I've had the original series since they came out, and I still go back to these books for information. Not only does she give advice, she shows how she came up with it and how to modify it to your life.

I use her recipes all the time (have the granola one memorized, we use it so much). It's worth having this just for the recipes. These books are how I was able to stay home with my kids, even though I made twice what my husband did.

Although I gave this five stars, there are a few things you might want to know (if it matters). The index in the originals was not that great. I don't know if they've improved that in this combination or not. Since the books were set up from a magazine, there are many very short articles, so it doesn't read like a book. But I found it very entertaining. Even though the pricing is from the 80's in many cases, you can make up your own price lists using her principles.

If you like being told what to do, this probably isn't the book for you. If you like having the information to figure it out yourself to suit your life, you'll love these.

I've read about twenty 'save money' books and this series is the best.

This book has SO much information on how to save money. I don't think I could ever apply all the tips, but the ones I have applied have really helped! I like to open the book and find one tip to do for the week rather than trying to apply everything at once. You can save money with a bit of time and creativity.

Brilliant ideas that anyone can use to save money. More than just a how-to, it teaches a whole new mentality, and a creative viewpoint that spills over into every area of life. Once bit by the Tightwad bug, you will never go back to wasting your money. Amy Daczyczyn also has a wonderfully whimsical sense of humor that makes me wish she lived next door. Good reading.

I am leading a frugal life these days after getting out of the rat race and finding that I have a great desire to not be a working stiff. Working part-time means an iron fisted budget. "Your Money or Your Life" is what got me started on this path, and "The Tightwad Gazette" was published with people like me in mind. I had heard about the newsletter for years, and finally thought to read this book.

As other reviewers have noted, frugality isn't a religion. You can pick or choose how involved you want to be. For me, the crucial discovery has been that there are many things I can abstain from without noticing a huge difference in the quality of my life. I will never give up travel... it is an essential part of my life. But there are other day-to-day things I don't miss at all. Since reading this book a few months ago, I have started making my own pizza and bread (VERY good suggestion; it cuts the price in half and is surprisingly easy to make, even without a food processor), I'm more conscious of turning off lights, and I've assembled a price book. None of this was difficult and it was fun. In the first two months, I managed to save $300 from an already meager budget.

What is difficult about this? Like any habit, it is a discipline. I have lost hours making bread dough, bargain hunting, and making my own tomato sauce. But I find that I enjoy the feeling of taking care of myself and not wasting money. I had great fun assembling the price book. I now know the lowest prices to expect for a lot of items, and it's fun to be on top of things.

As a single person, a lot of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette" did not apply to me. I skimmed over sections on kids' craft projects and clothes issues, of which there are a lot. I would say I picked up only a few ideas I'll implement over the long term, but it was still fun reading about others' habits. This is a fun book, well worth the price.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. She has a great style of writing and a lot of the information was helpful. Perhaps even more than the specific ideas, I think it helps me come up with my own ideas, be more conscious of unnecessary spending and less wasteful in general. I have already bought another one for someone else, who also loved it.

Living frugally while raising a family and sending my husband to college full time while living on one income in Los Angeles is no easy task. This book was a waste of my time. It includes ways to make your typewriter tape last longer and how to save on encyclopedia sets. If saving time is as important to you as saving money, then this book is not for you. If you are searching for the book used here on Amazon.com, then you are already ahead of the game.

This is the essential book to have in your library. It is all three of the Tightwad Gazette books in one handy big, giant book. Written by Amy Dacyczyn who refers to herself as the Frugal Zealot, It is the most informative book on not just saving money, but adjusting you mindset to make it fun. I love the articles, It helps me come up with creative strategies to save my money for the things I want in life. I once loaned out my individual copies of this book to my brother's now ex -wife and regretted it bitterly as I never got them back. Now I have the Bigger compendium and It does NOT leave my house, not for love or money. I am going to buy more copies to give as gifts. One more note, I worked in the used book business for ten years all together and in that time, this book was often requested and rarely traded in, Just like all good books. Thank you, Frugal Zealot, I couldn't do as much as I do without your constant, in book form, support and guidance. You truly do change lives.

I checked this book out from the Public Library here in Medford, Oregon. While it is a little dated in some ways I decided to purchase it from Amazon.com anyway. Most of the book contains useful approaches to saving money that are quite relevant today. With 969 pages of well indexed and helpful advise, every home should have one for reference - and use it before making purchases.

