I love voluntary simplicity and frugal living solutions. It’s fun to me trying to find creative ways to do things more cheaply. A long time ago, I read a series of books called “The Tightwad Gazette” and I learned so much about how to be creative to make my money stretch further. One of the most important things I learned, however, is that compared to some dedicated tightwads, I’m positively extravagant. There are some folks in the world who take tightwaddery and frugality to the next level. A whole ‘nother level. In the joke below, an old tightwad is dying and his last words illustrate perfectly what a true tightwad would be thinking of in his dying breath.
A 90-year-old tightwad is on his deathbed taking his last breaths.
Summoning his last bit of strength, he lifts his head and whispers:
“Is my beloved wife Sarah here with me?” And Sarah says,
“Yes, I am here.”
He then says:
“Are my children — my wonderful children — are they here with me?”
And they reply,
“Yes father, we are here with you to see you breathe your last.”
And he says:
“Are my brothers and sisters here with me as well?”
And they too tell him that they are here.
So the old man lays back quietly, closes his eyes, and says,
“If everybody is here … why is the light on in the kitchen?”
