The Tightwad Gazette, revisited | Edition 1
I mentioned recently that I'm doing a reread of The Complete Tightwad Gazette. It's been years since I have read it (probably since the very early days of my blogging career), so I thought it would be fun to reread it now, all these years after it was published.
Regarding the photo above: I think Amy would appreciate that her book is on a Buy Nothing table, along with a free Facebook Marketplace lamp and a picture frame from Goodwill (plus a nursing book from a sweet reader!)
Some of the information in The Tightwad Gazette is hopelessly outdated, like "Spray WD-40 on your worn typewriter ribbon to squeeze a few more uses out of it".
Now I have to quote a Taylor Swift lyric:
I think some things I never say Like, "Who uses typewriters anyway?
Typewriter advice aside, some of this book's contents are bound to be timeless.
So, I thought that as I reread, it would be fun to highlight some of the timeless content, along with some of the most ridiculous or outdated tips.
The gazettes were originally three books, but my version contains all three. Each book is separated into Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer sections, so I'll do one section at a time, starting with Fall in the first book.
Best Frugal Philosophy Advice
The practicalities of frugal living may change with the times, but the philosophies do not. So, these are the nuggets I'm most excited to pull out of the book.
How to be More Creative
In the essay, "How to Be More Creative" two bits stuck out to me.
Amy lists ten steps to become more creative, and the second one is to "Give yourself mental space; a clear field."
She says,
We tend to fill up our days with the TV, car radio, reading the paper, chats with friends on the phone. Instead, do "mindless" tasks in quiet. Boredom never strikes, as the mental gears whir constantly.
This one made me smile because it is so funny to think of reading the paper as a way to idly fill up your day. Imagine what Amy would have thought about the way we idly fill up our days now that we have smartphones!!
In mean, in 2024, we consider ourselves to be quite focused if we manage to watch TV without also simultaneously scrolling on our smartphones. 😉
Seriously, though, I do think she has a point here. As you all know, I often listen to podcasts or textbook chapters as I walk, but sometimes I just put on music as a background (or go without headphones at all), and I walk and let my mind wander.
Sometimes I get really good ideas this way, sometimes I find myself processing through memories and emotions, and I think these things happen because my brain has a chance to just think without outside input.
The second nugget in this essay is at the end.
She says,
What the heck does creativity have to do with thrift? Tighwaddery without creativity is deprivation. When there is a lack of resourcefulness, inventiveness, and innovation, thrift means doing without.
But when creativity combines with thrift, you may be doing it without money, but you are not doing without.
Yes, yes, yes!
This is exactly what I have written about multiple times; I'm not interested in deprivation. Rather, I am interested in getting the things/experiences I want, just with less spending involved.
A beautiful life, but on a budget.
Three Ways to Save
This is such a good basic frugal framework! The three main ways to save on something are:
- Buy it cheaper
- Make it last longer
- Use it less
And you get the most savings by combining 2-3 of the strategies.
For instance, you can buy a clothing item on eBay (Buy it cheaper), then wash it in cold water, line dry it, and repair it when necessary (Make it last longer).
Or you could combine all three like this:
- buy a used car (buy it cheaper)
- maintain it and repair it as necessary (make it last longer)
- minimize your driving time by combining errands and carpooling (use it less)
An essay on...privilege
Amy doesn't use the word but her essay, "A Stolen Thanksgiving Soap Box Speech" is basically about what we now would term privilege.
Amy points out that things like being born in a wealthy country, having good health, or coming from a stable, loving family are gifts that we did not work for, and that not everyone starts in the world with an equal number of gifts.
The attitude of, "I worked hard and I deserve..." does not consider the very large degree that our gifts contributed to what we have.
She says that those of us who have been given surplus gifts should use those to smooth the peaks and valleys of unequal gift distribution.
And if we live frugally, we can maximize the gifts we have, which will leave us with more to give to others.
Basically:
- We should recognize and appreciate the gifts we've been given
- It's our responsibility to use our gifts well (not everyone does!)
- Using our gifts well will yield a surplus, which we can share with others
Outdated Stuff
Things Used to Be Cheaper
This expensive home-packed lunch rings up at $1.63. THE HORROR. 😉
Life Before Online Billpay
A tightwad gazette reader wrote in to say that she and her neighbors send their telephone bill payments together in one envelope, and also all their water bill payments so that they can all save on the cost of a stamp.
I do remember that early in my adult life, I had to write checks for all the monthly bills, but I am delighted to have everything set up for online autopay now. No postage required at all!
And no bill coordination with neighbors required either.
An Actually-Good Tip
Baggie Washing pays $30/hour
I will spare you all the math she shared, but even back in 1990, washing plastic bags for reuse netted people $30/hour for their effort.
So, imagine how much more that task is worth now!
My student nurse job is going to pay me $20/hour, so hey, even the 1990 rate for bag washing is more than that.
_______________
Well....that was fun, at least on my end! I'd be happy to keep going with this series if you guys are interested.
Maybe we could do one every other week, on Wednesdays, and if you have the book, you could read along and come share your own nuggets each time.
Soo, if there is sufficient interest, we could do the Winter portion of the first book on Wednesday, June 26th.
Yes! After last week’s post, I took out my copy and started re-reading it.
What I also found interesting was what I had chosen to highlight!
I was at a very different point in life (I got the original newsletter for years!) and now am a grandma in much more secure financial means, but I’ll still never be able to throw away a perfectly good Ziploc bag
In fact, I needed some new ones this week and could NOT believe the price, even on generic. I do know the last time I bought any was almost 3 years ago because it was when my FIL mixed in with us and he thought I “needed” more
It’ll be fun to see what you and everyone else take away from it
@Vallie D, also that is one less plastic bag in a landfill (for Seattle anyhow)
I found the Tightwad Gazette (the actual newsletter), when I was a new stay at home mom in 1991. To say it changed my life would not be giving it enough credit. Amy's wisdom completely changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and helped me to be a great steward of my family's funds. I'm so glad to see you dusting off your copy of the Gazette and reintroducing us to Amy.
@Jeana, same. Newly married. Living in a new city. We had no extra money and hated our apartment. I took the second TWG out of the library on a Saturday and read the whole thing, made notes and changed so many things right then. Within 10 months we had a 10 % down payment for a house and were moving. My one regret was that I think 6 more months would have gotten us further along our goal.
@Jeana, I love revisiting the Tightwad Gazette. I first learned about Amy D when Parade Magazine published a article on her and her success. (Parade was a supplement in the Sunday paper.) I immediately began following her and embracing many of her ideas.