Loved the book and was so pleased to see that many of her ideas are the same ideas my friends in Berkeley, the Sierras, Hawaii, NYCity etc also have used and recommend. Anyone who enjoys the No Impact Man site, should appreciate this book. And so many of her suggestions are what my parents taught me growing up, since these were common sense ideas from the Great Depression and WW2 and then again for me, during the 70's gas rationing.

Then low and behold on The Compact group I am on, I see more and more ideas long those of the author. And we are not uneducated, poor people, but simply people who want to live by the adage use it up, wear it out, find a need or do without.

And trust me, in 2008 with gas and food prices going up so fast, I bet more people will use what information she shares.

This book is one of a kind. It changes your thinking and is highly informational.

Why only four stars?

-The binding. It is burdensome to hold, and the covers fall off the book pretty quickly.

-It is dated. Though it's only ten years old, much of this book is in dire need of updating. For example, the articles on computers and phone service can be disregarded, and in the internet age, there are a lot of new money-saving sites out there. (Can I give a shout out to Zenni Optical and eTrade!)

Seriously, though, that's all I have as far as criticism is concerned. This is a fantastic book.

Written from 1990-1996, this complete Tightwad Gazette is a little dated in some areas. I laughed when she talks about saving money on encyclopedia sets, or writing off to a company to get more info. LOL. The internet has truly changed how we do things. However dated, the overal strategy to saving money and being frugal applies. I've gotten so many ideas that are usable today. I've already cut my food bill in half, in the last month since reading the book. I look at money in a whole new way now. There are so many ideas, that reading the book once, isn't going to cut it. I've decided to buy the book, instead of checking it out at the library. It's a worth-while investment.

Amy Dacyczyn changed my life. In a good way. (:
There are many books out there about living frugally, but I have yet to find one that covers so comprehensively the everydays ways that we have to save money. The authors dry wit, the informative newsletter articles, and the comprehensive index in the back make it easy and enjoyable to use. I have dogearred my copy so much, it looks like the family bible!
I would recommend the Complete Tightwad Gazette as an excellent gift for a newlywed couple or for someone who earnestly wants to cut back on their expenses and will need a permanent reference around the house to help them make economic decisions. (Or, if it is just for you...perhaps the library is your best choice? I know Amy would approve!)

The only other book about frugal life that I have found helpful ( and mainly for the monthly grocery shopping/meal planning suggestions that they make) is "America's Cheapest Family".

Concerning investments...I would recommend anything by Dave Ramsey or Beth Kobliner.

You buy "Tightwad Gazette", "America's Cheapest Family", Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peach Univeristy" together and you will have a trifecta of frugal happiness. (:

The Tightwad Gazette was originally a newsletter that was sent out in the early 90's. Then later, the archives were compiled into books. Three to be exact. This book was actually a compilation of the three Gazettes. This is why sometimes the book seems contradictory. One moment she says that it's good to do a certain something, then later say that it was a bad idea. So you do have to weed through all of the information to get what you need.

Anyway, the moment I saw that all three were compiled into one book, I had to get one for myself. Both because I needed it for reference (my mom had misplaced hers in their last move) and for nostalgic reasons.

When the recession hit in the 90's, my parents were one of those hit the most. With a huge mortgage, four kids and a measly unemployment check, they didn't know where our next meal was coming from. There were times when we heated hot water on the stove because my parents couldn't afford to fill the propane tank, and this was long before the oil prices went up.

Enter the original first edition of the Tightwad Gazette. Yes, we had hand-me-downs. Yes, we had cheap food and at first, it was only cheap food for a while until the chickens were mature enough to lay and the Garden was ready for harvest. The chickens were mature for quite some time before the garden was complete, so our diet mostly consisted of 1 of the 101 ways to serve eggs. Later, my mother acquired the second and third editions and we used them as well.

Her kids are probably just older than I am and I do believe she mentions the teenage years at the end of this book. It's not in the originals because she was able to retire before they were too old.

If you're looking to cut your daily living costs and you're not afraid to think outside the box, this is the book for you! There's plenty of ways to do so in this comprehensive volumne. You'll find seasonal ideas as well as tips for keeping the kids on a budget. You can overlook the way-out-there ideas, but overall, you can really cut your household budget--from dressing the kids to shopping for groceries--with many tips from this book.

If you are having financial problems, or just want to use your money wisely, buy this book.
Just don't ever lend it out.
The author gives specific money saving ideas, but as importantly, tells ways to modify them for your situation and how to determine how much money you are actually saving with each strategy.
I use it all the time, reread it constantly, and give copies to everyone who is having financial problems or just starting out on their own.
If I ever lost my copy I'd buy another...actually I have!

