Arthur Read: Super Saver

Summary
Business is slow for Arthur's folks, and Arthur is concerned. Can this "super saver" find ways to keep his family in the green?

Plot
Arthur talks about how easy it is to save money, saying "All you have to do is give up a few things, like maybe a new video game or a fancy pair of sneakers." As he lists the objects, they disappear and are replaced by a jar of money. The rest of his room soon disappears, and D.W. walks in, only for the rest of the house to vanish. Arthur tries to make D.W. disappear, but is unsuccessful.

Arthur Read: Super Saver

Arthur asks his parents for a Carrot Kid action figure, only for them to answer that they do not have as much money due to having less client work. "Times are tough," his parents say, and explain that they need to only spend money on necessities.

In history class, Arthur learns about the Great Depression. Worried that his family could end up in such a situation, needing to visit soup kitchens to get food and traveling west despite having no gas for the car, Arthur starts saving money. He starts saving electricity by turning off the lights and the TV. D.W. still wants to watch TV, so she and Arthur watch it through Vicita's window.

Arthur thinks of other ways to save money when he hears his parents say that the lawn needs mowing. Instead of using the lawn mower and its gas, he and D.W. cut the grass with scissors. David tells them to "clean up before dinner," and Arthur and D.W. instead shower in the Molinas' yard sprinklers.

Arthur's family have a candlelit dinner, per Arthur's suggestion. Arthur says that he will do the dishes, only to have Pal lick them clean instead. That night, Arthur dreams of being "Super Saver," vacuuming up all of his parents' bills, giving them a book on ways to save money, and warning them not to spend too much on D.W.

Hearing about his and D.W.'s misguided attempts at saving money, Jane and David explain that they still do have money and that there are more effective ways to save. David gets Arthur an old-fashioned lawn mower from the dump, and Jane shows him how to cut out coupons. Instead of watching TV, they watch DVDs.

David gives Arthur his allowance, plus extra, and Arthur goes to buy the Carrot Kid action figure. He instead chooses to donate it to save families in need. D.W. asks him if he bought the toy, and Arthur answers, "I'll get it some other day." He and D.W. go to play in the Molinas' sprinklers again, finishing the episode.

Characters

 * David Read
 * Jane Read
 * Arthur Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Kate Read
 * Pal
 * Nigel Ratburn
 * Buster Baxter
 * Super Saver
 * Scrimp
 * Vicita Molina (cameo)
 * Francine Frensky (cameo)
 * Oliver Frensky (cameo)
 * Catherine Frensky (cameo)
 * Chip Crosswire (cameo)
 * Muffy Crosswire (cameo)
 * Alberto Molina (mentioned)

Trivia

 * Moral: Save money for helping people, Not for your own selfish gain.

Episode connections

 * Arthur tries to save money around the house, just like D.W. does in "Postcards from Buster."
 * The episode's title is similar to that of "Buster Baxter, Cat Saver" and "Ladonna Compson: Party Animal.

Errors

 * In Arthur's dream, the Reads’ address is 112 Main Drive rather than Main Street.

Cultural references

 * Arthur learns about the Great Depression in school.
 * Carrot Kid's outfit resembles that of, just as Dark Bunny is based on.
 * Mr. Ratburn shows two actual newspaper front pages:
 * The front page of the Halifax Chronicle (October 30, 1929)
 * The front page of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (October 24, 1929)
 * The photographs shown by Mr. Ratburn are:
 * “St. Cyr Party -- Bar Harbor: Edw. Pendelton, Mary and Marcel, J.H.E. St. Cyr, Rob't. Swem” (LOC)
 * “Four families, three of them related with fifteen children” by Dorothea Lange
 * “Unemployed men queued outside a depression soup kitchen opened in Chicago by Al Capone” by unknown
 * “Broke, baby sick, and car trouble!” by Dorothea Lange
 * “Bennett Buggy at the University of Saskatchewan” by unknown
 * “Migrant Mother” by Dorothea Lange