Tightwad Gazette, Book Three: It's been a year!
I was doing an occasional series, revisiting The Complete Tightwad Gazette, but when I started my nursing job, I inadvertently put this series on pause.
But I'm taking a break from chemistry hell to peruse the Tightwad Bible (this will be much more fun and much less stressful for me. Heh.)
I'm beginning where I left off, around page 598. Let's see what we find this time!
Decide first, then shop
Amy tells the story of a diet book author who recommended figuring out what food would be satisfying to you before you load up your plate from a buffet table, the point being that sometimes we eat food just because it's there, not because we really, truly want it.
Amy draws an analogy to shopping, and of course, her take is that we should figure out what we want before we go to a store. Otherwise, we might buy things just because they are there. At that point in time, 70% of adults visited a mall weekly, and there were 30,000 shopping malls in the U.S. So, she said there were lots of opportunities to mindlessly buy things just because they were there in the mall, and you happened to be at the mall.
Well...imagine what she'd say now! We don't even have to get into our cars and drive to a mall in order to mindlessly buy things; we can do it from our computers in our homes. Heck, we can even do it from our phones, in our beds.
So, how much more true is it that we should take steps to avoid mindlessly buying things!
That's too cheap for me: DIY pillow making
I am extremely picky about my pillow situation. To be specific, I like my pillow to be quite flat, and I like the material to be shapeable, so I can kind of move it around to support my neck. For this reason, I loathe fiber-fill pillows, and I only use them in shams.
The current pillow I have is a pretty cheap jobbie from IKEA, and it is perfection in my book. Chef's kiss.
Anyway, Amy said she and her family had exactly one pillow per person (reluctantly purchased new for $5 at a salvage store, since the supply of used pillows was thin in her neck of the woods*).
(*I'm not very squeamish but even I would draw a line at a used pillow!)
Unfortunately, her son puked on his pillow, and when she washed it, it came out in a lumpy trapezoid.
So, she took apart the pillow, tore apart the filling into little pieces, stuffed a spare pillowcase with the small pieces of filling, and ended up with a "slightly lumpy, but serviceable pillow".
For me personally, this would be frugality gone too far. I'd maybe do this for a pillow to put in a sham, but not for one to sleep on. Even for a kid.
Part of my hesitation with this one also stems from the fact that pillows are very occasional purchases; it's not like you need to buy them every six months! Saving $5 on a repeated expense is much more effective than saving $5 on a once-every-few-years expense.
To each their own, but for me, this would be cheap, not frugal.
(Also of note: I employed both waterproof mattress covers and waterproof pillow covers on my kids' beds when they were little. Kids are leaky, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.)
A sign of the times: a universal casserole recipe
For pretty much all of my childhood, casseroles were a mainstay, and I know my household was not unique in this because my mom's cookbooks had casserole recipes aplenty.
The Tightwad Gazette offers up a universal version for the purpose of using up odds and ends in your fridge, and it probably works very well if you are still a casserole fan.
What would the modern equivalent be? A universal "bowl" recipe? Like, a cup of starch, ½ cup of a protein, a cup of veggies, ½ cup of sauce, and some crunchy toppings.
That's the type of thing I turn to when I have odds and ends; a bowl (or a salad) can be a single serving, whereas a casserole is generally not.
A Yes and a No
From a collection of Tightwad Gazette reader tips:
Yes: a broccoli rubber band use
A reader wrote in to suggest using broccoli rubber bands as a jar opener, and I fully support this tip. I do this all the time, and it works great; you just put the band around the lid, and it gives you enough grip to open the jar.
No: a glue/mustard bottle reuse
A reader says she saves mustard bottles and white glue bottles to fill with frosting for use in cake decorating.
The mustard bottle is at least made of food-safe plastic (although it is questionable whether one could ever get the mustard smell fully out), but the glue bottle? I wouldn't ever put food in it.
Also, I cannot imagine that it is an easy task to get the frosting into these bottles unless it's a liquid frosting like confectioner's frosting.
Definitely a nope for me!
Popcorn/Potato Chip Bag Curling Ribbon
For our last little Tightwad Gazette nugget: a reader suggests using Mylar snack bags to make curling ribbon for gift packages.
This piqued my curiosity (does it really work?) and I had a freshly empty bag of Aldi's cheddar popcorn (their version of SmartPop, I believe).
I mistakenly cut open the bag to make it easier to wipe it out, but realized that a cut bag cannot produce a long piece of ribbon. Whoops.
I did discover a few things. Crinkled parts of the bag do not curl very well:
A narrower strip curls better, thus doing a better job of hiding the packaging printing on the other side.
HOWEVER. I personally would not use this on a gift unless it was kind of a joke. For instance, I have a coworker who is obsessed with SmartPop, and I would definitely make a gift ribbon for her out of a popcorn bag.
Or I would do this to wrap a gift for my friend Katy because I feel she would appreciate it.
But in general, I think this veers into "cheap, not frugal" territory, mainly because it affects someone else. Also, curling ribbon is very inexpensive, so to me, the savings would not be worth possibly offending someone.
After all, there are a million and one other ways to save money, and it's generally more considerate to use frugal tactics that affect you, not others.
(Also: if money were so tight that I couldn't afford curling ribbon, I might also think it was too tight for me to afford snack foods such as potato chips and popcorn.)
