America's Cheapest Family on Today Show

[janni518]

Anyone else see them? I've seen them before on other shows but always worth a second look at their site. Especially with the current state of the economy.

http://www.homeeconomiser.com/

It had hit capacity earlier but I was able to get in after a few tries.

 

[MEM]

Anyone else see them? I've seen them before on other shows but always worth a second look at their site. Especially with the current state of the economy.

http://www.homeeconomiser.com/

It had hit capacity earlier but I was able to get in after a few tries.

I purchased their book about a year ago when it first came out. There were a few ideas I learned from but most of their ideas are, to me, a privileged glimpse into the bloody obvious! Honestly - "to save money, stay out of stores"! "pack your lunch at least three times a week"! One of the worst ideas in the book was: when you go on vacation, buy a used crockpot in the local thrift shop in the area you are visiting. Bring with you a case of canned pasta, i.e. spaghettios. Dump the pasta into the crockpot and head out sightseeing. When you return to your motel room at the end of the day, you have a hot, cheap and nourishing meal waiting.

I said to DH that now is when Amy Dacycyzn needs to resurface!!!

 

[goofyboyzmom]

They are laughing all the way to the bank with the proceeds from these book sales!

 

[pjlla]

Interesting website. Sort of an updated version of the Tightwad Gazette family. But so much of the stuff they talk about is either obvious to most thrifty folks or repeat of what has been available for years in books like the Tightwad Gazette.

I suppose if you have never been the thrifty type some of this stuff might be new to you. But I am guessing that most people here on the BB could WRITE that stuff!...................P

 

[MEM]

Interesting website. Sort of an updated version of the Tightwad Gazette family. But so much of the stuff they talk about is either obvious to most thrifty folks or repeat of what has been available for years in books like the Tightwad Gazette.

I suppose if you have never been the thrifty type some of this stuff might be new to you. But I am guessing that most people here on the BB could WRITE that stuff!...................P

My sentiments EXACTLY! I felt ripped off by the book.

 

[KKB]

I remember Amy D--The Tightwad Gazetter--even she recommended checking her book out from the library!

I scanned the newsletter--I agree, not rocket science there!

I would not be comfortable with having spaghettios in a crock pot at home or vacation! Some of Amy D's suggestions don't work well for me, either.

BUT I do believe in saving WHEREVER possible in one's life...WHY spend more than you have to on what you need to buy and WHY spend your money on things that aren't truly important to you.

We have a nice house in a nice neighborhood with a mortgage we can comfortably afford (our mortgage is thru my inlaws, so it is like paying ourselves....). We drive paid-for cars for 10 years before buying another used car (1-2 yrs old). We only buy new furniture/electronics/appliances when NEEDED (break, rip, etc) Clothing is bought on clearance or at Target.
Menus are based on what is in the freezer/pantry, and I stock up seriously when things we use are on sale. I use coupons some, store brands alot. Around $500-600/month for food for 5, including a teenage son. (and HEALTHY...few snacks--popcorn, pretzels, jerky--fruit & veggies at lunch & dinner, mostly fresh; whole grain products)

We DO travel A LOT--and people think we are rich because we travel so much. But THAT is what is important to us. And I strive to get the best deal possible for travel...I rarely pay over $250/RT plane ticket, 7 day cruises for $500, free dining at WDW (or 40% off), stay in cheap rooms (we are never there; location can be worth a bit more), etc.

My theory is...pay as little as possible for what you need/want and never spend money on things that truly do not make you happy.

 

[CherylA]

I remember Amy D--The Tightwad Gazetter--even she recommended checking her book out from the library!

I scanned the newsletter--I agree, not rocket science there!

I would not be comfortable with having spaghettios in a crock pot at home or vacation! Some of Amy D's suggestions don't work well for me, either.

BUT I do believe in saving WHEREVER possible in one's life...WHY spend more than you have to on what you need to buy and WHY spend your money on things that aren't truly important to you.

