Tightwad Gazette- what don't you like

[Amys1st]

Okay, we have discussed the Tightwad Gazette here before. Although I recommend the book to different types of people, I find some of the subjects a bit out there and/or insulting or outdated. Sometimes I let the reader know that. I first read this book from our LLL library.

I did not like- how she made her children eat everything on their plates or be punished whatever

A bit strict about things that really did not save time

Spent hours and hours driving around garbage picking or garage saleing. Gas and time are being wasted.

What else?
This is not to bash since I am clearly saying there are good ideas in there that I use but there are also things that are like I said- a bit out there. What do you think?

[Lil'M]

Her attitude about making her kids eat everything bothered me. And there were plenty of things that I am not interested in doing, but which don't offend me. I think for someone who is not very frugal, a lot of the book may seem out there. And I was definitely in that category before I read the book, but I came away loving it, and trying a lot of the ideas in it, if not all of them.

[root*children]

I don't see anything wrong with rescuing items from the landfill or saving tons of money going yardsaling.
We have rules around eating, too, so that didn't bother me.
What I don't like about her books are that she sacrifices taste, quality of food, and real foods for imitation foods (ie - powdered milk, imitation vanilla, etc.)
But hey, whatever blows your skirt up, right?
maybe, though, when her kids all grow up, they'll find those small pleasures in foods that, like... have taste.

[Rainbowbird]

I don't agree with forcing kids to finish food.

And I don't like the reliance on the cheap mixes, generic foods, basically it sounds like they do eat a lot of junk. I know she mentions healthy foods, too, but she talks a lot about buying 19 boxes of sugared cereal, using powdered milk all the time, packing bologna sandwiches for lunch, etc. blech.

Yeah, she doesn't sound like much of a chef to me!

I like the book overall, and I think there are good ideas there and the philosophy is sound. But I do think for her it's as much a hobby and a way of life as a way to save money. I mean, the time she must spend figuring out how to save 5 cents would be a total waste of time for me. If it is something easy to do and I am not donating money to WalMart, fine. But to spend 12 hours researching how to make your scotch tape last longer or whatever, forget it!

I think the easiest way to save money is not to spend it. Period. Don't go to a store without a list, only buy what's on your list, etc. Don't get sucked in by fake sales. Don't buy food that is overly packaged and processed.

Her price book is a good idea.

I find our forums here to be just as helpful.

[Amys1st]

Dready mama and rainbow- you know I love ya guys!

Whatever blows your skirt up? LOL really

I have no problem rescuing landfills but if its a tank of gas or time I can spend w dd strapped into a car seat, then its not saving me any $$ either.

But I agree, I do not do processed food like she does- all 3 of us have posted on eating good foods.

As of eating rules- we too have rules. No treats or milk until we eat first. It has helped our family a lot. But making the child sit there until they do- whats the point.

I also like the idea of a price book. I am lucky, my price book is in my head- I am fortunate to have a very good memory (it also clogs your brain though)
and I can tell you that Wesson at the Jewel is more expensive then the local grocer by $1.50. I also know what all of our groceries are at every place.

I do like the different ideas mailed in by people- some are quirky, others are like- why not, sounds good.

[chalupamom]

I agree with the food thing. Somewhere in one of the books she talks about the meats that they eat - bologna, kielbasa, bacon, chicken legs, etc. Granted, she did talk about TVP and the like and, to be fair, I do eat some of these things but I like to think my diet is a bit more balanced for having more lean meats and fish.

I skip a lot of the letters - some of these people clearly did not have enough to occupy their day. I always giggle when I think about the person who dug the scraps out of their deoderant, saved them and then melted them down to make a "new" deoderant. I'm not judging them - mad props for keeping that quarter of a deoderant out of landfill, you know? - I just don't know where someone finds the time.

I'm a little sad, too, about how dismissive Amy was about "leisure". In her zeal to be so productive and money saving all the time (as expressed in the books and her interviews, anyway) I think she lost sight of the fact that "recreation" includes the word "re-create", as in recreating one's self. She said a few times that she recognized that not everyone could or should live as they do, but more often the implicit disdain for other lifestyles was pretty obvious.

Still and all, though, TTG was a great resource and really helped people rethink the need to spend money to approach every facet of their lives. And I think that Amy, in concert with Martha Stewart, helped people reclaim their inner creativity. While very different in approach and goals, both women championed Do It Yourself as a worthwhile and valuable path.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by chalupamom

I'm a little sad, too, about how dismissive Amy was about "leisure". In her zeal to be so productive and money saving all the time (as expressed in the books and her interviews, anyway) I think she lost sight of the fact that "recreation" includes the word "re-create", as in recreating one's self. She said a few times that she recognized that not everyone could or should live as they do, but more often the implicit disdain for other lifestyles was pretty obvious.
.

