Saturday Share: The Tightwad Gazette, Stretch Your Money

I unpacked some more boxes of books and came across one that brought back fond memories. The book is The Complete Tightwad Gazette, and here's why I felt sentimental at lifting it from the box.

When Darling Hubby and I first married, we were broke. We both worked and literally had to budget every penny of our salaries.

One day in a magazine, maybe Organic Gardening, I saw an ad for a newsletter called The Tightwad Gazette.

The subscription was just a couple of bucks so I signed up and mailed a check. (Yes, back in the old days, we actually purchased things by mail order that way.)

The newsletter was written and published—literally typed at her home—by a woman named Amy Dacyzyn. In the couple of years that I subscribed, I managed to save even more money than I thought possible. 

I'd always been thrifty after having lived in the Far East and visited what many call third-wold countries. Seeing the poverty in those countries made conspicuous consumption repugnant to me. Ms. Dacyzyn's tips taught me more ways than the obvious to stretch a dollar.

Now, many of the tips Ms. Dacyzyn offered were things I couldn't do—she lived on a farm and had access to money-saving ideas that I didn't have. Some things I wouldn't do—I draw the line at certain things.

Moving On

Our fortunes improved through diligence and hard work. I became a writer myself, first freelance for periodicals and then in book-length fiction. 

One day several years ago I was in a big box bookstore and saw a book called The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle by Amy Dacyzyn. 

I was surprised and delighted that a publisher had brought the book to the masses. 

The book, a compilation of all of Amy Dacyzyn's money-saving ideas, has much to teach us in today's world where the dollar is shrinking.

I've never strayed far from my frugal attitude about money and purchasing "things" so I bought the book—feeling it was a way to support her and her philosophy.

I'm happy to say you can buy a paperback copy or Kindle copy of this book. If you're interested in getting a copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette, I'd say get a printed copy. The book is 959 pages. You'll want to highlight and bookmark a lot of items.

(The copy I bought was hardcover, but that is now out of print and a copy would cost you nearly $70.00.)

Takeaway Truth

Some things in the book may be out of date, but there's enough in this 959 page book to make you glad you purchased it. If you need to save more or just be able to afford the cost of living increases happening every day, try this book. You might even find a copy at your local library.