Be CentsAble: How to Cut Your Household Budget in Half

Former neighbors and stay-at-home moms, Pate and McKee offer a detailed look at slashing household expenses. The authors, asked by their husbands to cut their budgets in half, settled on savvy coupon use: “stacking” savings—purchasing goods already on sale with additional coupons. They present a plethora of information about coupons themselves, where to find them and how to use them properly in conjunction with sales on particular groceries. Nearly half of the book is devoted to grocery shopping, including tips on which stores to visit, and how to plan meals and “win at consumerism.” No topic is too small or pedestrian—there are instructions for making cheap household cleaners, finding affordable airfares and mattresses, and menu planning. The occasionally dry and serious content is enlivened by quick tip “action plans” at the conclusion of each chapter, breaking down the information into digestible portions. (Mar.)