Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

[lrjohnson]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

I'm finding that I feel more grateful the less I spend. A soda every day is just background, but one soda a month is a super treat. I am not feeling like living low is deprivation right now, it's actually pretty fun. Also, looking at it as a hobby helps some-I mean, I could be spending a whole lot more on things, it's not like when i had no options. But even back then, I like the idea that is was more satisfying to be happy with what I had, and not worry about what I didn't have.

[lillyb]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

Broke out the book again yesterday, spent about 4 hours reading. Amazing what I've forgotten from the first time I read it. Just inspiring me to really watch those little things that can add up. Inspiring me to crack down on expenses, challenge myself even more.

[Duchesse]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

I bought this book in March 2006 on Amazon for $12.99. This was one of the greatest deals of my life!!

I loved so many aspects of this book that I don't know where to begin. I went over this book with a fine tooth comb. I knew I had struck gold the minute I opened it. I raved so much my sister bought it, and my brother borrowed it from her before she could read it. I told her she was a fool. LOL

I used a note book and wrote down everything I was willing to do with in my"frugal comfort level" because her "philosophy" is what struck me. She wrote, "Tightwaddery is about fun and creativity, not harship and deprivation. She made it fun. I always practiced it (I grew up in a frugal home)but I never practiced it as a game.

Amy really got my creative juices flowing, I wanted to maintain my lifestyle without feeling a pinch. It was my job to come up with an acceptable substitue for all that I love while saving at the same time.

I went to the library and borrowed more books and wrote as many tips as I could find. I also bought another book( a waste of time and money $8.33 Amazon, Saving money with the Tightwad Twins, don't buy it, you'll be sorry) I found better books at the library.

Combining The Complete TightWad Gazetter, The Tightwad Twins, Mary Hunt and a few others I now:

Shop Bulk, have a pricekeeper, clip couponsand rebate, I know double coupon days. I have a freezer, crockpot, microwave, toaster , faucet aerator, a water filter ( I used to buy 4 cases of H20 per month) , popsicle makers and an unglazed terra cotta tile from home depot (the key to professional tasting pizza). I cook more at home, go to cheaper restaurants, I clean with vinegar, bakingsoda, bleach, and ammonia. I use powdered milk, I grow herbs, I bought a cast iron dutch oven and fry pan to prevent anemis, I put bay leaves in staples to preserve them I'm going to upholster my own sofa. I make my own dryer sheets with wash cloths. I have been usiing the same bottle of fabric softener since March and it's still full. I put my brillo in the freezer in a recycled margarine tub. It has lasted for over a month. I save soap slivers in onion bags and pantie hose (soap on a rope), I make my own pam spray, and I make my own detergent (receipe online) I conserve all personal care items. and get samples by mail. I buy frozen concentrate juice (cheapest) , I have a freedom account thanks to Mary Hunt. I recycle pastic containers for storage. I've located a few thrift stores, I haven't gone in there yet. I used to buy thrift clothing years ago when I was in college I don't know If I want to go back there. I'll see.

The only difference I find in my lifestyle now is that I have more money to save and invest. It feels good.

[boefixepa]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

I went home and re-read that article and a point stuck out to me. She point out right at the get go that there is nothing fugal about six kids and her home. It was then that I remembered that this wasn't a 'always go without thing' it was do A so you can have B thing. Different things are important to different people and I find it amazing at the range sometimes. I didn't need to feel gulity about buying kitchen gagets to help me cook better...cooking is what I like...that's why and how I save my money, so I can buy the kitchen gagets! So I can spend less on food because I can make more! So long and short of it was I took the money I have save over the last two months of my $50 a month food challange and bought a pasta maker and a wheat grinder! It was great and I had a blast this weekend playing with them. I am sure it will take some time to recoup the cost of the items, but I know in the long run they will save me money and the personal fun I have in using them and mastering the talents of my cooking skills far out weigh the money spent!!

Moral of the story ---- Don't be so caught up in going without and saving that you forget why you are doing it!!!!

[Bookie]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

Anybody ever notice that the Amazon.com listing for this book includes a list of "Statistically improbable phrases" found in the book?

One of them is "frugal people."

[lrjohnson]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

I'm with ya, Boe. I am frugal in some areas so I can travel. Last year I went to Oaxaca in Mexico, Krakow, and Belgium, and even going cheaply it's definitely an expense. But it's why I save on other things, so I can travel and still put money in savings and retirement. I'm completely aware that world travel may be a low priority on others people's list, but it's all about floating our own boat.

And really, the first artilce in TG Volume talks about different goals; I find it funny when people refer to Amy D as extreme when really, she at the very outset is about letting us save in areas that don't matter as much so we can have money for our high priorities. I'm a huge Amy D fan and the idea of six kids is so....not.... appealing to me. And she'd probably balk at airline tickets to Europe.

[Tightwad Kitty]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

Keep up the wonderful posts. They are making very interesting reading.

This topic is a good one, as it reminds us why we are doing this the first place, depriving ourselves of the some things so we can afford to have what we need or would like do more.

As you can’t have it all, like some people would like to believe you can! I think that’s why there are so more debts around now.

I will be not posting for a week or so any more articles, as I need to read more of the Tightwad Gazette to find some more interesting topics to post. With that and writing my daily Blog, I am running out of time.

If anyone wishes to post on article from TG for us to read & discuss here please do so!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

The most frustrating article to read is ‘How to compare egg prices” Vol 1 p 238 (CTG)

Have been trying to work this one out for a long time now! I never was able to work out the formula to make it work in using another system of selling or grading eggs.

