Recommendation for a book on living on low income budget?

[Wait Wut]

My son gets out of the Marines next month and will be moving with his wife to Phoenix to start school in May. He'll be working part time, but his wife will have an extremely difficult time finding a job due to her poor English and inability to drive. But, she's an amazing artist, so I'm trying to encourage her to start marketing.

I've been searching for a book to help them figure out how to live on next to nothing, but there are soooooooo many books out there and very little review information. I trust you people. His wife is amazing with a budget (despite my son's expensive tastes), but their income will be cut to less than half of what it was. I've already decided that I'm buying the damned Sunday paper every week and mailing them coupons. When they come up here to visit, I'll have the husband take them to Costco to bulk shop. Any other hints?

[taterguy]

1. Plastic

[Wait Wut]

4. Yeah...I wish I could.

I figured I could drop a gift card in with the coupons occasionally when I get some extra cash.

[GoCubsGo]

2. There are a lot of good coupon web sites around.

They match current coupons with sales, so that you can get the best deals. They provide links to where one can print coupons, too. CouponMom.com is such a site. There is also a "Frugal and Energy Efficient Living" group here. You should be able to get some great tips there.

One thing I have found to be a life-saver is second-hand shops, such as Goodwill. They often get in loads of items from various department stores, such as Target. All brand new. At my local Goodwill, they mark items by color, depending on when they get them in. Each week or so, a certain color is half-price. I have gotten brand new trousers from Talbot's for a buck and a half. At the store, they go for around forty dollars.

[Wait Wut]

3. Thank you!

Years ago I used one of those coupon sites, but it had shut down. Never thought of looking for a new one. I also never realized that second-hand shops got stuff from department stores. My DIL will love the idea. She really wants to do volunteer work, but until the finances settle down, at least she'll be able to do "something".

Thanks for the tip on the group, too! Great idea!

[GoCubsGo]

5. It's amazing what one can find in the second-hand shops.

There is also a chain in the Phoenix area, which IIRC, is called "Savers". Like Goodwill, only they benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs. Loads of new, with-tags items there, too. Your son and DIL are lucky to be in Phoenix. Since there are multiple Walmarts, Targets, Staples, etc., they have better clearances than places where there is only one store from the chain in town.

Also, there are plenty of ethnic grocery stores there. I don't know if it's still open, but there was a huge Asian supermarket near the air port. It's called "99 Ranch Market", and is in a Chinese cultural center. They always had great produce and other prices whenever I went there. Loads of Latino markets, too. And, this time of year, citrus is in season. Your DIL will probably meet people with citrus trees in their yard, who will give her lemons, oranges, etc. In some neighborhoods, one can just pick them up off the sidewalk.

[Wait Wut]

9. Thanks again!

I'll definitely look up Savers. BGC is one of my favorite charities and I know she'd love supporting them!

Glad to hear there's an Asian market. That was one thing that she couldn't find close to where they were living in CA. There were a couple in San Diego, but it was a bit far for them. Although she's Japanese, I'm sure she could find plenty of cooking supplies at the Chinese markets. Plus, her mom and aunt are constantly shipping her Japanese spices, etc. She has enough to make miso soup for the entire state of Arizona for the next 5 years.

Thank you, again, for all the advice. I'm a little stressed out watching my son start a new life. My main concern is to make sure he finishes school, but doesn't starve to death in the process. Another main concern is ensuring that my DIL is happy and doesn't go stir-crazy living in Phoenix. I did find a Japanese organization in Phoenix. I'm hoping I can get my son to take her to a couple of meetings. There's nothing I can do about the lack of an ocean.

[shanti]

6. DU has its own frugal living group, check it out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1128

[Kali]

7. coupons suck

they are mostly for overly processed garbage or "cleaning" products that are full of perfume

you can eat fairly well by staying out of the middle of the store and cooking your own food. This is more work and if people have regular day jobs it takes more planning than stopping off for take out or heating something from a box. There are several urban food programs that practically deliver fresh vegatables (and other goods) - that info can probably be found in any issue of the Phx New Times (alt weekly) or if you want I can inquire of my sister who lives in Tempe.

Thrift stores are great for household goods and clothing. Living without every latest toy is the hardest part for most people. The Phx area has much better public transportation than when I lived there - take advantage.

There is a pretty good arts community in both Phx and Tempe. Not knowing what she does, there are often fairs and markets where one can set up displays and sell things. What is her first language, if I may ask?

[Wait Wut]

8. She's Japanese (Okinawan)

She cooks with mostly fresh food, but I know from experience that it can be expensive (especially in AZ). My son has always had the best brown bag lunches in the Marine Corps. And, he already has all the toys he needs. I was thinking coupons for the every day type of stuff. She doesn't spend much on clothes, although she'd like to.

As far as what types of art she does, she's still experimenting with different types. She's made some beautiful paintings and does incredibly imaginative stuff with "garbage". For the holidays, I bought her some clay and she's already made some really cute things. The hardest part will be getting her around. Because she doesn't drive and my son will be working and going to school, she'll definitely need to depend on public transp. But, she really isn't confident enough to be out on her own, especially in a strange city. I have done some research and found a Japanese group in Phoenix. I'm hoping I can get her interested enough that she can at least make some helpful/friendly contacts. I actually kind of worry more about the isolation. It took her almost 2 years to make friends in California. Not that she's shy, she was a bartender in Okinawa for 5 years and had part time jobs in retail. She's just uncomfortable with her English.

Thank you for the advice!

[Lucinda]

10. I would look for a good collection of websites to give them

that have active readerships. There are several communities online that have great information, and I think it would be helpful and interesting to "talk" with others online doing the same thing. A book isn't as interactive or up to date as a live community would be.

[LiberalEsto]

11. Yard sales

It's amazing what you can find at yard sales if you go to lots of them and keep a list of stuff you need.

At least half of the furniture and decor in our house is from yard sales. Why would anyone buy flimsy junk from cheap furniture stores, when you can pick up real wood furniture at a garage sale and give it a good cleaning or a coat of paint. I have many pieces of real teak furniture that I bought for a fraction of their original price.

I would avoid flea markets, since they don't usually offer many good deals. You're best off going to community yard sales where most of the residents are selling items.