In 1990, wealth was celebrated everywhere in the media, and there was little information on frugality. I had children, and I was working in a man’s world - underpaid and underutilized. I was suppose to believe that I could do it and have it all. In truth, I was exhausted, disillusioned and desperately wanted off the hamster wheel. Moreover, I adored my children and wanted to spend time with them. The Tightwad Gazatte was a breath of fresh air, and Amy D made me realize there were alternatives. The Tightwad Gazette literally changed the trajectory of my life.
@Bee,
I learned about Amy from Parade magazine, too! I immediately subscribed to her newsletter and began my journey.
@Jeana, Same here! Early 1990s, renting my grandmother's house in the city, near a highway, beside a large strip mall parking lot...I adored her house but not the area. I often wondered how I would ever be able to leave and get my kids to a quieter and more rural area. I hooked into Amy's ideas after reading the article in Parade Magazine. In 1992, I realized my dream. I can't imagine how much money Amy has saved me over my lifetime by that introduction to her lifestyle in that original article.
@Christine Joiner,
I agree. She somehow made frugality not embarrassing. After I found my 'why' I never felt like I had to be embarrassed about buying used or saying no to invites.
@Jeana, same here!!!
Kristen, I love this! I need to reread my own copy. And you're going to laugh: I sat down to get working on my homeschool notification letter, and my printer will absolutely not connect with the wireless internet to connect with my computer. We recently got new internet and haven't configured it yet. So until DH gets that sorted, I have to wait. I have time, it's just annoying that I have to wait.
It all made me wish I had an old fashioned (or even electric!) typewriter so I could do it the old fashioned way, which would be, for me, less hassle. I learned how to type on a typewriter in high school. I'd happily spray a typewriter ribbon with WD-40! Of course, nowadays probably the only place to find a typewriter ribbon is on Amazon...the irony.
@Karen A., plug the printer into your computer.
@Rose, That is the next thing I'm going to try, once I figure out the cables. Have I mentioned I'm a Luddite? 😀
@Karen A., Your travails with the printer is why I prefer to use wiring instead of WiFi when I have the choice. During the pandemic that saved me no end of hassle, aggravation, and thumb-twiddling time; I had problems with the work system but at least I didn't have problems connecting to it.
@Karen A., I'm glad I didn't encourage you to set up the wireless yourself! It is actually super easy...
On the other hand, printers and printer drivers suck and it can be really hard to connect no matter how good your wireless is so I often just attach it to my laptop. And I'm a techie so you can believe me--it's not you, it's them.
@Karen A., I bought a new computer and then "had" to buy a new printer because of this. So frustrating.
@Amy cheapohmom, Did you update the printer driver?
@Rose, Reporting to the Commentariat that I FIGURED OUT how to connect the printer to the wireless network. Huzzah! Thank you for all the encouragement. I had to get over the "I don't want to mess this up by fiddling with it" mentality. It was already messed up! I couldn't make it worse!
@Karen A., That's great!
@Karen A., WAY TO GO! Just reading about the troubles and possible solutions almost gave me a twitch under my eye.
@Rose, loved the "it's not you, it's them" affirmation.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Yes, my oldest son is a computer programmer, and often asserts that programs/computers are sometimes seemingly designed to be deliberately frustrating or intentionally obsolete before you want them to be!
@Karen A.,
As a college grad with a secretarial degree from long, long ago, I have always and still enjoy using my good ole electronic typewriter. There are things that even a computer can't do. (Microsoft Word take a hint!) I don't care for my handwriting, so I will often type forms. And yes, you can still find ribbons for those (Amazon), and a couple years ago I had to purchase a new print wheel that had broke which I googled a supplier for those.
@Karen A.,
Yayyyy! You did it!!
I have issues with being able to print wirelessly from my phone....hubby has "fixed" it so many times, but it's never reliable.
@Ohio Farmwife, Ooh. Seriously tempted to save up for something like that...I remember typing letters the old fashioned way.
Kristen, for once, I must object to one of your word choices. Some of Amy's advice (particularly the advice related to technology) is certainly outdated, but it was not "ridiculous," nor do I think it's worthy of ridicule now. It was appropriate for its time and place. Try, instead, thinking of it as a series of history lessons.
(Full disclosure: I'm a year older than Amy, if her DOB of 1956 on Google is to be believed. Ahem.)
Oh, in that sentence I said ridiculous/outdated, as in those things being two separate categories.
The typewriter and WD-40 advice is outdated but not ridiculous, and I love reading advice like that and thinking about how frugality used to be. I agree that it would be poor taste to ridicule something like that.
For the ridiculous category, I was thinking more of things like the person who wrote in saying they used saved six-pack rings to make a hammock. That, to me, seems ridiculous because a hammock made of six pack rings would be seriously uncomfortable, and besides, you could probably save way more money way faster by not buying six packs of drinks. No matter the year we're talking, that frugal tip seems kinda nuts to me!
@Kristen, Or the soda tabs saved to make a door curtain. I think I remember that one.
@Karen A., We did that in college with beer tabs. It looked as dumb as you'd think.
@Rose,
I remember the big fad in my college days was to get an clear acrylic or glass table top and then have something like 144 drink cans fastened together as the base. One my my dorm neighbors was saving Dr Pepper cans for this, and I was able to supply her with dozens, but then her boyfriend said soda pop cans weren't cool enough. He wanted the table out of beer cans. If they'd been smart, they would've used the DP cans for the inside cans and just had the Shiner Beer cans on the outside surfaces, so it'd look like all beer containers. Instead, she was going to throw away her soda cans at the end of the year....and they ended up being stacked in front of another gal's door so that they fell when she opened the door early in the morning. Hmmmm, wonder who did that?
@Kristen, thank you for clarifying your distinction between "outdated" and "ridiculous," although I still think it sounded in your original post as if you were using the two equivalently (especially in quoting the Taylor Swift line about typewriters).
And I'll grant you that the various six-pack ring ideas were pretty much in the ridiculous category. But Amy herself always said that she was kind of "out there" in her various efforts to reuse things. I'm thinking of one article she wrote about possible reuses for bubble wrap, and another in which she described experimenting with flattened-out bread bags as substitutes for plastic diaper cover pants when her "surprise twins" were babies (it didn't work all that well, as I recall). There's a fine line between creativity and absurdity, and by Amy's own admission, she was always walking it--which I think was, and is, good.
