Scottsdale Independent — North Scottsdale Couple Teaches Thriftiness in Newsletter

They grocery shop once a month, feed a family of seven and spend only $350. Now, North Scottsdale residents Steve and Annette Economides want to help others do the same.

The couple came across a newsletter "The Tightwad Gazette" in the early 1990s. When the author retired several years later the husband-wife team wanted to start something similar.

"We had friends tell us, "You guys do the same sort of things as this lady to save money, why don't you start one?" Mr. Economides said.

The "HomeEconomiser" is making its debut this month to readers via its web site. The newsletter is packed with several of Mr. and Mrs. Economides' money saving tips and many anecdotes from their thrifty life together.

"The bottom line for us, we want to teach people that they don't have to be victims of the economy," Mr. Economides said.

The first edition of "Home Economiser" details how the family of seven has stayed out of credit card debt but also mentions the hard times that have come with being frugal.

"Simplifying your life doesn't mean you have to go without," Mr. Economides said. It's all about being a careful consumer."

While watching the family's pennies may have its rewards, Mr. Economides also speaks of the troubles it caused early in the pinching process.

"We felt discouraged when the Danish furniture truck pulled to our apartment complex, and our next-door neighbors had beautiful new furniture delivered," he wrote. "(Mrs. Economides) just sat on our $25-orange-and-brown-plaid-missionary-purchased couches and cried."

The couple is passing their tips for saving to their children with games and rewards centered around money and staying debt free.

"It just makes sense to teach our children not to spend more on things than they can afford to," Mr. Economides said. "We want to teach them that hard work pays off."