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The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less
It used to be that “stuff” made you cool. That is so twentieth century. Jeff Yeager, the man dubbed The Ultimate Cheapskate by Matt Lauer on Today , offers a completely fresh take on personal finance, teaching us how to enjoy life more by spending less . He will show you how to buy less stuff, retire young, and live financially free, while you make a positive difference in people’s lives and save the planet along the way. The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches lays out the practices and principles that have made cheap the new cool.
Live within your means at thirty and stay there . The Ultimate Cheapskate was living well on what he earned at thirty, so when he made more money, he saved every penny. Now he is “selfishly” employed, doing work he loves and helping others.
Do for yourself what you could have others do for you . Cheapskates are die-hard do-it-yourselfers. It’s all about having the right tools, and The Ultimate Cheapskate will get you started.
Pinch the dollars and the pennies will pinch themselves . It’s not the $3 cup of coffee; it’s the big-ticket decisions that determine whether you’ll be financially free. So buy a house, not a castle.
The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches promises a quality of life you cannot buy, a sense of satisfaction you cannot fake, and an appreciation for others and for the planet that gives life value. Open your road map and prepare to discover the true joys of financial freedom.
Live within your means at thirty and stay there . The Ultimate Cheapskate was living well on what he earned at thirty, so when he made more money, he saved every penny. Now he is “selfishly” employed, doing work he loves and helping others.
Do for yourself what you could have others do for you . Cheapskates are die-hard do-it-yourselfers. It’s all about having the right tools, and The Ultimate Cheapskate will get you started.
Pinch the dollars and the pennies will pinch themselves . It’s not the $3 cup of coffee; it’s the big-ticket decisions that determine whether you’ll be financially free. So buy a house, not a castle.
The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches promises a quality of life you cannot buy, a sense of satisfaction you cannot fake, and an appreciation for others and for the planet that gives life value. Open your road map and prepare to discover the true joys of financial freedom.
256 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 2007
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552 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
August 14, 2010
I'm fine with the fact that most of this book was common sense. That's the only kind of personal finance book I'm going to trust anyway. The fact that everyone knows how they *should* spend/save/eat/etc doesn't magically make it happen and regular reminders and reinforcements are very useful.
What made the book almost unendurable for me (but I did finish it) was the cheesy sense of humor, especially when it crossed over into repeated requests for sexy photos from female readers and regular slams of Suze Orman. Not even her advice -- just her appearance. I've never watched her shows or whatever, but that's just inappropriate on general principle. Several principles, really.
I also get plenty of Stan Lee's style from Stan Lee himself, but that's just tiring, not offensive. Also charming - Every chapter begins with a handful of 'clever' quotes and at least one in each batch is from the author.
There were some valid points mixed into all that. Thinking in terms of choices rather than sacrifices. Settling for less beats being unsettled. Fiscal fasting and 'What was I thinking?' audits. References to Dominguez and Robin. And a really tasty sounding pasta and sausage dish.
I disagree that small savings (like the popular Starbucks ban) are useless. It all depends on what you do with the funds instead, and some people really can accumulate them for a useful purpose. Staying in the first house that you buy makes all kinds of fiscal and psychological sense if you can do it (I particularly liked the part about being able to decorate for yourself rather than for the market) but many of us have careers that require regular relocation. Not to mention aging parents, etc. I do agree that giving up a car is easier than people realize because I don't have one myself; and that's in an area with no public transportation. Asking to telecommute in lieu of a raise, however, is very creative thinking but unlikely to work out for most readers.
Unavoidable with his nonprofit background, but the advice to regularly read books about people who are truly suffering to help keep perspective isn't going to be attempted by many readers. It's not even particularly relevant. He's also a terrible travel snob.
What made the book almost unendurable for me (but I did finish it) was the cheesy sense of humor, especially when it crossed over into repeated requests for sexy photos from female readers and regular slams of Suze Orman. Not even her advice -- just her appearance. I've never watched her shows or whatever, but that's just inappropriate on general principle. Several principles, really.
I also get plenty of Stan Lee's style from Stan Lee himself, but that's just tiring, not offensive. Also charming - Every chapter begins with a handful of 'clever' quotes and at least one in each batch is from the author.
There were some valid points mixed into all that. Thinking in terms of choices rather than sacrifices. Settling for less beats being unsettled. Fiscal fasting and 'What was I thinking?' audits. References to Dominguez and Robin. And a really tasty sounding pasta and sausage dish.
I disagree that small savings (like the popular Starbucks ban) are useless. It all depends on what you do with the funds instead, and some people really can accumulate them for a useful purpose. Staying in the first house that you buy makes all kinds of fiscal and psychological sense if you can do it (I particularly liked the part about being able to decorate for yourself rather than for the market) but many of us have careers that require regular relocation. Not to mention aging parents, etc. I do agree that giving up a car is easier than people realize because I don't have one myself; and that's in an area with no public transportation. Asking to telecommute in lieu of a raise, however, is very creative thinking but unlikely to work out for most readers.
Unavoidable with his nonprofit background, but the advice to regularly read books about people who are truly suffering to help keep perspective isn't going to be attempted by many readers. It's not even particularly relevant. He's also a terrible travel snob.
July 3, 2010
I saw this little book sitting on a table at the library and picked it up on a whim. Really, he was preaching to the choir with me since I already possess "the cheap gene", however I liked his emphasis on figuring out how much is "enough" for yourself and then aligning one's life to meet the goal of having enough money and truly following your real personal goals and aspirations....the reminders of ways to volunteer and how fortunate most Americans are in comparison to the rest of the world are always germane.
October 9, 2025
Written with plenty of humor. I think the one thing I take with me is the idea of fiscal fast. Living for one week or more without spending any money. I should try this soon.
January 1, 2013
I like this book more because of what it says about my personal journey in the last 3 years than what it actually says. I started this book thinking it was great for the personal finance it was teaching me, and it was cute and funny to boot! I ended it by skimming and skipping and thinking of other things while 'reading'.
As it happens, I read this book over the course of 3 years. This says less about my attention span (Squirrel!) than it would seem - truth is, in 2009 I becamse so enamored of personal finance that I would read a tidbit, then go off and research the hell out of it, some months later, I would read more, and so on.
