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The Cheapskate Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happily Below Their Means
America’s Ultimate Cheapskate is back with all new secrets for how to live happily below your means, á la cheapskate. For The Cheapskate Next Door, Jeff Yeager tapped his bargain-basement-brain-trust, hitting the road to interview and survey hundreds of his fellow cheapskates to divulge their secrets for living the good life on less.
Jeff reveals the 16 key attitudes about money – and life – that allow the cheapskates next door to live happy, comfortable, debt-free lives while spending only a fraction of what most Americans spend. Their strategies will change your way of thinking about money and debunk some of life’s biggest money myths. For example, you’ll how to cut your food bill in half and eat healthier as a result; how your kids can get a college education without ever borrowing a dime; how to let the other guy pay for deprecation by learning the secrets of buying used, not abused; how you can save serious money by negotiating and bartering; and how – if you know where to look – there’s free stuff and free fun all around you.
The Cheapskate Next Door also features dozens of original “Cheap Shots” – quick, money saving tips that could save you more than $25,000 in a single year! Cheap Shots give you the inside scoop
-- How to save hundreds on kids’ toys;
-- What inexpensive old-fashioned kitchen appliance can save you more than $200 a year;
-- How you can travel the world without ever having to pay for lodging;
-- What single driving tip can save you $30,000 during your lifetime;
-- Even how to save up to 40% on fine wines (and we’re not talking about the kind that comes in a box).
From simple money saving tips to truly life changing financial strategies, the cheapskates next door know that the key to financial freedom and enjoying life more is not how much you earn, but how much you spend.
Jeff reveals the 16 key attitudes about money – and life – that allow the cheapskates next door to live happy, comfortable, debt-free lives while spending only a fraction of what most Americans spend. Their strategies will change your way of thinking about money and debunk some of life’s biggest money myths. For example, you’ll how to cut your food bill in half and eat healthier as a result; how your kids can get a college education without ever borrowing a dime; how to let the other guy pay for deprecation by learning the secrets of buying used, not abused; how you can save serious money by negotiating and bartering; and how – if you know where to look – there’s free stuff and free fun all around you.
The Cheapskate Next Door also features dozens of original “Cheap Shots” – quick, money saving tips that could save you more than $25,000 in a single year! Cheap Shots give you the inside scoop
-- How to save hundreds on kids’ toys;
-- What inexpensive old-fashioned kitchen appliance can save you more than $200 a year;
-- How you can travel the world without ever having to pay for lodging;
-- What single driving tip can save you $30,000 during your lifetime;
-- Even how to save up to 40% on fine wines (and we’re not talking about the kind that comes in a box).
From simple money saving tips to truly life changing financial strategies, the cheapskates next door know that the key to financial freedom and enjoying life more is not how much you earn, but how much you spend.
231 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2010
242 people are currently reading
915 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
June 28, 2012
Okay, I usually don't go into the "self-help" stuff, financial, psychological, or otherwise, but this little book slipped itself into my hands one day at work and the title made me snicker, for two reasons:
1) my co-worker is a self-proclaimed cheapskate, and she wears this moniker proudly. We joke that she needs a crowbar to get her wallet open and she buys cheap wine by the box (at least she'll be amply prepared to get suitably pissed should there be a zombie apocalypse).
2) I've always suspected (and it's now been confirmed) that I too am a cheapskate. For most of my life I assumed I spent less because I had less. I hail from very humble origins, and most of my adult life has seen very little green. What I managed to bring into my life went towards a protracted stay in the halls of academia and basically keeping myself fed and watered, and oh yeah, second-hand clothed. Of course I was a "cheapskate" -- when you have no money is there really any other option?
Now that I'm older (and hopefully a little wiser) I've been blessed to find a job I love (mostly) for a decent wage. I could be spending A LOT more than I've ever done previously in my life -- I could go crazy with credit cards and buy gobs of shoes and designer sunglasses, various Apple products, gaming systems, and plasma TVs. I could go to the spa monthly, tip my hairstylist a generous 21%. But I don't. I get my books from my public library. I wear my shoes 'til the soles wear out (my clothes - still mostly second-hand) fall into that category as well. On a good day, I probably look closer to "homeless" than "professional" - especially on the weekends.
So yeah, I'm a cheapskate. I don't like to shop (or spend money frivolously) period. My one weakness is eating out with friends. I love food - I hate to cook, so this happens more than it should. But oh well. Whenever I look at the bill at the end of a meal I think "half for the food, half for the time with friends" Win-win.
But this book -- which is really preaching to the converted -- points out that cheapskates aren't the "miserly" or selfish in your midst. They will spend money on friends, family and charities, but they will do it well within their means and responsibly (sickeningly so). Cheapskates are not impulse buyers -- they consider the pros and cons of most every purchase. And living on less (a lot less in most cases) is just what makes them happy. It's normal, not something that's hard or has to be learned. Yeager shows that "cheapskateness" is a way of life and I have to wonder if you either are one, or not. Is it really something that can be learned? If you're not a cheapskate, would you even want to be converted? And if becoming a cheapskate caused you great discomfort and frustration, what would really be the point? Overspending or not, life really is too short for that.
Despite some simple truths stated plainly and with self-effacing humor, I don't think Yeager's done all that great a job here of reaching out to the non-cheapskate's of the world and convincing them that cheaper is better. Somewhere deep down we all know that our voracious consumer culture has gotten ridiculously pervasive and while people are spending waaaaay more, none of them feel waaaay happier because of it. Mo money, mo problems, right? In these uncertain economic times, encouraging people to get back to basics and start focusing more on relationships and things money can't buy is a good thing.
But this little book isn't going to show you how to do that if it's something you're not already practicing. What's more, Yeager can come off a little condescending and even obnoxiously superior about his cheapskate lifestyle. He fails to recognize that the only reason why he's so successful with it is because it's soooo easy for someone who is already a cheapskate to their very core. Yeager isn't going to feel any pain or burn, or deprivation or disappointment.
For anyone else who isn't a natural cheapskate, learning to spend less and turn your back on our consumer culture is going to take a lot more serious effort than Yeager credits. If you are someone already at the end of your tether, not making ends meet, out of work, or without a pension or savings, Yeager's pithy, happy shiny approach may just make you want to punch him in the face.
But if you find yourself wanting to make a change, I wish you the utmost success. Come on over to the dark side of cheap living. It's not as horrible as you think. I'll even buy you a beer (during happy hour) on a Wednesday night when the wings are half-price!
