A Conversation With The Cheapest Man in America
Jeff Yeager’s wife, Denise, knows better than anyone how frugal her husband can be. This is a man who soft-boils his eggs in the dishwasher (with the dirty dishes), funnels box wine into premium-label bottles and serves it to dinner guests, and has even attempted to make a sweater out of dryer lint. For most of the couple’s 24 years of marriage—or “three-and-a-half good years,” as Denise jokes—her hubby’s miserly ways were familiar only to family and friends. Then Today show host Matt Lauer referred to Yeager, 50, as the “ultimate cheapskate,” and he became known to millions as the cheapest man in America.
Now our “Commander in Cheap” has written a book—”The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches: A Practical (and Fun) Guide to Enjoying Life by Spending Less” (Broadway)—in which he unabashedly reveals many of his quirky, money-saving tips. While the book’s tone is lighthearted, Yeager’s underlying message—that Americans would enjoy life a lot more if they learned to spend and consume less—is decidedly serious.
Failure spoke to Yeager at his Accokeek, Maryland, home to gain further insight into his less-is-more approach to personal finance. Among other things, we discussed his concept of “fiscal fasting,” why he chose to do his book tour by bicycle, and whether he’ll change his lifestyle if he becomes a wealthy, successful author.
Posted in Goofy, Interesting
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Steve Young, Gay Marriage, and the Mormon Church
Former 49ers quarterback Steve Young and his wife Barbara have posted yard signs in front of their Palo Alto home urging voters to vote no on Proposition 8, the state ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage.
Barbara Young has also donated about $50,000 to defeat the measure, and says in a statement that the family does not believe in discrimination and “therefore our family will vote against Prop. 8.”
Steve Young, a prominent Mormon, has not taken a public position on Prop. 8 himself.
The Mormon Church has donated much money to the “Yes on 8” campaign.
Young wouldn’t be the only Bay Area sports legend to weigh in on Prop. 8. Former San Francisco Giant Jeff Kent — who now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers — has donated $15,000 to the campaign to ban gay marriage.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out considering that Steve Young himself is the great-great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, the second president of the LDS and for whom BYU was name. You may recall that the creator of Mormon beefcake calender was excommunicated from the church.
Posted in Political, Pop Culture, Sports
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I love you, mum
“I love you, mum: First words of brain-damaged girl, 6, given power of speech by laser which tracks her eye movements”
A severely handicapped little girl who cannot walk or talk has used a machine to tell her mother for the first time: ‘I love you.’
Six-year-old Elke Wisbey, who was born brain-damaged, has been able to communicate with her family by using a high-tech gadget which tracks her eye movements.
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