I agree with all of your "no"s! One thing I do with produce rubber bands is to put them halfway down a jar so I don't drop it when there's condensation. One is on my olive oil bottle and one is on my bacon grease jar.
Such a great suggestion, thank you! I have very poor grip strength, and never thought to do this.
I read all her books about 18-20 years ago and while she has many great ideas many have not stood the test of time-lol. The benefit of Dollar stores is that you can grab simple things like decorative ribbon very inexpensive and not have to cut apart a mylar snack bag-lol
I don't recall the pillow but that is a big NO from me! That poor kid! lol
A second hand pillow - only from relatives.
We brought our pillows to our holiday destinations (we went by car) and it made a world of difference. Definitely recommend this to "difficult" sleepers.
Nope for the bottles, and a nope for the curling ribbon. Thanks though for the rubber band tip! I can still open jars by sheer will power (and daily gripmaster exercise) but the day will come when I need this. And I typically save sturdy rubber bands, for instance to keep opened bags of dried beans etc sealed.
I can imagine a casserole in winter, but we generally heat up any left overs as is and then add some salad or a second cooked or grilled vegetable and then we are fine.
Re: the casserole recipe, I recoiled to read water chestnuts under the potential "goodie" ingredient section. Not my favorite!
The broccoli rubberband trick is new to me and definitely a keeper! I always keep asparagus rubberbands, so I'll have to try this the next time I have a stubborn jar (and my husband/official jar opener isn't home :P). I've beaten my hands to pieces over their lifetime, so jars are a consistent nemesis.
Reusing food bags for ribbon strikes me in the neighborhood of reusing calendar pages as wrapping material (I remain a paper calendar person). One side may be pretty, but the backside will be full of dentist appointments, etc.!
My opinion is contrary to the purpose of this blog,but,it is an opinion...
I think in some people frugality has crossed to an obsession, depravation.at the price of saving money.
I followed a different blog for years and there's 1 person who sounds like she works herself to the bone,preserving food,clothing,etc.even though her children are grown and living their lives.
When all is said and done we can't take it with us when we go.
I also believe the frugal living gazzette has outlived it's usefulness and should be retired to its place in history.
It also reinforced my belief of not eating food prepared by someone who's home I haven't been personally in,anyone believing an old glue bottle could be used for cake decorating is beyond the pale!
I can buy brand new pillows in Walmart for under 5.00,research has found that a pillow can directly effect our neck,back & shoulders.
Good Grief!
I just read that lead sealing on tins became prohibited in the US only in 1993? That would definitely put me off eating any old tins of food even if undented - unless in dire emergency ofcourse when I would eat anything.
I believe that like a lot of things, frugality exists on a spectrum. There are people who feel thrifty when they use a manufacturer's coupon for frozen fries, there are people who choose to make their own homemade fries, and there are people who will eschew even that and stick to a baked potato they cooked in a solar oven. Amy Daczyzyn and her husband chose to go to extremes to achieve a goal in a shorter amount of time than most people would have by using moderate frugality.
I think a lot of why she did this was her personality. If you read her article about how she lost weight, she stuck to 1000 calories a day. That seems extreme to me, but she wanted to achieve her goal in a shorter period of time than she would have if she'd gone a more moderate route. So her newsletters and ideas are always going to be more extreme, IMO, than most people's methods, and her values are quite different from mainstream culture.
I think part of her Gazette was a reaction to the 1980s, where we saw a lot of the "greed is good" philosophy and overconsumption as a way of life. Of course, that overconsumption mentality is still here in our culture, sadly. I still have her Complete Tightwad Gazette and read it often--mostly as an antidote to today's growing consumer culture.
That said, I agree that there's a lot of ideas in the Gazette I personally would not do, or that I have tried and did not work for our family. But if those same ideas work for another family, without putting anybody at risk, I'm not going to judge them. Everybody has different baselines for comfort! Health and safety are of course uncompromisable.
I agree with your take, but would argue that Amy's so-called 'extreme' perspective gave her newsletter and books lots of personality and helped make her so successful.
It certainly gave her readers many options to choose from. A plus in my opinion.
I like that you so often seem to look for the good in people.
Agreed! It also, as William B points out, gave readers a wide range of ideas to choose from, and maybe the courage to step out of their own comfort zone a bit.
Just imagining 1000 calories a day makes me feel miserably hungry. I would hate that!
It depends on how much energy you have to expend during a day. To make better half happy, I eat (and some times begrudgingly) something for lunch. I have never been a breakfast eater. When I am a bachelorette, I usually just eat something for dinner. To each their own I say.
Yes, I am saying for ME, 1000 calories would be starvation! I'm usually at more like 2300. But I am fairly tall, and also quite active, so that changes things.
Excellent comment, Karen!!
Very well said!
If the blog is the one I think it is, she and her children were food insecure after her divorce. And IMHO, it could have been her parents/grandparents who were food insecure. I know my maternal grandmother grew up food insecure and would go without to feed my mother and her siblings.
Again if the blog I suspect, she and her spouse would have food to share with family/close friends if need be.
There will come a time when she cuts back. Her supply of canned goods will allow her to do so. Growing and canning just enough to not let her supplies get thin. She is an inspiration and teacher of many.
I think you may be thinking of the wrong person. Amy Dacyzyn had a newsletter in the 1990s; she never had a blog. She was not then and is not now divorced. She did not grow up food insecure. She wanted to have a large family on one modest income, and that was the genesis of her frugality.
