Comments on: Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/ personal finance that makes cents Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:35:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Parents.com Stay-at-Home Calculator ? Get Rich Slowly http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-111465 Parents.com Stay-at-Home Calculator ? Get Rich Slowly Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:10:56 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-111465 [...] her book Miserly Moms [my review], Jonni McCoy notes that frequently there’s no financial advantage for both parents to [...] [...] her book Miserly Moms [my review], Jonni McCoy notes that frequently there’s no financial advantage for both parents to [...]

]]> By: Parents.com Stay-at-Home Calculator ? Get Rich Slowly http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-111464 Parents.com Stay-at-Home Calculator ? Get Rich Slowly Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:06:49 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-111464 [...] her book Miserly Moms [my review], Jonni McCoy notes that frequently there’s no financial advantage for both parents to [...] [...] her book Miserly Moms [my review], Jonni McCoy notes that frequently there’s no financial advantage for both parents to [...]

]]> By: JenK http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-87201 JenK Tue, 22 May 2007 23:39:31 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-87201 <i> I also suspect that McCoy exaggerates when she tabulates the cost of having a job. There’s plenty of overhead to maintaining a career, but if it were really as expensive as she claims, there would be more stay-at-home parents.</i> I have noticed that of many books and articles - and not just the ones urging "a parent" to stay home with the kids. Your Money or Your Life, for example, lists all sorts of costs (dry cleaning? suits?) that have not entered into my work life much at all. (And yes - not everyone can work in the tech industry and wear t-shirts. But not everyone can take a subway to work instead of driving, either.) I also suspect that McCoy exaggerates when she tabulates the cost of having a job. There’s plenty of overhead to maintaining a career, but if it were really as expensive as she claims, there would be more stay-at-home parents.

I have noticed that of many books and articles - and not just the ones urging “a parent” to stay home with the kids. Your Money or Your Life, for example, lists all sorts of costs (dry cleaning? suits?) that have not entered into my work life much at all.

(And yes - not everyone can work in the tech industry and wear t-shirts. But not everyone can take a subway to work instead of driving, either.)

]]> By: Building a Personal Finance Library: 25 of the Best Books About Money ? Get Rich Slowly http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-80909 Building a Personal Finance Library: 25 of the Best Books About Money ? Get Rich Slowly Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:50:37 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-80909 [...] Don’t judge a book by its cover. Sometimes it’s the most unassuming of books that offers the best advice, that can actively help you on your quest to get rich slowly. Miserly Moms is ostensibly a guide for stay-at-home mothers, but is actually filled with useful tips for anyone who is concerned with frugality (especially parents with young children). [My review.] [...] [...] Don’t judge a book by its cover. Sometimes it’s the most unassuming of books that offers the best advice, that can actively help you on your quest to get rich slowly. Miserly Moms is ostensibly a guide for stay-at-home mothers, but is actually filled with useful tips for anyone who is concerned with frugality (especially parents with young children). [My review.] [...]

]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » The American Frugal Housewife http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-9522 Get Rich Slowly » The American Frugal Housewife Tue, 03 Oct 2006 12:57:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-9522 [...] Odd scraps for the economical — Tips on how an 1832 could live a frugal life. (This is like the Miserly Moms of its day.) [...] [...] Odd scraps for the economical — Tips on how an 1832 could live a frugal life. (This is like the Miserly Moms of its day.) [...]

]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » How I Choose Personal Finance Books http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-721 Get Rich Slowly » How I Choose Personal Finance Books Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:02:47 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-721 [...] When I read a good personal finance book, I check its bibliography. Miserly Moms, for example, lists dozens of titles to explore. [...] [...] When I read a good personal finance book, I check its bibliography. Miserly Moms, for example, lists dozens of titles to explore. [...]

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-710 J.D. Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:11:40 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-710 @Asha Somebody forwarded that link to me yesterday. I need to check it out. @Asha

Somebody forwarded that link to me yesterday. I need to check it out.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-709 J.D. Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:11:04 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-709 @Jan I'm not sure that the math works to shop at multiple stores for most people. It may work for some, but I think many people would end up spending more money and time driving around. For example, we have two grocery stores within a mile of our house, though the one really isn't an option. We know our Safeway pretty well now after two years in the neighborhood. We know when things are on sale. We'd have to drive ten or twelve minutes (and about six miles each way) to reach other grocery stores. At 50-cents per mile, that's $6.00 and nearly half an hour extra time just to save a few bucks. As with all financial advice, I think it's important to <b>do what works for you</b>. If you have several grocery stores nearby and are willing to comparison shop in order to save, then by all means — do it! But if you're in my situation, then learn the one grocery store so that you can notice price fluctuations. @Jan

I’m not sure that the math works to shop at multiple stores for most people. It may work for some, but I think many people would end up spending more money and time driving around.

For example, we have two grocery stores within a mile of our house, though the one really isn’t an option. We know our Safeway pretty well now after two years in the neighborhood. We know when things are on sale. We’d have to drive ten or twelve minutes (and about six miles each way) to reach other grocery stores. At 50-cents per mile, that’s $6.00 and nearly half an hour extra time just to save a few bucks.

As with all financial advice, I think it’s important to do what works for you. If you have several grocery stores nearby and are willing to comparison shop in order to save, then by all means — do it! But if you’re in my situation, then learn the one grocery store so that you can notice price fluctuations.

]]> By: Asha Dornfest http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-708 Asha Dornfest Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:58:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-708 Mir's new site, WantNot, is perfect for single-ncome families. http://wantnot.net/ Mir’s new site, WantNot, is perfect for single-ncome families.

http://wantnot.net/

]]> By: Jan http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-704 Jan Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:30:41 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/20/miserly-moms-living-on-one-income-in-a-two-income-economy/#comment-704 "I believe that one should learn one store well, and then shop its bargains. Shopping at multiple stores is a waste of time and gas." I disagree. I save enough money on the weekly groceries by shopping at two stores to make the time and gas expenditures worthwhile. I do have the benefit of having the two major grocery stores both located within a mile of our house, which does make it easy. But even when I didn't, I'd often go ahead and make the trip, if there were enough good sales at both stores to make it worthwhile. I do think you have to figure gas and time expenditures into your calculation when deciding whether to shop at multiple stores each week, but it can be worth it. We spend an average of $70/week on groceries for a family of four, and there's no way I could even be under $100 if we only shopped at one store. “I believe that one should learn one store well, and then shop its bargains. Shopping at multiple stores is a waste of time and gas.”

I disagree. I save enough money on the weekly groceries by shopping at two stores to make the time and gas expenditures worthwhile. I do have the benefit of having the two major grocery stores both located within a mile of our house, which does make it easy. But even when I didn’t, I’d often go ahead and make the trip, if there were enough good sales at both stores to make it worthwhile. I do think you have to figure gas and time expenditures into your calculation when deciding whether to shop at multiple stores each week, but it can be worth it. We spend an average of $70/week on groceries for a family of four, and there’s no way I could even be under $100 if we only shopped at one store.

]]>