Jeff Yeager, who normally writes in this space about going green by saving money, has a new book out, The Cheapskate Next Door. To find out what he learned while researching the book, including many interviews he did with “cheapskates” around the country, we decided to turn the spotlight back oh him, and ask some questions of our own. Here’s the result:

The Daily Green Editors: What is the worst hating anyone has done on you for being cheap?

Well, of course, I don’t condone being dishonest or greedy or unkind when I talk about being a “cheapskate.” Just the opposite. For me — and the folks I talk about in my new book — it’s all about being less materialistic, less focused on amassing money and stuff, and more focused on amassing a quality of life that money can’t buy. It’s truly about enjoying life more, by spending and consuming less. So, no, I generally don’t have people hating me because I’m cheap, as I’ve just defined it.

That said, I do occasionally have people tell me that folks like me caused the current recession, or that we’re being unpatriotic because we’re not “good consumers.” I’ve ranted on that topic before here on The Daily Green, so I won’t repeat myself. I like to conserve when it comes to my blood pressure, too, not just conserve resources and money.

What do you think is your greatest cheap accomplishment?

Well, there is the five-pound can of garbanzo beans I once scored for 69 cents on sale — slightly dented, of course. That’s like a cheapskate trophy for me. But honestly, I think it’s that, largely through the use of humor (most of it at my own expense), I’ve been able to engage people in a discussion about some very serious issues — the impact of consumption on the planet, solving the world’s problems by being more charitable, valuing what’s really important in life over simply buying more stuff. I’d like to think that, because I try to add a laugh track to most of what I write, I’m reaching at least some folks who otherwise would never engage in such a discussion.

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You mention some pretty extreme examples of cheapskates in your new book — dumpster divers, a woman who uses her used Q-tips to detail the inside of her car, a number of cheapskates who consider underwear to be an optional luxury. Do you really expect most people to live like that?

No, of course not. And taken in the context of the entire book, as you know, those are truly just a handful of stories, examples of what I call “bizarre cheapskate behavior.” But they do show what’s possible, how different people live…plus, frankly, they add color and entertainment value to the book. In fact, the thing I’m proudest about when it comes to the new book, is that I think it has something to offer — some ways to live happier on less — for everybody, regardless of your family situation or lifestyle. So, don’t worry, I’m not asking you to give up your tighty whiteys.