Ditch The Joneses

As the title indicates, this is a great little book about living on less than two incomes. With the economic downturn, there has been a deluge of literature to help families not only save money but also live on less. I see new couponing sites pop up almost daily and there are a wide range of resources one can access for information about making cheap homemade cleaning supplies (usually baking soda and vinegar with a few drops of essential oil) and making budget meals from scratch.

Cathi offers some very practical advice and shows that having a stay-at-home parent really is doable. She is a fierce advocate and empowers you to be the same. What I found surprising was how much it actually costs for the second person to be employed (after deducting gas, maintenance, dry cleaning costs, day care and so forth). Even if you both work, Cathi offers strategies for reducing work hours or convincing the boss that you can accomplish work outside of the office.


For the more experienced frunchy/crunchy/thrifty mama, the information within may be a little trite. Ideally, this would be a great resource for a couple to consider before having children, but of course, not all pregnancies or job losses are expected. If you’re a working parent who is really feeling the pull of staying at home with your child, then definitely pick up a copy of this book. (You can also find her workbook available in CD format.)


Disclosure: Special thanks to Cathi for providing me with a free copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own and I was not obligated to provide favorable feedback.