This is one of my favorite books and something that will be read over and over again. The Complete Tightwad Gazette is an incredible resource for the frugal minded and those who are not so frugal minded as well! She suggests amazing ideas to cut back on costs, while still living a full life. What this book does is not just tighten the shoestrings, but it allow your shoes to take you more places without having to spend more!! It widens the possibilities and opportunities a person/family can have without breaking the bank.

By desire or by circumstances, you may need to do some heavy-duty belt-tightening. If so, I highly recommend this book. I re-read it at least once a year, and always find new things to try. The thing is, her ideas really work. We've cut our expenses a huge amount using ideas in the book.

Now, if you think it's too much trouble to hang laundry rather than use the dryer, or aren't willing to give up your prepared foods, or must have a new car every four years, or aren't willing to wear yard-sale or thrift-store clothing, this book won't help you a damn bit. However, if you're facing a desperate situation, and need to cut costs to the bone just to survive, and you have an open mind, then this book will show you how to survive, maybe even thrive.

One of the best things about this book is that she ties together the benefits of living with less stuff, not only for your financial health, but also because it produces less garbage/stuff sent to the landfill. She promotes responsible living that includes recycling and reusing items. Plus, she points out that such a way of life should empower you, not make you feel deprived. I hate the word "empower," but that's exactly how I feel when I read this book--I feel in control of my financial future, and also feel quite positive about it, and I do not feel deprived.

My husband and I are likely facing a forced early retirement, so we need to cut our expenses as far back as we can, to make it on our savings and investments (and possibly, jobs at Wal-mart) until we're both old enough for Social Security and Medicare. This book is my go-to financial survival guide. God bless you, Amy Dacyczyn!

This was a gift to my daughter. She couldn't put the book down for all of the wonderful suggestions on how to save money. I am sure she would highly recommend this book!

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is looking for ideas to spend less, save more, and to make the most of what you have (including time with family.) The Dacyczyn's creativity in finding ways to do all three is inspiring. While much of the book is geared to single-family-home dwellers (such as gardening and hanging laundry in your backyard), many of the ideas in this book work equally well for both those who live on country farms or metropolitan apartments.

What's more is Amy gives the reader a "jumping off point" to kick start your own imagination into looking at things a different way. Don't want to forgo all meat just to save money? Have ethnic vegetarian dinners just twice a week and save money while expanding your culinary horizons. Need a nice gift for a neighbor or friend, but you're broke? Offer up a special skill. Rainy day and the kids are bored with their "old" toys? Whip up some cheap, homemade toys with stuff you probably already have on hand!

I am looking to cut the budget WAY back so that I can be a stay-home mom. The most useful information is how to save on the food budget. Some of the non-food savings ideas are beyond what I am interested in, but what an eye-opener to the possibilities! Fun book, and very useful.

I originally purchased this book, Tightwad Gazette, in 2001 as a way to make ends meet after starting a family. I completly love it, and do not loan it out. I just recently purchased this book only from Amazon.com for my dad, who was borrowing my copy as a way to prepare for his coming retirement. My decision to purchase his own copy was due to the fact that he was finding many valueable tools in the book. Therefore, I thought that him having his own copy to reference would be a great gift and a way to get my copy back. :)

You can save money, but most of these suggestions are worthless...like something you dream up to fill up a book. I wonder if the next one is save dental floss, you can reuse it 800 times. I doubt if normal sane people will go for the absurd suggestions here in this book. This is taking cheapness to a ridiculous level that is not normal.

I mean COME ON folks, nothing against saving money, but I guess going as far as eliminating tooth paste from the household is a kind of an extreme measure. Of course, some pieces of advice are helpful, but most are absolutely useless, if not plain stupid. The lady preaches washing dishes with an old athletic sock... Do I need to say more?...

