Customer Reviews

Half-Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Written by "Shop, Save & Share Seminars" founder Ellie Kay, popularly known as "America's Family Financial Expert", 1/2 Price Living: Secrets to Living Well on One Income is a practical, no-nonsense guide to cutting one's living expenses in half - including food bills and vacation expenses to housing, clothing costs, and outright debt. From owning a home business that doesn't own you, to means to adapt when one's savings are hit, to the advantages of being a stay-at-home mother (or father) despite the reduced family income, 1/2 Price Living is enthusiastically recommended for learning frugal habits. Anyone who isn't fabulously wealthy - even reasonably well-off readers will find the tips, tricks, and techniques helpful for saving up for a rainy day.

This is a great book for women who are considering the benefits and drawbacks of being as stay at home mom. Almost the first half of the book is devoted to facts, worksheets, and sweet success stories of families who live on one income, and make it work. I already stay at home, and I was looking for more information on how to save money.

As I read this book, I was highlighting like a mad woman! As a mom with a home-based business, I learned new ways to save money on clothing, groceries, and even vacations. The book was fun to read, with lots of practical info and excellent resources. It was informative and inspiring!

I thought this was a great book on exploring the ways in which a mom could stay home vs. working......I am a very happy stay-at-home mom and was looking for some ideas on saving money, so this book wasn't the right choice for me. While some tips were listed, it was largely geared toward exploring the pros/cons, etc. of working vs. stay-at-home moms. A great book for those in that situation!

I'm sort of surprised by all the 4 and 5 star reviews for this book. The advice is really, really basic. For example, in order to figure out how much money you'll need to live on, Kay's advice is to... add up all your expenses. In order to save money on groceries, she recommends using coupons and shopping at double-coupon stores. To save money on clothing for your kids, shop secondhand or seek hand-me-downs from friends or relatives.

If you're a working mom who hopes to stay transition to being a stay-at-home mom, this book is not an in-depth how-to. Save money by not buying this book; save time by not reading it.

This book is primarily written to help women who want to stay home with their children. That is, it is for those families who want to go from two incomes to one income for child rearing and quality of life purposes.

As Kay explains, "Half-price living means you can have half the stress because you're not balancing work and home. Living on one income means you can have half the clutter in your home, because you can take time to simplify your life. Living on one income means you have the time to cook instead of grabbing fast food, and thereby have half the health risks in your life. It can also mean you have time to comparison shop, learn the fine art of saving money, and cut some bills in half."

The first half of the book is devoted to "affording to stay home" while the latter half details specific cost saving strategies. Although I personally did not find much relevant or new information I am not a stay at home mom, in addition, I have been clipping coupons and shopping sales for years. I did find the "How to Own a Home Business that Doesn't Own You" chapter interesting and it appeared helpful for would be entrepreneurs.

In sum, ½ Price Living is a very good how-to-guide for its target audience, but not so relevant for others.


Review Based on copy from Personal Collection.

This is a very good book even if you decide to only read some chapters that interest you. If you have kids, then this should give you some power to go for it. Although, another alternative (as opposed to relying on one individual working full time ) would be for both parents/partners to go work part time (and there you'll have similar one income household) then each will have a career of his/her own and yet will have enough time at home as well like Linda Pierce proposes in "Simplicity Lessons".

I am just now beginning to stay home, cutting our income in 1/2. But my circumstances are different. I am an empty nester (50's), quit to take care of my elderly mom, who then passed to heaven. This book is good, but geared toward working moms who want to stay home with kids. SO I am trying to glean what I can.

The book had looks of helpful hints for this soon to retire lady. Ideas that seem helpful in trying to cut our spending by half. I am glad I ordered it.

I bought this book for my daughter who recently left her job to be a stay-at-home mom. She loved it! It had lots of helpful hints and good advice on how to save money and manage on a single income that she found very useful. I have in turn recommended it to others and all have found it very helpful.