I was coming here to say this. She and her husband wanted a large family, they wanted to live in a specific kind of home, and they were committed to doing it without taking on massive debt. I started reading her newsletter in the 1990s. There were always some things that I thought "I'm never doing that!" There were other things I had long since adopted, and there were always new ideas. A lot of what she proved was that you could have a wonderful life that didn't necessarily cost a ton of money.
I grew up on casseroles, and made them for my family as the kids grew up. Now I am an empty nester, and if I want to make a casserole, I have to make it tiny. I suppose that is a bowl? Cooking has changed. "Bowl" as a food offering is not in my vocabulary. Anyway, I think your suggestion for a universal bowl, or tiny casserole, is right on.
I agree with your nopes, and I like your rule of using thrift for yourself, not others. That saves a lot of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. I only give thrifted gifts to people who appreciate them. In my life, that's one person.
I also don't understand the classification of "bowl." Is there always a sauce that sort of melds together the flavors of foods that otherwise would be on a plate? And are they cold, or not cooked together?
Yes, it's a little more like a salad, but the base is not usually just greens. The base tends to be rice, couscous, potatoes, noodles, and the like.
Rubber band is a good idea but I can get most jars open if I "burp" the jar. A few smacks on the bottom and it opens easily.
If you know any teens and young adults who are US citizens age 13 up to 26 years old, http://www.booksunbanned.com gives free nonresident library cards to use in Libby to read ebooks and audiobooks. The library cards are from several large public libraries in the US.
Kristen I hope your young adult children are voting this year. Early in person starts in my state tomorrow and I will voting in person tomorrow in person since I don't trust the mail delivery schedule. If anyone needs any voting information or to register to vote http://www.IWillVote.com
I am rooting for you about the. Chemistry class and hope you pass this course so you do not have to take another one.
I did a quasi mail-in process by dropping my ballot in a lockbox. I already got email confirmation that it's been received and counted. 🙂
Will be voting tomorrow-can't wait!!! VOTE-it is both your right AND your responsibility. Women literally died when campaigning for Women's Suffrage.
Eligible to vote and don't, you don't get to bitch. Told my kiddos that and asked they pass that along to their friends.
I guess my version of a one-person casserole or bowl is "how many bits of leftovers can I cook in a skillet with an egg". Refried beans, lonely corn tortilla and leftover corn. Or broccoli, cubed baked potato, cheese. Leftover sweet potato fries, cheese. Cheese is a common theme, lol. With six around the table at supper, lunch (and sometimes also breakfast) is for using up small things.
Yes yes yes!
Today I fit 12 oz ham bits, 1/2 c minced garlic scapes, and 1 c. of stir-fried ham that don't work out; into 4 eggs for 2 people. The eggs were on sale for $1/dozen.
No on the snack bag curling ribbon, pillow replacement, and squeeze bottles; just no. However, I think this is where I got the idea to use thin strips of the wrapping paper to make curly ribbon bows in a pinch. And they match the paper. I apply the universal casserole method still to combine ingredients into a meal. Love your bowl twist.
Agree with you on the pillows: they are very important for sleep posture, and the wrong pillow can really throw a neck out of whack!
Also agree on the frosting containers (mustard frosting, anyone?) and the chip bag ribbons. We reuse packing paper from Amazon for wrapping paper around here, but just among our immediate family! I have three large spools of curling ribbon I bought about 15 years ago and they're still going strong, so it's not like something I need to save on.
OR...you could do what my family (adults only) decided years ago to forgo personal gift giving and instead donate to charity, food pantries, church, etc. When we gather at Christmas, we tell which charities we donated to (not the amounts since some are able to give more) and there are PLENTY of casseroles served (you haven't lived if you have never eaten broccoli or squash casserole). As for frugal cooking, most casseroles can be made with odds and ends of ingredients which came as a result of having years of poor harvests in the southern US.
The children still receive gifts (not socks or pajamas unless they were asked for). Also, to briefly get on my soapbox... I find it appalling that some "frugalistas" play the "I gave you tomatoes so you owe me squash". I think a gift is something given freely no payback needed. JMO.
Or, you can do both. It makes me happy to find the perfect thing for people I care about. I always thrift, or buy at book sales. I don't go shopping, I just have a mindset that helps me find things all year long. Example: I just scored a pair of North Face hiking boots in excellent condition for my granddaughter. Thankfully, her mother is a thrifter, too.
I also organize an annual city-wide food drive. As a result of scores of years of Amy Dacyczyn-inspired thrift, I am also able to give cash to causes I care about.
Linda,
Yikes about the "you owe me" scenario. Same, if I give a gift (no matter what it is), I don't expect something in return. If the receiver offers me something in return, of their own choice, that's lovely but not expected.
I am Team Thin Pillow!
I do eat casseroles, rehab bed pillows, and use a rubber band as a jar opening aid. A no on chip bag curling ribbon, unless one was making a bird-scaring device for the garden, and an absolute never on the unorthodox cake decorating.
It's not just cheapness to unmat and fluff up the inside of a poly filled pillow: the filling is not recyclable, at least not where I live. In rehabbing a pillow, there's almost always more fluff than is needed for comfort left over. I have a bag of reused polyfil saved for restuffing dog toys and making throw pillows, so it gets yet another second life.
