Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel: 100 Dirty Little Money-Grubbing Secrets [Paperback]

Phil Villarreal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

The secrets to saving money in any economy, con, script, trick, and take at every opportunity.

Phil Villarreal is not a Harvard MBA or a professional financial advisor or a talking head on a cable television network focusing on business, but he can change your financial life—if you are willing to move into the gray areas of money and ethics. His advice is as funny as it is useful as it is a little bit evil.

Instead of playing straight and saving money by cutting back on things you need or want, Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel has a better plan to save money by working the system and sticking it to “the man.” Here’s how to get free Internet service, never pay for ketchup and plastic straws, get refunds on already opened DVDs, clothe yourself using free swag from credit card promotions, benefit from the bonanza that is the garbage thrown out by college kids, how to get in free to sporting events, score free on-demand movies in hotels, and more!

Hilarious, tongue-in-cheek, and sardonically practical, this is the book for everyone who loves rule-bending, loophole-exploiting, money-saving madness. In this economy, it’s every man for himself and dog-eat-dog—and this book can help. 50 color illustrations

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book not only pays for itself within the first few chapters, but Phil unearths ways to subvert the scams of cellular companies. Eye opening at the very least, this money-saving manuscript is less an ode to parsimoniousness, and more a call to arms. --Maddox, author of New York Times Bestseller "The Alphabet of Manliness" June 16, 2009

Review

Phil is a devious mastermind. He'd be the Lex Luthor of tightwads if Lex Luthor was hilarious. Most of the advice in this book will at best destroy your treasured personal relationships and at worst get your butt kicked, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is awesome. If you've ever done something cheap and blushed slightly, you'll be gratified to know that not only is there someone else doing that exact cheap thing -- he's perfected a system and is willing to share his knowledge with a grateful public.

Not only did Phil get me to write this blurb for him, he also convinced me to give him $20 from my wallet.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602397546
• ISBN-13: 978-1602397545
• Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 4.7 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Phil Villarreal is the author of "Secrets of a Stingy Scounderl: 100
Dirty, Little Money-Saving Secrets" and "Stormin' Mormon." He has been
a movie critic since 2001, writing for the Arizona Daily Star and OK!
Magazine. He also is an associate editor at the consumer advocacy blog
Consumerist.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Can't imagine living with this person August 18, 2010

By N. Fedder

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I actually bought this book (paid real money for it). The author strikes me as a person who most people would not want to befriend. His ideas are written in a sometimes funny way (except when he marginalizes women) but he is like a person who would rather throw litter in the street than use the garbage can. He is totally out for himself at the expense of all others and he comes across as a person without any real kindness and generosity of spirit. So he tells you to take the coupons off of groceries that you are not even buying so that the next person loses out. He tells you to stuff ketchup packages in your pocket along with mustard when you are at a fast food place. Can you imagine his apartment or house with little soy sauce packages and mustard and ketchup stuffed in a Tucks box. The laughs don't take this book very far. He reminds me of the person who has his car broken into and claims that he had $10,000 golf clubs in the trunk (although it would be more likely mini golf cub that he stole from the kids park) so that in the end we all wind up paying higher insurance costs. It's an ugly book written in an ugly manner. Also, if your teenager ever read it, he/she would be on the road to a petty and unlawful life. Keep away and save your money for the $1.99 supermarket ketchup that will last you a year or so.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing but the musings of a small mind January 15, 2011

By DutchessofBlackhawk

Format:Paperback

This book is nothing but the musings of a small mind and a borderline petty thief. If you're the type that feels good about being a complete skinflint this is your book. Yeah, break up with your girlfriend before valentines day/holidays to save a few bucks. Sign up for promotions just to get the free hat or shirt, yeah, that's classy.

So if you want to read a couple hundred pages of this rubbish, have at it. Otherwise, just stay away.

Finally, if you're truly cheap and if you really want to read this, get it from the library don't buy it here.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars How to Lie, Cheat and Steal to Save a Couple of Bucks April 14, 2011

By Cathy Stucker VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This book would be useful to someone lacking any morals, character or basic human decency. Everyone else should avoid it.

The so-called "author" advocates committing fraud and theft in the name of getting undeserved freebies. And let's not even think about what he suggests doing to your friends and significant other.