Growing up in a tightwad family, I have to speak the truth about the effects of tightwad existence on children. Yes, this book has lots of helpful advice to offer, but think twice about never letting your children have nice clothes or things that are very prevalent in their culture because they will feel the effects of it in a myriad of way and odds are they will grow up a spendthrift because they'll correlate any unhappiness they have with their lack of material possessions. Then, as soon as they start making money of their own, they'll start trying to buy their happiness by purchasing those expensive clothes and gadgets and putting themselves into great debt over it. I've seen it in my family and with friends. There's a reasonable boundary when it comes to all of this. Frugal has it's perks, but when one starts to feel lack because of it, it shapes how they view the world and suddenly those material things or lack of them become the reason for their unhappiness. That can lead to a very materialistic view of life which is really the root of our society's issue with money and credit card debt. Bigger, better, newer, more expensive - gotta have it because it will make me happy. That's what the media preaches and that's what we are brainwashed into thinking. In some cases, rare or special ones, yes, the bigger, better, newer or more expensive should be had. All things in moderation, right? But be wise with where you choose to be frugal. Washable cloth diapers? Wonderful! Clipping coupons? Smart! Dressing a toddler in less expensive clothes that they'll only grow out of in a few months? Brilliant! Dressing a teenager in an entire wardrobe that doesn't fit in with current trends just to save a buck? Recipe for disaster!! Instead, allow them a few of the trendy items, and teach them to earn some extra cash on their own, part of which they must save and part of which they are encouraged (yes, encouraged) to buy items they feel they must have. They'll choose wisely with their buck, especially when they've been raised to understand the value of the dollar and what happens if they don't save and live in debt. That's a lesson that all teens should be taught in my humble opinion. It's probably the reason why so many are in serious debt.

This review has been written by a child of tightwad parents. Take from it what you will.

The only problem I have with this book is that the pages after the first section do not line up well with the index, making it difficult to use. That is an editor's mistake that I hope they correct in any future reprintings.

I bought this book back in 2000 and still read it from time to time for motivation. Even though some of the ideas presented may be extreme for many, one can still find inspiration to do things at a lower cost and save time. Although I still used disposable diapers on my children, getting diapers as presents and early potty-training did save me money later on.

This book not only gives great ideas, it is also thought-provoking. She reminds us that the little things do matter overall and shows us through her own personal struggle without being annoying. When she states this is a serious lifestyle, believe it.

I've been reading (and reading!) this book, and although a bit outdated (as books generally get real fast), I have to say Amy is sure one creative lady (I admit the sketchings in the book crack me up a bit).
But to raise 6 kids I'm sure is no small feat. The 2 I had kept my checkbook busy enough! I am a natural spendthrift, and I'm trying to convert, so I'm very interested in getting my hands on any and all info that is available on the subject, as it does not come naturally to me. I have several books by Mary Hunt on "Debt Proof Living" a.k.a. previously "Cheapskate Monthly". I recommend all her books, as they are more up to date and don't focus quite so much on extreme measures to save money such as saving dryer lint, egg cartons, etc. Mary promotes cheapskate living with "class". But I can't fault Amy for her methods and advise, as they have obviously worked for her and others. Just reading the book has helped with developing the right kind of attitude that must be had with this lifestyle. I recommend it for reading.

I bought this book several years ago (yes, I bought it, instead of borrowing it from the library - shame on me!). I have read through it twice since then.

This book contains some great tightwad tips that I have implemented in my household. I love cooking from scratch, so the low-cost cooking and grocery-shopping tips were the most helpful for me.

However, I have some major problems with this book. One, the lack of concern Miss Amy has for her children's needs is a little disturbing. Obviously, her children are fed and clothed, and have a warm place to sleep at night. But raising kids on hand-me-downs and the cheapest food you can find is not a great way to raise kids. I'd be curious to know how her children dealt with hand-me-down clothes in their teenage years. And, many times, cheap food is also poorly nutritious food. Luckily, Miss Amy has a vegetable garden, or I feel her children would probably suffer from poor nutrition by now. And for heaven's sakes - making your son work for a 25 cent snack? Lighten up, lady - he's just a child!

Second, her obsession with saving money borders on the immoral at times. On one trip, she steals food from the free breakfast buffet provided by her hotel to be eaten for dinner, and crows to the reader about all the money she's saved on dinner! Um...can we say obessive-compulsive?

Finally, I wasn't real happy with the holier-than-thou attitude. So the rest of us don't wash out our baggies and make aluminum foil last for 5,000 years (okay, maybe just 2 years)! I'll bet we do other things even better than you do (like knowing not to steal food from the hotel breakfast buffet).

Bottom line: This book if full of lots of tightwad tips. Use discretion in applying them.

Also, don't have kids if you're going to be this cheap. Please.

I love this book so many ideas. Went though Hurricane Katrina and lost all things in my house loved my first set of books so finding this again was great for me... Now I can get my personal libary collection growing again!!!

