The Ultimate Cheapskate?

[RetiredGypsy]

Has anyone picked up Jeff Yeager's The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches? I think there's only so many ways to tell someone to stop spending all your money, so there probably isn't much new, but I'm more interested in how humorous it's supposed to be. Any reviews?

 

[Nords]

Sarah in SC recommended it to me a couple months ago and I finally got our library's copy-- after all, Yeager can't be expecting anyone to actually buy his book.

It started out pretty good-- until my spouse hijacked it. Judging by the snickers & giggles coming from the other room, it's still pretty good.

He's a funny writer. I especially like his concepts of "Settling for enough, not for less" and his dreaded omnivore, the "Enoughasaurus". He also has no patience for those "financial advisors" who prattle on about the latté factor.

But a detailed report will have to wait until I'm able to finish the book...

 

[FANOFJESUS]

It must be pretty good, I am on a waiting list at the libary for it. I am number 20.

 

[RetiredGypsy]

I think I'll have to get it then. I still have that $30 credit from Amazon, but I'd still like very much to read a review Nords, if you ever manage to wrestle the book back.

 

[cashbalancetrouble]

I have not read it but feel I am living it. DW and I were in the pharmacy and read cards to each other for our upcoming annivesary.

 

[simple girl]

I have not read it but feel I am living it. DW and I were in the pharmacy and read cards to each other for our upcoming annivesary.

What a riot!

 

[aida2003]

Is this book reads like a comic or something similar? Does he ridicule thrifty people? I've never heard of the author before. But I requested a copy from my library, too. I'm asking what kind of book it is, so that I know beforehand whether he writes serious stuff or just for humor and I don't get confused.

 

[dex]

look like it has some good idea -
Amazon.com: The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less: Jeff Yeager: Books

The author recommends the book "Your Money or Your Life" which i think is a good complimentary book. It lays out the whole idea of seeing how you trade your life energy for money - (so make a good trade!). I feel this is a great next book because it takes that idea and gives more day ways to implement this idea of really spending your time and money on what matters.

++++++++++++++++
I think I'm where I am financially and thought wise when it comes to spending. If anything, I want to get into the habit of spending a bit more on the things that matter to me.

Basically, I have a budget and I track my spending to a degree so I can make informed decisions.

Also, I think when working people focus a bit too much on spending instead of thinking how they can maximize their income.
- part time jobs
- ebay - sell your stuff
or maximize their primary work income.
- don't stay a position too long
- change companies
- ask for a raise
- take compnay paid courses to advance in your field

 

[Sarah in SC]

Wow, Jeff, thanks for joining us--I really enjoyed the book and think that the other folks here will as well. It was hilarious, and also quite useful in tips and techniques, but without the dry, dusty stuff so common in frugal living type books.
It is a fun, informative book--I hope Nords likes it as much as his DW.

 

[Ultimate Cheapskate]

Thanks for your interest in my little book. I hope you have a chance to read it, and, if you do, I hope you enjoy it. It’s my first book, and I’m very proud of it. By all means, borrow it from the library or, if you decide to buy a copy, please pass it along to someone else after you’ve read it.

I describe the book as having three ingredients: 1 – Practical advice for how you can enjoy life more, but ONLY by spending less; 2- A laugh track (albeit with a PG-13 rating); 3 – A very serious side … I talk about everything from the environment to world hunger, and how all of that is impacted by what we chose to spend and consume everyday. Don’t worry aida2003, the only thrifty person I make fun of in the book is me! Indeed, I worship my brothers and sister of the Cheaphood.

Thanks again for your interest, and Stay Cheap!

-Jeff Yeager
Author, The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches

 

[Dog]

I too am on the waiting list with the library (number 19 ).

 

[CaseInPoint]

Sure, there's a point at which overspending becomes garish and wasteful, but there's also a point at which being super frugal can become downright bizarre.

I really wonder how many people actually choose to live so frugally, as oppose to being forced into it.

