what is the meaning of a penny-pincher
I agree, but also it has a negative connotation of being cheap or miserly. You would not use it to praise someone for being careful with their money.
A miser. It means someone who does not spend <em>enough</em> money.
"He's such a penny-pincher that he won't replace his tires until they are bald. Someday he's going to have an accident."
Somone who is careful with money in a good way is "thrifty" or "frugal."
Someone who is very careful not to spend much money.
That reminds me of the Johnny Cash line in 'To Beat the Devil'
<em>But it'd been of month of paydays since I'd heard that eagle scream.</em>
I've never heard it in real life, but there is an expression "to squeeze a quarter so tight the eagle screams."
I always thought the lyrics to "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" said "If I ever get my hands on a dollar again/Gonna hold on to it 'til the eagle screams," but the Internet seems to think it is "'til the eagles <em>grin</em>."