Living on a Shoestring [Paperback]

The Tightwad Twins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 1997

The essential book for everyone who has been accused of being "cheap"--and is proud of it--has finally arrived!

Here are the Tightwad Twins, ready to share hundreds of their time (and budget) tested cheap tricks to help readers learn how not to spend money and still make life easier. With over 1000 tips on cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and gift giving, Living on a Shoestring is an essential bible for everyone looking to stretch their dollar just a little further, with such time-and money-saving tips as:

Vacuuming with a scented softener sheet--the vacuum bag will deodorize while you clean
A coat of nail polish can make old jewelry look new
A blast of hairspray stiffens flies' wings for easier swatting
White-out hides scratches on white appliances

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ann Fox Chodakowski and Susan Fox Wood offer a myriad of money-saving tips, some clever, some obsessive-compulsive. For example, they recommend reusing gift wrapping by starching and ironing out the wrinkles. The authors also like the idea of planting an outdoor garden with artificial flowers, which never die. To each her own.

From the Publisher

The essential book for everyone who has been accused of being "cheap"--and is proud of it--has finally arrived!

Here are the Tightwad Twins, ready to share hundreds of their time (and budget) tested cheap tricks to help readers learn how not to spend money and still make life easier. With over 1000 tips on cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and gift giving, Living on a Shoestring is an essential bible for everyone looking to stretch their dollar just a little further, with such time-and money-saving tips as:

Vacuuming with a scented softener sheet--the vacuum bag will deodorize while you cleanA coat of nail polish can make old jewelry look newA blast of hairspray stiffens flies' wings for easier swattingWhite-out hides scratches on white appliances

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dell (December 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440508061
• ISBN-13: 978-0440508069
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,553,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humor and tips that only a busy mom could understand...., June 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Living on a Shoestring (Paperback)

Thanks, twins for helping me to finally learn how to get the OPTION to stay home with my kids and not work. I am motivated to try more of your tips every day and my husband has convinced all of his friends to get a book for their wives. Tightwadery doesn't have to be misery because I learned from you guys that it is not how much you make but how much you get to keep. I also took your test for the second income....is your second income working for you or are you working for it? This book has changed my way of thinking and has helped me so much! Twins, thanks for knowing that you have many of us tightwad sisters out there! Ignore the people who make so much money that they cannot understand the way it is with REAL people's lives of budgets and bills.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but not practical to use, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Living on a Shoestring (Paperback)

Although this was an interesting and somewhat useful book, the format was not practical. There isn't an easy way to search for information contained in the book. There are other books available that are much more informative and useful.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful ideas!, June 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Living on a Shoestring (Paperback)

I don't know what that Pennsylvania woman was looking for, but this book has a larger variety of tips than just getting stains out such as Heloise. Must not have been poor enough. The one thing on how to buy a house without a downpayment ALONE was worth the bookprice. Lady, you need an imagination like the Tightwad Twins to come up with these useful daily make a profit from just working tips. Great gift idea also. Twins were also great on Gayle King, Crook and Chase. Get another book out twins!!!!!!!!!