November 18, 2023
This is like a modern version of “The Tightwad Gazette”. Yes, I’m dating myself. It’s also a good modern introduction to living the frugal life.
If this is something that interests you, dive right on in.
If this is something that interests you, dive right on in.
September 2, 2014
This is in many ways a typical self-help book, replete with quotations from and references to the author’s previous writing, more anecdotal than statistical evidence, and the repeated stating of the obvious. That said, I actually found it more useful and interesting than most self help books I have read. Because I qualify, at least by Yeager’s generous definition, as a “cheapskate” myself, I already knew and already apply much of the advice in the book, but I learned a lot of little bits of information that gave me some new, if small, ideas for saving money, as well as a number of websites to look into.
A cheapskate is, for Yeager, anyone who lives below his or her means. This used to constitute the majority of Americans, but frugality is a virtue no longer. Most modern Americans are in debt and don’t live by the adage “If you can’t afford it, just don’t buy it.” Cheapskates simply refrain from buying things if they can’t pay for them in full, with the exception of their houses, and even then they buy small or old, keeping the monthly mortgage and taxes to less than 25 percent of income and typically paying extra on the mortgage in order to pay it off years ahead of schedule.
He spends a lot of the book describing what cheapskates have in common, though there is great variability among them. The best he can do is say that a sizeable majority do or think this or that, or that more cheapskates do or think this or that than the general population. One example: while 60 percent of families in the general population have two income earners, only 40 percent of cheapskate families do. This may seem counterintuitive – aren’t you more likely to be able to live below your means with two incomes than with one? But, in fact, many cheapskates calculate that most of their second income would go to paying the expenses (commuting, child care, clothing, working lunches, taxes, car expenses, more hired help) required to generate that second income, and they often feel it is not worth the trade off in time. They also like the "insurance" of learning to live on one income, knowing that if the primary breadwinner loses his or her job, the other can go back to work.
The central concept of cheapskate living – don’t buy it if you can’t afford it (or, sometimes, even if you can but don't need it) – is so obvious and simple that I very much doubt this book will be of any use to anyone who is not already a cheapskate and who doesn’t already possess the financial discipline to live below his means, but I could be wrong, and I would be glad to be so. I would be happy if many people could be averted from the path of future debt simply by being told – hey, don’t go into debt. I remain skeptical, however. I do think the book will be more enjoyed by cheapskates themselves, for the pleasure of self-recognition, for the self-esteem boost (hey, you don’t always get a lot of love for being a cheapskate in today’s society), and for the few money saving tips they might not have known about. Not that I’ll be using a lot of them – for instance, I won’t be trading in my dryer for a clothesline – but I’ll certainly be using some of them, if I can find my notes, because, unfortunately, I already returned the book to the library. Of course I wasn’t going to buy a copy when I could read one for free!
I think the title is a play on "The Millionaire Next Door," which is fitting, because it is very often the cheapskate who becomes a millionaire by the age of 60. The choice of the word "cheapskate" is gimmicky, as the word has a derogatory connotation and "The Saver Next Door" just isn't going to sell as many books.
A cheapskate is, for Yeager, anyone who lives below his or her means. This used to constitute the majority of Americans, but frugality is a virtue no longer. Most modern Americans are in debt and don’t live by the adage “If you can’t afford it, just don’t buy it.” Cheapskates simply refrain from buying things if they can’t pay for them in full, with the exception of their houses, and even then they buy small or old, keeping the monthly mortgage and taxes to less than 25 percent of income and typically paying extra on the mortgage in order to pay it off years ahead of schedule.
He spends a lot of the book describing what cheapskates have in common, though there is great variability among them. The best he can do is say that a sizeable majority do or think this or that, or that more cheapskates do or think this or that than the general population. One example: while 60 percent of families in the general population have two income earners, only 40 percent of cheapskate families do. This may seem counterintuitive – aren’t you more likely to be able to live below your means with two incomes than with one? But, in fact, many cheapskates calculate that most of their second income would go to paying the expenses (commuting, child care, clothing, working lunches, taxes, car expenses, more hired help) required to generate that second income, and they often feel it is not worth the trade off in time. They also like the "insurance" of learning to live on one income, knowing that if the primary breadwinner loses his or her job, the other can go back to work.
The central concept of cheapskate living – don’t buy it if you can’t afford it (or, sometimes, even if you can but don't need it) – is so obvious and simple that I very much doubt this book will be of any use to anyone who is not already a cheapskate and who doesn’t already possess the financial discipline to live below his means, but I could be wrong, and I would be glad to be so. I would be happy if many people could be averted from the path of future debt simply by being told – hey, don’t go into debt. I remain skeptical, however. I do think the book will be more enjoyed by cheapskates themselves, for the pleasure of self-recognition, for the self-esteem boost (hey, you don’t always get a lot of love for being a cheapskate in today’s society), and for the few money saving tips they might not have known about. Not that I’ll be using a lot of them – for instance, I won’t be trading in my dryer for a clothesline – but I’ll certainly be using some of them, if I can find my notes, because, unfortunately, I already returned the book to the library. Of course I wasn’t going to buy a copy when I could read one for free!
I think the title is a play on "The Millionaire Next Door," which is fitting, because it is very often the cheapskate who becomes a millionaire by the age of 60. The choice of the word "cheapskate" is gimmicky, as the word has a derogatory connotation and "The Saver Next Door" just isn't going to sell as many books.
October 18, 2017
Source: Library e-book
What I could rate if I could: 2 1/2 stars.
This isn't so much a "tip" book as a series of profiles on people the author met on the book tour for his first book. He decided to bicycle across the country and couch surf. Sounds like the kind of PR stunt only an agent could love. These are people who were familiar with him and were giving him a place to sleep for the night, so there’s a “tribe vibe” going on that doesn’t allow for much objectivity in the writing. Expect a “anything these people do is awesome because they read my blog and gave me a free place to stay” slant.
I decided to read it out of simple curiosity as to what defines a “cheapskate.” It’s a word that has taken on a sort of reverse snobbery lately. What I learned is that I’m not a cheapskate. I’m frugal, sensible, indifferent to marketing, disinterested in keeping up with the Joneses, and attentive to what’s being spent where and why. What I’m not is fanatical.