2008/2009 seems to have been a rare period of action and change for me. Like most people, I usually maintain my status quo while thinking of the things I should do in the most fleeting of ways. 2008/2009 saw my estranged husband return to our abode, saw him lose his job in the financial meltdown, saw me choose to leave my beloved NYC to move to Iowa, saw me fundamentally change the way I eat food, and saw me, appropo to the time, take a good hard look at my (our) financial future.
Enter this book.
At the time, it was a good introduction to the most sound personal finance advice I've come across: stop spending your money. While nowhere near as profound as Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, it was the first inkling I really ever had that rather than suffering by cutting back, non-reliance on 'stuff' could bring it's own bliss in the form of independence and achievment (and, by the way, spirituality, creativity, a return to my beloved reading, interpersonal relationships, and all sorts of other things that don't cost money!).
I'm not kidding - pre-2008 me literally spent her weekends shopping...as SPORT! Mon Dieu! When I think of all the garbage I bought... well, let me just use a worn phrase: If I knew then what I know now....
Anyway, here I am 3 years later, I have a healthy emergency fund, both cars are fully paid off, and if things go according to plan, so will the mortgage be in about 3 years from now.
So it's in this state of buying in bulk (store brand, of course) and maxed out 401ks and Roth IRAs that I complete this book. Naturally, I am no longer in need of learning the concept of paying-for-TV-is-stupid-especially-when-you-can-download-TV-for-the-cost-of-an-internet-connection, hence the skimming and Kindle-forward-button-pressing.
But it is a good book. It's non-threatening, the advice is solid, and everyone can follow it.
As it happens, I read this book over the course of 3 years. This says less about my attention span (Squirrel!) than it would seem - truth is, in 2009 I becamse so enamored of personal finance that I would read a tidbit, then go off and research the hell out of it, some months later, I would read more, and so on.
2008/2009 seems to have been a rare period of action and change for me. Like most people, I usually maintain my status quo while thinking of the things I should do in the most fleeting of ways. 2008/2009 saw my estranged husband return to our abode, saw him lose his job in the financial meltdown, saw me choose to leave my beloved NYC to move to Iowa, saw me fundamentally change the way I eat food, and saw me, appropo to the time, take a good hard look at my (our) financial future.
Enter this book.
At the time, it was a good introduction to the most sound personal finance advice I've come across: stop spending your money. While nowhere near as profound as Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence, it was the first inkling I really ever had that rather than suffering by cutting back, non-reliance on 'stuff' could bring it's own bliss in the form of independence and achievment (and, by the way, spirituality, creativity, a return to my beloved reading, interpersonal relationships, and all sorts of other things that don't cost money!).
I'm not kidding - pre-2008 me literally spent her weekends shopping...as SPORT! Mon Dieu! When I think of all the garbage I bought... well, let me just use a worn phrase: If I knew then what I know now....
Anyway, here I am 3 years later, I have a healthy emergency fund, both cars are fully paid off, and if things go according to plan, so will the mortgage be in about 3 years from now.
So it's in this state of buying in bulk (store brand, of course) and maxed out 401ks and Roth IRAs that I complete this book. Naturally, I am no longer in need of learning the concept of paying-for-TV-is-stupid-especially-when-you-can-download-TV-for-the-cost-of-an-internet-connection, hence the skimming and Kindle-forward-button-pressing.
But it is a good book. It's non-threatening, the advice is solid, and everyone can follow it.
September 22, 2011
I picked this book up because it was cheap and I was interested. Jeff Yeager was named the “Ultimate Cheapskate” on the Today show, and this book explains his philosophy.
Basically, Yeager’s idea is to live within your means as much as possible, and to be satisfied with less. For example, you should learn to be satisfied with your Honda Civic instead of lusting after that ’69 Corvette Stingray, and learn to be satisfied with your 1894 sf house instead of mortgaging yourself to the hilt to get that 3000 sf place with the granite countertops.
One interesting point Yeager made is that we always say that time is money. Well, it’s the other way around, too – money represents time. In other words, when you buy that shiny sports car, it will take you, what, a whole year’s gross pay? How many hours of your life does that represent, especially compared to the already-paid-off station wagon?
Something I noticed is that Yeager doesn’t have kids. At one point, he referred to kids being expensive. It’s easy to live on $40k a year when you don’t have kids (I’m almost doing that myself). I wonder if he decided not to have kids due to the expense.
I don’t recommend buying this book. It’s interesting, I suppose, but not life-changing or anything. Stick to the author's website or make a trip to the library.
Basically, Yeager’s idea is to live within your means as much as possible, and to be satisfied with less. For example, you should learn to be satisfied with your Honda Civic instead of lusting after that ’69 Corvette Stingray, and learn to be satisfied with your 1894 sf house instead of mortgaging yourself to the hilt to get that 3000 sf place with the granite countertops.
One interesting point Yeager made is that we always say that time is money. Well, it’s the other way around, too – money represents time. In other words, when you buy that shiny sports car, it will take you, what, a whole year’s gross pay? How many hours of your life does that represent, especially compared to the already-paid-off station wagon?
Something I noticed is that Yeager doesn’t have kids. At one point, he referred to kids being expensive. It’s easy to live on $40k a year when you don’t have kids (I’m almost doing that myself). I wonder if he decided not to have kids due to the expense.
I don’t recommend buying this book. It’s interesting, I suppose, but not life-changing or anything. Stick to the author's website or make a trip to the library.
June 19, 2008
Not as thought provoking as Your Money or Your Life, and I certainly didn't appreciate his sense of humor, but in the end a basic look at how to get more out of life by spending less--and without being a miser.
January 12, 2019
This book really just annoyed me
September 27, 2021
4.75 - I really liked this book. The author does a great job of explaining that there is more to life than just blind consumerism and materialism. He talks about the meaning of life through finance in such an entertaining way. His writing is both compelling and entertaining at the same time. He really drives home the fact that we need far less than the average American lives on, in order to live happy, rich, and fulfilling lives.