While the use of the word "tightwad" in the title of Amy Dacyczn's book may be off-putting to some, this book is a true masterpiece. Anyone interested in cutting corners and saving money needs this book! The tips range from the obvious to the far out but all are easy to implement with ideas ranging from how to reuse a ziplock sandwich baggy to understanding how to frugally but successfully buy a home. I found this book to be an invaluable resource during tight times. It is the only book on frugality that I have purchased rather than picking it up for free at the library. I checked it out so often at the library and renewed it so often that it made sense to purchase a copy. It is an essential reference tool for anyone attempting to live more frugally.

In addition to the great tips and ideas, the layout is also fantastic. It is organized and keeps you interested. Sections follow logically from one another and the index is thorough and easy to use.

Although you will part with some money to buy this book, you will earn it all back if you follow even just a few of the tips inside this idea packed book.

Wow, who thought that saving money could be so much fun? I'm seriously considering buying a bunch of copies and giving them as Christmas gifts this year.

Tons of information here. Over 900+ pages of responses to questions to Amy Dacyczyn's newsletter about how to save. If you want to save money you can do it with the "Tightwad Gazette."

The ideas mainly deal with things you own, and this is where the value is in this book, and in saving. You can do many, many, useful things with stuff you already own right in your own home. Very creative, and a lot of variety. A person doesn't have to dedicate his or herself a 100% to this frugality but can use different means in the book to keep more dollars in your pocket, depending on what your individual circumstances are. Saving is getting harder for many to do these days.

It does take some time to wade through the many articles to find what you're looking for, if you're looking for something specific.

Very good.

This book was more like a guide on how to be creative and economical with things that you already own. It also shares other people's stories on what they did and how it may help them. I love that you can reference a specific topic in the index. I can truly say there are some tips that I have used and will use in the future on saving money.

This book was recommended to me when I was quitting work to have a baby. I read it while I was still pregnant, and it gave me a headache. "How can ANYONE do all this." (including making your own envelopes out of old papers from work). Now, I have been out of work for 6 months and have been reading the book again. It is excellent. I recommend this to anyone who wants to save money, BUT just gloss over anything that seems too extreme (then maybe come back when you are better at saving). Many of the silly parts are really just inserts that readers of the newsletter have written in to the author. All they are is to show you how to be creative and resourceful. The articles in this book talk about everything from calculating the dollar worth of a task, to how to get things done more quickly, to how to be creative. They bulk of the book is really not about these silly parts that people critique like washing out baggies. It is about seeing where your money goes and cutting down on ways you feel comfortable cutting down. I'll admit, I am not a thrifty person. I grew up in a home where nearly every dollar of the family's $150,000.00 income was spent every year. I was hesitant to buy used things. But this book helps you to see the value in doing these things, and I am starting to change my ways! Some people have commented that the author's kids are deprived. But besides the fact that her kids have plenty, even more than that she has taught them some very important life skills - many of which young people now growing up don't have the faintest idea about, which is why credit card debt is so prevalent among people. Yes, the organization is a little confusing, and the book is a little outdated. But there is a lot to learn from this excellent mother and budgeter. I only wish she were still writing. I'd like to see what she thinks about saving money with cell phones and the internet.

I like to give this book to new parents or those wanting to get ahead financially a don't seem to have the tools. I want new parents to know that there is a real value to one of them staying with the kid(s) and both of them trying to be creative in finding ways not to spend $ or save money without abandoning their kids to the day care center. In other words, living on one income and improving the quality of their lives. This book does that with humor and without a set of rules but instead guidelines for how we think before we spend, spend, spend.

Although it was written some time ago, the advice in this book is largely timeless. Some very practical ideas on how to save money and make the most of what you already have. A great gift idea for young adults just starting out on their own.

Yes, this book is about pinching a penny. But I think the more important lesson taught is to be conscious of where your money goes. It is far too easy to follow the path of the average american lifestyle with a latte at Starbucks in the morning, lunch at Burger King, and convenience foods at night and then wonder why you cant get the down payment on a house together. If the really imporatant thing to you is to have that latte, then you should continue to have it and forego the house payment which is not as important( Id like to give you a talking to, but I digress) But if the house is number one, then this books gives you tools to cut out the little expenses and save enough money to do it. The point is, at any income level, whether you are single or a family of six, I think you can come away from reading this book with a great lesson taught. Not so much whether to use disposable or cloth diapers, but to be conscious of where your money goes to get the things in life that are important to you. My husband and I have a large, pretty old house. We would like to have it look beautiful and be paid off in the next couple years. We are acheiving this goal by using a lot of the principles in this book. We rarely go out to eat, I use coupons, we only run the dryer when there is a full load, buy only used cars and keep them a long time by maintaining them well,etc. But every so often I have the great pleasure of writing a check for a couple thousand dollars to be applied towards the principal on the mortgage. Or buy a very special piece of furniture. This makes me happier than I can express, and no, I dont feel deprived beacuse we dont go out to dinner. Buy this book!! Whatever your goals in life are, this book will help you achieve them.

