[antonye]

If you're as much of a cheapskate as you make out, get a patch of leather (make sure it's suitable though, so nice and thick) as cheap as you can (hint: charity shops for old jackets, gloves, boots, etc) and then cut to size and sew it on yourself. You don't need any special tools and as long as you make a decent job of it (stitch round it three times for safety!) then it should be fine.