Reading the Simplicity Classics

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6-27-24, 9:31pm
SiouzQ.

I am neighbors with Daniel Quinn's granddaughter (she lives right below us) - I just found out that he wrote "Ishmael". It will be on my reading list this summer as I recuperate.
3-28-25, 11:26pm
Two Bassets

Thank you for the list. I have ordered The Simple Living by Janet Luhrs and Voluntary Simplicity by Elgin to continue my journey.
3-29-25, 8:51am
catherine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two Bassets

Thank you for the list. I have ordered The Simple Living by Janet Luhrs and Voluntary Simplicity by Elgin to continue my journey.

That's funny. Just last night I was reviewing the simple living books on my bookshelf, and actually pulled out Voluntary Simplicity and reread it for a while. It is slightly dated, but the principles are timeless. Still a simple living classic.
3-29-25, 9:35am
happystuff

Loved reading all of those. The one I still have, and actually still reference, is The Complete Tightwad Gazette. Her price comparisons are way off with today's prices, but a lot of her recipes and stuff are still cheaper.
3-29-25, 10:11am
early morning

happystuff, I love Amy D and the Tightwad Gazette. I still have all of my newsletters, and the books (purchased second hand, of course!). Of all the "classics" I return to, hers resonates the most.
3-29-25, 1:32pm
catherine

Quote:

Originally Posted by early morning

happystuff, I love Amy D and the Tightwad Gazette. I still have all of my newsletters, and the books (purchased second hand, of course!). Of all the "classics" I return to, hers resonates the most.

I agree. I was also thinking about her the other day when I stopped at a store to pick up a six-pack of soda we "had" to have. We take it for granted that it should be on our shopping list, but I was thinking about those charts where she would illustrate the cost of a cup of hot chocolate bought at a diner vs a cup made from a mix vs a cup made with cocoa, sugar and milk out of the pantry--those graphs were so impactful. DH was justifying his .99 coffee that he often buys at our local market, but I counted out the servings in the 50% off bag of Green Mountain coffee I bought and divided it by the price and was able to tell him that my cup of coffee was only .14.

Related, has anyone ever heard of Mr. Money Mustache's 172 rule?

Quote:

To make that calculation, just use the “rule of 172” – take a monthly expense and multiply it by 172 to estimate how much it would compound into over ten years, if invested.

I read about it only recently, but it's addictive! So if you take the difference between DH's 99 cent cup of coffee and my 14 cent one (85 cents) and multiply that by 30, you have 25.50. Multiply that by 172 and you have $4386. That's not chump change and all you have to do is make your own coffee! That's simple. I do it every day! And that's just for the paltry difference of .85 a day. There are a lot of other leaks in my spending that I could plug up. And I can enjoy the savings in 10 years if I live that long :)
3-29-25, 1:42pm
happystuff

Quote:

Originally Posted by catherine

I agree. I was also thinking about her the other day when I stopped at a store to pick up a six-pack of soda we "had" to have. We take it for granted that it should be on our shopping list, but I was thinking about those charts where she would illustrate the cost of a cup of hot chocolate bought at a diner vs a cup made from a mix vs a cup made with cocoa, sugar and milk out of the pantry--those graphs were so impactful. DH was justifying his .99 coffee that he often buys at our local market, but I counted out the servings in the 50% off bag of Green Mountain coffee I bought and divided it by the price and was able to tell him that my cup of coffee was only .14.

Related, has anyone ever heard of Mr. Money Mustache's 172 rule

I read about it only recently, but it's addictive! So if you take the difference between DH's 99 cent cup of coffee and my 14 cent one (85 cents) and multiply that by 30, you have 25.50. Multiply that by 172 and you have $4386. That's not chump change and all you have to do is make your own coffee! That's simple. I do it every day! And that's just for the paltry difference of .85 a day. There are a lot of other leaks in my spending that I could plug up. And I can enjoy the savings in 10 years if I live that long :)

I never really related to MMM, but I kind of like this rule! Problem is - and this is a problem whenever money/savings/cutting back arise - I am probably down to what some folks would say is "almost" the bare-bones already! Granted, I do the occasional splurge, but should anything else crop up, there really isn't anywhere to cut further.

I image if push came to shove, I'd fine some more areas. Hopefully, I won't reach that point. And don't get me wrong - life is good! At least I don't feel deprived. (maybe I need to check in with dh???) :)
3-29-25, 1:45pm
catherine

Quote:

Originally Posted by happystuff

I never really related to MMM, but I kind of like this rule! Problem is - and this is a problem whenever money/savings/cutting back arise - I am probably down to what some folks would say is "almost" the bare-bones already! Granted, I do the occasional splurge, but should anything else crop up, there's really isn't anywhere to cut further.

I image if push came to shove, I'd fine some more areas. Hopefully, I won't reach that point. And don't get me wrong - life is good! At least I don't feel deprived. (maybe I need to check in with dh???) :)

Yes, there are plenty of people who need to hear that rule, but they aren't on this forum! I'm definitely preaching to the choir here.
3-29-25, 1:53pm
happystuff

Quote:

Originally Posted by catherine

Yes, there are plenty of people who need to hear that rule, but they aren't on this forum! I'm definitely preaching to the choir here.

Even the choir needs reminders. ;)
3-29-25, 7:29pm
iris lilies

Quote:

Originally Posted by catherine

I agree. I was also thinking about her the other day when I stopped at a store to pick up a six-pack of soda we "had" to have. We take it for granted that it should be on our shopping list, but I was thinking about those charts where she would illustrate the cost of a cup of hot chocolate bought at a diner vs a cup made from a mix vs a cup made with cocoa, sugar and milk out of the pantry--those graphs were so impactful. DH was justifying his .99 coffee that he often buys at our local market, but I counted out the servings in the 50% off bag of Green Mountain coffee I bought and divided it by the price and was able to tell him that my cup of coffee was only .14.

Related, has anyone ever heard of Mr. Money Mustache's 172 rule?

I read about it only recently, but it's addictive! So if you take the difference between DH's 99 cent cup of coffee and my 14 cent one (85 cents) and multiply that by 30, you have 25.50. Multiply that by 172 and you have $4386. That's not chump change and all you have to do is make your own coffee! That's simple. I do it every day! And that's just for the paltry difference of .85 a day. There are a lot of other leaks in my spending that I could plug up. And I can enjoy the savings in 10 years if I live that long :)

about household drinks: Diana in Wisconsin had a house full of boys and used to water down the milk with powdered milk and this was Amy’s suggestion. I think? She had a house full of kids. I also vaguely remember Amy’s formula for casserole going something like this:

Protein, a starch, a vegetable, something creamy to bind it and something crunchy on top. Put it in the oven to bake. Is that right?

I never read the Tighwad Gazette but I probably flipped through it a couple of times. I made sure the libraries where I worked and had a copy.

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