I think that's a great use for polyfil!
I also realized: I couldn't even use this tip for my pillows because they are always the feather/down kind.
Obviously you're supposed to trash-pick the chip bags.
At its core, casserole is leftovers and white sauce or gravy, usually topped with a starch. My modern equivalent is stew. I make a lot of those.
I DIY'd a pillow once - for my dog. I combined the squished-down beads from two bean-bag chairs into one. Given how those little styrofoam beads escape and stick (static electricity), I'm not sure I'd do it again.
Good luck w the chemistry.
Or maybe you ask your co-workers to bring in their chips bags, which will definitely make you seem normal. Ha.
WilliamB and Kristen - both your comments made me laugh out loud!
I tried to refill my kids bean bags once. O.m.G the static electricity on those little beads was epic. My husband helped me and we were covered in the beads! Maddening and hilarious! I’ll never do that again. Lol
I used to refill my son's bean bag with Styrofoam packing peanuts. It was a little bit lumpy at first, but the peanuts flattened some pretty quickly and it was comfy.
I, too, agree with all your noes. I buy lots of broccoli and never see rubber bands anymore. As for pillows, I recently saw a consumer report claiming you should replace your bed pillows every six months and I was like, no way!
I see it more often on asparagus these days!
All right, this is a question about the life span of mattrasses and how many pillow cases to use.
I was always taught that mattrasses should be flipped every two weeks, to air them, and also flipped on the long side every month to ensure even wear and tear. Then, to be replaced every ten years to prevent accumulation of mites. As someone with asthma, I rigorously follow the flipping advice. We have anti-mite covers on our mattrass, pillows and duvets, covered by the usual bedlinen. We bought new mattrasses during covid, by which time we had had them for 25 years. Given that we had both accumulated some weight, that investment in our "home holiday destination" was a good one.
Also, I will always have the following pillow cases for our bed pillows: Anti mite cover (60C), Molton cover (white, 60C) , plain white cotton pillow case (white, 60C), nice pillow case that goes with the duvet cover (colour, 60C).
BUT I now wonder if the additional white pillow case may not stem from the time when pillows were filled with feathers? I distinctly remember the prickliness after my mother restuffed my feather pillow (We did not yet know about the asthma yet, and she herself had been brought up with a straw mattress I was not complaining!).
Hm.
Reading this made me tired and thankful that I don't have asthma. It wears me out just to change my king sized sheets occasionally. 😉
Higher quality mattresses can be flipped. Cheap ones are one-sided and the materials compact quickly. It is worth getting at least a slightly higher priced one.
The perfect tool for flipping is a pair of (new, clean) gardening gloves as they prevent the mattrass from slipping. I keep a pair just for that purpose and it has saved my nails many times.
Not all one-sided are cheap. They just get rotated.
I was going to comment that I didn't see them anymore, but maybe I've been buying more frozen broccoli than fresh and not thinking about it..
I won't buy a bed pillow used. I've bought small decorative couch pillows from a thrift store, though. A few washings, and time in the sun and dryer satisfied me enough to put them on the couch. The idea of frosting in a glue or mustard bottle is beyond cheap, IMO. I would be SO upset if I was served a piece of cake that the hostess frosted using an old glue bottle. Definitely a valid reason not to trust potluck food!
Yes to the rubber band.
Double yes to the casseroles.
No to everything else! (cheap, not frugal, IMO)
Boy, Kristen, the chemistry must have really got to you, because you took a break to . . . experiment with turning a snack bag into curling ribbon???? I, for one, would laugh with appreciation, because I am the chief recycler in my group. I remember when people cut thin ribbons of metal cans to make curlicue doll chairs and tables, and even angels for your Christmas tree. You could cut your finger off doing it, but it was a winner!
You know it's bad when turning trash into ribbons is more fun. Ha.
The midwesterner in me loves the universal casserole recipe. Soup or egg bake are my typical go-to for using up odds and ends but sometimes a casserole just feels right.
The Mylar bag trick reminds me of my cousin Susan, who used to trim used Christmas cards with pinking shears and glue them to blank cards to make the cards she sent out every year. Every once in a while, I’d get a new card! The rest of the cousins would compare notes. Who got a new card this year? Then we’d joke around about what the new card recipient had done to receive such favor.
Don’t be a Susan.
I don’t know. It’s hard to figure out when you’re crossing a line from “frugal” to “cheap”. I like your test. “Is this impacting others?”
In the case of Christmas cards, new ones aren’t that expensive! I shamelessly buy clearance cards every January! (And send one to Susan.)
Thank you so much for making me laugh out loud this morning! I have a feeling that the phrase "don't be a Susan" will be part of my vocabulary now. I am with you-I usually buy my Christmas cards at Barnes and Noble in January for the next year-I can get really nice cards for half price, and I don't send that many cards anymore, so usually one box is enough.
My grandma used to use the fronts of pretty Christmas cards for gift decorations, along with reusing bows and ribbons. She would also use the cards as "to/from" labels, and save them for reuse year after year.
I have a collection of Christmas cards sent to me by Guidepost magazine (as a free sample, hoping I'd order more) and charities (free, hoping I'd send them a big contribution). I also bought quite a few from a thrift shop that sold them for a dime apiece. I have far more than I need, since I quit sending cards to people who don't send any to me. These days, I only send holiday cards in response...ie, once I get one from you, I put yours in the mail. Guess that's being cheap, but why send them if the people aren't doing cards anymore?
I do use pretty cards as gift tags. Lately, the few cards I get have family pictures on the front.
I still send Christmas cards to family and friends who send my family cards yearly. But I still send cards to elderly and disabled friends and relatives who might not be able to reciprocate: due to arthritis, poor eyesight, diminished mental faculties and financial difficulties. My arthritic Aunt still pulls out her previously received cards and reads them periodically. I have found that it is such a meaningful gesture deeply cherished by many people who feel disconnected from society.
Better half loves Xmas as did his mom. Despite the older recipients "falling off" (aka passed away), their descendants take their place. He puts thought into our theme card each year (I must say his idea for Xmas 2020 was by far the best). I will tell you it is not inexpensive to send out close to 60 Xmas cards (he does help as he may have additional pictures/notes to include with the card).
When the kids were growing up, they'd help - it was fun. Once in a blue moon we get a card from someone not on our list. We reciprocate and I add them to next year's list.
That is too funny. My hubby's college roommate once complained that we sent him the same card that we sent the previous year. That is what I had on hand. We are Jewish anyway.
I honestly think that reusing cards like that is fun and charming. To turn something that would normally be thrown away into a little art project that got to spread more joy. And honestly, getting to talk to all your cousins and compare cards sounds really fun and like little game. It was honestly MORE effort for her - instead of a mass produced card, you got a one-of-a-kind one that had real effort in it that she made just for you.
If someone made me a scarf from reused yarn I would treasure it more than if someone bought me a scarf. I think this is the same on a tinier scale.
You are allowed to appreciate effort or not, but getting a handmade reused card sounds kind and loving. I'm sorry your family did not appreciate the gesture.
Frugality is OK for me, because it affects me - love that. But so much yes to not being unnecessarily cheap with things you are gifting. And absolutely no on making cake frosting complicated! There are too many other actually clever ways to decorate a cake. The time you spend on that would negate the savings I think. I do like the idea of using up odds and ends in a mini skillet or casserole for one. Even a soup. Lastly, I find I cannot grocery shop without a list! I almost always stick to it, unless I find a really good deal and know I will use the item.
Yes, in my ethical framework, that's a distinguishing line between frugality and cheapness: am I affecting someone else in a negative way? If so, I'm probably being cheap.
Someone or a small business - I think those that only frequent a locally owned restaurant when a given special is available is cheap - possibly beyond cheap if there is such a thing.
I can be a somewhat picky eater but I've yet to find a restaurant that does not have at least one menu choice for me.
It was a blast from the past to see that font in the TG book! I totally agree with your takes on these different ideas. Speaking of popcorn, I made a great discovery this weekend at Walmart. Their bags of Great Value popcorn are $2.22, and I tried the Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn and the White Cheddar (I think that's what the flavor was called)! Not only were they both really good, but there was more popcorn than the fancy stuff, for less than half the price. And a tip-at my store, the Great Value bags were on the top row, not easily spotted.
Hope everyone has a good week! Good luck with the chemistry, Kristen. So glad that all the regular tests are open book!
I love TJ's Maple Kettle Corn. Zozo and I like it but Noah and Hubby do not.
Are they over-seasoned? You could stretch them with a bit of hot air-popped popcorn if you want a bigger bowl.
I was a big fan of the tightwad gazette, I have all three of them. there are things I integrated in my life, but I think I kept them around after reading them closely because they kind of stimulated my brain - it put me in the "how can I save the most" mindset and I'd think of frugal changes that worked in my own life, which was and is very different from Amy's.
There were a lot of things I disagreed with, though - at one point she talks about when she's asked for help by people needing to change their habits and rein in spending, she basically says that unless they're willing to get rid of cable, she knew they weren't serious. That kind of rigidity and lack of perspective -- everyone's life and priorities are different -- make me skim over the personal stuff and just read the recipes and articles. But anything that gets people thinking and talking is a good thing. The idea of mindful eating and consumption in general is something I have to always work on.
I don't think she lacked perspective or was overly rigid when she discussed people who were seeking help for overspending. It wasn't just cable. She mentioned multiple times that when people wrote to her begging for help, most rejected her suggestions to give up anything. While we all do have different lives and priorities, when money is sorely lacking and bills are going unpaid, tough choices need to be made and many people just refuse to give up nonessential spending. I think that's what frustrated her.
I was friends with a guy when we were in our 20's, and I remember one time we were hanging out and he kept getting dizzy. Turns out, he hadn't eaten almost anything in days because he 'couldn't afford food.' I was on a very tight budget, but we went to the store and bought him some groceries. When I got to his place to drop them off, he offered me a drink (he had a FULLY stocked bar with very pricy alcohol), while we watched a cable TV show, and he smoked cigarettes with GOLD LEAF in the filters. I remember being absolutely gobsmacked that I had taken money out of my own very tight grocery budget while he prioritized buying and then throwing literal gold in the trash.
I know his priorities were more egregious to a frugal person than Amy usually encountered, but I do understand the sentiment.
I do remember specifically telling him he should consider cancelling his cable, and he brushed the suggestion off with no consideration. People can make some pretty crazy choices sometimes!
I think the point is really that if someone is bleating that they need help and are asking for your advice (on anything, but let's say about streamlining a budget) and then they road block every single thing you suggest, it's extremely annoying and pointless.
I have a friend who is lovely and incredibly generous and not in any way in need of financial help, BUT she has issues in other areas of her life and asks - not just vents - asks what I'd do and how to deal with these various things. Whatever I suggest is ''oh, no, that wouldn't work'' because of some reason that she herself has determined is insurmountable. For example, "I'm run ragged doing tons of extra-curriculars for my child, how do you manage?'' I suggest cutting down on the activities for the child in various ways, ''Oh no, but they love all of each thing and it's not possible, but woe is me, what can I do?''
Etc.
People either want to make changes or they do not. Often, they want a magic solution rather than boring, incremental-style, not-always-fun-to-implement-at-first suggestions.
Absolutely agree!
I bet if you put frosting into a squeeze bottle, it is going to make a mess. Never mind the glue or mustard residue: You wouldn't be able to clean the frosting out of the bottle, so you'd have to throw away the container instead of reusing it.
I used to make casseroles quite a lot when I had an oven that worked. My junior high homemaking teacher gave us a recipe for casseroles that you could adapt to whatever leftovers you had. It came from some full color recipe handouts from Hunt Wesson foods. I think I tried Amy's formula once or twice and it was OK. But I haven't done a casserole in years. Now, I just do microwave meals. Somme of my food combos are bizarre but I'm the only one here so no one can criticize what I eat.
I am definitely a princess when it comes to my pillows (I need two--one thick and one thin), so I do buy pillows regularly when my thick pillow turns thin. I have a pillow heirarchy--the new one becomes the thick one, the previous one becomes the thin one, and the previous thin one goes to a kid (because they like to build forts while they sleep), next to the dog's bed (she needs someone to stay with her in storms), or gets put in the closet as a backup for something. When we start to get overrun, I do throw them away or restuff the dogs bed or stuffed animals (depending on age and condition). I usually buy them on Black Friday sales and do a replacement when I notice my neck getting stiff--if I replace them before I have pain, I avoid the pain. Recently, the dog has claimed a few of the old ones. She prefers to sleep with a pillow because she is also a princess.
Funny. In my answer to the Reader I forgot to mention that I was a subscriber to Amy's newsletter and was heartbroken when she retired. And now her book pops up after a long absence. I had her first book but gave it to my kid's nanny. I did not keep the newsletters as unlike my fam I am not a pack rat. Spent the weekend at my late m-i-l's house as my hubby's twin lives there alone and we are responsible for him. Talk about creepy, it is as if she never left. All her stuff is still there. Her voice is on the answering machine. My family had a mausoleum, and my parents took me there often. I was fascinated by the place. The Irvington house is the mausoleum that is the nickname I give to the place. I heard my youngest brother-in-law who lives in Israel tell my hubby "you better tell your wife she has to move up here to take care of Gid", (hubby's identical twin) Hubby diplomatically said "she has a life you know." It is not thankful Thurs but I am grateful for my terrif hubby.
Ugh why is it always the female who has to "take care" of someone? Perhaps the youngest brother-in-law can move back to the US or have your hubby's identical twin move to Israel? The nerve and good for your husband.
thanks. twin is very stubborn. won't even visit NYC.
Kristen, you should put your new chemistry skills into use to show why using an empty glue bottle for frosting is not a good idea!
I will try the rubber band trick though. We have a little jar with rubber bands from produce that I use to re-tie bags.
For family gifts we use newspaper (Sunday NYT) or kraft paper to wrap presents. I recently cut out my son's name and happy birthday from the newspaper headlines and he thought it was hilarious as it made the present look like a ransom note. For close friends I use recycled gift or fancy store bags. FWIW, cards and wrapping paper are super expensive these days and everyone knows this.
For leftovers, especially random veggies, one of my go-tos used to be egg souffle. Just place the cooked leftovers on the bottom of a casserole, top with a cheesy Béchamel sauce and finally whipped egg whites (of course the yolks went to the Béchamel no waste). Super yummy and can be sized up or down for any amount.
The line about thinking where to spend money reminds me of some financial advice I recently read (I can't remember where) which said to think of spending money as where you spend your energy, and if it lines up with your goals. It's a helpful reminder for me if I want to buy a fancy coffee or something (I get them sometimes but it helps limit them).
The pillow thing reminds me of a somewhat gruesome scene from the book 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn', where the father's brother dies on a fancy pillow. They don't want to throw the pillow out, as they don't have a lot of money, so the mother stitches some lace over the bloodstain and it's then used whenever someone is sick as a 'treat', because it's fancy, and they are never told it's a death pillow. The kid throwing up on the pillow isn't as bad as that, but in both scenarios I would just buy a new one!
For me, a lot of these frugality tips come down to how much time and effort they will take, but I also like the thought about if it will impact someone else. I don't think I would try making the ribbons because it looks somewhat frustrating, but I also think it would look uncaring to a friend. On the other hand, I picked up some kitchenware for my dinner which I'm hosting soon, including a lovely bowl which I found in a charity shop as well as a mug and some glasses (my previous ones broke). My friend absolutely loves going thrifting and is proud of how well she has stocked her home that way, so I will tell her I found some things there, but I might phrase it differently with someone else (ie, I wouldn't want them to think I was trying to cheap out on them or something).
You know, I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I was growing up, but I don't remember that gruesome scene at all! I do remember that they were allowed to pour coffee down the sink because it was cheap.