Making money is no longer a means to an end; it's an end in itself. In inflation-adjusted dollars, we are today, on average, four and a half times richer than our great grandparents, but today, for the first time since the Great Depression, we have a negative saving rate. By the standards of the entire world, we are extremely rich. Most people around the world live in poverty, so you can live a little more frugally, and as a result, be happier and have more money. Regularly look at your stockpiled items and refrigerator and use things up all the way. With absence comes gratitude. Regularly look through credit card statements and ask yourself if you could do it all over, would I buy that? Take note of misspending patterns that come up. Do you tend to regret certain types of expenses more than others? A penny saved is worth more than a penny earned. The easiest and cheapest dollar to make is the one you don't spend. Every dollar you save is a dollar you don't need to earn again. Don't be picky with food; 2 out of 3 people worldwide are either underfed or malnourished. Buy foods that are under a dollar a pound. A lot of the world doesn't even eat meat on a typical day. Shop for produce in season. Plan meals around loss leaders. Epicurious allows you to search for recipes based on ingredients you have. People spend a lot of money destroying their health and a lot of money repairing their health when they could just live healthier. (Buying junk food, alcohol, cigarettes, driving versus gym membership, medical expenses, walking or biking) We tend to buy much larger houses than we need. Between 1980 and 2000 alone, the frequency of purchasing meals outside the home more than doubled, to more than 30 percent of all meals we eat. A car averages less than five miles per hour when you factor in all the costs and the time spent earning the money to pay for it. Even the poorest people today live extremely comfortably compared to the rest of the world and compared to the past. (Cheap food, retirement, home and car ownership, smartphones, TVs) Technology becomes useless long before it stops functioning. Because technology is becoming obsolete at such a fast rate, the return on not buying it is very large. Before you make a large purchase, think "Has your life been worse because of not owning it?" When you think about spending money, think also about the lifestyle that you are giving up in the future, and ask yourself if it is worth it. Reduce your dependency on money. "If you were the only person on Earth, would you still buy it?"
Making money is no longer a means to an end; it's an end in itself. In inflation-adjusted dollars, we are today, on average, four and a half times richer than our great grandparents, but today, for the first time since the Great Depression, we have a negative saving rate. By the standards of the entire world, we are extremely rich. Most people around the world live in poverty, so you can live a little more frugally, and as a result, be happier and have more money. Regularly look at your stockpiled items and refrigerator and use things up all the way. With absence comes gratitude. Regularly look through credit card statements and ask yourself if you could do it all over, would I buy that? Take note of misspending patterns that come up. Do you tend to regret certain types of expenses more than others? A penny saved is worth more than a penny earned. The easiest and cheapest dollar to make is the one you don't spend. Every dollar you save is a dollar you don't need to earn again. Don't be picky with food; 2 out of 3 people worldwide are either underfed or malnourished. Buy foods that are under a dollar a pound. A lot of the world doesn't even eat meat on a typical day. Shop for produce in season. Plan meals around loss leaders. Epicurious allows you to search for recipes based on ingredients you have. People spend a lot of money destroying their health and a lot of money repairing their health when they could just live healthier. (Buying junk food, alcohol, cigarettes, driving versus gym membership, medical expenses, walking or biking) We tend to buy much larger houses than we need. Between 1980 and 2000 alone, the frequency of purchasing meals outside the home more than doubled, to more than 30 percent of all meals we eat. A car averages less than five miles per hour when you factor in all the costs and the time spent earning the money to pay for it. Even the poorest people today live extremely comfortably compared to the rest of the world and compared to the past. (Cheap food, retirement, home and car ownership, smartphones, TVs) Technology becomes useless long before it stops functioning. Because technology is becoming obsolete at such a fast rate, the return on not buying it is very large. Before you make a large purchase, think "Has your life been worse because of not owning it?" When you think about spending money, think also about the lifestyle that you are giving up in the future, and ask yourself if it is worth it. Reduce your dependency on money. "If you were the only person on Earth, would you still buy it?"
April 5, 2018
'If you're looking for something more in life, you're likely to find it in something less.'
— Jeff Yeager
When most people dream of financial independence it involves visions of winning the lottery, a great stock tip, obtaining a lucrative job, promotion or some other windfall. Less often do they consider the simpler alternative and one that is completely under their control … that of living on less. This is particularly true in the US where overconsumption is considered ‘our way of life’ and money is worshipped like a god. That’s not a figure of speech. To convince yourself as to why feel free to do a web search for the phrase ‘prosperity gospel’ or an image of Joel Olsteen’s house.
In The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches writer and penny-pincher Jeff Yeager outlines practical steps that anyone can use to reduce financial expenditures and he throws in a few jokes (that can only be described as ‘kind of pervy’) as a bonus. The suggestions are good, if largely common sense, though most people will find some of the ideas presented to be rather extreme.
What’s the point? Reducing consumption is better for the environment, and by living on less you can enjoy the freedom that comes from spending less time at work and more time doing the things you enjoy – such as departing for foreign lands when the country unwisely elects a mendacious, corrupt, authoritarian buffoon. Which is exactly what Jeff Yeager did! There’s also the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are not an illness, job loss or unexpected expense away from penury.
Note: the book is a bit out of date and the website Yeager repeatedly refers to (http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/) appears to now be defunct. You can find tips for ‘living large on a small budget’ at: http://www.wisebread.com
— Jeff Yeager
When most people dream of financial independence it involves visions of winning the lottery, a great stock tip, obtaining a lucrative job, promotion or some other windfall. Less often do they consider the simpler alternative and one that is completely under their control … that of living on less. This is particularly true in the US where overconsumption is considered ‘our way of life’ and money is worshipped like a god. That’s not a figure of speech. To convince yourself as to why feel free to do a web search for the phrase ‘prosperity gospel’ or an image of Joel Olsteen’s house.
In The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches writer and penny-pincher Jeff Yeager outlines practical steps that anyone can use to reduce financial expenditures and he throws in a few jokes (that can only be described as ‘kind of pervy’) as a bonus. The suggestions are good, if largely common sense, though most people will find some of the ideas presented to be rather extreme.
What’s the point? Reducing consumption is better for the environment, and by living on less you can enjoy the freedom that comes from spending less time at work and more time doing the things you enjoy – such as departing for foreign lands when the country unwisely elects a mendacious, corrupt, authoritarian buffoon. Which is exactly what Jeff Yeager did! There’s also the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are not an illness, job loss or unexpected expense away from penury.
Note: the book is a bit out of date and the website Yeager repeatedly refers to (http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/) appears to now be defunct. You can find tips for ‘living large on a small budget’ at: http://www.wisebread.com
June 30, 2017
Good explanations about why spending less makes you happier, thought-provoking.
