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The Tightwad Gazette Book ReviewSummer Yule

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The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle Paperback – December 15, 1998

by Amy Dacyczyn (Author)

4.6 1,021 ratings

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At last—the long-awaited complete compendium of tightwad tips for fabulous frugal living!

In a newsletter published from May 1990 to December 1996 as well as in three enormously successful books, Amy Dacyczyn established herself as the expert of economy. Now The Complete Tightwad Gazette brings together all of her best ideas and thriftiest thinking into one volume, along with new articles never published before in book format. Dacyczyn describes this collection as "the book I wish I'd had when I began my adult life." Packed with humor, creativity, and insight, The Complete Tightwad Gazette includes hundreds of tips for anyone looking to save money or get out of debt, such as:

Travel for tightwads • How to transform old blue jeans into potholders and quilts • Ten painless ways to save $100 this year • Picture-framing for pennies • A comparison of painting versus re-siding your house • Halloween costumes from scrounged materials • Thrifty window treatments • Ways to dry up dry-cleaning costs • Inexpensive gifts • Creative fundraisers for kids • Slashing your electric bill • Frugal fix-its • Cutting the cost of college • Moving for less • Saving on groceries • Gift-wrapping for tightwads • Furniture-fusion fundamentals • Cheap breakfast cereals • Avoiding credit card debt • Using items you were about to throw away (milk jugs, plastic meat trays, and more!) • Recipes galore, from penny-pinching pizza to toaster pastries • And much much more . .

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Though tightwad seems like a derogatory term, author Amy Dacyczyn wants to assure you that it's okay to be a penny-pincher. This self-styled "Frugal Zealot" wrote and published The Tightwad Gazette for over six years to spread the frugal gospel. Each issue contained tips from her personal experience and from her many readers. The wealth of information contained in all these issues has been compiled into one volume for the first time. You'll find literally thousands of ideas for saving money, from the simple or practical to the difficult or bizarre. On the simple, practical side, Dacyczyn advises would-be tightwads to keep track of price trends at several stores in a "price book" and to buy in bulk when prices are low. Other, stranger offerings include tips for turning margarine-tub lids into playing-card holders, old credit cards into guitar picks, and six-pack rings into a hammock or volleyball net. More helpful are inexpensive recipes for making homemade versions of pricey, well-known products and ingenious ways to fix broken or damaged items. The book's disorganization encourages browsing, but the detailed index will point you to the exact page for specific items. Dacyczyn's occasional "thriftier than thou" tone is balanced by the friendly support for frugality that infuses every page. She even reminds her readers that it's okay to "sweat the small stuff"--because this small stuff is the essence of frugality. --C.B. Delaney

From the Inside Flap

At last--the long-awaited complete compendium
of tightwad tips for fabulous frugal living!

In a newsletter published from May 1990 to December 1996 as well as in three enormously successful books, Amy Dacyczyn established herself as the expert of economy. Now The Complete Tightwad Gazette brings together all of her best ideas and thriftiest thinking into one volume, along with new articles never published before in book format. Dacyczyn describes this collection as "the book I wish I'd had when I began my adult life." Packed with humor, creativity, and insight, The Complete Tightwad Gazette includes hundreds of tips and topics, such as:

¸ Travel for tightwads ¸ How to transform old blue jeans into potholders and quilts ¸ Ten painless ways to save $100 this year ¸ Picture-framing for pennies ¸ A comparison of painting versus re-siding your house ¸ Halloween costumes from scrounged materials ¸ Thrifty window treatments ¸ Ways to dry up dry-cleaning costs ¸ Inexpensive gifts ¸ Creative fundraisers for kids ¸ Slashing your electric bill ¸ Frugal fix-its ¸ Cutting the cost of college ¸ Moving for less ¸ Saving on groceries ¸ Gift-wrapping for tightwads ¸ Furniture-fusion fundamentals ¸ Cheap breakfast cereals ¸ Avoiding credit card debt ¸ Using items you were about to throw away (milk jugs, plastic meat trays, and more!) ¸ Recipes galore, from penny-pinching pizza to toaster pastries ¸ And much much more . . .

Three books in one--a $38.97 value for only $19.99!

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Villard; Copyright 1998 edition (December 15, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 959 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375752250
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375752254
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.7 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.26 x 1.6 x 9.17 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #106,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #30 in Consumer Guides (Books)
- #40 in Budgetary & Cost Accounting
- #399 in Budgeting & Money Management (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,021 ratings

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1,021 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides useful information and valuable advice. They find it easy to read and enjoy the content. The book offers readers money-saving ideas and is an eye-opener for those who are oblivious spendthrifts. Readers describe the book as entertaining, interesting, and funny. However, some customers feel the content is outdated.

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Information quality Readability Money saving ideas Entertainment value Humor Print size Organization Dated content

172 customers mention "Information quality"165 positive7 negative

Customers find the book helpful for living a frugal lifestyle. They appreciate the valuable advice and insights it provides. The book helps readers create the mindset of frugal living and tie together the benefits of living with less stuff.