Yeager’s overall message is one I endorse and is Personal Finance 101. Understand the difference between wants and needs. Pay attention to what you spend and why. Don’t run up debt. Live within—preferably below—your means. Reuse, recycle, repurpose. Don’t expect acquiring more things will make you happy. Delay instant gratification. Teach your kids to handle money. Say “no” to them on occasion. Set expectations for kids that they will have to do something to get something. I’d say this is all common sense, but judging by the amount of personal debt in this country, it obviously isn’t that common.
Then there was the stuff that I can’t get behind. Some of the people he profiles are
the kind of cheapskates who dumpster dive for food (for fun, not because they are destitute), tape postcards together to cheat the USPS of 27 cents in postage, eat leftovers off other tables in restaurants, steal toilet paper and towels from hotels. I can’t get behind any of that. Cheating is cheating, stealing is stealing, and I’ve worked in enough restaurants to know what is done to a lot of that food before it gets thrown in the dumpster. (I’ve also seen enough maggot-infested dumpsters to make me green at the mere thought.) As for the guy who poached pizza off a nearby table as “a teachable moment” to his kids about frugality, I hope he used the fact that the woman came back and wanted to know where the hell her dinner was as a “teachable moment” to show his kids how to apologize and make something right by replacing her pizza.
I’m not sure the material here would be useful to anyone not already on board the cheapskate train. There’s little here to help anyone who is in debt get out of it. The general message seems to be that the way to get out of debt is to not get in it in the first place, but that assumes all debt is caused by carelessness or ignorance. Apparently none of these people live in a world where devastating illness amasses huge medical bills, houses burn down, businesses close or the wage-earner suddenly dies.
There was also one other thing that put a bad taste in my mouth with this book. I could handle Yeager’s bad puns and overworked attempts at humor, but when he wrote that he “fell in love with Jacquie, and that was even before I saw the calendar photos of her riding her mountain bike wearing nothing but mud,” I lost respect for anything he had to say. That’s just some sexist and inappropriate crap there. All that did was make him look like a jerk.
Members of the choir will likely find this an entertaining read. My response is luke-warm at best. For practical advice on how to create better lifelong financial habits , I think Dominguez’ Your Money or Your Life is more relevant and useful.
What I could rate if I could: 2 1/2 stars.
This isn't so much a "tip" book as a series of profiles on people the author met on the book tour for his first book. He decided to bicycle across the country and couch surf. Sounds like the kind of PR stunt only an agent could love. These are people who were familiar with him and were giving him a place to sleep for the night, so there’s a “tribe vibe” going on that doesn’t allow for much objectivity in the writing. Expect a “anything these people do is awesome because they read my blog and gave me a free place to stay” slant.
I decided to read it out of simple curiosity as to what defines a “cheapskate.” It’s a word that has taken on a sort of reverse snobbery lately. What I learned is that I’m not a cheapskate. I’m frugal, sensible, indifferent to marketing, disinterested in keeping up with the Joneses, and attentive to what’s being spent where and why. What I’m not is fanatical.
Yeager’s overall message is one I endorse and is Personal Finance 101. Understand the difference between wants and needs. Pay attention to what you spend and why. Don’t run up debt. Live within—preferably below—your means. Reuse, recycle, repurpose. Don’t expect acquiring more things will make you happy. Delay instant gratification. Teach your kids to handle money. Say “no” to them on occasion. Set expectations for kids that they will have to do something to get something. I’d say this is all common sense, but judging by the amount of personal debt in this country, it obviously isn’t that common.
Then there was the stuff that I can’t get behind. Some of the people he profiles are
the kind of cheapskates who dumpster dive for food (for fun, not because they are destitute), tape postcards together to cheat the USPS of 27 cents in postage, eat leftovers off other tables in restaurants, steal toilet paper and towels from hotels. I can’t get behind any of that. Cheating is cheating, stealing is stealing, and I’ve worked in enough restaurants to know what is done to a lot of that food before it gets thrown in the dumpster. (I’ve also seen enough maggot-infested dumpsters to make me green at the mere thought.) As for the guy who poached pizza off a nearby table as “a teachable moment” to his kids about frugality, I hope he used the fact that the woman came back and wanted to know where the hell her dinner was as a “teachable moment” to show his kids how to apologize and make something right by replacing her pizza.
I’m not sure the material here would be useful to anyone not already on board the cheapskate train. There’s little here to help anyone who is in debt get out of it. The general message seems to be that the way to get out of debt is to not get in it in the first place, but that assumes all debt is caused by carelessness or ignorance. Apparently none of these people live in a world where devastating illness amasses huge medical bills, houses burn down, businesses close or the wage-earner suddenly dies.
There was also one other thing that put a bad taste in my mouth with this book. I could handle Yeager’s bad puns and overworked attempts at humor, but when he wrote that he “fell in love with Jacquie, and that was even before I saw the calendar photos of her riding her mountain bike wearing nothing but mud,” I lost respect for anything he had to say. That’s just some sexist and inappropriate crap there. All that did was make him look like a jerk.
Members of the choir will likely find this an entertaining read. My response is luke-warm at best. For practical advice on how to create better lifelong financial habits , I think Dominguez’ Your Money or Your Life is more relevant and useful.
September 1, 2011
This book did three things for me. 1) It made me feel affirmed and understood in my frugality; when Yeager describes the characteristics that most "cheapskates" share, I had that lovely, "Wow, that's just like me!" feeling; 2) It inspired me to keep living with the goal of reducing my consumption and living within my means; and 3) It gave me some NEW ideas about how to save money.
It's number three that impressed me the most, since I've lived on a modest income long enough that I'm *so tired* of reading articles that tell me to save money by cutting out luxuries that I couldn't afford in the first place (i.e.: use the library instead of the book/video store, eat out less often, etc.) This book is organized nicely into different topics with strategies for addressing that topic in a money-saving way (food, shelter, clothes, insurance, fun, etc.) Some ideas made even me turn up my nose and think, "I'll just spend the extra money, thanks!", but the great thing about this book is that it's full of so many ideas that you can glean over the ones you already do, discard the ones that don't appeal to you, and still come away with some new things to try.
I found the last few chapters of the book to be less appealing than the beginning and midsection, either because the topics interested me less (clothes, insurance, entertainment) or just because I was becoming desensitized to the many ideas. Still, I marked so many pages in the midsection that I considered getting my own copy of the book -- but then decided just to copy down all the relevant information before I returned it to the library -- it was much cheaper that way. ;)
It's number three that impressed me the most, since I've lived on a modest income long enough that I'm *so tired* of reading articles that tell me to save money by cutting out luxuries that I couldn't afford in the first place (i.e.: use the library instead of the book/video store, eat out less often, etc.) This book is organized nicely into different topics with strategies for addressing that topic in a money-saving way (food, shelter, clothes, insurance, fun, etc.) Some ideas made even me turn up my nose and think, "I'll just spend the extra money, thanks!", but the great thing about this book is that it's full of so many ideas that you can glean over the ones you already do, discard the ones that don't appeal to you, and still come away with some new things to try.
I found the last few chapters of the book to be less appealing than the beginning and midsection, either because the topics interested me less (clothes, insurance, entertainment) or just because I was becoming desensitized to the many ideas. Still, I marked so many pages in the midsection that I considered getting my own copy of the book -- but then decided just to copy down all the relevant information before I returned it to the library -- it was much cheaper that way. ;)
September 17, 2010
You gotta love the author -- he seems to be having a great time in life and really wants others to learn how to be happy without materialism. He traveled around the country talking to fellow cheapskates and compiled their ideas for this book. And a "cheapskate," as he emphasizes and makes clear, is not a sad person who is afraid to spend a cent. A cheapskate is a happy person who knows that a wonderful life has little to do with spending.
OK, so why don't I like this book? Because the ideas in it are too basic for those of us who already espouse its philosophy. And it is not organized well enough to help convert spenders to the cheapskate cause. They would need a concrete, step-by-step manual.
Also there is something annoying about Yeager's funny-cutesy writing style. The ideas he presents should be interesting enough on their own without his having to insert so many little puns and other jokes.
OK, so why don't I like this book? Because the ideas in it are too basic for those of us who already espouse its philosophy. And it is not organized well enough to help convert spenders to the cheapskate cause. They would need a concrete, step-by-step manual.
Also there is something annoying about Yeager's funny-cutesy writing style. The ideas he presents should be interesting enough on their own without his having to insert so many little puns and other jokes.
August 26, 2010
Wow, what a book. To compare the book about credit unions taking advantage of poor people and this book which tell how you can live within your means, I would definitely say this one was more positive! Not only that, but it gave great tips on how to do live frugally and I kind of want to buy it now because it was so worth reading! Good for anyone, poor or wealthy- REALLY.
December 24, 2021
A cheapskate values time more than money. They automatically convert the price of things into the currency of time---their own time.
Cheapskates shop deliberately. Premeditated shopping had two tenets: prior planning and delayed gratification.
A good many of them join hands with me in being among the few non-cave-dwelling holdouts yet to own a cell phone.
Cheapskates shop deliberately. Premeditated shopping had two tenets: prior planning and delayed gratification.
A good many of them join hands with me in being among the few non-cave-dwelling holdouts yet to own a cell phone.
July 6, 2024
“The Cheapskate Next Door,” is fun and easy to read. The book is filled with self deprecating humor the author, Jeff Yeager, directs at himself. He’s always teasing himself and it makes him seem like a genuine and kind person. There are also a lot of funny stories and anecdotes that keep the tone of the book light and breezy.
“The Cheapskate Next Door,” isn’t a practical book filled with financial advice insomuch as it is a book promoting a certain type of lifestyle. Yeager argues that people who don’t place their focus on money, and the collection of material things , and instead spend their time enjoying life and the pursuit of their own interests are happier.
Basically, life isn’t about money and things. It’s about having experience and being yourself and doing your own thing. If time is money, Yeager would rather have time.
I actually got the book out of the library because I’m financially irresponsible and, let’s be honest, dumb. I was looking for some advice for how to live more frugally and not be such an idiot all the time.
I’m kind of surprised I can be sooooooo bad with money while also being a cheapskate at the same exact time.
For example, I drive an old beater with PLPD insurance and I have no interest in a new car. I do this not to save money but because I don’t care about cars.
I wear leggings and t-shirts/sweatshirts every day and don’t shop for clothes much—not to save money but because I don’t care about fashion.
I eat at home most days and don’t eat out. I’m not doing this to save money either, it’s because I have high cholesterol and can’t eat fast food anymore.
I go to the library for most of my books not to save money but because I’m a book hoarder and I know I have a problem so I only buy a book if the library hasn’t got it.
I haven’t cut my hair since Covid, not to save money, but because I hate getting haircuts. I guess Covid was just my excuse to never get my hair cut ever again.
So I’m kind of a cheapskate but I’m still bad with money because my weakness is buying people presents. I spend tons of money on gifts. I also enjoy getting things in the mail so I have a problem with online shopping. I just love tracking packages in the mail.
Yeager doesn’t touch on extravagant gift giving or fixating on packages coming in the mail. I somehow manage to be a broke cheapskate and I kind of want to talk to this guy about my situation.
I enjoyed his book a lot but it wasn’t all that useful for me since I’m some kind of outlier. So this book was fun to read but not that helpful for fixing your finances. IMO, of course. 🤷♀️
I’d still read it again though.
“The Cheapskate Next Door,” isn’t a practical book filled with financial advice insomuch as it is a book promoting a certain type of lifestyle. Yeager argues that people who don’t place their focus on money, and the collection of material things , and instead spend their time enjoying life and the pursuit of their own interests are happier.
Basically, life isn’t about money and things. It’s about having experience and being yourself and doing your own thing. If time is money, Yeager would rather have time.
I actually got the book out of the library because I’m financially irresponsible and, let’s be honest, dumb. I was looking for some advice for how to live more frugally and not be such an idiot all the time.
I’m kind of surprised I can be sooooooo bad with money while also being a cheapskate at the same exact time.
For example, I drive an old beater with PLPD insurance and I have no interest in a new car. I do this not to save money but because I don’t care about cars.
I wear leggings and t-shirts/sweatshirts every day and don’t shop for clothes much—not to save money but because I don’t care about fashion.
I eat at home most days and don’t eat out. I’m not doing this to save money either, it’s because I have high cholesterol and can’t eat fast food anymore.
I go to the library for most of my books not to save money but because I’m a book hoarder and I know I have a problem so I only buy a book if the library hasn’t got it.
I haven’t cut my hair since Covid, not to save money, but because I hate getting haircuts. I guess Covid was just my excuse to never get my hair cut ever again.
So I’m kind of a cheapskate but I’m still bad with money because my weakness is buying people presents. I spend tons of money on gifts. I also enjoy getting things in the mail so I have a problem with online shopping. I just love tracking packages in the mail.