 

[RetiredGypsy]

Hey Jeff, thank you for giving a little preview!

 

[aida2003]

Thanks for your interest in my little book. I hope you have a chance to read it, and, if you do, I hope you enjoy it. It’s my first book, and I’m very proud of it. By all means, borrow it from the library or, if you decide to buy a copy, please pass it along to someone else after you’ve read it.

I describe the book as having three ingredients: 1 – Practical advice for how you can enjoy life more, but ONLY by spending less; 2- A laugh track (albeit with a PG-13 rating); 3 – A very serious side … I talk about everything from the environment to world hunger, and how all of that is impacted by what we chose to spend and consume everyday. Don’t worry aida2003, the only thrifty person I make fun of in the book is me! Indeed, I worship my brothers and sister of the Cheaphood.

Thanks again for your interest, and Stay Cheap!

-Jeff Yeager
Author, The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches

Cool, I was honored to get a response from the author himself . Now I'll definitely go to get my copy from the library when it arrives. I'm #1, so it must be soon. Since other copies were checked out (maybe 10 or so of them), I'm glad that there are more frugally minded people in Charlotte, NC.

 

[Ultimate Cheapskate]

Wow, Jeff, thanks for joining us--I really enjoyed the book and think that the other folks here will as well. It was hilarious, and also quite useful in tips and techniques, but without the dry, dusty stuff so common in frugal living type books.
It is a fun, informative book--I hope Nords likes it as much as his DW.

Thanks Sarah, the pleasure is all mine. I’ve been having a blast – and learning a lot – by poking around here in the ER Forums. I hope to hang out a lot more around here.

Glad you liked my book. BTW, did you notice that I dedicated the book to Denise, my pooooor wife? Obviously the woman’s a saint, putting up with America’s Cheapest Man for all these years. So the least I could do is dedicate my book to Denise …. even though she’s not actually read it yet. Yep, I’m still waiting for her to fork over the $12.95, just like anybody else.

Stay Cheap!
-Jeff Yeager

 

[Moemg]

I'm stopping at the library today to pick it up . I almost ordered it from Amazon used of course but that would go against the cheapskates principals.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Jeff, all I can say is I hope that somewhere out there in frugal land are some "less-frugal" folks that are actually buying your book, LOL! Maybe after all this library reading we'll buy some copies as gifts, I hope!

 

[CitricAcid]

The irony of the frugality of people using the library to read a book about living frugally is almost overwhelming.

 

[Achiever51]

The irony of the frugality of people using the library to read a book about living frugally is almost overwhelming.

Yup! Or else, folks who really walk the talk. I love it!

BTW, I just ordered the book from Amazon...albeit with a 40% off coupon I've been saving just for such a buy.

 

[Ultimate Cheapskate]

Jeff, all I can say is I hope that somewhere out there in frugal land are some "less-frugal" folks that are actually buying your book, LOL! Maybe after all this library reading we'll buy some copies as gifts, I hope!

Thanks again Sarah, I appreciate the sentiment. As you know from my book, though, I’m a big supporter of public libraries. In fact I’m doing my book tours (aka the Tour de Cheapskate – Jeff Yeager || The Ultimate Cheapskate) around the country by bicycle and staying in the homes of fellow cheapskate along the way, so that I can donate what I save (about $2,000 so far) to local libraries along my route.

No, I’m not offended when folks borrow my book from a library; public libraries are a terrific resource and obviously at least the libraries are buying copies of it. That said, I do get emails from readers – a fair number of them, too - saying that they loved my book so much they spent every lunch hour for two weeks standing in the back of Barnes & Noble reading it cover to cover! These are inevitably the messages that end with, "PS - I can't wait to read your next book!" Fair enough, but do they really not understand that a "next book" is predicated upon someone actually BUYING the current one? Oh well ..

Stay Cheap!
-Jeff Yeager

 

[Moemg]

Yup! Or else, folks who really walk the talk. I love it!