I think Taylor Swift wrote that lyric about a recent boyfriend who used a typewriter. It IS unusual if someone uses a typewriter these days, but I am old enough to remember when typewriters were totally normal. 🙂
I'll go change my post to "outdated or ridiculous".
@Kristen, I view those ideas (soda can rings, can tabs, etc) as an expression of the creativity she's talking about. Not every idea is going to be a success. One of the things I like about her is that she sometimes acknowledges her ideas are a bit ridiculous.
@A. Marie, I feel like the ridiculous came from the creativity.
@A. Marie, A little off topic, but every time I see someone mention other uses for bubble wrap, I think about the time I put pieces of bubble wrap in the bottom of my sons' Christmas stockings. They each got two pieces of the nice, big bubble wrap that really pops. It had come in the mail, so cost me nothing. I still remember their excitement. "Bubble wrap!!!!" Best money I never spent.
@Kristen,
The one that I remember most was using bread bags as training pants on your toddler. I do believe my elegant and beautiful mother would have disowned me if I did this. However, Amy D believed in pushing the limits of thrift.
@Bee, When I first read the Tightwad Gazette, I was still living with my parents, newly engaged and wanting to learn how to be thrifty (my fiance-now-husband was/is super frugal!), and I remember telling my mom we should save margarine wrappers to use for greasing pans, and she gave me SUCH the stink-eye and said, "Why when we have Crisco and Pam for greasing pans? Throw it out."
@Karen A., I grew up (70s and 80s) saving butter wrappers for this very purpose! I still do once in a while if my need to grease a pan coincides with a butter wrapper supply item - but it seems like the wrappers themselves are less buttery than they used to be. I expect they put something on there so the butter doesn't stick unless it gets really soft. (Pro tip - if you happen to make homemade caramels or other sticky candy, cut-up butter wrappers make excellent candy wrappers!)
@Stephanie, You have a good point and I expect you're correct about the change, because modern butter wrappers really do not have enough butter on them to grease anything. Which is good, right?
Your tip to use them as candy wrappers is classic TG & FG material.
@Sherri in GA,
Lol, my 14 year old son still loves popping bubble wrap bubbles! 🙂
@Sherri in GA, oh my gosh what a fantastic idea!!!
I always remember the animal masks from saving dryer lint as classsic Tightwad Gazette.
And I distinctly remember in 2003 seeing the expensive lunch pic and adding up how much my hubby’s packed lunch cost to the cent. It inspired me to pack it many many times instead of him buying lunch.
@Liz B., so does my mid-30s coworker!
@Rose, Ha. Actually lol’d
Love this idea. I'm going to have to pull out my books now. I was introduced to Amy back in the late 90's with a girlfriend who was, and I'm sure still is, frugal. We learned a lot from those books in our young married lives. It will be really good to re-read them and learn some more. And yes, I agree, there were some very ridiculous things in that book - and some from readers themselves. Thanks!
I just want to know how much that lunch box would cost now. 😀
So I went on Walmart.com and looked up comparable lunch items. To pack a similar lunch would cost $2.33 today. So it actually hasn't gone up that drastically, for those items.
@Tammy, Seems like an appalling lunch anyway. And not even a sandwich?
I would def be hungry after that lunch!
Some of the food prices are amusing, though. I read them aloud to my husband sometimes. I’m waiting to see if she talks about cutting out UPC codes and sending them into the manufacturer for a rebate. It was called “refunding.” I am Amy’s age. Anyone remember that quaint hobby?
@BethC.,
Yes, and there were news stories about fanatical refunders who used their entire garage space to stack boxes and packages of products so that they could do this on a massive scale. I mean, this hobby consumed their every waking hour! Sort of like the crazy coupon ladies. Some of them would go to the store with tons of coupons and end up paying just a few cents for a whole basket of groceries and stuff. IIRC, Amy has a write-up in one of her books about one of the coupon ladies getting arrested for fraud.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I'm under the impression that both of these things are still done today. Only most people have their coupons on their phones. Also, having tons of one product is lauded as "stocking up" while there is a sale.
@Anne, Stocking up is useful, frugal, and for some, crucial to cheerfully living on less. Fraud, OTOH, is right out. (Although if you need to commit fraud to have enough to eat, that's yet another kettle of fish.)
@BethC., oh yes, I used to do that. I had boxes of (organized) UPC codes in the garage to use for refunds. And clipped coupons religiously!
I LOVE this! I requested the complete TG as a Christmas gift last year and have been reading a few pages every day. I’ve used one nugget for travel. I always put my curling iron in the side pocket of my backpack when we are going on a trip. It invariably falls out. She suggested using a cardboard toilet paper roll to reign in unwieldy cords. It works!
I have the book!
People have a very hard time acknowledging the gifts they have received in life. And unfortunately, many people can't understand that. 'I did it, everyone should be able to'. But then they were always given what they needed/wanted, given a vehicle, had their education paid for, had parents pay the down payment on their home, etc. The simple fact is some people will just have to work much harder than others and I find that the people that never have to put in that work rarely understands it.
We still use checks for a couple of things because they charge to use a card and the bank gives free checks. Even if we sent it in with a stamp (we drop in their dropbox), it would still be cheaper than what they charge.
I think a lot of us here have that book. I've not read it in several years though.
I do like this series, keep it going.
@Jess, Wildly successful science fiction author John Scalzi is well-known to have been desperately poor as a child, including periods of homelessness. He graduated from the University of Chicago and famously signed a decade-long contract $3.4 million. This is what he has to say about being a self-made man:
https://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/07/23/a-self-made-man-looks-at-how-he-made-it/
@WilliamB, He seems pretty damn privileged to me, frankly. Good health, good mental health, good schools with gifted and talented programs, people calling on his behalf to go to a prestigious private school and then a prestigious college, being male in the tech industry, he doesn't acknowledge it.
I know, I know: it's not popular to think "If I could do it, anyone could if they worked hard enough," because it's just not humble. But in many cases it's true and no one wants to hear it.
In that article he said:
"I know what I have been given and what I have taken. I know to whom I owe. I know that what work I have done and what I have achieved doesn’t exist in a vacuum or outside of a larger context, or without the work and investment of other people, both within the immediate scope of my life and outside of it. I like the idea that I pay it forward, both with the people I can help personally and with those who will never know that some small portion of their own hopefully good fortune is made possible by me."
To me, it seems like he is acknowledging his advantages.
In my opinion he made some stupid points (like thanks for having a military, taxpayers) as a way to avoid acknowledging the really important things. Good health, being male, being white, etc etc.
