Tightwad Gazette

A few months ago my sister-in-law, Carri, sent me a fabulous book called The Complete Tighwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. It's a 2-inch book full of frugality articles, tips, questions & answers, calculations, etc. Upon reading the introduction the book spoke to me.

Here's a quick excerpt, "Tightwaddery is not for everyone. I am keenly aware that most people really don't care a hoot about any of this stuff. Some are doing just fine, thank you...Past experience taught me quickly that I couldn't win them over...this informations is geared for the rest of the people who do not find thrift a radical concept."

That would be me! I' m thrifty not because I have to be but because I love it. Anywhooo...I just wanted to pass along two of my fav's I've tried from the book:

1. TOILET PAPER: If you have small kids in the house who use TONS of toilet paper because they like to spin it and spin it, step on the the roll of toilet paper so it's oblong in shape. The will take away the fun of the spin. The kids use less toilet paper; therefore, no more clogged toilets and less trips to the store for toilet paper.

2. HOMEMADE GRANOLA RECIPE: Granola is one of my favorite foods and it's expensive to buy...but, so cheap to make. Here's the recipe:
3/4 C brown sugar
1/3 C vegetable oil (I use canola)
1/3 C honey (molases works too)
5 C oats
1/2 C raisins*
1/2 C dry milk (I use protein powder)
3/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
Mix br sugar, oil, & honey in a saucepan. Heat until sugar is dissolved. Combine dry ingredients in a large cake pan. Pour sugar mixture over dry mixture & mix well. Bake at 375 for 10 min (I do 10 min stir, and then 10 more b/c I like mine crunchy). Let cool in pan. Store in airtight container.
Optional: add nuts, wheat germ, flax seed, coconut, dates, etc
*add raisins after cooking

Enjoy!