Chad Merda
Chad Merda is a journalist, graphic designer and cheapskate at heart. He's pinched a penny until it snaps in half, his wallet creaks when it opens and his credit card company routinely calls to do a well-being check. He's worked at a variety of papers, big (Chicago Tribune) and small (LaSalle News-Tribune) and his current gig has him wearing many hats at the SouthtownStar, a newspaper in south suburban Chicago and a part of Sun-Times Media.
He is also the face behind Mr. Tightwad, a regular newspaper feature that offers tips on how to save money and live a more frugal life. He's so cheap that four years ago, to combat rising gas prices, he started running his diesel vehicles on waste vegetable oil that he gets free from restaurants.
In an effort to have some fun, he also blogs at My Two Empty Pockets, where he not only shares deals, but tries to have a little bit of fun with his, and other people's refusal to part with their greenbacks.
In his free time, he enjoys writing on the side, short walks on the beach and the sound of nails screeching on a chalkboard.
Latest Articles
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Book Review: 'The Cheapskate Next Door' by Jeff Yeager
In a society where many people thrive on spending money, Jeff Yeager takes a different look at how cheapskates happily stretch every dollar farther.
Mar 22, 2011
- Chad Merda
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Endowment Programs Promise Free College Tuition
There are many endowments across the country that pay for your child's college tuition, as long as they graduate from high schools in certain districts.
Mar 10, 2011
- Chad Merda
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Guide to Cheap Summer Fun Around Chicago
Save some money and check out these free or cheap events throughout the Chicago area to keep your clan entertained this summer.
Mar 9, 2011
- Chad Merda
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How to Clean a Heated Waste Vegetable Oil Fuel Tank
If you're running your diesel vehicle on waste vegetable oil and it has a heated fuel tank, you need to clean the tank annually to prevent gunk build-up.
Mar 7, 2011
- Chad Merda
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Setup to Easily Filter Waste Vegetable Oil
An efficient waste vegetable oil filtration system can be set up cheaply and doing so will save you time, and eliminate oil spills during the process.
Mar 7, 2011
- Chad Merda
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Save Money by Shopping with Discounted Gift Cards
Who says gift cards are just for gifts? There are a number of ways to buy them at a discount and then use them for everyday shopping to save money.
Mar 3, 2011
- Chad Merda
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Want to Be a Competitive Eater? You Probably Couldn't Stomach It
Even if you can pack it in on the buffet line, that's no guarantee you'll be able to win an eating challenge. I found out the hard way.
Mar 3, 2011
- Chad Merda
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Free Birthday Meal Offers Aren't Just for Your Birthday
Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? There are plenty of offers out there that you can take advantage of on or around your birthday.
Mar 2, 2011
- Chad Merda
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How to Run Your Diesel Car on WVO With No Engine Modifications
If you live in a warm climate, it is possible to run your diesel engine on waste vegetable oil without doing any modifications to the engine or fuel system.
Mar 2, 2011
- Chad Merda
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How to Separate Water from Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO)
If you're running waste vegetable oil in your car, it's important to separate any water out of it to prevent damaging the engine, fuel pump, or injectors.
Mar 2, 2011
- Chad Merda
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