As we used to say in the 90s: dress for success! Wear a white penis.
Just popping in to say that I love you, and also this is not really the vibe. I know the author of that article isn't here, but I would like us to discuss opinions and issues without resorting to calling things stupid.
I know you're not gonna like that, but...this is my house on the internet. I get to decide what happens in my virtual living room.
There are a million and one places on the internet where you can say whatever you want, in whatever tone you want. But for commenting purposes here, I'd say go for two levels gentler than you think you need to. 🙂
@WilliamB, Thank you so much for including the link to "A Self-Made-Man Looks at How He Made It". Such a good essay on so many levels.
@Jess, I had no idea that any banks provided free checks any more!
@WilliamB, what a fascinating life story. Thanks for sharing!
@WilliamB, what an excellent article, and an additional thrill to see he met his wife in the town where I grew up.
@WilliamB, Thanks for this article.
@WilliamB, thank you for the link. It was a great read. I love how it shows that you never know what a small act of kindness can lead to.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, many credit unions provide free checks.
@Rose, Scalzi acknowledges these things. If you did read the article, I'd be very interested to know what led you to your conclusion, if you'd be willing to share...?
To add to the conversation, here's another one he wrote, about how being a Straight White Male is (using a gaming term) the lowest difficulty setting. https://whatever.scalzi.com/2022/05/18/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-ten-years-on/
@Rose, That was unnecessary.
@WilliamB, Of course I read it and I don't see where he acknowledged those things. Perhaps you can cite some examples?
@Rose, easy there. I see the point you're trying to make here, but if a person is born a white male, is it their fault? If God makes you whatever he chooses to make you, it is your responsibility to use your gifts wisely.
@Rose, That's hilarious. Can I steal?
@Rose, Here you go. He wrote a post about white male privilege as well. It's a separate blog entry.
https://whatever.scalzi.com/2022/05/18/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-ten-years-on/
@Dicey, You are missing the point. Besides, at least one of my favorite humans is a white mail.
@William, of course.
@William 2 Electric Boogaloo: but "all his essays" wasn't the scope. He didn't write about male white (and I should have added straight) privilege in the piece you mentioned.
@Jess, I've known my share of white males, and none of them had white privilege. My father, born in a log cabin barely after Oklahoma statehood. Little education because he quit school in the 6th grade to care for his mother who was dying of TB. Worked hard all his life in blue collar jobs and bettered his skills. Finally was able to retire after selling his business. My brother, no high school diploma, worked hard all his life; owned his own business until retirement. My husband, a Navy veteran affected by Agent Orange. No one ever gave him anything. Our son, who grew up in the trailer park, served in Afghanistan and was on the very bad end of an abusive relationship. Our other son, who also grew up in the trailer park. Master's Degree in mathematics from an Ivy League school, on full academic scholarship.
I could go on, but you get the drift. White privilege is a myth. The white male privilege myth is worse.
Adding my perspective: I don't think white privilege typically means that you have had an easy life per se. It just means that the color of your skin has not been the cause of your difficulties.
For instance, I have a frugal blogging friend who is a PA, and on multiple occasions, she has had patients flat-out refuse to have her serve them as soon as she walks into the room and they see that she is black.
In contrast, I am fairly certain that in my career in healthcare, patients are not typically going to refuse to have me serve them based on the color of my skin. So in that sense, I have it easier than my friend (who is, in many ways, exactly like me except for the color of her skin)
Like the men you listed, I have had plenty of crappy experiences in my life. It's just that my crappy experiences have not been a result of my skin color. 🙂
There are a lot of privileges a person can have, of course. For instance, I have the privilege of having a very unremarkable-looking face. No one's going to treat me poorly based on how my face looks. But that is not true for someone who has a facial difference, such as a missing eye or burns.
LOVE this idea. Now I need to dig out my copy so I can read along! This is a great idea!
I enjoyed the post and hope you continue.
Re: Creativity. One of the things I've learned from learning and teaching Lean/continuous process improvement is that problem-solving is a form of creative thinking. We tend to mostly thing of creativity in terms of the arts, but thinking about things differently to improve how we accomplish something (like use money) is also a way to be creative.
@Elizabeth, I saw the Lean reference in this comment and thought of you before realizing who the commenter was... 😀
@Elizabeth, I grew up seeing creativity in problem solving all the time, and very little of it in the arts. For example, there was a group of 7 of us waiting in a very long line at the Parthenon (speaking of privilege) on a potentially lethally hot day. My father noticed that while the regular line would take at least 2 hrs to get through, the group tour line was empty. So what'd he do? Found out the minimum group was 10, asked 3 others to join us, and boom! we were a group and got in immediately.
@WilliamB, Your father sounds like a wonderful creative-thinker/problem-solver! Some people are naturally -- I read the following in the book _Jim Henson: the biography_: "As he would demonstrate many times throughout his life, sometimes the cleverest solutions to a problem were also the simplest -- and usually lying in plain sight, provided you could see a thing differently."
@PD, I have very few topics on which I am conversant. 😉
I looked on the Westegg Inflation Calculator and found what cost $1.63 in 1990 would be worth $3.86 in 2023's money. (They have to have a complete year in order to do the calculation, so it's always one year behind.) That still seems cheap.
As a history buff, I often use this online calculator to determine how much in today's money something would be worth. I just take the year being discussed, or barring that, the year the book was first published, and put that in the blanks.
I absolutely would vote yes for the idea of discussing Tightwad Gazette.
I love thumbing through my old TGs. Even if I don't need to know how to use my rotary dial phone and still get cheap long distance rates, there's lots of inspiration in there that I can adapt to my current situation. And still a lot of her tips are spot on for today.
One of my favorites, which I've never used and probably won't ever have need for, is the robot costume she and her DH made for their little boy. It was pure genius! He won the Halloween party's prize for best costume, and made a lot of friends there; they were new in town and hadn't met a lot of folks yet.
Yes! Please keep going. Everyone could use a reminder how to be more thrifty and thankful!! And also a reminder how things used to be before this entitlement age.
I have heard about this book/series many times but my library doesn't have it. It would most likely fall in the outdated category at this point and be weeded from our collection. But I believe there are still timeless nuggets in there. I will have to see if I can get it on inter library loan. Until then, I look forward to your reviews.
@Ashley Bananas, all three TG books are available through the Internet Archive. I’ve had vol. 1 for decades (eep!) but just read the other two a couple of months ago. Looking forward to Kristen’s take on the rest.