Yeager doesn’t touch on extravagant gift giving or fixating on packages coming in the mail. I somehow manage to be a broke cheapskate and I kind of want to talk to this guy about my situation.
I enjoyed his book a lot but it wasn’t all that useful for me since I’m some kind of outlier. So this book was fun to read but not that helpful for fixing your finances. IMO, of course. 🤷♀️
I’d still read it again though.
December 29, 2023
The general premise of this book is great, you should live below your means and try to maximize the life out of what you own. The execution was.. another story. The tips in here range from helpful to straight up freegan dumpster diving. The author also is very annoying and gives off the vibe that he is a little full of himself and believes that “cheapskates” are just better than other people in society which is just not a healthy way to think. There are also some instance that are very brief but stood out on how he references women that just gave me the ick. This guy was not my favorite by a long shot.
Overall just spend less, save more, consume less, buy quality items and you don’t have to ready one of my least favorite books of the year.
I will say that this book taught me about unclaimed property which was really helpful. Everyone should look into if they have unclaimed property (make sure it’s a .gov link).
Overall just spend less, save more, consume less, buy quality items and you don’t have to ready one of my least favorite books of the year.
I will say that this book taught me about unclaimed property which was really helpful. Everyone should look into if they have unclaimed property (make sure it’s a .gov link).
October 19, 2019
I found this to be a funny yet really informative book. You can read it in one sitting if you are inclined.
Some of the tips he gives are really practical and easy to implement. Others take more time and effort.
I have already saved money using the tips from this book. My cheapskate advice is to borrow it from your local library, write down what you find helpful, and enjoy your savings.
Some of the tips he gives are really practical and easy to implement. Others take more time and effort.
I have already saved money using the tips from this book. My cheapskate advice is to borrow it from your local library, write down what you find helpful, and enjoy your savings.
February 13, 2024
Fine principles but the crude humor throughout the book would keep me from recommending or re-reading
Read
January 9, 2026A lot of humor and frugal tips
May 25, 2019
Not much different than the last one I read by Yeager.
November 12, 2018
I’m more on the frugal side, so I appreciated lots of these suggestions.
May 24, 2017
Yeager is entertaining and inspiring. Most importantly, it is a straightforward, but lighthearted reminder that material possessions don't bring happiness.
December 24, 2025
written in 2010 after the housing bubble burst, this book remains evergreen as we continue descending into another economic downturn in 2025. full of examples and anecdotes of ways to live well and buy less it reshapes one's ideas about their capitalist consumer life style. this book provides plenty of free advice and cheap alternatives to enjoy stuff, be happy and lead fulfilling or interesting lives while also using consuming buying and needing less. i suppose this is my bible. jeff yeager also used to live in my neighborhood, one full of DIYers and cheapskates.
my partner said I already read this book, and given how familiar some sections felt as I read it in 2025, I'd say I agree.
my partner said I already read this book, and given how familiar some sections felt as I read it in 2025, I'd say I agree.
March 3, 2013
I thought Skylar Burris' review summed it up well. The one point of disagreement I have with that review (and it's not much of one) is when Skylar says, "I very much doubt this book will be of any use to anyone who is not already a cheapskate and who doesn’t already possess the financial discipline to live below his means." I think there are two kinds of non-cheapskates this book would be of a benefit to. First, it would be a great book for someone who was not raised to be frugal, but would like to develop that lifestyle, either because they've taken a financial hit or just because it seems the smart thing to do. While a lot of the specific advice is pretty common, Yeager puts more of an emphasis on developing an individual "cheapskake style", while a lot of books on the frugal lifestyle make it sound like you have to do "this and this and this"... Yeager's "change what seems reasonable" approach is likely more successful than someone trying to follow all the advice offered in any one book or thinking any one change isn't worth doing.
I also think he correctly points out that a lot of it is "habit of mind" -- if you are bound and determined not to go into debt for anything but a house, you're much more likely to accomplish that than someone of the same background and income who keeps debt on the possibility table. Ditto savings and paying ahead on the house, etc. Put it on your checking account's automatic payment system, and forget it. And particularly his "$4" gas or immediately assigning a raise to paying off the house -- living on the spending amount you've adjusted to is way easier than trying to take a "cut in pay" on that front, so immediately assigning the extra money to something is one of the most painless ways to go. And I like that he points out that a lot of cheapskates don't budget so much as regularly review -- that's a tip I had not seen before, and it's something I do myself (I never minded using a budget, but I'm married to a guy who hates them), and it works pretty well.
I'm not the cheapskate Yeager is, but I've known guys like him, and they're fun. They view saving money as a challenge and they enjoy it. So the tone of this book is a lot more lively than a book by someone who is frugal just because they were raised that way and it's comfortable for them. I think the happiest cheapskates choose the lifestyle, either because they like the challenge or because it makes the most sense to them or because they believe it's the best way to go in their circumstance. Someone who is strongly oriented toward conforming with society and fitting in is never going to be really comfortable with the lifestyle, even if that's how they were raised, unless they can do it "invisibly" -- which is possible, but it's a lot easier for someone whose income is higher than the neighbors realize.
OTOH, I've known conformists who were married to radical cheapskates who just gradually changed who they hung out with, and then everyone was happy, because no one was pressuring the non-cheapskate to conform to another style, and the non-cheapskate could relax and recognize the benefits of the cheapskate lifestyle. That's the second kind of person I think this book would be good for -- someone attached to a cheapskate who is struggling to see the benefits. If Yeager suggests things the non-cheapskate would be more comfortable with than the stuff the cheapskate partner is pushing for, and the thing that cheapskate hadn't thought of would save as much or more money, there's a compromise that would make everyone happy!
So I think this is a good book for cheapskates, wanna-be cheapskates, and those who are trying to cope with a cheapskate in their life. :D
I also think he correctly points out that a lot of it is "habit of mind" -- if you are bound and determined not to go into debt for anything but a house, you're much more likely to accomplish that than someone of the same background and income who keeps debt on the possibility table. Ditto savings and paying ahead on the house, etc. Put it on your checking account's automatic payment system, and forget it. And particularly his "$4" gas or immediately assigning a raise to paying off the house -- living on the spending amount you've adjusted to is way easier than trying to take a "cut in pay" on that front, so immediately assigning the extra money to something is one of the most painless ways to go. And I like that he points out that a lot of cheapskates don't budget so much as regularly review -- that's a tip I had not seen before, and it's something I do myself (I never minded using a budget, but I'm married to a guy who hates them), and it works pretty well.