If you are willing to sell your soul for a free movie, this book is just what you are looking for. Otherwise, stay far away.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars not ethical to teach to cheat August 31, 2010

By juego

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

just not ethical to teach to cheat and lie.part of the degenerating cultural times being promoted.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars What a horrible, despicable person! August 7, 2012

By Ken

Format:Paperback

A few of the strategies are useful, but most are absolutely unethical if not completely illegal. I was totally appalled by the author's lack of morals. If I employed these strategies to save a few bucks I am sure that I would be run out of town sooner or later.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Review from my Website September 14, 2009

By Matthew Breed

Format:Paperback

Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel could not be more aptly named. Within these pages lie some of the most despicable and outrageous ways to save money you could ever imagine, many that even border on illegal. Now, I am a relatively hard person to shock or offend. Anyone who knows me personally also knows that I am gross, inappropriate, idiotic and almost completely desensitized to everything. This book shocked me.

I was unprepared for just how money-grubbing and unethical the tips in this book would be. Add to that the writing style (which is uproarious) and what you get is a book that [...] me right in. I would love to say that I did not like Secrets, but I enjoyed every second of it! Even those tips that I completely disagree with on a moral basis (like taking post-it notes to the grocery store with made-up prices for the store to match) are delivered with such wit that it is hard to even be irritated. It takes a special kind of writer to tell you to basically steal from a company and do it with a sense of humor that makes you laugh out loud as you sit alone on the porch, book in hand.

Although I am steadfast in my plight against some of the borderline criminal tips in this book, there is enough sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek expressions to show that much of the author's seemingly unethical tips are nothing more than entertainment. For example, in the section of Secrets regarding relationships and what a drain they can be on your finances, Phil recommends instigating fights before holidays and special occasions. This way, you will get to avoid gifts, dinners and other holiday fare. Here is a sample of his writing, which (if serious) is disturbing to say the least:

I recommend at least four, I-never-wanna-see-you-again (till next week) throw-downs.... Valentine's day, her birthday, your anniversary, and Christmas. Throw Thanksgiving in there too if her parents annoy you and she's asked you to dine with your family.

I am fortunate that I can recognize what should be taken seriously and what is meant to be funny. But it is a VERY fine line. What may be too "over the top" for me may just be an idea or method you will gladly be willing to adapt. If you are looking for tips that will genuinely save you money, and morals have no boundaries, get this book. If you just want to laugh, and could care less about how stingy the author really is, get this book.

On the other hand, if you are easily offended by almost anything at all, this one is not for you. Don't say I didn't warn you. Read more ›

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Suitable for Children September 26, 2009

By Jesse Michelsen

Format:Paperback

This book is a great, lighthearted read. The author writes with a certain undeniable charm like that of a grungy sailor coming into port.

The advice in the book can only be taken half seriously and with a grain of salt. From a financial perspective many of the tips would and have been used by many but the author says it best, "Honor. Integrity. Honesty. Dignity. If you live by any of these values, you may as well drop the book right now(...)"

I would say leave your pride at the door as well because digging through dumpsters or posing as a homeless person are part of the curriculum covered in detail in the book.

Each of these 100 juicy secrets are quite detailed and clearly written from experience. Phil's tongue-in-cheek commentary on each tip is hilarious and just adds value to the great ideas as well as the horrible ideas.

I admit to having done and still do about half of the tips in the book. The other half, most of which I am kicking myself for not coming up with and the rest make my moral compass go haywire, are extremely tempting and almost make me want to take up a few new hobbies.

What you will find in this book:

* How to "dine like a cheap SOB"
* Ways to dodge costly relationship milestones
* Instructions on getting freebies in every situation
* What it means to really pay yourself first
* Doing all of the above while looking like the hero

What you won't find in this book:

* The same tips everyone else already knows
* "Honor. Integrity. Honesty. Dignity."
* How to score points with the man upstairs
* Tips on building healthy relationship with friends or family
* Anything boring!...

I can just imagine Phil at the family Christmas party hoarding Tupperware, scraping leftovers off abandoned plates back into the container for later use and giving out handmade sock puppets as gifts to all his relatives.

All jokes aside, the book really has some great information that just about everyone can apply to their finances and was worth every penny. Read more ›