The main idea that stuck with me was this: If time is money, then money is time. If you don't need so much money, it follows that you'll have more time. Time to do more, see more, be more. More time to have experiences, which are more valuable to us (according to Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert). Instead of spending money with the idea that your time is worth more than "saving" takes, skip the "Money Step". The Money Step is (1) Earn money (2) to spend money (3) to get what you think you want. For example, if you "want" a large home, then you'll have to earn more money over your lifetime to purchase it and will therefore have less time to enjoy this house. If you can learn to be content with the size house you actually need, you'll have more time to enjoy that house.
Other thoughts:
- A week-long fiscal fast can help point out areas in which you're overspending, teach you ways you could permanently save (e.g., like if you find free or less-expensive ways to commute to work), and save you a week's worth of discretionary expenses. (pg 27)
- Everyone talks about return on investment (ROI) but people rarely talk about RONI (return on non-investment/spending). This is referring to the idea that if you don't spend money on something, you save the cost of that item plus the taxes and growth on that money. Benjamin Franklin said "a penny saved is a penny earned," but once you factor in taxes and growth, a penny saved is more like 1.3-2.0 cents earned.
Reading references:
- Stumbling on Happiness by Alfred A Knopf (article)
- Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (book)
- How to Live Well Without Owning A Car by Chris Balish (book)
- Energy and Equity by Ivan Illich (http://reactor-core.org/energy-and-eq...)
The main idea that stuck with me was this: If time is money, then money is time. If you don't need so much money, it follows that you'll have more time. Time to do more, see more, be more. More time to have experiences, which are more valuable to us (according to Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert). Instead of spending money with the idea that your time is worth more than "saving" takes, skip the "Money Step". The Money Step is (1) Earn money (2) to spend money (3) to get what you think you want. For example, if you "want" a large home, then you'll have to earn more money over your lifetime to purchase it and will therefore have less time to enjoy this house. If you can learn to be content with the size house you actually need, you'll have more time to enjoy that house.
Other thoughts:
- A week-long fiscal fast can help point out areas in which you're overspending, teach you ways you could permanently save (e.g., like if you find free or less-expensive ways to commute to work), and save you a week's worth of discretionary expenses. (pg 27)
- Everyone talks about return on investment (ROI) but people rarely talk about RONI (return on non-investment/spending). This is referring to the idea that if you don't spend money on something, you save the cost of that item plus the taxes and growth on that money. Benjamin Franklin said "a penny saved is a penny earned," but once you factor in taxes and growth, a penny saved is more like 1.3-2.0 cents earned.
Reading references:
- Stumbling on Happiness by Alfred A Knopf (article)
- Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (book)
- How to Live Well Without Owning A Car by Chris Balish (book)
- Energy and Equity by Ivan Illich (http://reactor-core.org/energy-and-eq...)
December 29, 2019
Some of Jeff Yeager's methods might be too extreme for me, but I admire his dogged thriftiness. I found a lot of useful advice in "The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches."
My favorite quote? "If money talks, then it tells a lot of lies."
Some of his "Golden Nuggets" are unquestionably valuable. My favorite is "Pinch the dollars and the pennies will pinch themselves" that includes an extended rant on personal finance writers who advise their readers to be mindful of the "latte factor," the small daily indulgences they genuinely enjoy. Yeager recommends focusing instead on big-budget items like housing, food, and transportation.
He thoroughly covers these and goes on to talk about advertising and marketing, technology/gadgets, entertainment, and even travel. This probably is one of the few pre-Great Recession personal finance books still worth reading. Although the book pre-dates the financial independence, retire early (FIRE) movement; I'd consider it FIRE-adjacent. He's clearly an admirer of Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin's "Your Money or Your Life." The basic premise of Yeager's book is that the less money you spend, the less time you need to spend earning it.
He suggests establishing a waiting period on making purchases ("Never underestimate the power of not spending money.")
I also like his idea of establishing a permanent standard of living to avoid "lifestyle inflation." His suggestion is "Live below your means at 30 and stay there." (Oops, better late than never, I guess.)
Some of Yeager's humor is crude and sexist, which can be off-putting. If you can get past that, it's a worthwhile read.
My favorite quote? "If money talks, then it tells a lot of lies."
Some of his "Golden Nuggets" are unquestionably valuable. My favorite is "Pinch the dollars and the pennies will pinch themselves" that includes an extended rant on personal finance writers who advise their readers to be mindful of the "latte factor," the small daily indulgences they genuinely enjoy. Yeager recommends focusing instead on big-budget items like housing, food, and transportation.
He thoroughly covers these and goes on to talk about advertising and marketing, technology/gadgets, entertainment, and even travel. This probably is one of the few pre-Great Recession personal finance books still worth reading. Although the book pre-dates the financial independence, retire early (FIRE) movement; I'd consider it FIRE-adjacent. He's clearly an admirer of Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin's "Your Money or Your Life." The basic premise of Yeager's book is that the less money you spend, the less time you need to spend earning it.
He suggests establishing a waiting period on making purchases ("Never underestimate the power of not spending money.")
I also like his idea of establishing a permanent standard of living to avoid "lifestyle inflation." His suggestion is "Live below your means at 30 and stay there." (Oops, better late than never, I guess.)
Some of Yeager's humor is crude and sexist, which can be off-putting. If you can get past that, it's a worthwhile read.
September 16, 2024
The premise of this book is that money does not buy happiness. To make money, we need to spend time. If we spend less, we have more time to do those things we most enjoy and that make us the happiest.
For years, I have said that our society lies to us because we are unconsciously, or sometimes even consciously, told that things buy happiness. Personally, I know material things can be fun to get, but most times, less is really more. With less, we have less decisions to make about what to use, wear, prepare, clean, organize, etc. I feel we are told to accumulate material possessions, but in the end they are just things, and many times we have accumulated things that no one wants and that we now must clean, sort, organize, and, eventually, get rid off.
I was able to read-skim this book in a few hours because I agree with its content. Some ideas I want to remember are:
“If you are searching for more, you’re likely to find it in less. (p. 135).”
“A Renaissance Miser, a well-rounded, experience-schooled, caring human being who values time and the things you can do with it more than money and the things you can buy with it (p. 181).”
“I believe that Travel - with a capital T - is not a luxury but a responsibility (p. 195).”
I liked his references to happiness and I plan to look up Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard Professor, who has written about the connections between our happiness and things.
Overall, I am thankful to have read this impactful book. I am glad my husband suggested a book house bike ride today instead of the trail. Tomorrow this book will go back so someone else can learn from it.
For years, I have said that our society lies to us because we are unconsciously, or sometimes even consciously, told that things buy happiness. Personally, I know material things can be fun to get, but most times, less is really more. With less, we have less decisions to make about what to use, wear, prepare, clean, organize, etc. I feel we are told to accumulate material possessions, but in the end they are just things, and many times we have accumulated things that no one wants and that we now must clean, sort, organize, and, eventually, get rid off.
I was able to read-skim this book in a few hours because I agree with its content. Some ideas I want to remember are:
“If you are searching for more, you’re likely to find it in less. (p. 135).”
“A Renaissance Miser, a well-rounded, experience-schooled, caring human being who values time and the things you can do with it more than money and the things you can buy with it (p. 181).”
“I believe that Travel - with a capital T - is not a luxury but a responsibility (p. 195).”
I liked his references to happiness and I plan to look up Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard Professor, who has written about the connections between our happiness and things.
Overall, I am thankful to have read this impactful book. I am glad my husband suggested a book house bike ride today instead of the trail. Tomorrow this book will go back so someone else can learn from it.
August 4, 2017
Great book! While most financial literacy books focus on the investing side of the equation, Yeager focuses on the power of spending less. A few salient points:
- Time is Money, Money is Time: A penny saved is a penny you don't have to earn. The freedom and control over your life that comes with a low monetary standard of living is priceless - it buys you back time, which is the most precious resource we all have.
- Pinch the dollars, and the pennies will pinch themselves: You're not going to get rich giving up lattes; worry about the big ticket items. Housing, food, transportation, etc.
- Eating healthy is cheaper: Contrary to popular wisdom, a diet of grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables (and low in meat and cheese) is healthier and cheaper than the opposite - especially if you buy in season.
- DIY: Not only do you save money by mowing your own lawn, washing your own car, cleaning your own house, repairing your own items, etc., but you get exercise while doing so, and learn valuable skills in the process.
- Enough is Enough: There's always more money and stuff to be had, so if you chase this stuff, you'll never be satisfied. Figure out what you need and find a way to be happy with that.
- Time is Money, Money is Time: A penny saved is a penny you don't have to earn. The freedom and control over your life that comes with a low monetary standard of living is priceless - it buys you back time, which is the most precious resource we all have.
- Pinch the dollars, and the pennies will pinch themselves: You're not going to get rich giving up lattes; worry about the big ticket items. Housing, food, transportation, etc.
- Eating healthy is cheaper: Contrary to popular wisdom, a diet of grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables (and low in meat and cheese) is healthier and cheaper than the opposite - especially if you buy in season.
- DIY: Not only do you save money by mowing your own lawn, washing your own car, cleaning your own house, repairing your own items, etc., but you get exercise while doing so, and learn valuable skills in the process.
- Enough is Enough: There's always more money and stuff to be had, so if you chase this stuff, you'll never be satisfied. Figure out what you need and find a way to be happy with that.
July 11, 2018
I’m pretty sure I’ve read another book by this quirky reasonable, nice-seeming dude, but he’s always a treasure & gets my frugal self going.
I’ve been following the subreddit r/AntiConsumption and r/Frugal and while my spending habits are still pretty shitty, I’m telling you, reading these nooks & being exposed to posts/books/podcasts/other forms of media & culture, it really gets me inspired to spend less & really evaluate how my purchases are affecting not only my financial life, but my emotional relationship to money & possessions.
Points that I need to implement but I already know:
- “every dollar you’ve ever saved is a dollar you don’t have to earn again”
- Negotiate costs where you can.
- find hobbies & past-times that will maximize what you put in, money-wise. Reading (esp from the library), cooking, gardening, thrifting, etc.
- you, your health & happiness are vital, because they correlate with how much you can work & earn money
- shop generic. If you must have name brand, use coupons and stock up.
- if you want to buy a home, get a starter home and just stay.
- DIY what you can. For me, my best bets are brewing Kratom @ home, making iced coffee, during my own hair, making pet toys, making rice pudding instead of always buying it prepackaged, etc.
I’ve been following the subreddit r/AntiConsumption and r/Frugal and while my spending habits are still pretty shitty, I’m telling you, reading these nooks & being exposed to posts/books/podcasts/other forms of media & culture, it really gets me inspired to spend less & really evaluate how my purchases are affecting not only my financial life, but my emotional relationship to money & possessions.
Points that I need to implement but I already know:
- “every dollar you’ve ever saved is a dollar you don’t have to earn again”
- Negotiate costs where you can.
- find hobbies & past-times that will maximize what you put in, money-wise. Reading (esp from the library), cooking, gardening, thrifting, etc.
- you, your health & happiness are vital, because they correlate with how much you can work & earn money
- shop generic. If you must have name brand, use coupons and stock up.
- if you want to buy a home, get a starter home and just stay.
- DIY what you can. For me, my best bets are brewing Kratom @ home, making iced coffee, during my own hair, making pet toys, making rice pudding instead of always buying it prepackaged, etc.
May 23, 2019
Why are so many people obsessed with money, big houses, and fancy cars? I never understood it, despite having lived in both a run down shack and a cookie cutter golf course community "cavern" (to quote my mom). I was happier in the shack. Less stress, nicer neighbors (bonus: your neighbors are real).
Mr. Yeager gets it right. We are so focused on what other people think about us, that we spend our entire lives (and our money) trying to impress others, and live up to THEIR standards - be it by having the biggest house, the fanciest car, etc. etc. etc. I like his idea of instead taking a piece of modest property (it doesn't have to be a shack), and making it an expression of your own unique identity. Yeah, no one will want to buy it, this is possible... however, the idea is not to sell it, but keep it!
Also, love his idea about money-fasting for a week. It sounds challenging, but fun, as it can force you to be creative on what to make for dinner (and clean out the freezer in the process).
