The tightwad wannabe will fail as long as he views frugality as a lifestyle he has to endure, or, was forced into by circumstance.” Lesson 2: Three Steps to a Frito-Free Child (page 234 Tightwad Gazette II) The would-be athlete will fail as long as he hates exertion. This goes along with a favorite quote of mine by Amy: “The dieter fails as long as he hates low-calorie food. If you view giving up extras as transferring funds from one area of your life to another (brilliant!!!), frugality becomes an important financial strategy rather than a prison term. In this passage, Amy discusses how to avoid feeling bad about living frugally. A few of my favorite books on my bedside table–including both Tightwad Gazettes tagged with stickies! So much for reading fiction! Lesson 1: How to Avoid Feeling Deprived (page 230-232 Tightwad Gazette 1) Somewhere between leaving the working world of New York City and becoming a mom, I learned to love the Tightwad Gazettes. Long ago when my husband read the Tightwad Gazette’s first book and wanted me to read it, I scoffed at the book–I worked in New York City at the time and my mind was a bit warped as I was exposed to great wealth…I was just not interested in frugality. Amy Dacyczyn’s (pronounced ‘decision’) ideology has absolutely shaped our family’s life. There are so many pearls of wisdom on every page that each reading experience offers new insights and ideas.

The only things more dog-eared than my coupon envelopes are my Tightwad Gazettes I and II.

The tightwad gazette iii