Small = 18 ...Medium = 21… Large = 24… Ex-large = 27… Jumbo = 30, I got this far only.

Can anyone see a formula here on how it was done? But when you are comparing prices of few dollars difference between sizes. I don’t think this chart would work, even if you redid it at the new prices. Or am I wrong in thinking this?

Here our eggs are expensive at most times. 700g ex-large or 600g large cartons are our best buys. I just divide the number of eggs by the price then got price for a single egg. ($2.50 divide by 12 = 20.83c each) That became my cost!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

A good article to read this time is ‘Interior Decorating for Tightwads’ Vol 1 p93 (CTG)
Amy’s article lists a few styles that Lends its way to Tightwads Interior Decorating.

Housecleaning ~ Eliminate stuff that doesn’t belong there.
Rearranging ~ Moving piece around without buying anything. Will it look better in another room.
Eclecticism ~ Mix furniture of all types.
The Potpourri Approach ~ Grouping of thing similar but not the same.
DIY ~ Refinish furniture or make your own picture or plants (a versions of Shabby Chic or Rustic styles could come under this one)
Flexibility ~ Anything goes.
Breaking with Convention ~ Unconventional items.
Stick with Classics ~ Staying away from modern trendy. ‘Ducky décor’ love this one.

I just love Amy’s titles for her styles.

Personally my house was styled by my Mother and the precious generations. Most of the furniture has been handed down over the past 60 years and I have finish up with the lots. Most of it is wood so the all colours must go with wood. So I have a mixture of the above styles, Eclecticism, The Potpourri Approach, Flexibility, Stick with Classics and lastly Rearranging as when painting the interior when bought this house, I charged five rooms around totally. Sitting room became the dinning room and then old dinning room, become TV & Sitting Room. All bedrooms were charged around with different furniture after they were painted. I was lucky that I had one room with no furniture in it to start off with. This was the first room painted and the other rooms furniture were put into there as each one was painted in turn or it was put into its new room. Then I did next room that need its furniture moved into its new room. Eight rooms were painted in four weeks and DIY by me.

I digress there a bit! I don’t think Modern Contemporary Styles would go very well in my house without first getting rid of some classical and the pre-50’s furniture. Most things my father has done something too them that they are no longer of much value but I like it, so I can live with it.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

"Housecleaning ~ Eliminate stuff that doesn’t belong there."

That is sooo my mantra, everytime I put something away, and especially if I am putting it away unused, I think why on earth do I have this! somethings are obvious (like dishes that do get used) but others are trickier..like movies we hardly watch..my baby still doesn't know not to touch them, so we put them away, again and again, and some havn't been watched since GMC was a baby!(he is 4) so we are decluttering, more and more each time I clean.

Your painting speed is impressive! we need to do the whole house, and so far we have one room..which stupped us cause we painted it blue for GMC..and then he grew out of te blue pooh stage..and into black dragons..doesn't go at all! We finally hit uppon a great idea..JC loves butterflies and happens to have a purple, pink and blue one..so we are leaving her in the blue room with the purple accents to be added later..so happy not to have to repaint (and it is her big bed..so no changes on the horizon!)

[boefixepa]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

Hey Kitty, Nice to have to back!

For me the interior is all about space. I have a feddish about space. I have horrible senasations of needing to clean if everything doesn't have a place. I can't stand not having enough storage space. Clutter is my enemy. Gee, do you get it yet.

My second issue is dust. My dogs (3 Alskan Malamutes totaling about 250 lbs) bring in alot of dust from the back yard. So if it's not easy to dust. I don't want it out. The fewer things to dust the better. No pillows on the couch, no 'things' stacked on things. Flat surfaces are easier to dust, so if there's nothing on it...all the better.

Right now this is how I deal with interior design...oh an in the kitchen...when it's clean. Nothing is allowed on the counter tops. Everything must have a place!

[lrjohnson]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

I agree with Boa and Perk. Uncluttered and tidy goes a long way to making anything look better. I like wood, and solid colors, and lots of space and empty surfaces. Cleaning the living toom means folding the blankets on the loveseat, and cleaning off the coffee table. Maybe a vacuum now and then. easy breezy.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

sigh, unfortunatly as much as I like easy and spacious, cleaning my living room involves picking up duplos, miscelaneous toys, a couple pillows (neccessary for nursing) the movies my youngest knocked over, and now his newest 'toy' knocking the CDs over..oh and trying to fit the chairs now that I have a bench in my kitchen....I really hate my living room.

[boefixepa]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

Okay, I'm taking a leap of faith. Monday me and another co-worker are sitting down witht he boss and giving him the low down of where we are, where we can go, and what we would like do to. In all the presentation information I am including some articles from the CTG. The ones I choose to include are:
How to aviod feeling deprived.
Creative Deprivation
The fine are of negotiation
Whoope we can spend again
Read this article and save $150,000
It is my hope that he will take the concepts to hart and quite thinking of "BUDGET" as a bad for letter word. I swear the man spends money like he has endless amounts of it...and he doesn't! Whatever he wants, he just goes and gets it. Anyway, the idea is to hopefully devolpe a business plan and have some real goals and hold him accountable for all the money he wastes when there is debt to pay. His idea is always to bid jobs higher (there is a limit to what the market will take!) and that is simply not the answer. The answer is to SPEND LESS! SAVE MORE! So here's hoping the TWG can coupled with a good business plan and goals can work a little magic on my boss!!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Re-reading Tightwad Gazette

Wow, i never thought of applying the stuff to sa business...Let us know how it goes.