The Tightwad Philosophy
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow of life . . ."  
-- Henry David Thoreau, from Walden

Live simply. Spend modestly. Invest for long-lasting pleasures. Consume wisely. Respect the environment. And prioritize life above work. 

Although counting pennies may seen spinster-ish, this awareness of personal consumer habits and conservation of financial resources can actually liberate you from economic dependence. A full savings account means that you can work part-time, return to school, travel the world, or give generously to others. 
 
        Techniques for Living Modestly
Ride the Bus.  The local SLO bus system is free for students, staff, and faculty.  Just show your campus identification card.  Beyond the obvious cost-savings, sainthood awaits those who resist the pollution of automobile dependence. 
Use the Library.  Pleasures are endless at the local library.  Let literature provide relief from the advertising bombardment of television.  And investigate the extensive do-it-yourself section. 
Save Deliberately.  Each month, I set aside at least $200 in a Money Market Savings Account or as a Mutual Fund Investment.  As a result, I earned over $1,500 last year in interest accruals and stock market returns -- based solely on my savings while a Cal Poly student.  Obviously this means that I work a variety of part-time jobs, but this strategy is far preferable to graduating with student loan debt. 
Eliminate the Frivilous.  Why spend money on knick-knacks that gather dust, mediocre films that will be out on video within a few months, or your 798th pair of cheap earrings?  Instead, focus your discretionary funds on the long-lasting and the memorable.  Silly little trinkets purchased on a daily basis add up by year's end to the cost of a bargain-hunter's trip to Istanbul or a month-long sabbatical to a writer's colony. 
 
        Join the Anti-Consumerism Movement
The Web Of Simplicity offers a "free step-by-step resource guide for those who are serious about learning to live a more conscious, simple, healthy and earth-friendly lifestyle." 

The Dollar Stretcher site includes almost 1,000 practical articles and endless tips on the low-cost lifestyle.  Subscribe to the Dollar Stretcher electronic newsletter. Just send an e-mail to: subscribe-dollar-stretcher-2@xc.org  with the message "subscribe." Each weekly issue includes tips from subscribers and columns from experts. 

International Buy Nothing Day -- scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving each year -- is designed to combat shopping frenzy with a display of alternative values. 

The statistics collected on the web site  "All-Consuming Passion: Waking Up From the American Dream" paint a frightening vision of obsessive consumption. 

The Unofficial Tightwad Gazette Fan Club celebrates the philosophy of Amy Dacyczyn lifestyle-changing newsletter and book series. 
 
 
 
Eating Cheap
Demanding Refunds
Clip Coupons