"...It's not a huge problem and the numbers on the index page are correct, it just takes a little figuring out to see exactly where a referenced..." Read more

"...such as dumster diving and what gear to wear, while other tips are more practical, and some just fascinating, such as how to bake a cake in the..." Read more

"...The author's tone is friendly, practical, and logical, and the book goes far beyond simple tips for living a frugal life...." Read more

"Love this book. It is so useful, full of money saving ideas. Great if you just need to save some cash, or going off grid." Read more

115 customers mention "Readability"109 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it interesting, practical, and useful. The book provides money-saving ideas, recipes, and tips.

"...Other than that one flaw, which is minor in my eyes, this book is excellent and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for creative ways to..." Read more

"...It s a very amusing and interesting book that points out how to make pennies count even if you are not bringing a lot of money in...." Read more

"...On the way, she dishes out some sound suggestions for things like quality of living, child-rearing, and of course, tons and tons of demonstrations..." Read more

"Love this book. It is so useful, full of money saving ideas. Great if you just need to save some cash, or going off grid." Read more

99 customers mention "Money saving ideas"89 positive10 negative

Customers find the book helpful and valuable. They say it's an eye-opener for those who are spendthrifts. Readers appreciate the financial breakdowns, such as the cost of staying at home.

"The Tightwad Gazette is full of money saving tips and information that are still relevant today, though the book was published over ten years ago...." Read more

"...this book will cause you to evaluate how you spend your money, what you spend it on, and what you could be using it for, as well as perhaps motivate..." Read more

"Love this book. It is so useful, full of money saving ideas. Great if you just need to save some cash, or going off grid." Read more

"...Her best tip is to keep a price book, because then you can find the best deals...." Read more

31 customers mention "Entertainment value"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and interesting. They find it has great ideas for kids' activities.

"...The letters and articles it contains are easy to read and interesting...." Read more

"...It s a very amusing and interesting book that points out how to make pennies count even if you are not bringing a lot of money in...." Read more

"...This book is highly entertaining, very inspiring, and extremely motivational...." Read more

"...a copy, as it rivals the best bathroom anthologies in scope and entertainment value...." Read more

8 customers mention "Humor"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and practical. They find the small articles witty and the tips humorous, such as dumster diving and what gear to wear. The book is described as a comfort, a giggle, and an inspiration.

"...Some of the tips are humorous, such as dumster diving and what gear to wear, while other tips are more practical, and some just fascinating, such..." Read more

"...First for the good stuff. Amy Dacyczyn is smart, funny, creative, and articulate. Her style is direct and honest, which is refreshing...." Read more

"...In addition to all that, Amy Dacyczyn is funny!..." Read more

"...This book does that with humor and without a set of rules but instead guidelines for how we think before we spend, spend, spend." Read more

19 customers mention "Print size"10 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the print size. Some find it large and easy to read, while others mention the print is small and difficult to read. The book is also described as cumbersome and cramped.

"I always loved the tight wad gazette" Read more

"I received my copy today, and I agree the print is smaller than I would prefer, but I have horrible eyesight and was able to read the print with my..." Read more

"...save money some easy and simple and common sense and some are pretty hardcore tightwad.The book has hints and tips that span many topics...." Read more

"...This*** edition is 8.75" by 6.5", still with the 959 pages and waayy too small to read...." Read more

18 customers mention "Organization"12 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the organization of the book. Some find the ideas simple and easy to apply to their own lives. Others find the setup boring and hard to follow.

"...All of this without that much real effort. All it takes is an awareness of where the money is going and making choices...." Read more

"...I subtracted another star for the lack of organization...." Read more

"...It is such a fun, easy, and practical read. There are so many incredible ideas that I couldn't put it down!..." Read more

"The book has a ton of ideas to save money some easy and simple and common sense and some are pretty hardcore tightwad...." Read more

36 customers mention "Dated content"6 positive30 negative

Customers find the book's content outdated. They mention that the information is not useful, the examples are outdated, and the material is dated. Some reviewers also mention that the copy is worn and marked up.

"...Granted, some of the information is a little outdated (such as some of the online and technology information, etc.)..." Read more

"Some info is very outdated but the ideas can still be applied. There is so much info in this book. I keep it in our bathroom...." Read more

"...five stars, I subtracted one star because the book is clearly, painfully outdated...." Read more

"...Much of it is painfully outdated. Hair bows are out. Milk now runs $3 per gallon. Computers reign. Insurance has changed...." Read more

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Ashley C.
Excellent tips and an interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2010
Verified Purchase

The Tightwad Gazette is full of money saving tips and information that are still relevant today, though the book was published over ten years ago. The letters and articles it contains are easy to read and interesting. Granted, some of the information is a little outdated (such as some of the online and technology information, etc.) but most of the contents can still be used. (And most of the older information is still interesting to read in light of what we're used to today.)

The book provides generic recipe outlines that you can use to make a variety of foods from that bare-bones recipe (like "1 cup main ingredient, 1 cup second ingredient" etc, with some suggestions for what those ingredients might be), which allows you to use what you have on hand instead of needing to buy specific items.