I'm not the cheapskate Yeager is, but I've known guys like him, and they're fun. They view saving money as a challenge and they enjoy it. So the tone of this book is a lot more lively than a book by someone who is frugal just because they were raised that way and it's comfortable for them. I think the happiest cheapskates choose the lifestyle, either because they like the challenge or because it makes the most sense to them or because they believe it's the best way to go in their circumstance. Someone who is strongly oriented toward conforming with society and fitting in is never going to be really comfortable with the lifestyle, even if that's how they were raised, unless they can do it "invisibly" -- which is possible, but it's a lot easier for someone whose income is higher than the neighbors realize.
OTOH, I've known conformists who were married to radical cheapskates who just gradually changed who they hung out with, and then everyone was happy, because no one was pressuring the non-cheapskate to conform to another style, and the non-cheapskate could relax and recognize the benefits of the cheapskate lifestyle. That's the second kind of person I think this book would be good for -- someone attached to a cheapskate who is struggling to see the benefits. If Yeager suggests things the non-cheapskate would be more comfortable with than the stuff the cheapskate partner is pushing for, and the thing that cheapskate hadn't thought of would save as much or more money, there's a compromise that would make everyone happy!
So I think this is a good book for cheapskates, wanna-be cheapskates, and those who are trying to cope with a cheapskate in their life. :D
August 31, 2014
There are so many ways of which I am totally, completely, not a Cheapskate and seriously needed to read this book. Here's some of the things I learned that thousands of American families are doing to live below their means:
1) Not budgeting. That's right! Cheapskates are so adept to living below their means, they don't need to budget how they spend their money, because the life credo is to "spend less or do without".
2) Save twice on premeditated purchases. These folks save 2 or 3 times the amount for a desired purchase, to make sure they truly want it.
3) Saying no to our kids. That means the little stuff ("No, you cannot have an ATV!") and potentially the big stuff ("Paying for college yourself will help you choose your major wisely").
And the list goes on, and it only gets more and more interesting. To me, what makes The Cheapskate Next Door such a great read is that it is NOT a personal finance book, but a book about a life philosophy and value system that rejects hyper-consumerism, bargain-hunting, new-car-smell, big mortgage way of life. It tells us that if you don't need it, don't have it. If you can't pay in cash today, don't buy it. The closest I've ever read to this credo was Dave Ramsey's Money Makeover (which is also a pretty good read, but more of a traditional personal finance book).
Also, the Cheapskate is a hilarious read, and Yeager is a fun writer. Here's a sample:
One woman on her husband's frugality: "Frank's so tight, he squeaks when he walks. When he opens up his wallet, Washington and Lincoln squint from the shock of seeing daylight."
This book is a sequel to his "how-to" guide on living under your means (I have not read this yet), and this book focuses on his cross-America tour and visits with dozens of cheapskates. He shares their lifestyles, tips/tricks, and financial approach to topics ranging from funding college to life insurance. Pick it up -- we all could learn how to spend less and live more.
1) Not budgeting. That's right! Cheapskates are so adept to living below their means, they don't need to budget how they spend their money, because the life credo is to "spend less or do without".
2) Save twice on premeditated purchases. These folks save 2 or 3 times the amount for a desired purchase, to make sure they truly want it.
3) Saying no to our kids. That means the little stuff ("No, you cannot have an ATV!") and potentially the big stuff ("Paying for college yourself will help you choose your major wisely").
And the list goes on, and it only gets more and more interesting. To me, what makes The Cheapskate Next Door such a great read is that it is NOT a personal finance book, but a book about a life philosophy and value system that rejects hyper-consumerism, bargain-hunting, new-car-smell, big mortgage way of life. It tells us that if you don't need it, don't have it. If you can't pay in cash today, don't buy it. The closest I've ever read to this credo was Dave Ramsey's Money Makeover (which is also a pretty good read, but more of a traditional personal finance book).
Also, the Cheapskate is a hilarious read, and Yeager is a fun writer. Here's a sample:
One woman on her husband's frugality: "Frank's so tight, he squeaks when he walks. When he opens up his wallet, Washington and Lincoln squint from the shock of seeing daylight."
This book is a sequel to his "how-to" guide on living under your means (I have not read this yet), and this book focuses on his cross-America tour and visits with dozens of cheapskates. He shares their lifestyles, tips/tricks, and financial approach to topics ranging from funding college to life insurance. Pick it up -- we all could learn how to spend less and live more.
February 15, 2012
I thought this book was better than the author's last one. This one was more tight, better edited and better organized. I felt that it was more detailed on tips for how to save money and it also provided a lot of food for thought on how we spend money and what is necessary and what isn't. It's the treadmill of life. The author really hammered home the point that you get a job to pay for this and that and you spend money based on the lifestyle that you are living because you have that job when if you didn't you wouldn't have certain expenses (i.e., child care, gym membership, second car, meals out, cleaning lady etc.) He's right and it is a bit disturbing. Once you buy or acquire get one thing, you must get what goes with it and so on and so forth. A bigger house means higher heating and cooling costs, higher property taxes, more window coverings, more furniture, higher house insurance......I am starting to sweat just thinking about it! It's makes me glad that I have a modest home and I am not constantly trying to acquire a bigger and better one every few years like some people I know. Mo' money, Mo' problems I guess.
There are alot of things that the author suggests doing which are beyond what I could handle. I could never buy second hand clothes, I just think that's crossing the line. Call me a snob if you will but...I will take some of his advice and I will certainly be doing some more fiscal fasts!
Yeager has a lot of good tips for living in America (taxes, insurance etc.), but sadly a lot of them don't apply to me since I am Canadian. The book was a quick and easy read and I think he makes nuerous valid points. It's not about making more money, it's about spending less money and ignoring keeping up with the Jones'.
There are alot of things that the author suggests doing which are beyond what I could handle. I could never buy second hand clothes, I just think that's crossing the line. Call me a snob if you will but...I will take some of his advice and I will certainly be doing some more fiscal fasts!
Yeager has a lot of good tips for living in America (taxes, insurance etc.), but sadly a lot of them don't apply to me since I am Canadian. The book was a quick and easy read and I think he makes nuerous valid points. It's not about making more money, it's about spending less money and ignoring keeping up with the Jones'.
