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Summary: Deserves to be called "The Bible of Thrift."
Review: Amy Dacyczyn presents information in this book which is really not new - how to save money, etc. But she made it all both palatable and meaningful to me. Somehow, her personal involvement in what she writes about creates camaraderie with her readers. We're all in this together! True, though, she isn't a nutrition expert. Bleached white flour is not a bargain at any price, and margarine, which she loves and uses widely, ought to be packaged with a skull-and-crossbones logo! But the overall philosophy is first-rate, and the feeling that this is not someone telling you what to do, but showing you how it can be done, is dynamite!
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Summary: HABIT. This book spotlights the power of habit.
Review: The author is an extremist, no doubt about it. But she's careful to tell you that you don't have to be like her in order to derive major benefits from her book. I am proof of that.The implied emphasis of this book is on habits. Do you look for ways to do things economically, or just habitually buy what's thrust upon you in the marketplace? In Amy's book is a 5-year story of two couples who, at the end of each year had $100.00. Couple one never thought it was enough to fool with, so they splurged with it. The other couple found ways to reinvest the money into their own lives. At the end of 5 years couple #1 had $100.00; couple #2 had over $11,000.00! So, how much toothpaste do you use? Does your stove have a pilot light wasting $50.00 a year? Herbs and Spices can be purchased by mail at discounts of up to 90%. I learned that cast iron cooks better than cookware costing 4-6 times as much (if you don't mind lifting it). I bought a freezer, learned to cook a few things I like, and cut my monthly food bill by 75% (I'd been eating out excessively). And the list goes on. If you're serious about living well for less, this book will give you hundreds of tips and possibly free up creative power hiding within you.
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Summary: Reconsider the real price of tightfistedness
Review: Amy Dacyczyn does have her virtues: she seems honest and trustworthy, she has a comfortable writing style, and her basic message (of not wasting stuff and not getting caught up in the buying for happiness game) is good. But she's too darn cheap. Many of her "remedies" are so time consuming or annoying you can hardly take them seriously. Her tight-fistedness can often interfere with sound nutrition and environmental-friendliness--despite her contention otherwise (the truth is many environmentally-sound and healthy products are more expensive [and worth it]). Last, don't listen to her investing recommendations: she knows nothing about the stock market for instance, so dismisses it. For a healthier take on both spending and investing (as well as earning etc.) check out The Mindful Money Guide. This book advocates creative thrift, but not at cost of one's spirit. The reminders in the last chapter alone make it worth its price (I think around $10 on Amazon).
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Summary: Ms. Dacyczyn is a Modern Day Prophet!
Review: The ONLY negative thing I can say about this tremendously enlightening book is that it was harder to find as a result of the author's ultra-complicated last name! Aside from that, it is fascinating in both economic AND lifestyle terms, as it truly IS an alternative lifestyle, as Amy Herself puts it on the book's cover. A whole new world opened up for me- a world of options and choices I never dreamed I had available to me! Amy Dacyczyn is one of the smartest, shrewdist, and most rational people on the planet. I just love her!
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Summary: THIS IS MY SECOND BIBLE
Review: My friend Sherri introduced me to Mrs. Dacycyn's magazine about 5 years ago. I bought all three of the books over time. They are all dogeared,and I have since lent them out. Some have not returned, so I am buying the complete guide today. This one stays at home. As an writer of children's books, I am impressed that Amy was able to decide when it was time to hang up her pen and move along. She is in it for the fun, not for the cash. I have a lot of respect for that.
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Summary: MOTIATIONAL GUIDE TO SAVING
Review: My mother-in-law gave me Amy's first book after the birth of my child. I devoured it. Here we were two car payments, mortgage and only one income and I couldn't imagine putting my child in day-care. We were facing some tough choices. Amy was the answer to my prayers. Needless to say Amy's books have always been there when I needed some incouragement or motivation. I've borrowed these books to many friends and everyone has bought their own version. Go to the library first and if you can't bear to take it back, BUY IT! I have all three and they are all tattered and well worn, trophies of simple living.
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Summary: Reading this book was definitely time well spent!!!
Review: There are actually 3 books in this one volume. I initially checked them out from the library, since I am so frugal that I have to really want/need a book to actually purchase it. I was blown away by all the ideas! I don't put all of them into practice in my life, but I use enough to allow my husband and myself to live almost debt-free on less than $35,000 a year in the pricy DFW metroplex. In reading this, I also realized that my dad had taught me a lot of these ideas when I was growing up...now I have to admit that he was right! The only thing that one might find annoying about this book is the fact that the page references she makes are not accurate. But they were accurate in the individual books. So when she tells you to look on a certain page, look the topic up in the index and go from there. If you are a true tightwad, you will just check this book out at the library.
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Summary: "The Tightwad Gazette" is a voice in the wilderness
Review: I never tire of reading this book. Amy is so creative, and her books make you feel like her friend. Her common-sense wisdom is a respite and an inspiration for someone like me, who is surrounded by suburban spendthrifts.
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Summary: Good for now and later
Review: This is a book that I'll refer to time and again. However, her numbering seemed off. Often times, I'd go to a page and not find what she said was there.
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Summary: Order this book immediately!
Review: This book is terrific! I read it just a few months ago and already there is a difference in how far our paychecks go. Not only that, but I feel very optimistic--I know that how much money we save is only a question of how many of Amy's strategies we implement. I read the review by the lady in Massachusetts who did not feel the book was helpful. Well, I live in the same Massachusetts she does, and I wonder if we read the same book. I found many helpful ideas--not all of them will suit everyone, but if you order this book and implement just a few strategies, it will more than pay for itself!
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