Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy Review

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(More customer reviews)I first read this book a few years ago when I was working full-time and thinking about becoming a stay-at-home-mom. After reading this book and putting some of the advice into practice, I cut thousands of dollars from our spending annually. For example, I used to spend $150 a week on groceries for a family of 3 (at that time). We now have 4 people in our family, and spend about $70 a week! THAT'S $3,100 A YEAR SAVED just on groceries.
Her analogy on what it costs to work as opposed to staying at home went a little overboard. But generally, her message that most American families CAN afford to live off one income came across loud and clear -- and, having been through the transition myself, I couldn't agree more!
Having led a similar lifestyle as Ms. McCoy's prior to quitting the work force, I could absolutely relate to her struggles and determination to spend less, so therefore I "heard" the advice she was giving. If you put into practice just a little of what is in this book (especially in attitde towards money and cutting on groceries), you will save thousands per year.
A previous review speaks to the fact that this book contains much information that is in other books on this subject. True, but basically they're all the same (just like workout videos!). The personality of the author and your ability to relate to their particular situation is what determines if you like the book and their advice. I personally thought Ms. McCoy was smart, determined, and had conviction, so I admired her.
I highly recommend this book to beginners!

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Jonni McCoy and her family are proof that you live on one income. The McCoys made a successful transition from two incomes to one while living in one of the most expensive parts of America: the San Francisco Bay Area.Her Miserly Guidelines will help you save thousands of dollars a year on everything from groceries to electricity to insurance and household cleaners--as well as reveal the hidden costs of holding a job and common money wasters. Her practical, proven cost-saving techniques, strategies, tips, and recipes will help you live frugally without feeling deprived.

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The 4-1-1 on Life Skills: Essential Tips on: Home & Money Management; Personal Care & Safety; and More (Volume 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)I think this book is filled with wonderful information! I wish I had a copy of it when I ventured out into the "Real World"! This book contains some very useful information on how to clean your house, how to do your laundry, when your food is spoiled, etc. and etc.! This book would make a great gift for a college freshman just leaving home for the first time! However I am 31 and I actually learned quite a bit from this book! It's a very good book to have in your library for those moments that you need some guidance!

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This is a book about the basic life skills that are not always taught in school or at home. Did you ever wonder when you were getting ready to leave home for the first time, if your parents had taught you everything you needed to know to survive on your own?Did you know how to do laundry; clean a home; balance a checkbook or cook a meal? Were you aware of the different types of deposits required to either rent or buy a home?If the answers were 'yes" - good for the role models that you had! Thank them every chance you get! If the answers were 'no" to most of these questions - don't be discouraged - there is help on the way! It is my hope that this book will help those who need it and will be shared with others who can benefit from it. This is not a 'be all, end all" book and it is not intended to replace knowledge received from professionals trained in certain areas. As a Registered Nurse, Life Skills Expert and a mother, I want to be able to help out the young adults of today and the next generation to come.

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The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Home and Saving Thousands on Your New House Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a great starting place for someone thinking about building his/her own home. Although it reads like a college textbook, the terms used in each phase of building are explained in easy to understand English.
From thinking about building to the final inspection of the home is explored in depth in each chapter. The information contained in this book can help someone decide if he/she is capable of being in charge or if he/she should hire a contractor. Each phase is talked about from what your dream house looks like and what materials are used including the use of "green" materials in several aspects of building the home. The locations where a home may be built are also discussed and why certain materials may not be used in those locals.
This book gives information on who you need to speak to before you start building. Along with what building codes you will need to follow and what inspections need to be done and when. Tips and testimonies sprinkled throughout the book help to prevent you from makeing mistakes that could prove to be costly. The checklists at the back of the book help to put into perspective the amount of time that goes into building a home.

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Buying a new home can be an expensive endeavor. Many people dream of building their own home but mistakenly believe that doing so is not cost effective. However, by building your own home you can save 20 to 40 percent or more. By reading The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Home and Saving Thousands on Your New House you will discover that your dream can become reality. From basic planning to construction methods, this new book will take you through all the steps of building your own home. You will learn how to choose a site, draw up a construction time line, apply for construction loans and financing, obtain essential insurance information, buy inexpensive plans, find and negotiate with subcontractors, comply with building codes, select features and fixtures, choose the style of the house, decide on the size of the rooms, prepare plans, and get permits. You will learn about building materials and foundations, floors, walls, paint, windows, decks, garage doors, roofing, flashings, chimneys, plumbing, wiring, ceilings, floors, railings, and attics. In addition, you will learn how to design a home that will meet your needs, perform constructions tasks safely, and build amenities. We will inform you about common problems to watch for, including foundation, roofing, walls, stairs, sidewalks, driveways, heating and cooling, electrical capacity, and wiring. This book will detail money-saving options and environmentally friendly techniques, while at the same time allowing you to monitor the quality of the materials and the workmanship, fine-tune the design, and make sure the results are exactly what you had envisioned.

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Renovate to Riches: Buy, Improve, and Flip Houses to Create Wealth Review

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(More customer reviews)I've remodeled and sold several houses and this book is as close to real world as any I've read. The step-by-step approach is understandable, detailed and readable. Dulworth and Goodwin have superbly highlighted one of the few non-taxable investment opportunities available to everyday Americans.