Best thing of all? Practicing this lifestyle helps you stay away from the depression that goes with being in debt, and towards the FREEDOM of having a positive bank account! :)
Great read, also quite funny. My favorite guy from that entire TV show.
Mr. Yeager gets it right. We are so focused on what other people think about us, that we spend our entire lives (and our money) trying to impress others, and live up to THEIR standards - be it by having the biggest house, the fanciest car, etc. etc. etc. I like his idea of instead taking a piece of modest property (it doesn't have to be a shack), and making it an expression of your own unique identity. Yeah, no one will want to buy it, this is possible... however, the idea is not to sell it, but keep it!
Also, love his idea about money-fasting for a week. It sounds challenging, but fun, as it can force you to be creative on what to make for dinner (and clean out the freezer in the process).
Best thing of all? Practicing this lifestyle helps you stay away from the depression that goes with being in debt, and towards the FREEDOM of having a positive bank account! :)
Great read, also quite funny. My favorite guy from that entire TV show.
March 28, 2022
I don't know HOW to rate this book. Yes, it had a few interesting ideas. Many old ideas. Many really un-usable ideas. And a LOT, and I mean a LOT!!!!! of attempts at humor that was just really really bad. But hey, humor is subjective, so whatever.
But then....it also had quite a few insults thrown at real people. For absolutely no reason. And then there was some smut that was just really really out of place.
I don't know if author was trying to be clever and have his book stand out. I don't know if author just REALLY doesn't give a crap about anything or anyone except making money by selling a book, which is ironic, bc he kept saying how he doesn't really need money.
In any case, a few interesting ideas of the book just wasn't enough to put it on the "plus" side of all the stupid, insulting, useless crap that was on the "minus" side. One star
But then....it also had quite a few insults thrown at real people. For absolutely no reason. And then there was some smut that was just really really out of place.
I don't know if author was trying to be clever and have his book stand out. I don't know if author just REALLY doesn't give a crap about anything or anyone except making money by selling a book, which is ironic, bc he kept saying how he doesn't really need money.
In any case, a few interesting ideas of the book just wasn't enough to put it on the "plus" side of all the stupid, insulting, useless crap that was on the "minus" side. One star
November 25, 2008
This is a general self-help book on personal finance, not a technical one. It is about cheerleading more than anything else, and I can sum up the chant in two words: spend less. Yeager goes on to say that doing so will actually provide a more direct route to happiness. Maybe, maybe not.
Either way, the idea that some people need to spend less is obvious to most. If you're already pretty miserly, you won't learn anything new. For people who have never set a budget or thought about personal finance at all, it may offer some new insights. For anyone with the least bit of common sense, this book will mostly reiterate what you already know and isn't worth your time.
The pros:
There are millions of Americans who do need to spend less. There is no excuse to be in credit card debt or unable to resist every impulse to buy that you encounter. Yeager suggests a "fiscal fast" in which you go one week without spending any money. Instead, he wants you to clean out your pantry, read books that have long been lying on your shelves or go to the library, play board games with your friends and family, etc. Yeager also mentions that getting out of all debt (including your mortgage) will make you less stressed, happier, and, of course, financially better off. So buy a cheaper house and stay in it, don't upgrade every few years. Don't buy every new piece of technology that comes out right when it comes out. The longer you wait, the cheaper and better the product will be, so become a late-adopter. Try to skip a generation of electronics by not buying or instituting a waiting period before buying. Of course, you should look for deals, discounts, and bargains whenever possible. Don't be afraid to negotiate on price. Other sound advice is his recommendation that you rent out a room or attached apartment to your house for additional income and invest in index funds instead of actively managed funds. Yeager does have some humorous ideas and lines throughout his book. For instance, we learn that Yeager soft boils eggs by placing them inside pans in his dishwasher while the machine runs, he reuses wrapping paper, and he has tried to give his wife groceries as a Christmas present. He has not, as far as we know, resorted to flushing the toilet but once a day or accepting a collection plate passed around for the needy as my incredibly wealthy lawyer colleague at ConocoPhillips did.
The cons:
Yeager's repeated sexual references and metaphors lose their humor long before the final page.
His political preaching gets to be very grating and distracting. For instance, he constantly insists that using less resources will help save the planet and ignores the fact that technological improvements also help minimize the negative environmental effects of consumption. Indeed, it's consumption that creates scarcity, alternatives, and increased efficiency. It's consumption that will create the demand for clean, renewable energy. It's consumption that raises our standard of living and lengthens our life spans. It's consumption that makes our lives more pleasant in many cases. Yeager is wrong when he categorically labels consumption as bad.
He also suggests that if the United States funneled the amount of money we spend annually on perfume into fighting world hunger, there would be no more world hunger. Seriously, that's the claim he makes. From the book: "While emphatic about the severity of the problem, experts contend that feeding the world's hungry is just a matter of money. And not that much money either." Sure, it's just a matter of money. Wrong. He takes a complicated issue and boils it down to a simple "solution": America should buy less perfume and feed everyone instead. Well, it's not that simple, and America having wealth is not the cause of world hunger. Even if we never bought another bottle of perfume, there would still be world hunger. The real solution is to make other countries freer, more politically stable, and more market-friendly. The real solution is to make other countries more like America, not make America more like other countries with a bunch of sweaty, stank-people walking around.
In addition to world hunger, Yeager blames our use of automobiles for creating global warming and suggests that America could provide every family on the planet with a little bit of electricity if we just cut our restaurant expenditures by half. Not only are these "obvious solutions" neither obvious nor solutions--prices reflect underlying scarcity of resources, and alternative sources of energy are still much more expensive than fossil fuels--they don't really have a place in a personal finance book.
The ludicrous suggestions don't stop at fixing the planet; he saves some for your personal financial situation. What do you do to be happy if you never spend money? Here are some of Yeager's suggestions: walk, recycle, tree-sit, UFO spot, curb shop, and dumpster dive. Again, his message in this book is that spending less money will make you happier, and, as proof, he's suggesting that you sit in a tree to try to spot objects that aren't there. He's suggesting that you wade through other people's trash to fill your time. Uh, no thanks, Jeff. I'll stick with my video games and TV any day.
Overall, Yeager gets some credit for getting some stuff right and for managing to stretch out the two unpopular words "spend less" into over 200 pages. But, in the end, this topic by itself doesn't merit a full length book, and Yeager has to add some filler that ultimately ends up being ridiculous and counter-productive.