I agree- she seems to loose sight that there are more than one way to do things.

[Rainbowbird]

Originally Posted by chalupamom

And I think that Amy, in concert with Martha Stewart, helped people reclaim their inner creativity. While very different in approach and goals, both women championed Do It Yourself as a worthwhile and valuable path.

Did you ever see the "Free Martha" bumper stickers? :LOL

I am not a huge fan of hers even though I live in CT. She's okay. I did think she got a bum rap though in comparison to those Enron folks!

[Amys1st]

MArtha paid the price, served her time, paid her dues (in more ways than 1) and will come back fine. I was and I am still a big fan.

[Jennisee]

I am actually reading The Complete Tightwad Gazette now; I have it checked out from the library. I am taking a LOT of good things out of it, but I do get this feeling like her one and only goal in decision-making is how to do it the cheapest. There isn't any "wiggle room" for the things that may cost more, yet make us happy, save time, are healthier, etc.

And since we're getting OT on Martha... :LOL I was a bit offended when she said she didn't see what the big deal was b/c "it was only $40,000." That's more money than a lot of hard working families make in a year--hard working families who bought her products and made her the millionaire she is today.

[Amys1st]

I watched her show, took some of her ideas and recieved her cookbook as a gift. But her products were a bit out of my reach on her website!

She paid for what she did- her company stock lost millions for her 40k messup. But what irked me is she knew what she did wrong- she even deleted emails not knowing that there is a trail left when you use your pc. Like most of her generation- they do not realize- the pc tells on you!

[Jennisee]

So true about the computer trail! That sounds like something my parents would do. :LOL And you make some great points about Martha. I'm very interested to see how her comeback pans out.

Hey, wouldn't it be fun to watch Martha and Amy, The Frugal Zealout, duke it out in a Battle of the Homemakers! :LOL

[Amys1st]

It would be a heck of a battle! Now that Martha has seen how to survive in jail (or whatever she served in) she may give Amy a run for her money.

But again, she paid her dues in more ways than one. Martha though used no budget known to anyone- Amy has normal everday variety people in mind.

Do you really think Martha picks up a pair of old sneakers at her "tag sales" like Amy does?

[UUMom]

All of Amy's kids are grown now, and neither she nor her dh have 'real jobs'-- they both volunteer for their pet projects. They have never been sit-at-home -and watch-TV-types. I'm sure they are quite productive in their freedom.

I think Amy's youngest (tiwns?) are like 19 now. I wonder what all her kids are doing? She used to write a yearly newsletter update. I have not seen one in a few years, but as of like 2001, all the kids were happy, doing well, and are healthy.

I didn't like that they didn't buy books--except the crappy cartoon-type Sesame St books from yard sales.

I also did not like that she did not respect organic foods.

All that said, she's only a few years older than I am, but she has all the money she needs for her kids college educations, has a huge home with no mortgage, and tons of time to hang with her hubby and not work at any job she does not choose/love.

I may not agree with all she advocated, but oh man, she set her goals and she attained them.

I am sure she is no longer saving plastic twist ties to send as Valentines to her dh.

In fact, I read that she is currently a big uspporter of local artists. It's all good when you can spend your money in the way you choose, for the local products you want.

Rock on, Amy. Says me with a *huge* mortagage.

[Kerri-Jean]

Originally Posted by Rainbowbird

But to spend 12 hours researching how to make your scotch tape last longer or whatever, forget it!

:

Kerri

[boysrus]

i dont like the fact that she considers a bowl of porridge or a couple of muffins to be breakfast!! We need protein in our family or everyone is killing each other within the hour. I spent the longest time feeling guilty that I couldnt make breakfast for 5 cents each serving!

[Amys1st]

maybe a bowl of oatmeal, but yes, if we do not have protein in our body, all 3 of us are nuts within 2 hours. Then we just have to eat again.

[boysrus]

even with oatmeal, I have to spruce it up with nuts, peanut butter or yogurt

[susienjay]

I love the Tightwad Gazette. I checked it out of my library so many times I finally bought a copy.

There were a few things I didn't like about it but overall it has helped me be more frugal. I didn't really like the amount of time devoted to talking about trash picking. Either out of dumpsters or out at the curb. I suppose if you are desparate but it just doesn't seem like a great way to save money to me.

[applejuice]

I made my kids eat what they wanted, and what they left was my dinner...it kept my weight down...: