How CHEAP are you?
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If any of you have ever read The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley (great read btw), those weird frugality habits can go a long way.
There was an example where they calculated the average cost of that little bit of toothpaste lost when you throw away the tube nearly empty instead of squeezing every last drop out. Then they multiplied the value over the course of 20 years and assumed it was invested in a fairly safe S&P 500 mutual fund returning a very modest percent.
I can't recall what the exact amount was but it was shocking - like the value of several luxury vacations. So there you go, if you want an all inclusive Hawaiian five star resort vacation, use all yer toothpaste!0 -
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:I'm a little disappointed by this thread being about frugality. I totally took the title to the wrong place... :bigsmile:
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Not cheap at all! I have expensive taste, unfortunately. The only thing I'm cheap about (but I consider it being "green") is re-using containers. I re-use everything! If something comes in a resealable bag, or I use a ziplock, I wash and reuse it. Same goes for plastic containers, etc. I also make all of my own household cleaners...my laundry soap costs me about $6.00 to make and lasts me almost a year!
I'm curious. How do you make the laundry soap?0 -
It's not about cost, it's about what you get out of what you pay!!!:laugh: :laugh: I buy quality electronics (former Circuit City video/audio manager) but I will find the cheapest place to buy them and even then I'll barter with them to reduce the cost even more.LOL come on JOE say it ain't so!!!! How much does toilet paper cost where you live??????? :bigsmile:
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
My friends and family always rag on me for being "cheap", "frugal" and a "bargain hunter" all the time. So how cheap am I? If I buy 2 ply toilet paper.............................I separate it to use it.
Beat that.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
That's not cheap - you're going to end up using twice as much.0 -
Not cheap at all! I have expensive taste, unfortunately. The only thing I'm cheap about (but I consider it being "green") is re-using containers. I re-use everything! If something comes in a resealable bag, or I use a ziplock, I wash and reuse it. Same goes for plastic containers, etc. I also make all of my own household cleaners...my laundry soap costs me about $6.00 to make and lasts me almost a year!
I'm curious. How do you make the laundry soap?
Messaged you the recipe :-)0 -
Was wondering also....does it smell as good as Gain?Not cheap at all! I have expensive taste, unfortunately. The only thing I'm cheap about (but I consider it being "green") is re-using containers. I re-use everything! If something comes in a resealable bag, or I use a ziplock, I wash and reuse it. Same goes for plastic containers, etc. I also make all of my own household cleaners...my laundry soap costs me about $6.00 to make and lasts me almost a year!
I'm curious. How do you make the laundry soap?0 -
If any of you have ever read The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley (great read btw), those weird frugality habits can go a long way.
There was an example where they calculated the average cost of that little bit of toothpaste lost when you throw away the tube nearly empty instead of squeezing every last drop out. Then they multiplied the value over the course of 20 years and assumed it was invested in a fairly safe S&P 500 mutual fund returning a very modest percent.
I can't recall what the exact amount was but it was shocking - like the value of several luxury vacations. So there you go, if you want an all inclusive Hawaiian five star resort vacation, use all yer toothpaste!
I like this. I'm going to put that on my reading list.
I recently read "The American Frugal Housewife", which was written over a hundred years ago but is still a valuable book of frugal philosophy! Also, it was a free download.0 -
It's not about cost, it's about what you get out of what you pay!!!:laugh: :laugh: I buy quality electronics (former Circuit City video/audio manager) but I will find the cheapest place to buy them and even then I'll barter with them to reduce the cost even more.LOL come on JOE say it ain't so!!!! How much does toilet paper cost where you live??????? :bigsmile:
You got me on that. I do that all the time.0 -
I don't have one article of clothing that I've bought new, not counting underwear & socks. I wear mismatched socks because of how many I don't have a mate for anymore
I bought my first NEW pair of shoes since 1995 last month, because I needed GOOD walking shoes... & I held off 3 months until the pair I wanted went on sale
I keep veggie peelings & meat bones & make soup stock from them
I feed 2 people (one who eats enough for 2 people alone) on less than $200/month.
I don't reuse sandwich bags because I don't buy them. I bought glass containers with fitting lids for 50 cents each & I use those for leftovers, soup stock, whatever else
I use my pencil crayons until they're too small to hold by hand by using a broken eraser pen that I modified to fit a pencil crayon (& I sharpen them with a knife because they no longer fit in my pencil sharpener)
I dumpster dive all the time. It's a hobby for me.