@Ashley Bananas, you can use the site directtextbook dot com to search for a used copy! The site is not just for textbooks - anything with an ISBN can be searched. It is an aggregator that looks at all bookselling sites and puts it on one page for comparison. There are usually a few copies on eBay as well.
@Jenne, Good to know! I use ebay and Thrift Books. Now I have another source. Thanks.
Those books and the newsletter were life-changing for me. It's great to revisit them.
I would definitely like more of this. I, like you, haven't read my copy in probably 20 years. Added to my read list.
Yes! Please keep this up! I totally remember the Tightwad Gazette when it came out...and YES it can apply TODAY! Love it!
I have my Tightwad Gazette waiting for me at the library. I am excited.
I was thinking of a few quotes my farmer in laws lived by. My son is the sixth generation.
1. "Working is a double win. You earn a paycheck and don't have time to spend money. "
Of, course my father in law passed before Amazon and one click online buys, but I think this still is valid. If i am doing projects, I am less available to insidious advertising streams and focusing on wants and needs. In my new retirement life ( days old) I have been finishing up a labor intensive xeriscape and only want a shower and a bed at the end of the day.
2. "Never live like you are rich because you can't ever go back." I married into farming at the end of a depressed period. Then for 15 years we had a cycle of prospering ( thanks to a husband who works 12 hour days, 6 days a week.) Then a drought and now commodities have bottom out. The last few years, harvesting the walnuts was a losing position economically. We did it anyway because it is harmful to the orchard to leave the nuts. My husband has taught me to budget for the absolute minimum then you will not live with worry and fear. Although I was resentful at first, he was against my retiring until I could live solely on my own pension and savings. This seemed harsh but several of his extended family have gone bankrupt. Being a teacher, I cannot collect any of his social security even if he passes. So I made a plan and now am self sufficient. It feels good.
@mary ann, your husband sounds like a wise man who came from wise parents. As harsh as the budgeting seemed, he was providing significantly and substantially for your future. Self-sufficiency is a great feeling (as long as it is backed up by reality).
I love this idea of reviewing Amy’s tightwad philosophies. I still get my copy off the shelf periodically to remind myself of ideas for living a more frugal life. Keep up the good work, Kristen!
Yes! What a lovely attitude towards gifts. It's exactly the way my mom taught us about privilege, before the term really existed in its current form.
It's funny to think that sharing envelopes has led to sharing Netflix accounts.
Oh yes! Keep it going, please.
I used one of those inflation calculators and the $1.63 lunch in 1990 would be $3.97 today, which is quite expensive for a packed lunch (in my opinion).
I love The Tightwad Gazette, mostly for the creativity that it brings to my mind. And I absolutely agree that frugality without creativity feels like deprivation.
My current frugal/creative endeavor is that I've seen love-in-a-mist pods selling on Etsy. I have thousands and they are currently drying in my garage. Maybe it will be a bust and I'll compost them, but maybe some will sell...I'm curious to see.
I love your modern spin of the tightwad attitude from this book! I would definitely follow along with these posts. Keep writing!
I loved every bit of this post but especially the line, a beautiful life but on a budget !!!!!
And it is possible if you work for it. We are living on retirement pensions and we still save money every month. We live well, eat well and have everything we need 🙂
Yes! I think this would be an interesting series. I haven't read her books since the late 1990s, but they made a lasting impact on me.
please do!
This was delightful. Please continue!
Many of us are re-reading our copies of the Tightwad Gazette along with you. Like Vallie D, I read the original newsletter. Master of fact, I have a binder with all issues of the original newsletter. The format of resources being used may change, but good advice stands the test of time. Agree with Vallie D about washing the ziploc bags - saves a lot. Paper towels: if you are blotting grapes you have rinsed in water, don't throw the damp towel away - it is only water. Drape a damp paper towel over the kitchen faucet and let air dry - it can be used again. (NOT to be used when you drain fried chicken - then toss that towel).
Many of us do our banking and some shopping online. I save money on cost of cards, note stationery and postage year around. Jacquie Lawson cards offers beautiful interactive cards which appeal across generations, for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other life events. It is fun for adults/kids to click on a card and follow the theme to its conclusion. There are also lovely note cards with plenty of writing space when you want to send personal messages to keep in touch. My 2-year membership is $45 - or, $22.50 per year. I see there are also memberships for shorter timeframes available at less cost. (https://www.jacquielawson.com)
Sending cards this way made sense to me. Cards at the dollar store are currently 2 for $1.25. Add to that, 68 cents per card for a first class postage stamp. With 5 grown children and their spouses, 8 grandchildren + 5 great grandchildren, the cost of paper cards + postage for their birthdays alone is significant. When other major holidays are added, the number of recipients (friends, colleagues from work), cost is much higher. At winter holidays, the savings is very noticeable.
@Jen S, I have the opposite view of Jacquie Lawson cards. I admire their creativity but I loathe receiving them. It seems lazy and I detest sitting there waiting to get to the end, so I virtually always click on the go to the end now button. If you don't have time to pick out or make a card, or even just send a note or an email on my birthday, then you don't care enough to make a real effort. I do realize I seem to be in the minority with regard to Lawson cards.
@Lindsey, My MIL routinely tries to send us and our kids Blue Mountain e-cards, with e-gift cards attached (always for Target, even though we have told her we rarely shop at Target). I'd be happy that she's not driving to the store to buy cards (she's 87, has failing eyesight and lives at least twenty minutes drive from anywhere), but she refuses to have the Internet in her house, so instead drives to the library to do her email and card sending. So it's not saving her any time OR money, OR her safety. Ugh.
If you wish to go down a long rabbit hole of exploration, send postcards from the Web Gallery of Art. https://www.wga.hu/
It is an extraordinary online museum and art resource, and you can make up your own text to go with the images.
@Lindsey, I'm with you on these "cards". To add insult, if you don't open one, they send a reminder. Such a nag, that Jacquie! Makes me feel stalked and reprimanded.
Amy’s second book has a recipe for cheese sauce to use with a baked potato. That book lives in my kitchen with the cookbooks and I use it a lot. Hmm, maybe I should add potatoes to next week’s shopping list…
@Tina in NJ,
I still use the TG’s recipes for basic granola, lentil casserole, and muffins .
@Tina in NJ, My favorite TG recipe is Turtles, which is basically a chocolate cookie with green frosting made in a waffle iron. Now I think I might need to go make some! 😉
@Tina in NJ, I still use her chocolate syrup recipe (subbing xylitol for the sugar), and I regularly made the lentil/rice casserole back when we were vegans.