Memorable quotes:
"It's true. I'm cheap and I'm a loser."
Either way, the idea that some people need to spend less is obvious to most. If you're already pretty miserly, you won't learn anything new. For people who have never set a budget or thought about personal finance at all, it may offer some new insights. For anyone with the least bit of common sense, this book will mostly reiterate what you already know and isn't worth your time.
The pros:
There are millions of Americans who do need to spend less. There is no excuse to be in credit card debt or unable to resist every impulse to buy that you encounter. Yeager suggests a "fiscal fast" in which you go one week without spending any money. Instead, he wants you to clean out your pantry, read books that have long been lying on your shelves or go to the library, play board games with your friends and family, etc. Yeager also mentions that getting out of all debt (including your mortgage) will make you less stressed, happier, and, of course, financially better off. So buy a cheaper house and stay in it, don't upgrade every few years. Don't buy every new piece of technology that comes out right when it comes out. The longer you wait, the cheaper and better the product will be, so become a late-adopter. Try to skip a generation of electronics by not buying or instituting a waiting period before buying. Of course, you should look for deals, discounts, and bargains whenever possible. Don't be afraid to negotiate on price. Other sound advice is his recommendation that you rent out a room or attached apartment to your house for additional income and invest in index funds instead of actively managed funds. Yeager does have some humorous ideas and lines throughout his book. For instance, we learn that Yeager soft boils eggs by placing them inside pans in his dishwasher while the machine runs, he reuses wrapping paper, and he has tried to give his wife groceries as a Christmas present. He has not, as far as we know, resorted to flushing the toilet but once a day or accepting a collection plate passed around for the needy as my incredibly wealthy lawyer colleague at ConocoPhillips did.
The cons:
Yeager's repeated sexual references and metaphors lose their humor long before the final page.
His political preaching gets to be very grating and distracting. For instance, he constantly insists that using less resources will help save the planet and ignores the fact that technological improvements also help minimize the negative environmental effects of consumption. Indeed, it's consumption that creates scarcity, alternatives, and increased efficiency. It's consumption that will create the demand for clean, renewable energy. It's consumption that raises our standard of living and lengthens our life spans. It's consumption that makes our lives more pleasant in many cases. Yeager is wrong when he categorically labels consumption as bad.
He also suggests that if the United States funneled the amount of money we spend annually on perfume into fighting world hunger, there would be no more world hunger. Seriously, that's the claim he makes. From the book: "While emphatic about the severity of the problem, experts contend that feeding the world's hungry is just a matter of money. And not that much money either." Sure, it's just a matter of money. Wrong. He takes a complicated issue and boils it down to a simple "solution": America should buy less perfume and feed everyone instead. Well, it's not that simple, and America having wealth is not the cause of world hunger. Even if we never bought another bottle of perfume, there would still be world hunger. The real solution is to make other countries freer, more politically stable, and more market-friendly. The real solution is to make other countries more like America, not make America more like other countries with a bunch of sweaty, stank-people walking around.
In addition to world hunger, Yeager blames our use of automobiles for creating global warming and suggests that America could provide every family on the planet with a little bit of electricity if we just cut our restaurant expenditures by half. Not only are these "obvious solutions" neither obvious nor solutions--prices reflect underlying scarcity of resources, and alternative sources of energy are still much more expensive than fossil fuels--they don't really have a place in a personal finance book.
The ludicrous suggestions don't stop at fixing the planet; he saves some for your personal financial situation. What do you do to be happy if you never spend money? Here are some of Yeager's suggestions: walk, recycle, tree-sit, UFO spot, curb shop, and dumpster dive. Again, his message in this book is that spending less money will make you happier, and, as proof, he's suggesting that you sit in a tree to try to spot objects that aren't there. He's suggesting that you wade through other people's trash to fill your time. Uh, no thanks, Jeff. I'll stick with my video games and TV any day.
Overall, Yeager gets some credit for getting some stuff right and for managing to stretch out the two unpopular words "spend less" into over 200 pages. But, in the end, this topic by itself doesn't merit a full length book, and Yeager has to add some filler that ultimately ends up being ridiculous and counter-productive.
Memorable quotes:
"It's true. I'm cheap and I'm a loser."
September 8, 2024
Not sure what I thought I would get when I borrowed a 16 year old financial-advice paperback from the library, buuuuutttt a supersized helping of weird sexual “jokes” was definitely not it. For example: “it cost nothing for my aunt Nadine‘s blouse to miraculously fly open at my 13th birthday party, as she coquettishly sliced me a piece of chocolate devil’s food cake, yet I still remember it vividly (and frequently) to this day” (p. 180). If I had been inclined to absorb any decent nuggets of advice—and there are a few in here—I was unable to absorb due to thinking “ew,” “gross,” and “yikes” every other page.
January 27, 2025
Excellent advice that young people should hear
This book was an easy read and full of lots of helpful ideas to help people save more by spending less. However I found Jeff's crude sense of humor very distracting. While I laughed at some of his jokes, I did not see the need for all the sexual remarks found on almost every other page. It really was not necessary to get across the points in this book and even though I'm sure his male friends found it a riot, as a woman I found it distasteful.
This book was an easy read and full of lots of helpful ideas to help people save more by spending less. However I found Jeff's crude sense of humor very distracting. While I laughed at some of his jokes, I did not see the need for all the sexual remarks found on almost every other page. It really was not necessary to get across the points in this book and even though I'm sure his male friends found it a riot, as a woman I found it distasteful.
September 19, 2022
I listened to the audio book in the car and enjoyed the narrator's voice. I enjoyed this book and actually laughed out loud at the cleverness of some of the "cheapskates" and how they saved money throughout their lives to be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement. It wasn't a total waste of time but, the scenarios presented were pretty unique to the couples'/Peoples' situations/lives. Very good guidance though, if you find yourself in the same situations that these folks do.
August 21, 2025
While I think Jeff's book has some good ideas and points I will admit I kept getting uncomfortably sidetracked with his smutty humor. While some people think this helps sell their books - and sometimes it does - for me it lessened it's appeal a lot and while I finished the book I remember less about his good advice than I do about how his humor offended me. The book ratings aren't super great. Maybe I'm not alone?