We have a nice house in a nice neighborhood with a mortgage we can comfortably afford (our mortgage is thru my inlaws, so it is like paying ourselves....). We drive paid-for cars for 10 years before buying another used car (1-2 yrs old). We only buy new furniture/electronics/appliances when NEEDED (break, rip, etc) Clothing is bought on clearance or at Target.
Menus are based on what is in the freezer/pantry, and I stock up seriously when things we use are on sale. I use coupons some, store brands alot. Around $500-600/month for food for 5, including a teenage son.

We DO travel A LOT--and people think we are rich because we travel so much. But THAT is what is important to us. And I strive to get the best deal possible for travel...I rarely pay over $250/RT plane ticket, 7 day cruises for $500, free dining at WDW (or 40% off), stay in cheap rooms (we are never there; location can be worth a bit more), etc.

My theory is...pay as little as possible for what you need/want and never spend money on things that truly do not make you happy.

There are VERY few people out there who get my theory on money and spending yet you summed it up. I feel exactally that same way!

 

[jessily]

We DO travel A LOT--and people think we are rich because we travel so much. But THAT is what is important to us.

I had to comment on this. Travel is very important to me as well and is what most of my "disposable" income goes towards. My friends will ask how I can afford to go on 2 or 3 trips per year. Many of them make more money than I do. The simple answer is priorities. Bills, food, savings, etc. come first. My next priority is travel. With what they spend on jeans, sunglasses, bags, eating out and movie tickets in a few months, I can take a vacation. I don't judge what they spend their money on, it's just a simple fact of where the money is going.

 

[KKB]

I had to comment on this. Travel is very important to me as well and is what most of my "disposable" income goes towards. My friends will ask how I can afford to go on 2 or 3 trips per year. Many of them make more money than I do. The simple answer is priorities. Bills, food, savings, etc. come first. My next priority is travel. With what they spend on jeans, sunglasses, bags, eating out and movie tickets in a few months, I can take a vacation. I don't judge what they spend their money on, it's just a simple fact of where the money is going.

I have a friend we have been trying to take a trip with...she says they can't afford it...WELL...if she would just give up her $5/day Starbucks latte habit...that's $1800/yr!!!!! (I use Starbucks as a VERY occasional treat for myself...those trips mean ALOT more!

 

[Free4Life11]

IOne of the worst ideas in the book was: when you go on vacation, buy a used crockpot in the local thrift shop in the area you are visiting. Bring with you a case of canned pasta, i.e. spaghettios. Dump the pasta into the crockpot and head out sightseeing. When you return to your motel room at the end of the day, you have a hot, cheap and nourishing meal waiting.

That doesn't sound like a vacation to me at ALL!

 

[Tikitoi]

One of the worst ideas in the book was: when you go on vacation, buy a used crockpot in the local thrift shop in the area you are visiting. Bring with you a case of canned pasta, i.e. spaghettios. Dump the pasta into the crockpot and head out sightseeing. When you return to your motel room at the end of the day, you have a hot, cheap and nourishing meal waiting.

I can't believe they could actually print something like that.

 

[BeckyScott]

I don't think the Budget Board peeps are exactly "typical" with spending, if you kwim.

It's just like every year when Woman's Day and Family Circle run those "save money this year!" articles, or (bless her heart) Suze Orman shows up yapping about 10 ways to get out of debt, or Oprah has a chick that saves 90% of her grocery bill by using coupons and loss leaders. If you've seen one of 'em, you've seen 'em all.

However. I do remember last year, I think, when Oprah did her big get-out-of-debt shows with the different clueless families. I watched those. And spent most of my time thinking, 'you're kidding, right?' I guess in spite of the huge amount of repeated information available anywhere, there are still plenty of people that have no clue. Looking shocked when they found out that consignment stores sell name-brand clothes. Never went to the Aldi's that was two blocks from their house. Somehow overlooked the fact that their teen daughter has 35 pairs of jeans.