@Tina in NJ, I have one of her recipes in my own created cookbook with a black X through it & a large YUCK!! Tuna Cheddar Chowder. Full body shiver!!!
@Tina in NJ, I use her food processor pizza dough recipe whenever I make homemade pizza!
My first roommate washed her ziploc bags and I thought it was crazy. Now I work at rarely using ziplocs BUT if I do, I was them--unless they are super greasy.
Yes. If they're super greasy I cannot be bothered either!
@Kristen,
I am lazy, so I just shake out the crumbs and store used ziplocks in the freezer.
I only use ziplocks in the freezer, we use Tupperware type containers for sandwiches, etc. I throw out the ziplocks if I use them for meat, though, so I try to only use already used ones for meat.
@Rebekah in SoCal, Even Amy D. doesn't wash super greasy bags! I just reread her article on ziplocs.
@Tarynkay,
I try to use other types of containers before I use a ziploc after all each one costs between $0.10 and $0.20 each. I do reuse when practical. It takes me a year to use a 40-Ct box.
I usually try to do that too, but sometimes a ziploc is the best choice, especially if you need something to be really airtight.
@Tarynkay, I put meat in things like bread bags and then put those in a ziploc for the freezer. Then I throw away the cheaper quality bread bag and still have a clean ziploc.
@Lindsey, my mind just exploded. Why didn't I think of that?!? Brillant!
I am also rereading TWG. When I got to that section with WD-40 I chuckled but then thought...wait what things can I do with it. I use it as a rust remover and to get some stains out of laundry.
As for bill pay, I have an ongoing saga with our electric provider. In my husbands name, the website login is with a past email we can't access, and the phone in feature sucks. I called in to get help fixing it and they wouldn't talk to me; and hubby called and got 3 different people who didn't understand what he needed fix. So...Penelec gets a check mailed every month for the rest of time. Just Penelec.
Haha, my water utility used to charge a fee for paying online, and the fee was more than a stamp. Soooo...I mailed a check for years and years. 😉
@Amy cheapohmom, My local electric company can't get my address correct, believe it or not. My number is 689 but the address on my bills is now and forever 687 because I've given up trying to explain to them after 25 years.
I love the Tightwad Gazette. I read it back when she was first earthen and have used many of her strategies throughout the years since. I think I’ll check into them again. I have the same book you have.
I love the Tightwad Gazette, even if some of the advice is outdated, so I absolutely loved this post 🙂
Back in 2006, I stumbled across it in a free books pile at the library when I was living in Washington DC. I was making a measly intern salary in one of the most expensive cities in the US. This is one book that literally changed my life and helped me reevaluate how I spend money and use resources.
I am now going to re-read mine and would love it if you could continue this!
I have not read the Tightwad Gazette but am interested in doing a joint reading also if I get my hands on a copy.
I concur using creativity for frugality without deprivation, and frugality in order to gift more to others. Deprivation in frugality is sometimes used (selfishly, or because of financial insecurity) at the expense of others. Extreme or unnecessary frugality is then used to shore up one's own resources only, not to benefits others. For instance, depriving one's kids unnecessarily of hobbies, needed clothes or equipment, or being miserly in relationships to loved ones.
Creativity and generosity in frugality are in my mind a way to combat this as well. Wondering what others think about this kind of deprivation in frugality.
@Kristina M., Back in the early '90s, I subscribed to the Tightwad Gazette newsletter, then bought each book as they were published. Most of her advice is excellent. However...along the lines of your comment about being miserly, I remember the author telling about how her son was sick on his pillow when he had the flu or chicken pox or something. She washed the pillow in her machine and it came out all lumpy and she still expected him to use it that way. I think she was just plain wrong on that one.
Excellent post on an interesting topic—the methods have changed but the underlying philosophy is the same. When reading the book 24 years ago, I thought some of the suggestions were ridiculous indeed... cutting the broccoli rubber band to make more really took the prize! The encouragement to conjure up new ways of doing things has stuck with me, particularly now that we live in an age of abundant stuff and are low on memory-making meaningful interactions. (Thinking about her drawing a valentine in the snow for her husband. . .)
Girl, I’m here for it since I’m curious what still is applicable in our inflationary lifestyles! I will see if I can Hoopla the book to follow along!
@Maria and others...if anyone finds a free/near-free source for this title, please do share!
@Cynthia, Openlibrary.org has I, II, and III separately to borrow.
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1961788W/The_Tightwad_gazette
@Cynthia, Here's another source. You need to sign up for a free account to read.
https://archive.org/search?query=Tightwad+gazette
Love, love, love the tidbits from Amy. I remember reading her newsletters back in the late 1980’s. I was so poor then. I still am better off financially, but still frugal. Keep posting these. They are good reminders. Thanks.
I enjoyed your post. Bonus points for incorporating a Taylor Swift lyric into the mix 🙂
I have never read the Tightwad Gazette, so I am finding this post to be very interesting. I would love to see more posts like this. Thanks.
I discovered the Tightwad Gazette when our oldest son (now 29) was a toddler. I can’t say that it completely changed our lives, but it definitely changed how my husband and I thought about some things. Before reading it, it would never have occurred to me to go to thrift stores, for example.
Amy writes extremely well and is a talented artist, so the book (I have the compendium) is entertaining to read on its own. But what I really took from it is that you should determine what is most important to you and how frugality can help you achieve that. For example, I never wanted to be a stay at home mom, and I had (still have) a career (professional musician) that I loved that cannot be dipped in and out of easily. But I do love teaching violin lessons. So for me, it is often more important to be frugal with my time than with my income, and I make spending choices accordingly.
@MEG in SoTX, to clarify, teaching three hours of violin lessons will pay me approximately how much it costs to have a cleaning service do a deep clean of my house. I would much much rather teach violin, then clean the house, and additionally, it would take me more than three hours to do so. So I teach the lessons, and pay the service.
I think this is a very wise use of time and money for you!
Would love to have content from The Tightwad Gazette. I read it over 25 years ago.
FYI: all three Tightwad Gazette compilations are available to borrow FOR FREE from the Internet Archive.
Note that you can only borrow a copy for one hour at a time, but that might work well for reading the books in bite-sized chunks.
Volume I: https://archive.org/details/tightwadgazettep00dacy
Volume II: https://archive.org/details/tightwadgazettei00dacy
Volume III: https://archive.org/details/tightwadgazettei0000dacy
LOVE that you're doing this series, Kristen!
beat me to it!