December 3, 2014
Lesson number one rule in Yeager's amusing and instructive books: cheapskate is a GOOD word. I couldn't agree more. Rather than going down the usual money-saving how-to roads, namely the "how to save money by reusing old string and cardboard boxes to make shoes" and the "just stop drinking that triple frappe half-caf latte every morning and you'll be rich in no time" books, Yeager focuses on helping you find your inner cheapskate.
He lays out the major areas of our lives where people often make poorly informed choices with little forethought. His advice runs the gamut of being below your means, considering the total cost of a purchase (including upkeep, repair, etc), ways of saving money and amount of time you need to devote to it. Not every option works for every person. Pick and choose to what suits your lifestyle and plans for the future. Yeager also points out the pitfalls of becoming too focused - such as the coupon clippers that spend hours a week to save on products they may not even want.
Most importantly, he takes a view (which I wholeheartedly agree with) that the most precious commodity of all is free time. Being careful with your money can help you buy something that no one ever seems to have enough of. Both books are written in a witty, fun way - rather like having a talk with a favorite irascible uncle. Check these babies out of the library and save yourself some major dough!
He lays out the major areas of our lives where people often make poorly informed choices with little forethought. His advice runs the gamut of being below your means, considering the total cost of a purchase (including upkeep, repair, etc), ways of saving money and amount of time you need to devote to it. Not every option works for every person. Pick and choose to what suits your lifestyle and plans for the future. Yeager also points out the pitfalls of becoming too focused - such as the coupon clippers that spend hours a week to save on products they may not even want.
Most importantly, he takes a view (which I wholeheartedly agree with) that the most precious commodity of all is free time. Being careful with your money can help you buy something that no one ever seems to have enough of. Both books are written in a witty, fun way - rather like having a talk with a favorite irascible uncle. Check these babies out of the library and save yourself some major dough!
September 25, 2010
I was basically familiar with most every concept and tip in this book, but it is a good systematic approach to learning and describing a spending lifestyle that is sustainable and enjoyable. I'm glad to say that most of what I encountered in this book I was already taught by my parents or was what I thought was "common sense" (which is not so common if you see the spending and saving habits of present-day America). It also drove home the fact that I would rather have more time than money, even though more money sounds like so much fun! This book prompted good discussions between me and my spouse on what we think it is important to spend money and/or time on, how to live below our means, and to make sure our priorities are straight (and also what we deem important 'splurges' that bring flavor and fun sometimes).
June 13, 2014
What you get out of this book depends on how you approach it, I think. It's less about tips for living below your means happily (although there are a fair number of these) and more about showing you how other people do it, which, yes, includes the strange habits of a lot of odd birds. The book kind of reads as an extended summary of survey results rendered into somewhat amusing prose.
Sometimes I give 3 stars to indicate my level of "meh" with a book; but this one is scored as such because, according to GoodReads, 3 stars means I "liked it." Which I did, even though it was preaching to the choir.
Sometimes I give 3 stars to indicate my level of "meh" with a book; but this one is scored as such because, according to GoodReads, 3 stars means I "liked it." Which I did, even though it was preaching to the choir.
January 13, 2011
One of my weaknesses is personal finance books. I'm always looking for ways to pinch a penny. My friend calls me CHEAP. I prefer to use the word FRUGAL. The title caught my eye at the library. (Helpful hint: People who are FRUGAL get books at the library instead of going into debt at Amazon!)
Anyhow, don't bother picking up this book at the library and don't waste your money buying it. I picked up a tip or two, but it wasn't worth my time. His humor was irritating.I have a feeling it's just regurgitation of his previous book.
Anyhow, don't bother picking up this book at the library and don't waste your money buying it. I picked up a tip or two, but it wasn't worth my time. His humor was irritating.I have a feeling it's just regurgitation of his previous book.
May 10, 2011
Eh. This book was okay. I was hoping for either stories of crazy cheap people or just really good hints. Mostly I found that I'm doing most of this stuff but maybe not to the extreme. The funniest thing that happened was when I was in my OB's waiting room reading the book and someone wanted to take my picture because they're a friend of the author. They promptly emailed it to him. Awesome.
November 8, 2016
A little dated but plenty of practical advice delivered with a dash of good humor. Advice and ideas taken from real people who live below their means makes this quite interesting. This book is more about lifestyle and mindset, and is a useful prep for those looking to simplify and cut costs.
February 24, 2016
If this wasn't a book on being cheap, I'd buy it. It's that good.
September 27, 2021
4.5 - Loved the book. I wish maybe it had gone a little bit more into ways to save money instead of listing observations of cheapskates, but I suspect his other book will be like this. My reason for not giving this book 5 stars is due to the nature of the book's content, not the author's writing. I found the author's writing style to be very entertaining and easy to read. A very enjoyable and informative read.
"Once we're above the survival level, the difference between prosperity and poverty lies simply in our degree of gratitude." -Your Money or Your Life. Before. People used to buy things out of necessity, now we buy things out of want. The things we have usually work fine, but we want new ones that look better. Disposable income and retirement are relatively new concepts that we should be thankful for."The divorce rate among married cheapskates is about half the national average." Buy goods, not just houses or cars, that maintain or appreciate in value, as opposed to buying disposable commodities. Disregard brands, quality, and durability are what matter. Buy earlier generations if you buy new. Learn to do the work you pay others for. The money we stash away, we often don't miss, but if we were to have access to it, it would have been spent. Never buy extended warranties. We buy more house, because we want it, not because we need it. We want higher quality countertops and expensive bathroom finishes, but we don't need them. The bare minimum that we need for housing is a lot less than what we want. Don't waste food. Put cheap Ziploc bags inexpensive freezer bags, and reuse the freezer bags. Buy a food dehydrator. Schedule exterior home repairs in the fall and winter and interior jobs in the spring and summer. Hire moving companies in the winter. Plan meals around loss leaders. Eat foods that turn bad fast, first. Learn your local grocery store sale cycles. Keep a database of good prices for groceries. Compare prices on toiletries, cosmetics, home cleaning products, spices, and snacks to dollar store deals. Learn to butcher meat
Weigh prepackaged fruit, and get the heaviest one. Stock up on loss leader meats (turkey/ham/corned beef) around holidays. Use crackpots. Make inexpensive cuts of meat in the crockpot. Manual cars are cheaper to buy, operate, repair, and more fuel-efficient. Have a trusted mechanic look over your used car purchase and order a vehicle history report. There is nothing wrong with being frugal. It is not a character flaw. It is an indication of one realizing that there is more to life than just money and appearances.