I just looked it up. It's near the start of the book where the father's family history and how he is the only son left is described.
I first read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I was about fourteen and I usually read it once a year or so; it's sad but so evocative. I find something new in it each time.
I always liked the part with the coffee; Francie doesn't even like it but enjoys having it and the decadence of pouring it away. Her mother has some issues (to say the least) but understands the importance of having something to waste, so to speak.
I once read about a woman who said she put her water in an empty Hershey's Syrup bottle, just so she could freak out people at the gym when she drank from it!
Now that would actually be funny. And I would imagine that it's easier to get a chocolate scent/flavor out than it is to removed a mustard scent/flavor.
I seem to recall a reader tip in the Tightwad Gazette about reusing pancake syrup bottles as canteens!
When I was a teen in the late 80s, the remote Bible camp I went to always had a box of cleaned out pancake syrup bottles and ketchup bottles to serve as emergency canteen. We often hiked in the mountains, and these were useful when kids forgot, lost, or broke other waterbottles. Water bottles were not ubiquitous as they are now.
Frosting can be put in a strong plastic bag with the corner snipped off, to squeeze out to decorate cakes. But I don't know if the baggie could them be washed and used again, in the approved Tightwad Style, for anything else.
Regarding planning what you want from a buffet: The good stuff is at the far side. The stuff at the start of the line is the cheap vegetables, rolls, etc., especially if it is an hors oeuvres buffet, so people don't have room left on their plates for the more expensive choices.
I re-use ziplocs WITHIN REASON lol. Never, ever, if they have had meat in them, or anything ''liquid'', but if they've held frozen veg or been used as sandwich bags or as an outer cover for something that already has a wrapper but needs extra protection, then, following a good wash, yes, why not? At the end of their lives, they get rinsed and go into soft plastic recycling.
It's that fine, but specific line where basic sanitation and dignity matters!
OMG I subscribed to the Tightwad Gazette sometime in the 1980s -90s when I literally had no money. I felt like it was a worthwhile expendature and I needed some company since most of my surrounding friends and neighbors were much better off than me. I learned a lot, and I was pretty hard core for awhile. My point is, that sometimes you must be down to the bone due to circumstances. They made it fun though, like a goal at a soccer game or something. I appreciate that time in my life, and now that I have relaxed, I no longer need to go to such extremes. I can buy a new pillow. I still research and perhaps wait for the best time to purchase it though. The most important thing I learned from the book "The Millionaire Next Door" is that in most circumstances you can wait. That is still a worthy book to read. Ya'll have a wonderful Autumn week!
Oh my. Some is these sound like good candidates for "would you rather" challenge questions... Like would you rather sleep on a barfed on pillow with lumpy filling, or use an empty glue bottle to apply cake icing? Neither, thank you. I do reuse vegetable rubber bands, though!
So happy you are taking a Chem break!
I grow my broccoli, but my caterer friend gave me a rubber band ball of those as a joke, they are awesome!
No to the mustard frosting and all caps no to the glue bottle.
No to used pillows. Yes to as many pillows as you need.
It is applaudable to rethink, repurpose, reuse & recycle. I'm cheering you all on! So many clever, helpful ideas.
I reused flat bed pillows to stuff our dogs Molly Mutt bed. It has a zippered bag inside the cover that you stuff to make the mattress. I have also used the stuffing from flat bed pillows to plump up our sleeping pillows that live in zippered allergy cases inside the pillow case because they tend to go flat and uncomfortable often.
Stir fry and stew have replaced the casseroles I grew up with due to a food allergy. Also they are quick to make!
I love fried rice! Add any veg, proteins, egg. Sometimes a brown sauce. Quick and yummy.
I had never seen the rubber band idea, but I will definitely put that to use! Also, I have gone back to making casseroles (a little). They feel nostalgic and comforting, so I enjoy a casserole every once in a while. My children are suspicious, but if one puts enough pasta and cheese in they will give it a go.
Hello, about the rubber band help on jar, if you use an older “church key” on the round end, you can tuck under the edge and pop the lid. Then just open and go!
I agree with you that casseroles seem to have really fallen quite out of style these days. But the idea of a "bowl" (especially a single serving one) is so great! I love that for a new frugal recipe replacement for a "use it up casserole." That would actually be a fun new blog post: creative bowl recipes! I currently have a BBQ chicken bowl on my menu: with lime rice (or mashed potatoes or some kind of greens) for the base, and grilled BBQ chicken, baked beans, pickles, green onions, and maybe some coleslaw?
I'm late to the party here, but I agree with Karen A., Bobi, and WilliamB in the thread above. I was Team Amy from the minute I first read the TG back in the 1990s, and I'm concerned that some folks are zeroing in on the ideas that didn't work or that seem ridiculous today and using those as an excuse to dismiss Amy's general approach--which was to test your own limits on frugality in various areas and then dial back a notch or two if/when things started feeling really uncomfortable.
Also, Amy had a sense of humor about her own experiments, even the failures. I never found her to be as rigid or dogmatic as some folks seem to think.
And the fact of the matter is that she was instrumental in changing the financial lives of many of her readers. I look at it as a case of "chew up the meat, spit out the bones", and everyone's designations for meat and bones will be a little different. Take what works for YOU and leave the rest.
