A few months back on New Year’s Eve, as the clock ticked toward midnight, I pondered my resolutions for 2010. At the top of my relatively short list of wished-for accomplishments was one that sprang from the economic toll our nation has taken–a desire to be more frugal. From a financial and environmental standpoint, it only made sense to take additional steps toward consuming less and saving more. So, when public radio correspondent Chris Farrell’s book, The New Frugality (Bloomsbury Press, 2010), debuted in January, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.

Across the U.S., a gamut that runs the ages–from twenty-somethings to retiring Boomers–has been exploring the freshened concept of frugality and setting the wheels of its renewed existence in motion. In his book, Farrell hits on several components of the movement, including the simple idea that “green is frugal and frugal is green.” Offering up tips that do good to both the planet and your wallet, Farrell suggests downsizing from a too-big home, renovating rather than building from scratch, cooking with fresh ingredients, utilizing public transportation and engaging in socially responsible investing, and points out that even during the Great Recession, sales of socially and environmentally products and services stayed strong.

Citing sites like Freecycle, SlowFoodUSA and Frugal Village, the author recommends a return to simpler way of living, stressing the value that can found in spending time with family or taking a walk, instead of the continued collection of “things.”

While the green component takes a backseat to Farrell’s financial focus in The New Frugality, the book is chock-full of wisdom that comes in handy when plotting the roadmap of your life. With just the right dose of savvy saving practices, blended with smart eco efforts, Farrell  helps to guide today’s money-strapped nation into a healthier, more humble future. ($17 at Amazon.)