Friday, January 16, 2015

Frugal Friday With Marsha--The Tightwad Gazette

A few months ago I pulled out my copy of The Tightwad Gazette. 

It's a book I had heard about for years and wanted to own.  Now being the frugal person that I am, ok, the poor person that I am, there was no way that I could purchase the book new.  I had checked it out from the public library and read through it.
The copy you see above I found at our public library book sale.  I was so excited to finally own a copy of my own.
In fact, she talks a lot in her book about never buying anything new, with yard sales being a prime place to find things that you need.

My copy is copyright 1992.  She wrote 3 books, adding to each new version.   I will highlight the last one, which is a compilation of all 3 books at the bottom of this post.

This book is just invaluable.  You can read through it over and over and discover something new each time.  It's set up in sections by seasons of the year. 
It includes how-to instructions on several item.s  For example, you will be amazed just how many things you can make with a gallon milk jug.
There are a lot of recipes throughout the book---food recipes, cleaning supply recipes, baby wipes, play dough, etc.
The book has reader's letters throughout.  Letters that she received from readers while she was putting out her Tightwad Gazette newsletter.  Her readers had some good ideas to add to what she was already putting out.

I have several pages marked with things I want to make or do.  This coming from me, someone, who has lived a frugal type lifestyle all of my adult life.  There is still something new to learn each day.

For example:  I was reminded of taking the broken crayons and melting them down to make colorful crayons using a muffin tin.   Just the other day I found myself cleaning up after the grandkids had jumped out both totes of craft supplies.  I started throwing away the broken crayons.  I then asked myself what was I doing?   Her book suggests using the "scribble cookies" as stocking stuffers.  That is exactly what I plan on doing!  I even have a mini cupcake pan that I will use to make them.  I will put them into snack size zipper bags (bought on sale and with a coupon, of course) and give each of the grandchildren some.
This is just one of many things from her book that I will be doing.

I have fun living frugally!  How about you?

I found this video of the author, Amy Dacyczyn to share with you.  Of course I love it as she's in her sewing room giving a tour as well.







I look forward to what you will share this week.







3 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great book and lucky you for finding it on sale at the library! The grandchildren will love the cupcake crayons in their stockings.

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  2. It's a wonderful book! My husband and I found all three copies in a public library, read them, liked them, but were already doing most of the frugal things we were willing to do, so didn't buy our own copies. Glad you've found it though, and dittos about these frugal tips being *fun*--no hardships here!

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  3. I had the original two books wonder why she hasn't updated sine 1998. I don't think I even have those books anymore. If I remember right they were ruined when we had a leak and didn't know about it.

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