I have changed my entire way of living. Now I am a tightwad. Before, my husband and I had no savings. Now we save $150 a month!

If not useful, it is at least very entertaining.

...because this book is the stuff of which redneck dreams are made!

I wasn't sure how to rate this one, in stars, so I gave it three for comprehensiveness. Much can be said here, and much has already been said. This book is a tome filled with wonders, with monstrosities, and with some good practical advice. Every bathroom should contain a copy, as it rivals the best bathroom anthologies in scope and entertainment value.

Purchasers should be warned that nothing in this book is organized by subject. At all. It's merely a compilation of six years' worth of newsletters. Hence its worth as a bathroom companion, but sadly, you must resort to using the index to find, say, ways to re-use mesh onion bags.

Much of it is painfully outdated. Hair bows are out. Milk now runs $3 per gallon. Computers reign. Insurance has changed. Vacuum cleaners are now bagless. Many of the addresses given for companies are no doubt obsolete.

Much of it involves a tradeoff of time for money. For some this will be acceptable, even fun. For others, baking potato peels and chicken skins into nutritious dog snacks, or tying metal juice-can lids together to create a suit of armor, is going to be a ridiculous waste of time. Turning junk-mail envelopes inside out so they can be used for letters? Wow. Just wow.

And a whole heck of a lot of it will come across as tackiness to the max: How about cutting plastic containers into fake vampire teeth, and giving them out as favors at your next children's party? Making a hammock from six-pack rings that you can proudly display, along with tin-can windchimes, in your backyard? There are enough gift ideas in this book to keep you well-stocked through years of office gag parties, and entertainment hints to guarantee that your own social gatherings will become the stuff of legend.

Additionally, reforming packrats will want to flee from this book as from Satan himself: if you're looking for an excuse to rescue and save every single piece of trash in the neighborhood, you'll find it here.

Nevertheless, there is enough information in this book that even the spendthrifts among us will find a few gems, and this tour of often-freakish frugality is bound to be appreciated by anyone--provided that they've had enough beer.

This book will put you in the mindset our grandparents had of saving money. You may not use or like all the tips but what you take away from it is more then just saving money.......get back to the basics!!

If you truly want to save money, this book will tell you how to do it, right down to calculating the price of store-bought versus homemade.

This is probably the best book on cash conservation that I have read. The simple tips suggested i.e. wiping windshield wiper blades with vinegar instead of replacing them, have already saved the price of the book.
This is a must read for those thrifty at heart.

This book is wonderful, but a lot of Amy's calculations are using old prices. For example, it is now less expensive to buy (if you find the right kind) premade pudding for your kid's lunches than buy the powder AND the milk. Still, I learned a lot, and wonderful ideas have improved my lifestyle and reduced our debt.

I have never found a more useful book about the practical application and philosophy of frugality. This book emphasises the joy of creativity and the financial freedom that can result. The author gives many examples of how she has incorporated frugality in her daily life. It has completely changed how I live my life, and has provided many useful techniques. It is also a very enjoyable read! I have given this book as a wedding gift more than once. I have never read another book on frugality that even compares, and have no need to buy another.

I am still a wanna be tightwad, but I love to pull this book back out whenever we really need to tighten our belts! It is wonderful, helpful, and unlifting...the bible of saving money.

This is an excellent book. Wimps and whiners need not buy. I cut $250 off my monthly grocery bill and am venturing into the thrift store clothing market (You try on clothes at the department store that who knows how many other people have tried on. What's the difference?) Amy has a great voice and the entire book is entertaining.

Amy Dacyczyn is the queen of money-saving ideas. From page to page she gives her readers valuable tips and insight, including some that you'll hardly find elsewhere. Much of it is done in a brutally honest fashion and gets to the bottom-line. When I found this book, it was as if it dropped out of the sky and God has shipped it to me.

I give this book five stars for content. The only reason I'm giving four stars is because this particular publishing of the book is not good for those of us who want to keep a shelf copy. They most definitely should consider making a hardcover edition, especially for something as thick as this. Many of her fans, like I, would like to continue refer back to it without having to go and buy another copy to replace an old one. (We're frugal folks, afterall.) And, if this suddenly goes out of print, like all good book eventually do, we want to be able to pass this on to future generations and know that its timeless knowledge isn't lost to dust mites and oxydized paperback binding.

