Title: SuperThrift™

Author: Steve Winter
Copyright: ©1987,1993,2005 Cub Lea, Living Skill Books and Dynamic Living Media
Classification: nonfiction, humor, how-to, consumer
Originally completed: 1982
Original title: The Ultimate Shopper
Last revised: 1994; partial revision in 2005.
Approximate print book size: 300 pagesPublication history:
First published March 1986, Winter Northwest Publishing as SuperThrift
Quality paperback edition May 1988, Living Skill Books as The Ultimate Shopper
Dynamic Living Media e-text edition January 1993, re-titled SuperThrift
Online edition July 2005 as SuperThrift

The Ultimate Shopper; was one of the best-received self-published titles in Canada in 1987, and to this day remains perhaps the most hilarious all-around moneysaving guide ever written, quite an accolade in such a crowded field. It was sold across Canada and to academic markets in the US, and its author was featured in over 120 Canadian media markets in its first months of release, and even spawned a short-lived radio shorts series syndicated to eight stations in Canada that same year.

The book was completely revised and rewritten in 1993 and repackaged as one of the first electronic books with an actual history of softcover publication. The revised electronic edition features over 30% brand-new content, and a complete rewrite by the original author.

The book was finally reformatted for the web in 2005 by yours truly, and it's now funnier and more entertaining a read than ever, and completely free. This is the complete book; nothing has been omitted. While it's admittedly dated in many spots, many chapters are still as valuable to today's consumers as they were when the book was first released.

The Living Skill Books quality softcover edition came with a moneyback guarantee that the reader would save at least $500 a year with no effort or sacrifice, just from browsing the book once. Only one reader, a home economics professor, ever claimed a refund. Try it, and find out why this book was one of the most talked-about nonfiction releases in Canada in 1988.

SuperThrift Pt. 1: The Ultimate Shopper Program

00. Front matter
...cover photo, copyrights, dedications, etc...
01. How to Get the Most from This Book
...program outline, pretty much useless...
02. Bulk Bargain Buying
...the bargain cycle...side benefits...tuning up...
03. Best-Price Calculation
...theory, study, practice...examples...
04. Setting Accurate Spending Priorities
...weird sermon...generics...x-factors...damage...
05. Tapping Into Alternate Sources
...independents...big-boxes...mall strategy...
06. Choose What You Use
...human nature...vices...shopping for others...
07. A Lesson in Portion Control
...household sizes...meat buying...trim waste...
08. Forcing Retailers to Compete
...negotiation strategies...saving time...
09. The Proper Use of Non-Credit
...getting back retailers' credit-handling charges...
10. Watch Where Your Money Goes
...cashier errors...false taxes...

SuperThrift Pt 2: "Advanced" Techniques

11. Group Buying: Strength in Numbers
...reintroduction...get it together!...shopping clubs...
12. Second-hand Shopping Savvy
...getting the best deal...avoiding rip-offs...
13. The Fine Art of Garage Sailing
...why bother?...promptness pays...map magic...
14a. How to Deal in Classified Information
...specific tips for specific types of merchandise...
14b. Shopping the Classifieds
...strategy & tactics...one-to-one competition...
15. Do-It-Yourself Insurance Video
...cheap value protection...how's and why's...
16. A Retirement Nest-egg from Throwaways
...collectibles in your trash...what to keep...
17. Cutting the Cost of Keeping in Touch
...obsolete phone & mail savings tips...
18. Health, Grooming and Personal Care
...keeping vanity from breaking the bank...
19. A Few Tips on Entertainment Savings
...cost, priority advice for home entertainment...
20. Afterword
...what to say when you've got nothing to say...