Yes!! Please continue. I love that you included the lunchbox illustration! Amy was so good about breaking prices down. I really like how you mined for things still relevant in today's world.
Yes! Please revisit The Tightwad Gazette on a regular basis. I have the Complete Tightwad Gazette (given to me as a gift by my son who remembers me reading the newsletter when he was a kid) and I would love to explore it again with you and your readers. Although I take it out periodically and read my favorite parts...A Stolen Thanksgiving Soapbox Speech being one of them...you now have me thinking about rereading the whole book again. Thanks.
I would love to see more posts on The Tightwad Gazette, especially from a more current viewpoint. I will have to get my copy back out!
Yes!! Amy saved my life. I saw her on Phil Donahue while I was in the hospital having my first baby. Then she was in Parade (that came with the Sunday paper) and had her mailing address for a free copy of the newsletter. I was hooked! Who knew you could buy baby and kids clothes at garage sales?? My sister's greatest (I suppose) insult to me was "at least my kids didn't wear garage sale clothes!" I just laughed.
Amy's advice helped me be a stay at home mom and brought out the tightwad in me.
I read the Tightwad Gazette book, borrowed from the library of course, in the early 2000's and saw an interview with her online somewhere, probably many years after it was taped. In the interview I remember that Amy showed a container of fasteners collected from baby and child sized overalls that she was collecting for her future grandchildren. I hope she is using them now!
@Elaine N, I repaired a pair of overalls for myself using her tip -- saved the hardware from a pair my little son wore out and then fixed my pair. It was awesome!
I love how this post has turned into the Tightwad Gazette Book Club meeting. This is such fun. 🙂
I have not read The Tightwad Gazette. That said, in the time Amy was writing, there were several other books written and published by companies that promoted thinking outside the box, and conservative spending which I did read. Yankee Magazine and Reader's Digest come to mind. Rodale Press offered books that had homekeeping and gardening helpful tips and hints that were money saving. Just ordered a copy from eBay. Was surprised there still was one left under $10.00. I prefer to read from a book rather than online.
This is my first time commenting. Reader for several years. I love this! I devoured the Tightwad Gazette newsletters as a young Mom, and tried many of the ideas she wrote about. I would say it changed my life, in that my parents were not particularly frugal. The emphasis on creativity and doing things yourself really spoke to me. My favorite of all time was her pirate party, which I copied for one of my children. Probably the most epic party I ever threw! So many ideas and so many philosophical musings of learning to use resources wisely. I was sad when her newsletter stopped, but happy to find The Frugal Girl here.
Awww, I'm so glad you popped in to comment!
One of my absolute favorite books for bathroom reading -- you can really get a lot out of a few pages. I also appreciated her unashamed approach to "tightwadding," at a time when that was almost considered an insult.
I saw an interview with her a few years back. She doesn't need to pinch as heavily, now their kids are grown and gone. I've always wondered, though -- did they become tightwads too? Especially Jamie, the daughter that seemed to gripe the most...
@Cindy Brick,
Hi Cindy, other people have wondered about her kids too. There were some really interesting interviews done about ten years ago called Amy Dacyczyn Daughters Interviews on the blog The Frugal Shrink.
https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1997/01/01/220938/index.htm
Money magazine's look at the Dacyczyn family -- back in 1997.
I actually just re-read all three of The Tightwad Gazette a few months back! I had Volumes 1 and 3 and borrowed Volume 2 from my library. I got the two I have at library book sale for $1 each(as an aside library book sales are a gold mine for inexpensive, quality books that you want to own). I was trying to get myself back into the frugal mindset due to increased prices and wanted to feel I was being proactive instead of complaining about all the increases but changing nothing in my life. I agree there are some tips that didn't stand the test of time (long distance calling savings tips anyone?;) but overall, the spirit of making life work without going full on into debt is evergreen. The things we spend on may have changed but the mindset behind figuring out the why we buy these things and if we really need them is timeless. I only wish she would come out of retirement and start the Gazette again I would sign up!
On the list for a copy at the library.
I'd love for you to continue!! Never had a copy of the book so I look forward to it and your insights.
I like this series. Please do more.
When I was a kid we had Dixie cups--paper cups coated with wax. They were meant to be disposable after one use, but my mom filled one side of the sink every morning with soapy water and everything went into there with the scraped dishes to all be washed once a day after dinner (saved water, too!)--including the Dixie cups. They were washed and reused until they fell apart. I had a habit of peeling up the rim to play with the hardened wax that formed the rim of the Dixie cups. This also ruined the integrity of the cup, so I was always getting in trouble for that.
As a kid I thought "it's just a Dixie cup that is probably worth a fraction of a cent" but my parents lived through the Great Depression and squeezed every nickel, even when they were financially well off (which was motivation for me to rebel against a lot of their frugal practices when I was younger!). Nowadays I don't use disposables anyway because of the environment--which is much more frugal since an inexpensive glass tumbler can last many years--and we still have the plastic cups our kids (now in their 20's and 30's) used when they were toddlers. We use them to rinse our mouths after tooth brushing, and they will probably be passed on to our someday grandchildren because I don't want them to end up in the landfill.
One other Dixie cup story. I wanted a fancy dollhouse so badly as a kid, but my parents were appalled at the cost and I never got one. But my dad did help me "build" a dollhouse out of a cardboard box, paint it, and use leftover scraps of carpeting for the floors. I made furniture from things we had around the house. Dixie cups, with a piece cut out of the front, and stuffed with a Kleenex cushion, made great chairs for my dolls, and turned upside-down the cups made good pedestals for tabletops made from the lids (metal in those days) of sour cream containers. ;o)
@Jan, I did the same thing with the rim of Dixie Cups. Must've been at Vacation Bible School. My mother didn't buy them.
I so enjoyed the newsletter back in the '90's, having discovered her through the Parade magazine like many of the readers here. I was already frugal but it helped me be more frugal and feel more validated in being that way. I have the TG that is all 3 volumes in one and find it enjoyable just to read through once in a while in bits and pieces. The pictures that Amy drew were also so charming. She is a talented woman, and I'm so glad she shared that with us.
Please keep sharing the tight wad gazette!
I just can't reuse plastic bags, there's something squeamish about it. I always worry that a smidge of mayo was left in the corner of the bag and it will leap out and food poison me. Believe me, I have tried. PS I do use the bags that wrap my newspaper to pick up dog droppings when we're out walking. They're waterproof and long enough that I can securely tie them closed at the top. PPS Yes, I'm old school and still get the New York Times. I read it every day and share it with a friend, who reads it and recycles or uses it at the bottom of her parrot cage.
