The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less

This had some good tips and practical advice. I realize that my enoughosaurus, as the author puts it, isn't quite ready to be slain yet, but it's getting there. I've successfully managed to avoid the ad branding that we're all exposed to, in large part to my education. Studying social trends and capitalism will do that for a person though I suppose. The most challenging section of the book was the last one, on financial planning. This is something that I know I need to be concerned with, I'm just not at a point to be making investments, for lack of knowledge and money to invest.

I listened to the audio edition of this book and truly enjoyed it. Jeff Yeager is proud to be cheap and with his book he wants to teach us how we too can live cheap and be happy.

Even though his ideas weren't all that radical just one or two generations ago, nowadays they may sound like crazy talk to some of us. Unfortunately our society is all about consumerism yet it fails to make us truly happy. That's why a new way of thinking might be in order.

Jeff's proposal is simple: Instead of striving to earn more and more so that we can spend more and more, why not learn to spend less and be happy with less?

He offers a variety of tips in his book how we can accomplish this. From never spending more than $1 per pound on food, to getting an show more oil change only every 7500 miles instead of the usual 3000 miles. There are some good insights in every chapter and even if you don't implement all of them, just one or two can make a difference in your life. show less

Although this book gets goofy and self-congratulatory sometimes, the information is often useful. I particularly like his attitude of living below his means in spite of pressure from this society to buy, buy, buy. I re-evaluated my own spending behavior and said "No!" to myself on several occasions. I got this book from the library, and it is well-worn and falling apart, so well used. Worth a read for anyone interested in living a more simple and frugal lifestyle.

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 show more 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. show less

Eh - preaching to the converted here. More of a presentation of a philosophy of a frugal way of life than actual tips - but the tips he does have are ones we haven't seen everywhere else. Enough humor to keep me reading almost every page. Only you can judge for yourself whether you can use his advice or not - but I do think you should check out at least one of his works or his website.

Not your typical financial guide--influenced by the wonderful book Your Money or Your Life, Yeager encourages really thinking about whether spending money is worth it in the big picture of your life/values. Thought provoking, and a good reminder...

good book. Basic message" decide what level you want your standard of living to be (i.e., what is enough) and stay there; spend your life doing the things you enjoy, not earning more money to get more stuff.