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Unlike most retirement planning and lifestyle books that focus on investing – or at the other end of the spectrum, on how to get the senior discount on a Grand Slam Breakfast at Denny’s – this new book from Jeff Yeager, America’s favorite cheapskate, makes the compelling case that you can have a joyous, worry-free retirement by merely spending smart and focusing on what you truly want and expect out of retirement. Jeff Yeager, dubbed "The Ultimate Cheapskate" by Matt Lauer on NBC's Today show, is a very cheap guy. He re-cants, as opposed to decants, the wine he proudly serves his dinner guests, funneling cheap box wine into premium-label bottles. He believes you should never spend more than per pound on food items. And to save time and energy costs, he soft-boils his morning eggs along with the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. "[Jeff Yeager] ...proves once and for all that living happily within your means is
possible at practically any income."
"Jeff Yeager has a way
of unleashing the inner cheapskate in us all!"
"If you don't save ten
times the amount you spend on this book, you probably didn't read it." |
Jeff Yeager is sequestered in the cheapskate testing laboratory getting this ready for 2013. Please check back. |
Jeff Yeager's new book is an eBook-only release entitled "Don't Throw That Away" is all about creative ways to reuse stuff rather than just trashing it, saving you money and helping to save the environment at the same time. And it talks about how to repurpose just about anything, from "Airsickness Bags" to "Zippers," according to the Index in the book. In addition to tons of practical tips, it also talks about the environmental impact of our throwaway society.
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He's at it again, but this time he's not alone. America's Ultimate Cheapskate is back with all new secrets for how to live happily below your means, į 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.
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Debt Is a Taboo Conversation Topic
Monday, 20 May 2013
As a young adult, my parents taught me to never discuss religion or politics in a social setting, especially if you know and like the other people in the room. I've since learned that sex is often included along with religion and politics in the trifecta of taboo polite conversation topics. Trust me, growing up 50 years ago in the farmlands of Ohio it went without saying that sex wasn't something you talked about in public (or even in private, for that matter).
See also: How to Recover From a Financial Setback
Remembering my parents’ wise advice, I was fascinated by the results of a poll recently conducted by CreditCards.com. It showed that more Americans would now rather discuss their views on religion, politics, or even their love lives with someone they've just met than reveal the amount of credit card debt they are carrying.
In fact discussing money issues in general, like your salary or the amount of your monthly mortgage or rent payment, were generally considered greater taboo topics than sharing one's views on politics or religion, or even revealing personal information, like the details of health problems, your age or your weight! More than twice as many people said that they'd gladly share their views on religion in a social setting than dare discuss the current balance on their credit cards.
I also found it interesting that people are more reluctant to discuss their indebtedness now, as compared to before the recession (the same survey was conducted pre-recession as well), even though during that time most Americans have actually decreased the amount of credit card debt they owe. Financial experts analyzing the survey data concluded that that is because before the Recession, carrying debt was often encouraged and considered almost a patriotic thing to do in order to stimulate the economy, whereas now indebtedness is commonly viewed as a personal failure.
Don't get me wrong. When it comes to money matters, I'm not suggesting that people should bare their balance sheets in public. Although, as I've written about here before, having an open and honest conversation about money problems with family members "” as well as full and ongoing disclosure about financial issues with anyone you're involved with romantically "” is definitely a prudent course of action.
In the meantime, take comfort in the fact that the latest CreditCards.com survey reconfirmed that "the weather"¯ is still the number one most appropriate topic of polite conversation in a social setting. Maybe at the next dinner party, try some schmooze-talk like this: "So, what do you think of this weather? It just makes you want to pay off all of your credit cards, doesn't it?"¯
Photo by: Andres Rueda via Flickr.
Also of Interest
- Retiring with Debt? Join the Club.
- How Much Income Will Your 401(k) Provide?
- Join AARP: Savings, resources and news for your well-being
See the AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more
Make Your Own Mulch
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
You can make your own mulch by shredding, crushing, chopping and/or decaying organic matter such as leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, paper, and tree limbs, branches and twigs. As opposed to compost, mulch is not as far along in the decomposition process, and it's intended to lie on top of the soil, whereas compost is mixed into and becomes the soil. Mulch inhibits weed growth and helps retain moisture so you can water your garden less.
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