@Jean, Amy D coined the term, "selective squeamishness" and I've never forgotten it. A couple of drops of bleach in the rinse water will ensure clean and safe to re-use plastic bags. Except for the greasiest of bags, once is not enough. If I have something greasy, I store it in glass for easier cleaning.
I enjoyed this post and would be happy for the series to continue.
Parade Magazine! That is how I first learned about Amy and the newsletters, too, as I was a young married in 1993, and I wanted to stay home with my future kids. I am IN for this Book Club. I remember Amy talking about dumpster diving way before it was "cool" and thought she was a bit extreme by brushing her teeth without toothpaste, even before a TV interview.
I still use the quiche recipe once in awhile and I always chuckle to myself that she said she once used sauerkraut for quiche, and it tasted good.
You didn't need to call me out with the TV/smartphone watching 😉
Love this post! Would also love someone to replicate what that "expensive" lunch would cost in 2024!
I remember Amy from Parade magazine and TV. Tips didn't apply to a single like me, but I did read the book. Then I liked that others were frugal like I was.
I was able to retire early, a day after my husband retired. Work had changed to 12 hour shifts. Not for me.
I remember getting the newsletter and savoring the time spent reading. Getting confirmation that some of my practices were practiced by others was great.
I enjoyed that she took the time to calculate the costs and benefits. My husband is very happy that keeping our own chickens still doesn't pencil out!
I've read the comments, but I respectfully disagree with the concept of white privilege. When our children were small, I was discriminated against because of low social standing. Once in Dallas, I was walking back to my car from an antique mall, when a black man was yelling loudly on the sidewalk near me, how he wanted to smash white people in the face. Had my adult son not been with me, I would've been afraid. I had no idea that neighborhood was unfriendly to whites. So yes, there are still some racial problems - both ways.
My point is that all of us can come up with anecdotal evidence to support one side or the other. I believe that "white privilege" is a philosophy/religion developed to keep us divided and make a lot of people feel guilty for something that has nothing to do with them.
I can understand why you bristle at the idea if it results in a guilty feeling.
I don't personally feel guilty about any of the advantages I have been given, such as having a non-remarkable face, or a good education, or being born into a middle-class family, or being born into a language that is so dominant the world over. I feel grateful for those un-deserved advantages, and I think it's my responsibility to make the most of them.
That's really the driver behind me wanting to go to nursing school; I have advantages like an abled body, a strong stomach, and a brain that can handle the rigors of nursing school, so I feel a certain sense of responsibility to use those gifts to make a difference in the world.
Regardless of our difference of belief about racial privilege, I trust that both you and I are going out into the world in love, doing what we can to work for justice and equality in the spheres where we have influence. 🙂
The stolen soapbox speech was a sermon my Dad gave at the Leeds Community Church oh so many years ago. Amy was our neighbor, my Mom babysat ALL her kids. I remember the night she came by after dinner to sit and talk with my Dad about an idea she had. She started out with, “this is a crazy idea what do you think?” and the Tightwad Gazette was born! I spent many hours with other neighbors and members of our church opening mail. We went from a couple of trays to DOZENS following her appearances on The Home Show and of course Donahue! With every new subscription, we put a pin on map, we had to get a bigger map when she started with some international subscriptions. (I also spent many hours stapling and addressing said newsletters. It’s so wonderful to see the ideas presented back then being relevant today. The soapbox speech was just a tiny bit of my Dad’s wisdom that he imparted upon us and our community. I’m touched that his words continue to touch others today <3
Oh, that is so cool that you know Amy, and I love the substance of your dad's message. I feel like he was ahead of his time!
Did you find my post by googling? Or were you already a reader here?
@Kristen, lol I googled it! That particular sermon came to mind today (as many of his tidbits of wisdom often creep in) and I knew it was in her book. I lost my copy years ago, but so many of the things mentioned e we already did so it was already second nature. Interesting fact, I don’t think she had any subscribers from our local area, it was just the way we lived. Back then, even in the late 80’s & early 90’s, we still had residents living in dirt floored shacks. Poverty was more the norm but none of realized that we were poor… we were all in the same boat. My Dad grew up in during and post WWII, he would tell us of the evolution of the Woodward Family Friday night dinner, as a young child it was baked beans (homemade), then beans and franks, then beans and cubed steak followed by beans and steak. He grew up just outside of Boston, was a printer by trade until he packed up and moved to Maine in 1961 bought a farm in 1962. I think you are right, he was a bit ahead of his time. He imparted in my sisters and I a work ethic that is second to none, compassion and acceptance of our fellow man, regardless of their socioeconomic standing and the VALUE of working for what is yours and to share that wealth no matter how small.
I lived that I found this today and it was from THREE DAYS AGO.
Funny tidbit, shortly after Amy published the first book, I moved to Western Massachusetts. I was working at a Dunkin Donuts when one of the State Police Officers from the local barracks stopped in. His last name was Dacyczyn… he was surprised I could pronounce it and asked me how I knew. Told him my parents neighbors had the same last name. He looked at me and said,” you must be Charlie and Irene’s daughter! I’m Jim’s cousin!” Couple months later he pulled me over on the Mass Pike for speeding, I was going 90. He tapped on the window as I was rummaging to get my insurance, registration etc, and simply told me that 90 was the route number not the speed limit, slow it down a tad. My folks knew about it before I reached my destination on the Cape…. Small world!
I know, it is SO crazy that you thought to google it so soon after I wrote this post! It was meant to be.
that was amusing! please continue
I recently finally found a copy of the Complete Tightwad Gazette and started reading it in full for the first time - only had the first volume before. I must say I'm enjoying it. Even the typewriter tip is useful - I use typewritten notes in my creative endeavours, and good ink ribbon is nigh impossible to find these days for obvious reasons. 😀 So I was very glad to find that WD40 tip lol.
I'd be very interested to see you continue this series and see what you think of the articles upon reread. <3
I read this from the library about 11 years ago as a newlywed, and I still to this day wash my plastic bags! I reuse them until they get a hole and can't be used anymore (and when I rarely put raw meat in them, they go immediately). Between this and others giving me food/things in plastic bags, I have only purchased new ones 1-2x in the past decade. It's worth it and so much better for the environment! We have a few reusable snack/sandwich bags now too.
Tightwad Wednesday! I’m in! Thanks for the memories. Now, I have to go find that book ☺️