Tightwad Gazette - Amy Dacyzyn

Anybody else remember Amy Dacyzyn (pronounced "decision") and her Tightwad Gazette? I ran across this video in a blog today:



What gave me the most hope was the drawing from her daughter that Amy had framed on her wall. I like the idea that our kids might actually learn and appreciate some of these ideas.

You bet, I remember. Nice house, must come from saving for all of those years.

I remember that publication. I think it even predated craigslist : )

I still enjoy the combined volume book I have of all of her old newsletters. She really went into detail on how her family decided what was most frugal. She even wrote about how she did this so that other people can learn the thinking process, and then figure out what works best for them.

I like Amy, and use a lot of her advice. I read the whole shebang every year or so, just to remind myself of all the ways I could be doing better at spending less.

But that house? She wrote several best-selling books. The money for the house didn't all come from buying used clothes and saving money on her food bill.

I have volume I and volume II ..and still love them..they are really old

I'm bumping this to the top, since I think that this is a very important topic, and to mention that The Tightwad Gazette Volume 1 was a great find in my hometown library years ago.        

I was reminded of this by R. Ranson's write up about rationing and link to the Free and Frugal Soup permies thread  in Paul's Dailyish Email today.

I also wanted to recommend Charles Long's book: How to Survive Without a Salary: Learning How to Live the Conserver Lifestyle.

Long also wrote a very good book called The Stonebuilder's Primer.  I highly recommend this book also, as it gives anybody the mental tools to get started as a real stonebuilder.

Both of Long's titles are worth the read, if only to be be touched by his infectious enthusiasm for his lifestyle, which has thousands of lessons in it.  

Kind of reminds me of Living the Good Life, by Helen and Scott Nearing, which I am currently re-reading.  

Enough.  I hope others are also inspired to live and act frugally and simply.

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:Anybody else remember Amy Dacyzyn (pronounced "decision") and her Tightwad Gazette?

She was a great inspiration in my life.  I can still remember some of the things I learned from her.

Heya, bumping this thread. Amy's books helped to confirm that we were indeed on the right path, long before this Internet Web thingy came along. Charles Long too. I think a good philosophy of "what success actually means" leads to good financial choices, and the good life flows from that. Regardless of where the economy bounces around, and world events etc. My 2c.

I'm not being facetious when I say her books (I have the collected edition) changed my life and put me on the path that ultimately led me to discovering permaculture.  My boss gave it to me for my 18th birthday as a gag gift (because she always said I was cheap) and little did anyone know it would turn me into an absolute monster, saving bits of string and putting tinfoil over my windows (to keep the heat out; dodging the alien mind control is just a bonus).