“I have also understood that one family making a supreme effort to live entirely without any harm to the environment makes little impact. But the collective effort of the majority of the population to make smaller, seemingly insignificant changes can make a difference.”
-Amy Dacyczyn, “The Complete Tightwad Gazette”
Most of the time I am satisfied to get my reading fix from library books. Fiction, non-fiction – it all comes from the library. But there is one book that I must own, which enjoys a place of honor on my bedside table. That book is my dog eared copy of “The Complete Tightwad Gazette” by Amy Dacyczyn, published by Villard Books.
Amy Dacyczyn self- published “The Tightwad Gazette” monthly newsletter from 1990 – 1996, and this book is a compilation of those newsletters. The mix of Amy’s funny and informative essays, research and reader letters make this book an entertaining tome, and tome it is at 959 pages.
The main point of “The Complete Tightwad Gazette” is that you will have a few key opportunities to save large amounts of money in a lifetime, (Cars, houses, etc.) but it is the small purchases, and your ability to control these outlays of money that will determine your financial stability. These “Tightwad” financial decisions are what we now coin in 2008 as “green living.” Cooking from scratch, hang drying laundry, second hand clothing, etc. The writing is as fresh and relevant in 2008 as ever, perhaps even more so.
Even though I’ve read through “The Tightwad Gazette” countless times I always seem to find something new and useful with each new reading. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking to get a better handle on their finances.
-Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up. wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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This is my favorite “bathtub” book. When I’m weary I make off with this book and cross my fingers that I don’t drop it in the tub. I don’t think I could line dry it.