BTW, I just ordered the book from Amazon...albeit with a 40% off coupon I've been saving just for such a buy.

and if you are a true cheapskate you'll sell it back on Amazon when you are finished reading it and recoup your money .

 

[Nords]

Welcome to the board, Jeff!

These are inevitably the messages that end with, "PS - I can't wait to read your next book!" Fair enough, but do they really not understand that a "next book" is predicated upon someone actually BUYING the current one? Oh well ..

The rest of the board will be surprised to read this, but we're actually going to buy the book for our teenager.

She has a huge pile of recommended reading that she promises to get through any day now, but your book is wait-listed at our library and I may not even get to finish it before spouse runs out my clock.

I really appreciate the "Enoughasaurus"! And, hey, you're not settling for less-- you're settling for "enough".

I plan to motivate our kid by mentioning that you persuaded your editor to include scatalogical verbiage. And that it'll give her a valuable insight as to what guys are thinking when they're not thinking about money.

You'll know when I buy the book. The Amazon ticker will roll over to "1"...

 

[Ultimate Cheapskate]

Welcome to the board, Jeff!


The rest of the board will be surprised to read this, but we're actually going to buy the book for our teenager.

She has a huge pile of recommended reading that she promises to get through any day now, but your book is wait-listed at our library and I may not even get to finish it before spouse runs out my clock.

I really appreciate the "Enoughasaurus"! And, hey, you're not settling for less-- you're settling for "enough".

I plan to motivate our kid by mentioning that you persuaded your editor to include scatalogical verbiage. And that it'll give her a valuable insight as to what guys a[-][-][/-][/-]re thinking when they're not thinking about money.

You'll know when I buy the book. The Amazon ticker will roll over to "1"...

Thanks Nords. I'll look for your purchase on Amazon, although, BTW, my Mother already bought a copy, so yours will actually be #2.

I hope your daughter enjoys the book. I've been heartened to hear that the book is becoming a bit of a cult hit with college students and other young adults. I've heard from a good many of them, saying it's the first "money book" they've ever read, and that a friend told them it was pretty funny but helpful too. That's terrific to hear, because as you know most of the advice in the book is really advice best taken when you're young, before you get locked into the Money Steps.

I'm glad, too, that you approve of the sometimes off color humor and language, which, again, IMO warrants a PG-13 rating at worst. That said, humor is a very personal thing, and I have had a few readers bash me for attempting to inject humor - let alone edgy humor - into a personal finance book. One wrote something to me like, " Mr. Yeager, money and personal finance are very serious and important topics, and I found your use of (potty) humor detracted from the fact that our lives revolve around money." To which I replied,"Well, after all, that was my intention, to detract readers from that sad fact" and "OK, everybody's entitled to his #$%$ opinion!"

Stay Cheap!
-Jeff Yeager

 

[Marquette]

Based on this thread, I bought the book on Amazon. It was $10.36 + free shipping... which I know is over Nord's "don't think about it at $10" rule, but I'm allowing for that 12% inflation I keep hearing about.

Money and personal finance are serious and important topics, which is why they should be treated with much levity and humor. I'd better be chuckling by page 20! Or there will be rants on this thread! Rants, you hear me, rants! ;-)

 

[Nords]

Based on this thread, I bought the book on Amazon. It was $10.36 + free shipping... which I know is over Nord's "don't think about it at $10" rule, but I'm allowing for that 12% inflation I keep hearing about.

Eh, it's more like $20 these days, especially if I have to do battle with a teenager over it. It's amazing how much more [-]existentially fatalistic[/-] tolerant I've become after spending six weeks in the car's passenger seat next to a learner's permit.

Money and personal finance are serious and important topics, which is why they should be treated with much levity and humor. I'd better be chuckling by page 20! Or there will be rants on this thread! Rants, you hear me, rants! ;-)

You want chuckles, you should skip ahead to the chapter on why guys put thermostats in homes.

But seriously, his thoughts on the inflation of home square footages are the best I've ever read... and probably the best our teen will ever read too.