There are suggestions for gardening, Christmas gifts, remodeling fixer-upper houses, and many subjects in between. There is quite a bit about children, as others have mentioned; however I felt there was a nice mix of other infmrmation as well so it wasn't overwhelming for people without children.

My only complaint about the edition I have (which is a 1998 Villard paperback edition) would be the reference page numbers located in the articles. The actual pages of the combined "Complete" book are 1-959; the pages in the individual books are Book 1 1-297, Book 2 300-576, and Book 3 579-834 ("The Last Issues" and the index make up the remaining pages). However, when an individual book references something in itself it starts with page 1. So (for example) if you're in Book 2, it will say something like "see page 32" which is actually page 332. It's a little worse in Book 3 since it doesn't end with such an even number; there it will say "see page 32" and it becomes more like page 611. It's not a huge problem and the numbers on the index page are correct, it just takes a little figuring out to see exactly where a referenced article is located. (It may just be the edition I have, but it's something to keep an eye out for if you're looking for an article but can't seem to locate it.)

Other than that one flaw, which is minor in my eyes, this book is excellent and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for creative ways to reuse materials (a variety of objects from milk jugs and juice lids to plastic rings off soda packs, etc) or for anyone looking for ways to save money.

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16 people found this helpful

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silky69
Great WAys to Make Your Wallet Grow
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is a collection of the three famous books written by Amy Dacyzyn about how to keep the money you get from getting into the wallets of others, so that your "wallet" will get fatter and you will have more by not letting money fly out of your wallet. Some people do not know the meaning of a few pennies here, a few dimes there, a dollar here, twenty five cents there, etc... it all adds up to thousands of dollars you could have in your bank account / wallet at the end of a year if you find more ways to be frugal and make sacrifices and adjustments in order to rake in the benefits and have something to show.

These books are not about rich getting richer. It is about how even a person or family on limited income can find ways to save pennies, dimes, nickels, dollars and stretch their income quite far. Some of the tips are humorous, such as dumster diving and what gear to wear, while other tips are more practical, and some just fascinating, such as how to bake a cake in the sun in a cardboard box and aluminum foil so you save on your electric bill. There are analysis of which is cheaper... paper napkins vs using cloth ones, but having to use detergent and electricity to wash them. Baking your own bread vs finding a sale at the store. Also, how to not throw crumbs away from making an apple pie made with fallen discarded apples you got for free or discount at an apple farm, and using those left over crumbs to make another desert with for another meal... that way, you are not throwing away money spent and the money stays in your wallet to get the wallet fat.

It s a very amusing and interesting book that points out how to make pennies count even if you are not bringing a lot of money in.
some of the things seem a bit extreme in terms of quality of life and time spent, but each person places different values on things.

I did not agree with the author and her husbands decision when I read somewhere that they would only buy their children one toy for Christmas and also, not send them to such things as dance or music lessons which usually cost money. But I am also sure that the children gained a different education growing up with far more than many children have today in terms of a parent being at home, working as a team, living in the countryside, being creative, etc.. so I am not trying to judge them, as we should judge ourselves first, and our own mistakes.

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LunaZorge
Good read
Reviewed in Canada on July 16, 2019
Verified Purchase

Some things in the book are outdated as in developing camera film, reusing vhs etc but the bulk of the book is still relevant today. I got a used copy and it is like new.

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Claire CéClair
un livre culte pour l'économie domestique.
Reviewed in France on January 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
trés bon livre qui fourmille d'exemples de façon d'économiser sur tout, avec plusieurs articles illustrant les fondamentaux pour économiser. Toutefois, il faut peut être avoir vécu quelques temps aux USA pour en saisir toute la saveur. Un de mes livres cultes, régulièrement reparcouru.

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Vijayabanu Ragupathy
Five Stars
Reviewed in India on June 3, 2015
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Very good one

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Ernestina
Fantastic money saving philosophy and guidelines
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is my dip into book.
I go back every so often and delve.
There are many many ideas for saving money .
If you are trying to decide whether to stay at home or go to work and use childcare, this is a good book to read as the writer has evaluated both scenarios.
The Author is American but the philosophy is the same everywhere and she gives numerous tips for living on low incomes.
The sections on kids clothing and on grocery are excellent.
I think this was originally 3 books and was compiled from years and years of a newsletter that she published at home and sold by subscription.
It is well worth the money to have this in your frugal book arsenal.

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Tanya Jenkins
Was delivered promptly & well packaged.
Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2019
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I loved this book, I have wanted it for years! It's great for those of us who are on budgets as we age, & are looking for hints to help us.

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tips and an interesting read

5.0 out of 5 stars Great WAys to Make Your Wallet Grow

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5.0 out of 5 stars Good read

5.0 out of 5 stars un livre culte pour l'économie domestique.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic money saving philosophy and guidelines

5.0 out of 5 stars Was delivered promptly & well packaged.

Excellent tips and an interesting read

Great WAys to Make Your Wallet Grow

Good read

un livre culte pour l'économie domestique.

Five Stars

Fantastic money saving philosophy and guidelines

Was delivered promptly & well packaged.