Most of us pride ourselves on our frugality. When is it all just too much? On KROQ, a local LA radio station, this morning they were taking calls from people who were unbelievably "cheap." This reminded me of Kirby's post, "Can You Afford to be So Frugal?"
Some of the best ones:
- A girl called in saying that her friend will only use pencil when writing on Post-it notes, so that she can erase and reuse.
- A woman claims that her mother-in-law fought with the seven and eight year old kids for the pinata candy, then gave out that same candy for Halloween.
- A girl said that her ex-boyfriend used to order Hamburgers at fast food places, and bring his own cheese.
- A guy says that his buddy pulls half smoked cigarettes out of ashtrays and finishes them.
- A woman lets her papertowels dry out, and reuses them.
There's a part of me that wishes I could even think of things this frugal. But mostly, I'm glad I will never take it that far. Besides some of them are either gross or just wrong.
What's the most extreme frugal thing that you have done?
I think it gets to a point where it's no longer even cheap... but just plain wrong! Not to mention icky.
Posted by: Amanda | March 22, 2006 at 09:48 AM
I pour water from half drank glasses into my plants...
See, a lot of the things I do aren't because I want to save money but because I don't want to waste something. The whole water into plants thing doesn't save me any appreciable money, but I'd rather it go into a potted plant than down the drain.
Erasing post-it notes... that's too much. And bringing your own cheese to a burger joint? That's like spending $6 to save 60 cents.
Back when I was younger and went trick o' treating, I'd take the candy I didn't like and dump it into our candy basket to give out to other kids.
Posted by: jim | March 22, 2006 at 10:51 AM
Back in the Army, I had a CO who wouldn't thow out the coffee grounds - he'd just sprinkle some new ones on top of the old and brew away. Worst coffee ever.
Posted by: my new self | March 22, 2006 at 11:04 AM
I used to know a guy that would go out to eat with friends, order only a drink, and wait to get their left overs.
Posted by: Tim MMF | March 22, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Yuck smoking half smoked cigs in an ashtray?!?
Posted by: Financial Freedumb | March 22, 2006 at 11:23 AM
If you were truly frugal, you wouldn't be going out to eat a hamburger in the first place (with or without cheese). You'd make it at home!
Posted by: Seattle Simplicity | March 22, 2006 at 11:57 AM
C'mon Tim, was that "friend" really you? :)
Posted by: lamoneyguy | March 22, 2006 at 12:00 PM
I reuse papertowels, but only if they're from drying my hands after washing. And even then, just once. Honestly, dishcloths and dishtowels are a better way to go.
There's cheap and then there's unhygienic or just plain crazy. I can't think of anything I do that is off the wall cheap or frugal.
Posted by: mapgirl | March 22, 2006 at 02:43 PM
when I order to go at Carls Jr. I always say no to the cheese, because I'll have it at home.
I dont know about bringing the cheese with me though. heh
Posted by: Cap | March 22, 2006 at 04:41 PM
Those sound more like cheap than frugal. Although the paper towel one, my grandma used to do, I attribute that to the depression era.
Posted by: ~Dawn | March 22, 2006 at 08:24 PM
Once when I was very broke - U used some samples of facial washing cloths to soap up my car and thrn drove it around in the rain to get all the grime off instead of a car wash (I didn't even have a hose at the time.)
Posted by: pamphyila | April 01, 2006 at 12:52 PM
Ever try using boxes, cut up of course, like a 10 pack of twinkies (can't believe I said it) for postcards (you remember postcards, don't you?)?
Posted by: Champion Cheapskate | April 01, 2006 at 03:20 PM