The Complete Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift As a Viable Alternative Lifestyle by Amy Dacyczyn At about $15, its an investment, but this huge, 700-page reference manual is filled with Amy Dacyczyn’s hand-drawn illustration and newsletters filled with frugal tips. Amy published the Tightwad [ ... ]
Solveig (boergen AT ecatv.home.ne.jp), a long time resident of Niigata, Japan, and university instructor, contacted me a few months ago regarding her new business as a professional photographer. In addition to professional, Western-style portraiture, Solveig offers beautiful coffeetable photo books, [ ... ]
Smart Couples Finish Rich – 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner by David Bach Also available in Japanese: Kashikoi Kappuru wa Saigo ni Warau A simple, though US-focused, book devoted to helping couples determine their financial personalities and plan for their future. Fo [ ... ]
All Things Frugal is a US-based web site that is a sort-of clearinghouse of “Do-it-Yourself” frugality. They offer the Pennypincher E-zine, a weekly free e-zine, and the Tightwad Tidbits, a daily free e-zine filled with tightwad tips. Some of the tips are pretty straightforward, or ̶ [ ... ]
Longtime Frugal Japan/Frugal Watch supporter Shaney Crawford recommends this hidden jewel of a hair salon in Tsukuba, a university town in Ibaraki with a large number of foreign residents. Shaney swears by Kubota-san’s excellent service and reasonable prices, and told us a bit more about J-Coo [ ... ]
Cookpad.com is a community-based, Japanese cooking website featuring tens of thousands of recipes in easy to understand Japanese, with pictures. Rate your favorite recipes or add your own to the mix – its all free. (Note that cooking from recipes is a great way to study Japanese!) [ ... ]
At certain times in one’s life or career, it becomes necessary to take an inventory of your personal strengths and weaknesses. Likewise, sometimes the encouragement or help of a professional coach can be a true motivator in achieving a personal, career, or even family goal. To help meet these [ ... ]
Top Secret Recipes is an interesting, slightly commercial website devoted to divulging recipes for famous or brand name American foods (from restaurants and other establishments) to make at home. [ ... ]
Looking for a unique place to enroll your children in a safe, caring international environment? Frugal Japan reader Janine Boyd introduced us to Maebashi International Kindergarten, in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. Located 1.5 hours north of Tokyo, the kindergarten serves both local children, and [ ... ]
Gourmet Navi is a great website (in Japanese and English) for searching out recommended restaurants in a specific area, based on price, food style (Italian, Asian, etc.), and other preferences. Favorite features include online menus and coupons that offer real bargains (free bottle of wine, 20% of d [ ... ]