January 9, 2025
West coasty anti materialist vibes wrapped in East coasty personality and attitude. One or two points have staying power w me so honestly would recommend. Warning lots of sleaze, crazy what counted as humor ten years ago.
January 9, 2019
Great read
March 20, 2019
Great tips on how to save money, in general, but, wow, was there some cheesy, eccentric jokes about sex. It just got weird after a while.
July 24, 2019
I can summarize this book just by saying don't buy what you don't need. His humor is chuckle worthy but the book is mainly just about living within your means.
Read
November 13, 2021Very nice book for frugals. Learnt a lot from it.
March 22, 2025
I must be a cheapskate to begin with, because I felt the author was just confirming what I already knew and/or things I already did. I found his cheesy jokes somewhat distracting at times.
July 31, 2025
On page 113 of 230
I may pick up again. Author is humorous and that goes a long way! This could be one of those "For Dummies" books. I haven't learned much and is why I put this book down and give it only 3 stars. Apparently while he is the ultimate cheapskate I am right next to him. I know and/or do everything he suggests already.
The most significant thing (Yes, I do and have) he has to say is kind of what Forrest Gump's mom said. A person only needs so much and the rest is just for show. How much money do you really need? How much do you really need to be happy? Need a home? A big home? How big? Basically you don't have to have a new car or even a nice car, and if you accept your decade old car and fix it when it breaks it will be a ton cheaper than a new cars monthly.
Me? I pay less than 1K a year for my car. I paid $3300 for it 5 years ago. I did my own brakes for $100 and 2 hours of my time (Do it yourself - another of his suggestions) while the shop wanted $1100. Too many people NEED this book. Too many people are also @#&%-ing STOOPID!!!
I may pick up again. Author is humorous and that goes a long way! This could be one of those "For Dummies" books. I haven't learned much and is why I put this book down and give it only 3 stars. Apparently while he is the ultimate cheapskate I am right next to him. I know and/or do everything he suggests already.
The most significant thing (Yes, I do and have) he has to say is kind of what Forrest Gump's mom said. A person only needs so much and the rest is just for show. How much money do you really need? How much do you really need to be happy? Need a home? A big home? How big? Basically you don't have to have a new car or even a nice car, and if you accept your decade old car and fix it when it breaks it will be a ton cheaper than a new cars monthly.
Me? I pay less than 1K a year for my car. I paid $3300 for it 5 years ago. I did my own brakes for $100 and 2 hours of my time (Do it yourself - another of his suggestions) while the shop wanted $1100. Too many people NEED this book. Too many people are also @#&%-ing STOOPID!!!
June 20, 2020
I found another bigger cheapskate than me. Yeager makes a case for spending less, that "true riches" really do not cost much. He did it in a very humorous way that kept me laughing as I went along. Also makes good sense.
January 20, 2012
I was inspired to read this book after seeing the author on a recent TLC special called "Extreme Cheapskates". The ideas that the author along with a few other unforgettable cheapskates have blew my mind. The lengths that they were willing to go to save a buck.....I could never be that frugal, but I recognize that I need to be more frugal. I waste money sometimes as does everyone. The older I get, I realize too that I seldomly get value for my money these days and there are lessons that this author has to teach which I certainly can learn from. Most of what the author says in this book is common sense. However, he has many pearls of wisdom and he really gives you a few things to think about.
This is a quick, no-brainer read. This book is not like a lot of ones on the market telling you how to diversify your portfolio, how to make more money, start up a business and stress yourself out in the process etc. He explains how to do more with less on a regular salary and he has a point. I already did the "fiscal fast" that he recommends for a mere 3 days but in that short time I did save money. That was the first of many fiscal fasts for me I think. Not only did I save money, but I cleaned out a lot of my fridge and used up some stuff in my house that would normally just sit around festering for another who knows how long.
Our parents and grandparents never had all of the stuff that we do now as a generation. We can do without but we are greedy and gadgety aren't we? Another reason I decided to read this book was that something very profound occurred to me after I had a house fire a couple of years ago. I realized that in our society we need insurance, which I have, otherwise we could lose everything and go bankrupt. We, as a society, have now set ourselves up for this expense (and like others) that people didn't incur decades ago - insurance. The day after my fire the profound thought I had was that if I was Amish, I wouldn't have to go through insurance and claim hell. Jebidiah and his crew would have swung by my house the next morning and built me a new house and a new barn if I needed it. The neighbours would have let me crash at their place for a few weeks until the house was finished and I am sure Sarah would have made me a nice dress or two on the spot so I would have something to wear. Simpler societies are way ahead of us in many regards. Strangely enough, the author discusses the Amish briefly in his book.
This book will not change your life, but it will give you a few chuckles and may help to save you from a few unwise purchases and investments I would think at the very least. I will definately be reading his other book if only for kicks.
This is a quick, no-brainer read. This book is not like a lot of ones on the market telling you how to diversify your portfolio, how to make more money, start up a business and stress yourself out in the process etc. He explains how to do more with less on a regular salary and he has a point. I already did the "fiscal fast" that he recommends for a mere 3 days but in that short time I did save money. That was the first of many fiscal fasts for me I think. Not only did I save money, but I cleaned out a lot of my fridge and used up some stuff in my house that would normally just sit around festering for another who knows how long.
Our parents and grandparents never had all of the stuff that we do now as a generation. We can do without but we are greedy and gadgety aren't we? Another reason I decided to read this book was that something very profound occurred to me after I had a house fire a couple of years ago. I realized that in our society we need insurance, which I have, otherwise we could lose everything and go bankrupt. We, as a society, have now set ourselves up for this expense (and like others) that people didn't incur decades ago - insurance. The day after my fire the profound thought I had was that if I was Amish, I wouldn't have to go through insurance and claim hell. Jebidiah and his crew would have swung by my house the next morning and built me a new house and a new barn if I needed it. The neighbours would have let me crash at their place for a few weeks until the house was finished and I am sure Sarah would have made me a nice dress or two on the spot so I would have something to wear. Simpler societies are way ahead of us in many regards. Strangely enough, the author discusses the Amish briefly in his book.
This book will not change your life, but it will give you a few chuckles and may help to save you from a few unwise purchases and investments I would think at the very least. I will definately be reading his other book if only for kicks.
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