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Turn weekend home-improvement projects into big money!Did you know you and your spouse can sell your home every two years and pay no taxes on profits up to $500,000? It's true! In fact, you should think of your home as an investment as much as a place to live. Simple renovations can dramatically increase the value of your home, and you can undertake most of them on your own and in your spare time. Renovate to Riches shows you how to turn your sweat into equity and your home into a moneymaker.Millions of people across America are making their do-it-yourself weekend projects pay off-and you can too. This straightforward guide will show you how to secure financing for your home, accomplish the renovations that add the most value, and get the highest price when you sell. It shows you how to design your own custom plan for creating wealth over five, ten, or even twenty years, and includes detailed case studies that help you avoid common mistakes.Renovate to Riches also includes:* An explanation of complicated federal tax codes* Tips on finding great homes at bargain prices* Advice on financing options* Which renovations add the most value* Professional guidance on interior design, landscaping, and other home improvement projects* Which projects you should be able to handle yourself and which will require a professional contractor* How to work with contractors and keep it cheap* Practical advice from the experts-real estate agents, brokers and bankers, tax advisors, contractors and carpenters, landscapers, interior and lighting designers, home inspectors, and appraisersRenovate to Riches is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a practical, step-by-step guide to building long-term wealth. You don't need the skills of a contractor or the experience of a real estate agent; all you need is a little extra time, a little extra money-and this unbeatable guide.

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The Tightwad Gazette III: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle Review

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(More customer reviews)Anyone who has ever felt a little envious of a neighbor or said "Gee, I wish could afford a house/staying home with the kids/starting a business/traveling/etc." MUST read one of Amy's books. The basic philosophy as I understand it is just this: skip the temporary, one-time expenditures and spend the bucks on a more lasting investment (house/kids/business/early retirement/whatever YOU dream of). I received an economics degree not too long ago, and I recognized Amy's philosophy immediately as essentially the basic "guns-or-butter" discussion from ECO101, the basic problem of limited resources and economic choice. The idea in class, as in real life, would be to MAXIMIZE the VALUE received for the dollars, not just buy whatever until you're broke and then figure out what you got for it.
More than any other author I have seen, Amy challenges her readers to examine their own values and utilize all of their creativity and intelligence to maximize the value they receive for their money. This is NOT a "don't shop when you're hungry, use coupons, and gee, try to pay down your mortgage" book. Amy provides an impressive array of real, creative, effective methods to slash waste of resources: money, time and the enviroment. The books teach you to THINK in a "tightwaddy" (economic) way and take real control of your future according to your own value system, instead of just throwing out a handful of one-time-only "tips". I can honestly say it brought microeconomics home to me and changed my life.

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This third collection of the best of Dacyczyn's popular newsletter presents all-new advice and tips, culled from the fifth and sixth years of The Tightwad Gazette. A tireless advocate of "voluntary simplicity, " Dacyczyn offers lessons in advanced "tightwaddery, " such as how to cut back APR interest points on credit cards, strategies for comparing food bills, guides to saving on the cost of college, and the secrets of yard sales and store bargains. Illustrations. 320 pp. Author tour. Radio ads. 150,000 print. (Reference)

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Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy Review

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(More customer reviews)I was kind of leery when I first began reading Miserly Moms Living Well on Less in a Tough Economy by Jonni McCoy and published by Bethany House because I wasn't sure if a family who has two children and who has a lot of other differences compared to our family would be able to help me with ideas on living frugally. I was proven wrong and again taught not to assume or judge a book or an author by it's cover. This book is indeed a great help no matter the size of your family.
As gas prices go back up, food prices continue to climb and trying to make sure we have enough money for a house payment, one van payment, electricity, water, food, etc I try to find ways to cut corners. For my family, food is one way we look to cut corners and I have been already been doing a lot of scratch baking and freezing. It's amazing how one can stretch a $1.55 (on 'sale' at Aldi's) bag of flour! So that was one thing I concentrated on this book, the food. Also by cutting out cable and satellite *GASP* and not having a cell phone *GASP AGAIN** we don't live like most Americans.
Jonni McCoy offers Eleven Miserly Guidelines that are easy to implement and keep with it. Some of these I had already been doing such as not shopping at the same store, making and freezing food, making meals from scratch, etc but she offers other ideas for taking it further. She gives idea for baby care including whether to use disposable or cloth diapers, making your own baby food (we save on this by my nursing for however long the baby wants and not starting solids until 7 or 8 months when the baby can generally some of the foods I make for everyone else). There is also a section for working moms, although she does advocate for mom's who stay home she knows this isn't always a possibility for all moms.
The section on clothing was the one section I disagreed with as she said she she figures out how many outfits her family needs each month or two and tries to find the best deals for the items needed. I couldn't imagine being able to buy new clothing or even buying clothing at thrift stores every couple months - it's not in our budget. So that to me was a bit much, but I don't have an issue with my clothes not being the latest fashion either.
Overall, I was very impressed with the ideas in the book and she has included several recipes. I made the taco seasoning, I hate buying the store bought seasoning with all the MSG and other junk, so I made the recipe in her book and it was GREAT! My husband said he liked it better than the store bought as well. It had more taste and definitely more healthy and cost effective (it makes 12 servings). There are many more recipes and ideas for "pre-packaged" convenience foods to make at home - like baking mixes you can use for biscuits and pancakes. If you'd like to learn how to save money I would definitely suggest you get this book!

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With gas and food prices soaring, there's more need than ever before for Jonni McCoy's Miserly Moms. Jonni shares the money-saving strategies that allowed her family to transition from two incomes to one. These practical, proven strategies, tips, and recipes will help anyone live frugally without feeling deprived. Real-life examples show how anyone can learn to live more carefully and reach their financial goals. Now in its fourth edition, Miserly Moms is packed with even more ways to reduce a family's expenses and expose hidden living costs.

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