So, please, for the love of God, please give us a hardcover edition! I want to continue reading Amy's book for many more years to come!

I've never written a review before and I felt compelled to write an answer in response to the latest post from Dec 17 about how Amy's children must feel growing up in such a household. I can't answer for her children, but I can answer for myself having grown up in a frugal household. As I'm re-reading the Tightwad Gazette for the second time (thoroughly), I was amused with how many ideas were similar to the ideas my mother practiced when I was growing up - making her own yogurt, buying second-hand, creating toys from scratch, making our own playdough, making her own bread, canning, growing our own garden. My parents had made a conscious decision, similar to the Daczysn, for my mom to be a stay-at-home mom. My parents had grown up as "latch-key" children and didn't want the same thing for their kids. However, that required material sacrifices and strategies as noted above. The one attitude I prize the most as an adult is the creativity my mother fostered in us and a lot of the creativity came from being frugal.

For example, my parents occasionally bought a new toy after very careful consideration about the long-term value we would get from playing and the creativity it would foster and what we could learn from the toy. A Barbie doll was one of those brand new toys. However, we couldn't buy brand new Barbie clothes--so we learned to make them. We couldn't buy the Barbie accessories, so boxes, crates, material became our own homemade version of Barbie accessories. I believe that creativity has served me well in my adult years. I have really fond memories of my youthful years because of the things I learned from my parents. I spent a lot of time with my family doing useful activities (learning to sew, bake, cook, garden, etc.). I also loved having my mom be a stay-at-home mom. There's a pleasant sense of security knowing your mom is always available. I appreciate the values my parents raised me with...not to feel entitled to have everything my parents have, like today's generation, but to contribute and work hard. Living frugally as a child and young adult has instilled a basic appreciation of material possessions and what you really NEED vs. what a person WANTS.

I regret that with increasing income, I felt entitled to become a spendthrift. I compare my young adult years where I didn't make much money and HAD to be frugal vs. now where I have a good income but much more consumer debt. I was much happier and LESS STRESSED when I had less materially. I bought Amy's book last year (still in spendthrift mode) to look for ideas on how to use coupons better or something like that. Little did I realize that all the things I learned growing up and that I naturally did as a young adult were the very tactics I needed to use to realize my personal dream. Now, as a thirty-something adult, I'm re-working my budget to find ways to pay off my bills. I'm re-reading the Tightwad Gazette again to comb through for additional ideas on how to be less wasteful with my resources. I had a good month to start in December (even with additional medical bills). Even better, if I stick to my frugal budget, I will be able to retire from full-time corporate life (which has been extremely stressful and hard on my health) in 6-7 years.

The good: This book will absolutely help you save money and help you change the way you think about money. After reading it, I started looking closely at what we were spending money on and realized that we didn't need a lot of what we were buying. Some of the tips definitely go to extremes - I really don't see myself spending time to wash out cheapo sandwich bags, although I do wash out and reuse the big freezer bags - but the whole theory of how to save money and Dacyczyn's philosophy of "save however you can" is great, and life-transforming. There's so much waste in our lives, and by conforming to the three R's - reduce, reuse, recycle - we can not only save money, but save the planet and ensure our kids have a great place to live when they grow up. My husband and I are big into "reuse" and there are great tips for reusing just about everything in this book. The emphasis on simplicity, and asking "do kids really NEED new designer clothes, the newest electronic toys, etc." is great.
The bad: The preaching does get a little tiresome. Dacyczyn obviously saw herself as some kind of Messiah for the thrifty and the holier-than-thou attitude is a little much, at times. It also seems to me that she cared way more about how many kids she was able to have by sticking to her thrifty lifestyle, and not about those kids individually. It honestly seemed that she had a vision of the house (with attached barn) and big family and achieving that, at all costs, that mattered more to her than providing a good life for her kids. That is just as bad as people who visualize themselves living in a big house with fancy car and deficit-finance that lifestyle just so they can "live the dream." Amy may be proud of her thriftiness, but I would be curious to know if now, 10 years later, her kids have happy memories of a childhood where they were not allowed to have new clothes or toys and had to eat the cheapest food available. My husband and my best friend both grew up poor, and neither of them remember wearing threadbare clothes and eating government cheese with fondness. They both still remember being ridiculed at school for having to wear shoes with holes in the bottoms. Thriftiness is fine, but don't shortchange your kids and their childhood so that you can be the Queen of the Tightwads. The kids didn't get a choice about how they wanted to live, so I think providing them with a few of the material niceties of life - or at least letting them know that they mean more to you than just being #4 of your ideal 6-kid family or whatever - isn't out of line. Some of the anecdotes about her kids that she relates are kind of horrifying, particularly the ones about how she would skimp on diaper rash ointment or detergent for her babies' diapers. Cutting corners on the health and nutrition of your kids is NOT real thrift, because you're just creating long-term problems that will cost you or them buckets of money to solve. Also, the amount of time it would take to do some of the thriftier programs is questionable, I think. What kids really want from their parents is their time, and I wonder how much time Dacyczyn had to spend with her kids, after she was done keeping her "price diary," scrounging for free stuff, etc. I believe in saving money, but my time is worth something, and I would rather spend two hours playing on the floor with my son than making a price diary or Dumpster-diving for free stuff. Moments playing with him are more priceless than diamonds because once those are gone, I can't get them back. I can always save or make more money, but once he's grown my chances to play with him or spend "quality time" are gone. Time vs. money is definitely a big issue in this book and something everyone needs to make a decision about for themselves.
Overall, I recommend this book if you can look past the sanctimonius editorializing and just focus on the money-saving tips.

