Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel: Review & Giveaway!
Well, I finally finished Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel: 100 Dirty Little Money-Grubbing Secrets
and it sure was interesting! (and a nice change of pace)It takes an special person to pull something like that off, and Phil Villarreal does so with the shocking grace you can only expect from such a book ;) I still don't know whether to hug or punch him, but needless to say it was damn entertaining.
That's probably the best word to describe this book: Entertaining. I'm fairly confident that if you were to try and pull off even half of these 100 tips you'd find yourself in jail. Or in an alley somewhere with a broken nose. BUT, a broken nose with an extra $50 in your pocket ;) That being said, there were also a ton of EXCELLENT tips to try out with a good conscience - especially in the first half of the book (the last 20 or so makes you want to take a shower).
Here's a snippet from Tip #38: "Don't Poop On Coupons":
"It saddens me that coupon clipping is viewed as the pastime of the desperate housewife, some meaningless, mundane project to fill the time between soap-opera airings, floor mopping, and self-supplied, amateur porn web-camming. Here and now I want to start an effort to reclaim coupon clipping for men everywhere. I want Harley riders to start keeping plastic, accordion-style coupon holders in the back of their hogs. I want UFC fighters to tout the benefits of $1 off Raisin Bran coupons after bouts. I want John Wayne to rise from the grave, visit a Circle K, and push a buy-one-get-one-free Thirstbuster card over the counter...Coupons are real money, and to throw them away is to ignite your wallet in flames."He goes on to share his best tips on getting these coupons, but I thought this was an accurate sampling of his hilarious nature. Overall, he did a great job keeping my A.D.D. attention and really opened my eyes to a level of frugality I never thought possible. If you have an open mind, I recommend it 100%. If you're a good little boy or girl, I wouldn't think twice about picking it up ;) Unless, of course, you want to LOOK like a bad ass and carry it around with you? That would most definitely shed your goody-two-shoes image within minutes, believe me. I can't tell you how many stares I got on the train while reading this the past few mornings. It also looks like Phil has earned himself a sexy little fan club:
The Giveaway (if you haven't been scared off yet):
Here's what to do in order to win one of two copies - it's super easy, and super fast:- Drop a comment with your very own "dirty little saving secret"
- And 2, well....there is no #2. Just do #1 and you'll be entered :) And if you're not feeling feisty enough, just make one up or steal someone else's tip so you can be entered - whatever works.
--------
PS: You can also find Phil on Twitter (where he tweets), Consumerist (where he writes), and The Arizona Daily Star (where he reviews). Thanks for the free books my man!
PPS: There's another giveaway at PF Firewall that ends Wed. @ Midnight, so enter there too.
Labels: book reviews, frugality, giveaways, money hacks, saving
posted by J. Money at
7:38 AM
46 Comments:
Hmmm... dirty little savings tip. Always use the bathroom when you leave somewhere, or wait until you get someone to use it to save time and money. One such example: While backpacking Europe, I had the Eurail pass which meant most trains were free. While on a layover in a Switzerland train station I needed to use in the restroom. Instead of paying the 2 Swiss Francs, I hope on a local train to the next town, used the bathroom on the train for free, and hopped back to the main station...!
Gosh, I don't think I have any "dirty" secrets! Just the reason why I might need to pick up this book. ;)
(mrslauram@gmail.com)
My wife and I are trying to save for a cottage, so every time we're tempted to go out for sushi more than once a week, I start cooking dinner and remind her of our goal. My secret is this: Set a goal and constantly talk about how much you want it--- this will prevent much of your crazy spending.
Great Site!
J. - My dirty little secrets would jeopardize my ability to get a security clearance in the future. Lets just say i am a law-abiding citizen with 100% legal spending habits in all things.
I pick up coins, wherever I see them -- including the floor of the bathroom at work. Yes, I wash my hands!
My 'dirty' little secret is not dirty at all. All I do is ask for a discount if someone gives me a compliment. At subway...the guy thinks I am cute, so I get extra toppings. At a clothing store (can't say the name here) the girl used (one time only!!!!!!) her employee/family discount because she liked my accent. Woo hoo!!!!
Enter me in the drawing for the book J.
Oooh, I love to read that book!
I wash and reuse paper coffee filters 2-3 times. They work just as well on the 2nd use.
I also open up my junk mail, fish out the return envelopes, and use them to mail off the rent check and the water bill (the only two places in the world that do not accept online payments, grr!)
Charge you phone, laptop, etc at work to save on your electric bill at home! :)
Put any 'extra' money that comes your way directly into a savings account. This includes cash refunds for items you returned to stores, birthday money, reimbursements, loose change. It adds up quickly. Also deposit overtime amounts into your savings.
Dirty Little Saving Secret - ours that our friends are amazed by is that we never drink anything but water at restaurants (unless they also charge for water), instant saving of $3 a meal, every time.
I wear close until someone else is willing to replace them. For example, I had a pair of cargo shorts for 6-7 years. They had whole everywhere and looked raggedy to say the least. A lady friend of mine was so disgusted by them, she took me shopping and bought me new shorts. I will be hitting her up in 6 years to show her my shorts again and hopefully, go shopping.
Dave
LifeExcursion
p.s. Check out my article J. Money on my budget for a week: "A Week on $20". You may be proud. You are quite the budget influencer.
As a grad student, we're given free food all of the time. When I go out to a meal, I order too much food (no one even questions it because I just eat less than the guys in my program), so I can take home the leftovers for another meal or two. It's a great way to get a free lunch AND dinner!
savingforhome at gmail dot com
My dirty little secret....I take the coupons out of my company's Sunday paper at work instead of subscribing to my own subscription.
When traveling find out local customs. No one in Italy pays to ride local transport. Paying to ride the subway or bus is a waste. In Prague however, you better pay up.
If it's yellow let it mellow if it's brown, flush it down.
Ok, don't judge me for my dirty little secret but it works. You know how the supermarket will put bread on sale at 2 for $5? And the bread is going to most likely expire in the following week so it is prety much impossible to have all that bread? Yeah, I freeze one package. The newly defrosted package is as fresh as before expiration!
I gave up paper products at home - no paper plates, towels, or napkins. I draw the line at reusable TP. This saves me money and reduces waste!
I also LOVE coupons!
lisa dot compton at gmail dot com
Hah!!!! You guys are pretty damn creative, i love it. Keep 'em coming my dear friends, you're inspiring little devils all over!
ok, mine is linked to the one you said with coupons... I go to the Grocery game... it's a website to do my coupons shopping and save HUNDEREDS off my grocery bill....
I also unplug everything I can at home, charge phone at work, print things from work not at home and aslong as I can I will shower one kiddo after another quickly! No play time in the bath tub!
use coupons I tear out of magazines in the doctor's office.
judyylee@hotmail.com
Those "instant" coupon dispensers that you see sticking out in the aisles in the grocery stores...if it's for a product that I use regularly, I grab several coupons!
Same applies when they have a demo person handing out samples (and sometimes coupons), I talk them up for a minute or two about how great the product is, and then take more than one coupon (and sometimes more than one sample!)
I rarely use paper towels anymore. I keep a "dirty towel" (basically an old kitchen towel) in my kitchen and bathroom and use that to wipe down counters and clean up spills. Then I have "clean towel" that I use to dry my hands or fruit.
meinmillions at gmail dot com
I don't do this but I always thought a good maybe borderlining on cheap not frugal strategy would be to only shower at the gym and/or work (if they have a gym and therefore locker room). No water at your house or electricity for heating hot water! Also could take toilet paper from your work, school, or other location...
I keep the change that I find in my boyfriend's pockets when I do the laundry. I also do about 90% of my cooking from scratch, it's healthier than using "convenience" foods and much cheaper than buying a prepared meal of comparable quality.
You've got to get over price and instead look at the actual cost. Something that is made well and will last twice as long as something that is make less well is worth twice as much. Sometimes you have to spend a little to save a little.
You can contact me to tell me I won at admin [at] beatingbroke.com
My stingy secret: buy trendy clothes at stores like Target or Forever 21. No one know's they're cheap, and when the trend is over, you don't feel as bad about relegating it to the back of the closet!
(leah_jones26@yahoo.com if I win!)
My tip is to enter contests that give away free stuff instead of actually buying it.
-d
(meep42 at g mail dot com)
My dirty little secret is to pretend everyday that I have absolutely nothing in the world. I use the "Go Broke to Win Big" (GBTWB) system to flush everything out of the "go broke" bank and into something else. I'm mentally conditioned to therefore spend like someone who makes 1/5th of what I make!
BTW, J. Money, how about some Blogroll love for your fellow Millioin Dollar member? You're up on FS. Thnx dude. :)
I live in an apartment building so when I see good coupons that I'll use, I pick through the recycling to find more that people discarded. Also, I've transferred my prescriptions multiple times just to get the giftcards.
karilou85 at gmail dot com
Use cloth toilet paper! ;)
I go to Barnes and Noble to read the magazines (I spent an entire evening reading a book too) or I have hung around in my dentist's office to finish reading a magazine.
Shelley Harrison (FB)
Dirty Savings Tip: When going out with your mates "forget" to take your wallet with you. That way they have to cough up some cash to buy you dinner, or a few drinks. It would be rude if they ate or drank in front of you without offering you anything :-)
My university finally realized I graduated a year ago and cut off my online access to journal articles and databases through the university library. Rather than shell out for my own subscriptions to Science and Nature, I asked my brother for his log in info.
i "accidently" borrowed the nice clothes hangers from hotel rooms and am slowly replacing the wire ones from the dry cleaners.
Ummm...does not using credit cards count? LOL
Seriously though, we and my wonderful wife mutually agreed to not waste money on ourselves for birthdays and even Christmas. Actually now that I think about it the only time we spend money on a special occasion is our anniversary, and even that, is very minimal.
People look down on this but we don't care. We are saving money and the important thing is that we enjoy the moment even more because we aren't breaking the bank to express our love for each other.
I sneak pop into professional sports game. Haven't been caught yet! Saved around $50. Would highly reccomend it!
Contact - DavidCarlson1 (at) gmail.com
Whenever we go to Costco I always sample every single free food going because by the time I leave the store I'm full enough that I don't need to spend £5 in the cafe. I spoke to one of the free taster ladies once and she told me that people come in just to walk around, eat then leave. I just laughed and said "oh my gosh! I can't believe people would do that!" Then did the very same thing.
We have recycling bins put out every week - I simply walk early (out by 6am)that day and take the coupon inserts that have been tossed. Check them, put the excess in my bin. Usually find $5 or more.
We go to the dollar theatre to see movies and take our own snacks in with us. We won't buy snacks since that drives the cost too high, but we have a cabinet full of popcorn and soda at home so we just take some with us. Instead of paying $30 for an evening out, we pay $2.
oddvision at yahoo dot com if I win
My husband and I pay for everyday items with cash. It helps keep the transactions in our bank account down/more manageable and at the end of the year we take the coins to the bank and put them in our savings account.
Its like getting a bonus at the end of the year!
jennyk@dmsadvertising.net
Write all of your debts down on paper! That's a great way to begin to tackle them. I never realized how much I actually owed a few years ago until I added it up and saw the number in black and white on paper. Ouch!
I buy value packs of chicken thighs (with skin/bones) and separate them into 4-6 packages, then freeze. I get the foam trays a dozen at a time from the butcher. When using coupons off a $20 purchase, I try not to spend over the required amount, and use additional coupons off additional purchases.
Yana
I've confessed before that I take the ketchup from fast food places.
My secret is: when I eat out I usually go to the mall down the street from my house. I used to work there so I continue to get the mall employee discount! I don't lie and say I still work there, they just assume. They have Panda Express there!!!!
My secret is: I love to buy clothes at a consignment shop in my neighborhood. Some people think it is strange to buy used clothes, but I don't. This particular store is extremely picky about the clothes they sell and they are all in perfect condition. 1/4 of retail on very, very good labels.
I created a badass custom media computer ($500) and cancelled my cable subscription. I now get all the TV shows I need from Hulu, or other sites about which I cannot speak. YOU know what I'm talking about...
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