The Complete Tightwad Gazette

Rating:
Summary: good info
Review: The author gives really great information, what I really love about it is that she tells how to do many things from scratch like baking. She mentions things that I never even thought of, and ways to save, its very informative. Some of the things are a little extreme, like not buying fiction books for children, etc.

But other than that its a great book to get, to learn how to economize more and not waste one's money.

Rating:
Summary: For rich or poor, a full spectum of tips and philosophies
Review: Admittedly, the author is the diva of frugality, taking tightwaddery to a high art I wouldn't care to achieve...but she also discusses how the way we spend our money should--but doesn't always--reflect our own priorities, values, and goals. The author makes it clear that the book contains a full spectrum of tips for saving money to accomodate a wide range of frugal styles, and that not every idea in the book is for every person. There's no preaching, just cheerleading!

Probably the most pleasant surprise in this book were the essays discussing the tightwad philosophy. The author addresses gratification, temporary vs long-term fulfillment, learned perceptions about "clean" and "dirty", the true "cost" of a double-income household, hourly "wages" based on money saved, and other interesting aspects of money attitudes.

A recurring theme examines how frugality isn't about living a deprived scrimping lifestyle, but rather how to spend and save money in ways that reinforce your financial goals. Practical examples give tips for getting good deals, finding hidden treasures within your budget, and how to think "outside the box" when it comes to obtaining goods and services.

In all, while this book contains a wealth of "how-tos", it is also a springboard to help you launch your own ideas on how to meet your life goals and find creative ways to do it.

A fantastic and truly entertaining read.

Rating:
Summary: Things that make you go "Hmmm?"
Review: Okay, this book had some cute little tips, but I have to totally disagree with the author when she says that two great wastes of money is buying "fiction books" and "children's books". (Especially while she's living off the royalties of the sale of her own book.) You can't put any price on developing a child's imagination and some of my most treasured possessions are the books I received in childhood. If I raised my kids like this, I suspect at least some of them would grow up never wanting anything "used" to touch their bodies again, since kids usually rebel against their parents' attitudes if too extreme. While there is nothing wrong with teaching your kids the value of money, this philosophy might also send them a simple, but consistent message--"You're not worth it." Not worth the new shirt or the new toy or even the water consumed by bathing you daily. This is a dangerous psychology. The author might be doing something for the environment, but she's not doing much for the economy, especially the economy of another author (fiction)who would like to get paid for all of her hard work, thank you very much.

Rating:
Summary: A good book if you're looking for tips on living frugal,
Review: but not the best. Some of the ideas in here is going towards the extreme like dumpster diving. Some of the ideas the author has is great like having a grocery price book or going to yard sales.

Rating:
Summary: The Complete Tightwad Gazette
Review: I have owned and used this book for a couple of years. I subscribed to the newsletter when that was being published. And with the help of all the tips, was able to pay off our debt and at the same time stay home while my husband supported the family. As for whether this is worthwhile for a family who can't put food on the table....the grocery shopping tips alone will save you enough money the first week to buy the book. And after that the money you save will go toward meeting your goals. Even if that goal is just to survive with less stress. The major thing that this book did for me was to give me real control over my situation. It gave me power and confidence. Even though I had the newsletters (I have passed those on to someone else), I bought the book so that I would have an index to all the ideas in one place. It is also easier to store than all those newsletters. I highly recommend this.

Rating:
Summary: FINALLY!!!
Review: I think that this book is a breath of fresh air. many people wallow in debt right up to the time of a job cutbacks....even the irs will let you charge your taxes racking up even more credit card debt. if you can't sleep nights worrying bout how to feed your kids if you lose your job get this book. it will make you think differantly about running to the mall and help you to be more self assured. break the chains and start enjoyiong life without worrying about money..amy will help.

Rating:
Summary: Some ideas were just too far-fetched
Review: I had no problem with the term Tightwad, and there were some good ideas, but some bordered on ridiculous. Dumpster Diving, IMHO, is NOT the way I want to get canned veggies or pet food. I am also not planning to remodel my house with items scrounged from the local dump area. And I could imagine the reaction I'd get if I asked my neighbors to all send in our gas bills in the same envelope so we could save .34 postage. If you have a hard time putting food on your table (then how could you afford to browse Amazon, online, looking to buy a book?) this would be your book. But if you are looking for ways to save money and cut wasteful spending, I'd suggest Miserly Moms before this.

Rating:
Summary: Mind(set) altering...
Review: Underlying the countless tips and lessons for money saving in this book is a priceless theme: What is valuable to you? While anyone could use the tips in this book to meet shortterm needs, this is really a book with an eye on the long run. Once you decide what is truly important to you, you can learn how to save the money and time necessary for these pursuits. Yes, money and time. Amy D. does not simply address finances. She breaks into the wider world of priorities, energy, environment, time, lifestyle, self, and family. This book addresses the practical and mundane as well as the spiritual and philosophical. Amy D. encourages readers to build rather than squander, to prioritize resources so that you can find happiness in the things that really matter to you. Quit wasting your resources and yourself.

While no one would use all of the ideas in this book (some of them are quite farfetched), we are given a wonderful buffet to choose from. Not only are outright tips given, Amy D. teaches readers how to generate ideas and investigate options for themselves. You know the old saying about giving a man a fish vs. teaching him how to fish? Well, you get both the fish and the fishing lessons from The Tightwad Gazette!

Rating:
Summary: If you can get past the word "Tightwad" it's a great book
Review: Even if you are not thrifty, this book is worth reading because it will really make you laugh. If you are thrifty, this is a useful book. I think many have dismissed this book because "tightwad" is a much more negative word than "frugal", "thrifty", or even "cheapskate". It always conjures up for me the image of someone with a wad of used tissues in his pocket, but I digress. This is not the first book on frugal living ever written, but it is better than many books out now.

This book has many good ideas and is worth buying new, although I am a bit concerned about how long it will last because it seems to be printed on newsprint, which is odd for a book meant to be a reference work. Other reviewers have said to buy used, but good luck, it will be a while (although by this time you may be able to find used copies of the first three books), and in the meantime you could be saving money. Also good luck trying to get this at the library--there is often a long waiting list.

The only other problem is that the index is not as good as it could be, and you spend a lot of time trying to find which category a tip is listed under. It's all there, I think, but it takes forever to find it. Oh well, the book is plenty of fun to read through from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Read the title and you get the point
Review: Folks, it's called the Tightwad Gazette for a reason. Frugality is such a foreign concept in the United States that obviously many people were horrified at what they found here. Some were also extremely critical of the way Mrs. Dacyczyn raises her children. While they are entitled to their opinions, frankly, that's not the subject of this book.

The reason for this book is to save money. You don't have to do everything that appears in it. *Amy* doesn't do everything in the book. There are so many tips in this tome that if you can't find one thing that will do your wallet some good, you never really wanted to save money to begin with.

Which brings me to why I think many people have a problem with this book. I believe what they expected were "quick and easy" (i.e. painless and instant) ways to make money magically appear. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. If you want to save money, you are going to have to spend less of it -- which means yes, you are going to have to sacrifice.

I believe this book is very focused, very practical, and way way too honest for most people to handle. If you actually are serious about saving money, then dive in and enjoy. If you're not, I suggest watching late-night television for a real-estate selling infomercial.