"Once we're above the survival level, the difference between prosperity and poverty lies simply in our degree of gratitude." -Your Money or Your Life. Before. People used to buy things out of necessity, now we buy things out of want. The things we have usually work fine, but we want new ones that look better. Disposable income and retirement are relatively new concepts that we should be thankful for."The divorce rate among married cheapskates is about half the national average." Buy goods, not just houses or cars, that maintain or appreciate in value, as opposed to buying disposable commodities. Disregard brands, quality, and durability are what matter. Buy earlier generations if you buy new. Learn to do the work you pay others for. The money we stash away, we often don't miss, but if we were to have access to it, it would have been spent. Never buy extended warranties. We buy more house, because we want it, not because we need it. We want higher quality countertops and expensive bathroom finishes, but we don't need them. The bare minimum that we need for housing is a lot less than what we want. Don't waste food. Put cheap Ziploc bags inexpensive freezer bags, and reuse the freezer bags. Buy a food dehydrator. Schedule exterior home repairs in the fall and winter and interior jobs in the spring and summer. Hire moving companies in the winter. Plan meals around loss leaders. Eat foods that turn bad fast, first. Learn your local grocery store sale cycles. Keep a database of good prices for groceries. Compare prices on toiletries, cosmetics, home cleaning products, spices, and snacks to dollar store deals. Learn to butcher meat
Weigh prepackaged fruit, and get the heaviest one. Stock up on loss leader meats (turkey/ham/corned beef) around holidays. Use crackpots. Make inexpensive cuts of meat in the crockpot. Manual cars are cheaper to buy, operate, repair, and more fuel-efficient. Have a trusted mechanic look over your used car purchase and order a vehicle history report. There is nothing wrong with being frugal. It is not a character flaw. It is an indication of one realizing that there is more to life than just money and appearances.
August 15, 2019
The cheapskate next door looks at different ways that people will save money. Some go from what would appear are very obvious suggestions to those that are quite absurd. The question that many people will have is at what point does being frugal become being stingy. Some topics he cover are clearly frugal, and others cross the line.
Of authors that try and make the case between being frugal and being green, Yeager has done a better job than the rest making that case. He says that many frugal people are unintentionally green simply in that they use things until they no longer function, not until they are no longer the top of the line/in style. He said 90% of clothes are discarded before they lose functionality, so people that wear clothes to the end are going to save money, and reduce the need for extra clothing to be produced. Clothes will go from everyday use to yard work clothes, then to painting clothes, then cut to use as rags. They also drive cars to the end of their serviceable life, instead of trading them in, which reduces the need for extra vehicles to be produced, while also saving money. Given the amount of depreciation that occurs in the first few years of car ownership, it is not surprising they take this path. Finding forms of entertainment that are cheap or free can be just as fun, but without the price tag. There are several more examples like this he gives, but those are three of the most common.
One word of caution that he mentions is that going from frugal to stingy can happen if you take things to far. Expecting others to bare the costs for all things is not what he suggests. He also tells about wearing clothes that were so worn he was mistaken for being homeless. Mentioning the balance he emphasizes how to be frugal without being a burden. He also shows when people try to be frugal, but instead it is actually petty theft, and condemns that.
Overall a decent read, and can get people into a different way of thinking of how to save more and spend less without lowering your quality of life.
Of authors that try and make the case between being frugal and being green, Yeager has done a better job than the rest making that case. He says that many frugal people are unintentionally green simply in that they use things until they no longer function, not until they are no longer the top of the line/in style. He said 90% of clothes are discarded before they lose functionality, so people that wear clothes to the end are going to save money, and reduce the need for extra clothing to be produced. Clothes will go from everyday use to yard work clothes, then to painting clothes, then cut to use as rags. They also drive cars to the end of their serviceable life, instead of trading them in, which reduces the need for extra vehicles to be produced, while also saving money. Given the amount of depreciation that occurs in the first few years of car ownership, it is not surprising they take this path. Finding forms of entertainment that are cheap or free can be just as fun, but without the price tag. There are several more examples like this he gives, but those are three of the most common.
One word of caution that he mentions is that going from frugal to stingy can happen if you take things to far. Expecting others to bare the costs for all things is not what he suggests. He also tells about wearing clothes that were so worn he was mistaken for being homeless. Mentioning the balance he emphasizes how to be frugal without being a burden. He also shows when people try to be frugal, but instead it is actually petty theft, and condemns that.
Overall a decent read, and can get people into a different way of thinking of how to save more and spend less without lowering your quality of life.
October 29, 2017
Be thrifty and thrive
Refreshing read. Reminded of my grandparents, who also extolled the virtues of living below one's means. Jeff includes the voices of his readers and fellow cheapskates. Every chapter includes some well chosen quotes, corny jokes, insights and footnotes supporting the information cited. I'm a big fan of saving money by walking, biking, and using car sharing services like Zipcar instead of owning a car, so I liked seeing that in the book. Not all hints will work for everyone, and Jeff handles that deftly. For example, in the grocery chapter, he mentions that his readers are divided 50/50 as to whether membership stores are helpful to the end goal of saving on necessary purchases. Or whether to coupon or not? By addressing arguments for a and against quickly a and easily, he helps the reader identify which methods are the best fit - and which ones aren't personally appealing.
And Jeff makes an appealing case for having fun while being frugal, providing examples of how to enjoy life without having to rack up debts.
Refreshing read. Reminded of my grandparents, who also extolled the virtues of living below one's means. Jeff includes the voices of his readers and fellow cheapskates. Every chapter includes some well chosen quotes, corny jokes, insights and footnotes supporting the information cited. I'm a big fan of saving money by walking, biking, and using car sharing services like Zipcar instead of owning a car, so I liked seeing that in the book. Not all hints will work for everyone, and Jeff handles that deftly. For example, in the grocery chapter, he mentions that his readers are divided 50/50 as to whether membership stores are helpful to the end goal of saving on necessary purchases. Or whether to coupon or not? By addressing arguments for a and against quickly a and easily, he helps the reader identify which methods are the best fit - and which ones aren't personally appealing.
And Jeff makes an appealing case for having fun while being frugal, providing examples of how to enjoy life without having to rack up debts.
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