The good: This book will absolutely help you save money and help you change the way you think about money. After reading it, I started looking closely at what we were spending money on and realized that we didn't need a lot of what we were buying. Some of the tips definitely go to extremes - I really don't see myself spending time to wash out cheapo sandwich bags, although I do wash out and reuse the big freezer bags - but the whole theory of how to save money and Dacyczyn's philosophy of "save however you can" is great, and life-transforming. There's so much waste in our lives, and by conforming to the three R's - reduce, reuse, recycle - we can not only save money, but save the planet and ensure our kids have a great place to live when they grow up. My husband and I are big into "reuse" and there are great tips for reusing just about everything in this book. The emphasis on simplicity, and asking "do kids really NEED new designer clothes, the newest electronic toys, etc." is great.
The bad: The preaching does get a little tiresome. Dacyczyn obviously saw herself as some kind of Messiah for the thrifty and the holier-than-thou attitude is a little much, at times. It also seems to me that she cared way more about how many kids she was able to have by sticking to her thrifty lifestyle, and not about those kids individually. It honestly seemed that she had a vision of the house (with attached barn) and big family and achieving that, at all costs, that mattered more to her than providing a good life for her kids. That is just as bad as people who visualize themselves living in a big house with fancy car and deficit-finance that lifestyle just so they can "live the dream." Amy may be proud of her thriftiness, but I would be curious to know if now, 10 years later, her kids have happy memories of a childhood where they were not allowed to have new clothes or toys and had to eat the cheapest food available. My husband and my best friend both grew up poor, and neither of them remember wearing threadbare clothes and eating government cheese with fondness. They both still remember being ridiculed at school for having to wear shoes with holes in the bottoms. Thriftiness is fine, but don't shortchange your kids and their childhood so that you can be the Queen of the Tightwads. The kids didn't get a choice about how they wanted to live, so I think providing them with a few of the material niceties of life - or at least letting them know that they mean more to you than just being #4 of your ideal 6-kid family or whatever - isn't out of line. Some of the anecdotes about her kids that she relates are kind of horrifying, particularly the ones about how she would skimp on diaper rash ointment or detergent for her babies' diapers. Cutting corners on the health and nutrition of your kids is NOT real thrift, because you're just creating long-term problems that will cost you or them buckets of money to solve. Also, the amount of time it would take to do some of the thriftier programs is questionable, I think. What kids really want from their parents is their time, and I wonder how much time Dacyczyn had to spend with her kids, after she was done keeping her "price diary," scrounging for free stuff, etc. I believe in saving money, but my time is worth something, and I would rather spend two hours playing on the floor with my son than making a price diary or Dumpster-diving for free stuff. Moments playing with him are more priceless than diamonds because once those are gone, I can't get them back. I can always save or make more money, but once he's grown my chances to play with him or spend "quality time" are gone. Time vs. money is definitely a big issue in this book and something everyone needs to make a decision about for themselves.
Overall, I recommend this book if you can look past the sanctimonius editorializing and just focus on the money-saving tips.

I liked it a lot because it had some good information that tweaked what I was already doing. This book should be able to help you reach your objectives if you follow some of what it says. A+