Paula Vogelgesang of Wanblee, SD, practices what she preaches in her penny-pinching frugal newsletter PennyWise, an eight-page newsletter she puts together every month in her home.

When she first came up with the idea of starting a newsletter, she explains, "I saw something on a television show about someone who was publishing a newsletter on how to save money, and I thought, I could do that. I realized that being frugal is something I've done all my life. Those in agriculture are automatically recyclers and reusers of everything."

Paula and her husband, Conrad, are full-time partners in the family farm. They are the parents of two grown children and are raising their grandson, whom they have adopted. Michael is the 5th generation to share the land that they live on and love.

As a pure novice in the field, she knew nothing about publishing, but gathered up her ideas and started filling the first issue of PennyWise with all the money and time saving hints, hand drawn illustrations, recipes, and craft ideas that the newsletter has become known for. For the first 4 1/2 years of publication, the layout was typed on an old $25 second-hand typewriter. Headlines and graphics were and still are, mostly done with a black marker.

Marketing was basic. "I mailed it to everyone I know around the United States and asked them to share it with friends. We now have subscribers in all 50 states and overseas,mostly by word of mouth."

Four years ago, financial planner, Argyl Ullestad began a monthly column in the newsletter. Other columnists who contribute from time to time include Frank Fedorchuk of California who writes about hobby beekeeping and Joanne Letellier, a master gardener.

The subscribers play an important part in the success of the newsletter. As the subscription list continues to grow, her readers send even more hints and ideas on how to save time and money, recipes, and craft ideas. "They are so great at sharing their ideas on how they "make-do" when it's needed. The rural women seem to be quite adept. Anyone involved in agriculture has to know how to stretch his or her dollars," she says. "Prices fluctuate like a yo-yo and farm women have to be able to stretch a dollar further than anyone else because they don't know what their paycheck will be from one crop to the next. Often, they have only one paycheck per year!"

As for the future of the newsletter, Paula has a goal of getting the publication to the point where she can afford to hire some of the local women. The Vogelgesang farm is located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in western South Dakota. There is very little industry on the reservation; jobs are extremely scarce. The unemployment rate on the reservation is between 70-80%.

Today, PennyWise has subscribers in every state and three other countries. There is no advertising. The publication is subscription based. Paula also writes columns for several other publications, does a monthly-televised demonstration of ideas found in the current issue of PennyWise on KOTA television located in Rapid City, SD, and holds down a job on the farm. Through the newsletter, Vogelgesang promotes debt-free and simple living.

"You can choose to be in debt the rest of your life," she says, "or you can manage your money in such a way that you are free. The true joy in living is a peace of mind and freedom from financial worry."

You can contact Paula Vogelgesang at: