The Penny Pinchers Book

youngie

your library is expensive ours charges 50p for requests and that includes a postcard to say when its in

trigger2

lol

I'm still going thro the thread for the Tightwad Gazette, but I think I might just treat myself to the book !

Norfolk_Jim

Amazingly expensive Library you have there. You dont live close to the border with a neighbouring district do you? Sometimes the policy between two neighbouring councils can be very different. Its a great read though if you do buy it and even if you dont like it, its very popular so you could sell it again through Amazon Market Place. I sell lots of books through Amazon market place, though you have to price with care thinking of postage costs since Amazons allowance for postage they will pay you does not take into account the weight of a book. Once or twice it was like giving away a particularly heavy book.

twink

our library charges 50p too for a request but to get it from any other library, i assume in uk, we have to pay return postage and the 50p request charge

trigger2

hmmm, didn't realise our library was so expensive ! (We're about 30 mins from Edinburgh, over the Forth Bridge) Am still debating whether to buy from Amazon, I am a bit of a book hoarder so i doubt i would sell it, depends how useful it is, i'm always wary of books that are too american. I dunno if i would have time to read it cos i'm always on here !! lol

QueenB.

I have never read or heard of either but after reading this thread i am off to find out more and then to try and get them from my library:D

Blairweech

I've got the Penny Pincher's guide, but not the TWG (although it is on my 'to-buy' list')

First problem - I found it really difficult to obtain - Amazon say they can get it in stock, but they're lying - they'll just make you wait 3 months before sending you an email with their 'apologies'. I put an order in for mine and fortunately, a Marketplace seller advertised one shortly after.

I find it really useful, although somewhat difficult to implement it all because there's so much in it! It's absolutely packed with little hints and tips about living frugally - some of which are common knowledge but quite a few of which I did not know before (although I'm not sure if that would apply to you). It has ten chapters, covering: The Basics, Shopping, DIY, Recycling, Gardening, Transport, Appliances, Food, Clothes, Make-up and Grooming.

It does not waste time with essays on the benefits of frugality - it gets straight to the good stuff. Example of tips are: 'Mix sawdust with wood glue to make tight dowels or repair furniture', 'If a Christmas tree has a straight trunk, strip the branches and use it as a support in the garden instead of throwing it away'.

All the tips are written in a reassuring and upbeat way - instead of 'Wrap your Xmas presents in old calenders', it states: 'One of the prettiest presents under the Xmas tree is the one wrapped in a calendar page.

Like with the TWG, some of the tips are a bit extreme and laborious, but I wuld definantly recommend it - it has paid for itself many times over in my household, and I think that there's so much in it, there's bound to be something for you! It would make a great addition to the bookshelf and the frugal, thrifty lifestyle. It's really cheap for such a fabulous resource, and you can always sell it on again if you don't get on with it - the book is in high demand on Amazon. Note I said addition - combined with the TWG and other resources, it would become an invaluable stitch in the frugal knowledge cloth (not that I'm encouraging you to hoard books!)


ETA: Oh, and it's British (well, my copy is anyway). It uses pounds and pennis, although the tips are more general and the references to things like weights and measurements etc are few and far between.

jazzyjustlaw

I have TWG and PP and prefer TWG. It took me months to get one of Amazon waited three months then had apologies then ordered again. Then one day just paid a few pound as I bought if off a second hand seller. I bought smart spenders book by jane furnival and that was practical day to day advice I have lots of books that tell you how to save money. My OH says you will have money if you stop buying books!! We have hundreds of books as we are avid books readers of everything any anything!!

cathybird

I bought Tightwad Gazette too, think it's totally brilliant and reread it constantly. I just searched https://www.usedbooksearch.co.uk & Amazon.co.uk currently has a used copy of the Complete TG going for £8.95 plus £2.75 postage (though in fact it's £9.43 new, plus postage). But obviously neither of those options is anywhere near as cheap as using the library!!!! I don't know the penny pincher book either but it sounds quite useful (sorry I know it was that one you wanted to know about ...)

sandieb

I bought a new copy of the Complete TWG from amazon.co.uk a couple of weeks ago - no waiting for delivery - came within a couple of days. Cost was £9.77 (Delivery free as I ordered another book at the same time).

Yes it is heavy!!! Unputdownable though.