I've never heard of the rubber band on a jar trick, but will definitely give that a try. I agree that bowls or salads have replaced casseroles. I'd also argue they are easier to make in smaller portions, most likely healthier & tastier! All of the ones you voted no on, I'm also a hard no. I'm also a woman going through menopause. I can't imagine making sleeping more difficult with a bad pillow.
Apparently, I have a lot more thoughts about Amy D. I devoured every book, then bought the Complete TG (blue cover) for the additional content.
Remember the parable of giving someone a fish vs. teaching them how to fish? Amy's teachings were very much along the lines of teaching. She encouraged her readers to think for themselves and take advantage of local opportunities. I often found myself wondering what Amy D. would do as I faced a frugal challenge.
Times have changed since Amy struck such a resonant chord. Many conveniences we take for granted in our everyday lives actually didn't exist then, or they were eye-wateringly expensive luxuries. To name a few: microwaves, flat screen TVs, personal computers, Google, cellphones, satellite-fed internet and "cable," grocery and restaurant online order/pickup/delivery services, hybrid or electric vehicles and e-bikes. And let's not forget Amazon, and every other kind of online shopping. For better or for worse, it has changed our lives. We have so much at our fingertips, it's easy to forget the time before.
Amy also lived in a rural area. She had even less access to those things. What she had, that still has relevance to this day, was was a williningness to go against the grain in pursuit of her goals. She used her skills, creativity, and imagination to share her thoughts with the rest of the world. She achieved her goals in ways even she never imagined, and left a legacy that still stands the test of time. Sure, some of the particulars are hilariously out of step now, but the core lessons are still invaluable.
I always look for copies of The Complete TG when I'm working on library book sales. At least two copies have been sent to TFG supporters, as well as others. These days, the content is free on line, but I love thumbing through my worn, yellowed pages of the Big Blue Book at least once a year.
Final thought: To produce her newsletter while raising her large brood, she did her own research, without internet, she wrote her own content , including artwork and graphics, and included suggestions from her readers. I'm positive she has published disclaimers that she couldn't possibly test every tip. As Kristin mentioned, some of these suggestions she reviewed were from readers. I can speak from experience that the silver streamers created from junk food bags were very helpful when we had some persistent woodpeckers. Vineyards everywhere continue to use something quite similar to fend off all kinds of birds.
Amy taught her readers to fish. I've been FIRE for 14 years, in large part due to Amy's teachings.
I agree with all you said. Loved Amy, still do. I read all her newsletters/books in the ‘90s, and she changed my life then. She definitely had a sense of humor and told readers, not all my tips will be for everyone.
I think using your imagination is a very important and often underestimated part of life in general and problem solving in particular.
It is not about "what should I do" but about "what could I do". It is better to brainstorm, have 100 ideas and only 5 are really useful, than not have any ideas at all.
Another flat-pillow fan over here!
Ahhh, a kindred spirit!
I remember reading about uses for potato chip bags when I was in black-belt frugal mode saving for a house, and that was my first thought: I didn't buy potato chips because they seemed like expensive junk food. (1995 me would be appalled at today's prices for a bag of potato chips.) I'd rather have popcorn for a snack and buy cheap wrapping paper or decorate craft paper to wrap a gift. It felt cheap, not frugal. I enjoy the potato chips, and you get a greasy wrapped present...
By the way, your "friend Katy" would love a cheddar scented curling ribbon on her gift!
I will keep this in mind. 🙂
While she had some good ideas re: saving money, her situation was not like others. Medical/dental/vision were via the military at a time health care costs were rising. Their premiums, if any, were minuscule and I doubt much out of pocket when she had her kids. If needed, commissary shopping though today I doubt if that is much of a benefit. Housing allowance put them in control of housing costs.
I enjoyed reading her books however she had far more time on her hands than I did. And while I didn't let my kids be involved in a ton of extracurricular activities, they were in some. I did not prohibit sleepovers or having/attending bday parties with friends/classmates.
I don't know if it was Amy or probably a similar person that my Mom read the advice from in a women's magazine feature, several decades ago. The person kept to a controversially low family grocery total.
When her five or so kids came home from school and were hungry, the woman told them to have a glass of water. My Mom did not buy junk food for us and we wouldn't have had a big after school snack, but she considered just water to be a real low.
Okay, I agree with you on all.l of those. But I kind of look at. If you're using bags to make curling ribbon, then maybe you shouldn't afford to buy whatever gift you just bought. I don't think there's any way you could get a bad clean enough to use it for curling ribbon.
I'm really big on keeping my pillows for as long as I can, and I will admit to buying very expensive tempurpetic pillows. I want something that is very supportive. And I actually buy the cooling pillows, because I may have passed my menopause stage, but I live in Florida, where it never cools down enough.
I have an older friend who just turned eighty, and when we worked together, she made a point of telling me she bought Ashley pillows every three months. She said she was very personickety about her pillows, and she liked new pillows. Well, folks, she's been retired for quite a few years and she doesn't do that any longer.
And if you haven't tried the three tap phase for getting a jar open, which I recently learned and, I'm pushing seventy, it works. I learned this after I bought a multi-sized jar opener due to the arthritis in my hands. I've used it for a jar up to the size of Claussen pickles. Tap on the edge ( I use my countertop), turn it a third, tap it again, turn it a third, one last tap and that sucker will snap right open. I truly didn't believe it until I tried it. It works. You don't have to tap it too hard, you're not trying to break the glass.