry that are actually reasonably priced. This is the stuff that most people will actually be wearing, and I quite enjoy being practical. The do it yourself projects look easy (not Martha Stewart easy but real person easy) and reasonable and very trendy though I probably won't be taking apart my sink anytime soon. Some of the advice in this magazine especially the investing and tax information I found particularly useless. Either the information is obvious or just putting of the inevitable until later. These types of articles seem to give advice about serious matters too flightily. I doubt anyone is going to refinance or not refinance his or her home based on a two-page article with very little information to back up the author's advice. All in all, Budget living is fun to read, but I didn't really learn much from it. The topics that I didn't know much about, I still don't know much about. If you're frugal already, this magazine won't tell you anything that you don't already know, and if you really want to know about investing or managing your money you'll need to look elsewhere. Mostly this is just a fun catalog of [inexpensive], trendy things and ideas. I'd give BL another half star for the nice graphic design if I could.
Rating:  - Disappointing -- Total Waste of Money
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in the content of "Budget Living." The target audience should be middle america but the focus is on New York lifestyles which are extravegant by the standards of the average person shopping in the grocery checkout across the US.
Let's be real -- the type of people needing tips on budget living aren't interested in designer clothing from the runways. The "Loose Change" section features a [$expensive$] sterling silver Cartier key chain, [$expensive$] Hermes pencils (a real bargain to get 2 pencils for [$expensive$]!), [$expensive$] Chanel Camellia pins, etc. Anyone buying this magazine based on the title "Budget Living" wouldn't spend [$expensive$]for 2 leather pencils!!
It's obvious they aren't in touch with the market. I'm giving it a 1 star rating becuase "Money Talks" section is informative; however, you could buy a financial magazine and get more financial information for your money.
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