My DH got a ton of grief when he told his co-workers that we got food from Angel Food. They told him it was only for poor people. And so he sat there eating his lunch of leftover steak and baked potato, while they chowed down on canned raviolis. My MIL tsk-tsks us because we go to a clinic for medical care-- a clinic that started out as a "free clinic" about 10 years ago but since then has done some serious upgrading-- a clinic with the best pediatrician in town, the other doctors are as good as any you'd find, wonderful nursing staff-- oh, it's the poor people clinic, she won't go there. They are horrified at "trash-pickin day", which for us is some of the best fun out there. People just don't think.

These people would also probably be horrified at the idea of bringing your own Glow Necklaces to Disney or shoving packs of pop-tarts in your kid's luggage or making your own matchy-matchy t-shirts. That's fine. As you all say, a dollar saved is a dollar you can spend on Disney.

And I do love Amy D. Her 3-in-1 doesn't leave the house, I don't trust anyone enough to loan it out.

 

[kaytieeldr]

but most of their ideas are, to me, a privileged glimpse into the bloody obvious! Honestly - "to save money, stay out of stores"!

LOL! I do try to stay out of stores, except CVS, Walgreens, and a couple of supermarkets; my new mantra is, "But do I NEED it?". Given mature consideration, so far (this having just started on Christmas Day when my brother criticized his GF for giving me a gift because I have "too much stuff"!) it's worked.

Now, granted, New Year's Eve I spent a lot of money at CVS - but I had flexible spending credit I had to use up, and the only non-covered items I bought were toothpaste and three bags of Three Musketeers Mint Minis (and yes, I did NEED them).

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can't believe they could actually print something like that.

Plus, after eight, ten, or more hours in a crockpot - wouldn't a product like that have dissolved?

 

[Tikitoi]

Plus, after eight, ten, or more hours in a crockpot - wouldn't a product like that have dissolved?

Dissolved and whatever if anything left, just sticking to that pot.

 

[DawnM]

A can of spagettios is nourishing????

We actually rarely stay in hotels at all anymore. With 5 of us, it is just too cramped. We stay in 2 bedrooms condos for $28/night including tax through SkyAuction.

I need a full kitchen too. It helps with the food bill.

Dawn

I purchased their book about a year ago when it first came out. There were a few ideas I learned from but most of their ideas are, to me, a privileged glimpse into the bloody obvious! Honestly - "to save money, stay out of stores"! "pack your lunch at least three times a week"! One of the worst ideas in the book was: when you go on vacation, buy a used crockpot in the local thrift shop in the area you are visiting. Bring with you a case of canned pasta, i.e. spaghettios. Dump the pasta into the crockpot and head out sightseeing. When you return to your motel room at the end of the day, you have a hot, cheap and nourishing meal waiting.

I said to DH that now is when Amy Dacycyzn needs to resurface!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

A can of spagettios is nourishing????

Maybe throw in a handful of chopped, purchased-at-a-discount-just-before-we-were-going-to-toss-it-but-should-be-okay-if-you-cut-out-the-"bad"-spots (because all that will be left is a handful) broccoli for vitamins and nutrition?

 

[lttlmc3]

I'm sorry, but one of the things I love best about vacation is the food! I couldn't get excited about canned spaghetti.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Plus, after eight, ten, or more hours in a crockpot - wouldn't a product like that have dissolved?

YUMM-O. Nothing can top of a beautiful day on vacation. Unless you top it off with a tastey dinner of slow cooked spaghetti-o's.

 

[QJ411]

Maybe throw in a handful of chopped, purchased-at-a-discount-just-before-we-were-going-to-toss-it-but-should-be-okay-if-you-cut-out-the-"bad"-spots (because all that will be left is a handful) broccoli for vitamins and nutrition?

I agree, I can't see Spaghettio's as 'nutritious'...

I'm sorry, but one of the things I love best about vacation is the food! I couldn't get excited about canned spaghetti.

Me too, food is one of the highlights of our vacation!

I am amazed though, at some of the tips I've read through blogs, these budget boards and skimming through the pages of my friends copy of Amy D's book, I've learned A TON. Some are genuinely awesome tips that I've never thought of, and then there some I shy away from (like crock pots with spaghettios while on vacation).