I never buy ANYTHING new - I'd rather go without than pay full price. My dishes don't match & I don't care.
The Tightwad Gazette is my bible.
(there's plenty more that I'm forgetting - my fiance & I live comfortably on a minimum wage part time paycheck, & I'm a freelance artist so you have to know I'M not bringing in the big bucks ;D)0 -
I honestly did this one time. I needed an umbrella for a really rainy day. I rarely use one, but that particular week was to be rainy. To cheap to buy one,I went to the public library and told them I lost a black umbrella. They showed me a plethora of lost and found umbrellas. I chose the best "quality" one and still have it to this day for free. That was 10 years ago.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
So cheap that you'll take things that aren't yours. You win.I honestly did this one time. I needed an umbrella for a really rainy day. I rarely use one, but that particular week was to be rainy. To cheap to buy one,I went to the public library and told them I lost a black umbrella. They showed me a plethora of lost and found umbrellas. I chose the best "quality" one and still have it to this day for free. That was 10 years ago.0 -
One of the biggest savings I've made...............................I married a frugal wife.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I honestly did this one time. I needed an umbrella for a really rainy day. I rarely use one, but that particular week was to be rainy. To cheap to buy one,I went to the public library and told them I lost a black umbrella. They showed me a plethora of lost and found umbrellas. I chose the best "quality" one and still have it to this day for free. That was 10 years ago.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Well, you've beaten me. I may be thrifty, but I will never be the level of cheap that would require me to profit off someone else's misfortune.0 -
:flowerforyou:Well, you've beaten me. I may be thrifty, but I will never be the level of cheap that would require me to profit off someone else's misfortune.0 -
me too!I just THOUGHT I was cheap, until you posted that.... I just don't buy myself new clothes and/or shoes (until they start talking to me) and often cut my own hair, lol.0 -
So cheap that you'll take things that aren't yours. You win.I honestly did this one time. I needed an umbrella for a really rainy day. I rarely use one, but that particular week was to be rainy. To cheap to buy one,I went to the public library and told them I lost a black umbrella. They showed me a plethora of lost and found umbrellas. I chose the best "quality" one and still have it to this day for free. That was 10 years ago.
lol
when I worked in customer service, if a lost item didn't get claimed in 3 months, it was fair game.
I got my favorite scarf that way.0 -
So cheap that you'll take things that aren't yours. You win.I honestly did this one time. I needed an umbrella for a really rainy day. I rarely use one, but that particular week was to be rainy. To cheap to buy one,I went to the public library and told them I lost a black umbrella. They showed me a plethora of lost and found umbrellas. I chose the best "quality" one and still have it to this day for free. That was 10 years ago.
lol
when I worked in customer service, if a lost item didn't get claimed in 3 months, it was fair game.
I got my favorite scarf that way.
that is a LOT different than going to a library & asking about lost items, then taking one not knowing if it's been there an hour, a week, or a month.0 -
Motto in our household..."Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without"
I insist on quality TP though.0 -
If it's declared fair game, then that's different. He went in and lied because he was too cheap to go buy one.when I worked in customer service, if a lost item didn't get claimed in 3 months, it was fair game.0 -
I garden so I can freeze and can food to last until the next growing season. Also raise my own chickens for eggs and chicken to fill the deep freeze. That's about all I have. LOL
This is my dream, I am always talking about moving to the country and growing my own produce, fruit trees and a few chickens-maybe a cow or some pigs (organic). It was the way I was brought up and there is nothing tastier than going outside and picking you own dinner out of the garden.0 -
we do too! We have pork smoking in our smokehouse, chickens and a garden. We live on the coast so fresh seafood is a MUST (I don't eat meat). I think that is NOT cheap but healthy! Look at all the work it takes to get the freshest ingredients! =]I garden so I can freeze and can food to last until the next growing season. Also raise my own chickens for eggs and chicken to fill the deep freeze. That's about all I have. LOL
This is my dream, I am always talking about moving to the country and growing my own produce, fruit trees and a few chickens-maybe a cow or some pigs (organic). It was the way I was brought up and there is nothing tastier than going outside and picking you own dinner out of the garden.0 -
My friends and family always rag on me for being "cheap", "frugal" and a "bargain hunter" all the time. So how cheap am I? If I buy 2 ply toilet paper.............................I separate it to use it.
