The Tightwad Gazette #2: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle

To the reader who made reference to a reusable tampon, it is NOT a reusable tampon that is spoken of in the book. It is an alternative to the tampon called The Keeper. She's not dogmatic about it either. She suggests using non-disposable pads if you don't want to use a Keeper and she says that if you decide to stick with disposables, pads are generally cheaper than tampons. So, she does leave room for other ideas based on your own personal preference. If you were grossed out by the review of the person who spoke of a "reusable tampon" don't pass up the book just because of that. There are lots of good ideas even if you don't like every single one of them. I have all 3 of Amy's books and recommend them all. If you have all 3 of the Tightwad Gazette books then you don't need any other books on frugality.

This is much more than a book on tips to save money. Along with Tightwad I and III, this is a bible for managing a household on less. Her philosophies on material goods and spending really resonate with me. These books are the most used and well-worn books in my library. I bought it in hardcover long ago, and thought it was worth every cent. Now that it's in paperback, I don't see any reason why one shouldn't own this book.

I read this book aloud to my family in the car during a summer vacation. They loved it--my husband and kids alike. As I read, I came to realize that this book has enormous value beyond the kooky money-saving tips it is famous for. Please, in evaluating the Tightwad Gazette, consider these additional points most reviewers seem to have missed: 1. The book fosters critical thinking skills. So very many of Ms. Dacyczyn's articles present both the pros and cons of the issue, and her recommendations are based on sound and extensive research sprinkled with a healthy dose of skepticism. After being exposed to her thinking style, my kids will think twice before being sucked in by advertising. 2. The book fosters creative thinking skills. There is no better life skill than to be able to stretch your one remaining dollar to meet your five outstanding needs. At some time in their lives, your kids are going to need this skill. 3. The book will show you how to make informed decisions. Ms. Dacyczyn's basic strategy is to calculate, by whatever means available, the true cost of any given expense. And while you may really need to save a penny by making your own tomato soup, you're just as free to conclude that, at a penny a pop, it's well worth your hard-earned money to buy the canned soup. Knowledge is power, and by applying Ms. Dacyczyn's strategies, you'll be fully informed, forewarned and forearmed. I highly recommend this book to parents.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would buy it for the same reason I would buy a dictionary: I keep referring back to it so much that if I had to go to the library I would use extra money for gasoline. If I had to go to the web for the same information, I would end up raising my electricity bill. It's more than the recipes and resources. It's more than the tips and techniques. The reason I love this book is because it's a source of encouragement. I don't feel powerless anymore over my money. I feel like I can choose what is important to me and what I should be spending money on. Not the other way around. That's really all tightwaddery is about and that is the whole point of this book.If you really want to understand the philosophy side of tightwaddery, I recommend you search for the first volume of the Tightwad Gazette (which is out of print) or go ahead and buy the Complete Tightwad Gazette. It's a very good investment.

As with _The Tightwad Gazette_, _The Tightwad Gazette II_ is a pleasure to read. Dacyzyn's folksy writing style and attractive graphics work together to create a book that readers will dip into again and again for pleasure and inspiration, as well as for practical advice and recipes. This book is a good buy for people who are new to thrift, for long-time tightwads looking for some new ideas, for environmentalists who want to reduce their use of resources, and for anyone who wants a simpler, more satisfying life, working toward their own dreams rather than merely keeping up with the Joneses. _The Tightwad Gazette II_ celebrates the frugal lifestyle, and its many ideas for creative use of one's resources will save the reader the book's purchase price many times over