Beat that.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
That's cheap. Not frugal, cheap.
I'm not really cheap. I'll spend money on things I like. I'm a computer geek, and I usually have cutting, if not bleeding, edge tech. OTOH, I don't care much about fashion, and I usually get my clothes at TJMaxx or the like. They're name brands, so they hold up, but I couldn't care less if they're last season's, or in a color no one liked. I write code and can wear whatever I want to work, so I wear jeans most every day. I figure no one can tell if they're last year's because i got them cheap last week or because I actually bought them last year.0 -
i wipe down paper plates so i can use them again.
Actual paper, or styrofoam or plastic "paper" plates?0 -
I do shop at Goodwill and turn my nose at anything over $4.
but my mother washes out all of the ziplock baggies to reuse them....does that count? I think she's had some since 1975......
My mum does this. I throw them in the bin when she's not looking. I'll be damned if I'm taking my sandwiches into work in a bag that might have had raw chicken in it!
She'll also buy the cheapest tin foil which is a false economy anyway because you have to use twice as much when wrapping up and sandwich to stop it from tearing!0 -
I do shop at Goodwill and turn my nose at anything over $4.
but my mother washes out all of the ziplock baggies to reuse them....does that count? I think she's had some since 1975......
My mum does this. I throw them in the bin when she's not looking. I'll be damned if I'm taking my sandwiches into work in a bag that might have had raw chicken in it!
She'll also buy the cheapest tin foil which is a false economy anyway because you have to use twice as much when wrapping up and sandwich to stop it from tearing!
Here's a shocker - the cutting board you use may have had raw chicken on it too! Better throw it out!!
& any knives that were used to cut raw chicken!
ETA: According to your profile you're 27. You're old enough to pack your own lunch, & if you don't want to use your mom's bags, instead of throwing them out, why not just buy your own?0 -
I honestly did this one time. I needed an umbrella for a really rainy day. I rarely use one, but that particular week was to be rainy. To cheap to buy one,I went to the public library and told them I lost a black umbrella. They showed me a plethora of lost and found umbrellas. I chose the best "quality" one and still have it to this day for free. That was 10 years ago.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Ha! My boyfriend did this one time but instead of an umbrella it was a cell phone charger and instead of a library he went to a hotel and told him he stayed there last month and said he forgot his charger! Worked like a charm!0 -
My friends and family always rag on me for being "cheap", "frugal" and a "bargain hunter" all the time. So how cheap am I? If I buy 2 ply toilet paper.............................I separate it to use it.
Beat that.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
But do you still "Enjoy the go." with only the one ply?0 -
Things I have started doing to save $$:
Use reusable cloth bags for sandwiches and snacks, now I just need to get DH on track of this-he still prefers the plastic ones he throws away., Resuable lunch bags instead of paper bags.
Switched to using glass containers with snap on lids to store lunches and leftovers in. Ball jars also work well in a pinch.
I grow my own garden and have recently gotten into canning my foods. we would have raised chickens for eggs etc but our town does not allow this
I love thrift stores and garage sales-I also look for the "sales" they have -mondays are 1/2 off of clothes
I try to use dishtowels to wipe up messes/spills instead of paper towels.
I also make my own laundry soap-use vinigar for softner and reuse softner sheets a few times before throwing them away.0 -
I grow my own garden and have recently gotten into canning my foods. we would have raised chickens for eggs etc but our town does not allow this
oh no! that's sad :frown:
I was part of a movement to get chickens legalized in my town a few years ago. Handed out a lot of flyers. Stood around street corners with petitions.
We got it legalized with very little opposition!
When people went to city council meeting with reasons they thought chickens were a bad idea (noise, smell, eye-sore coops), we suggested compromises.
Up to 5 hens (only hens) are allowed. A coop cannot accumulate waste deeper than 12 inches larger than a 3 foot area (which I feel is quite lax), and it must not have "offensive" odor. All chicken enclosures must be secure top and bottom, and 20 feet from all property lines and buildiing entrances.
City chickens are the BEST!0
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