I guess many would consider this cheap if someone sent it to them as a gift, but I love it. My grandmother will be 97 years old this year. She lived through the Great Depression and never took anything for granted. We live on opposite sides of the country. Well into her 80’s she would mail me care packages. She would save buttons off clothes no longer useful and sew them onto a piece of cardboard saved off a box. She would wrap a few inches of several colored threads around it and tuck a needle in. It meant even more to me because she's my dad's mom and they divorced when I was 7 with mom rais
I guess many would consider this cheap if someone sent it to them as a gift, but I love it. My grandmother will be 97 years old this year. She lived through the Great Depression and never took anything for granted. We live on opposite sides of the country. Well into her 80’s she would mail me care packages. She would save buttons off clothes no longer useful and sew them onto a piece of cardboard saved off a box. She would wrap a few inches of several colored threads around it and tuck a needle in. It meant even more to me because she's my dad's mom and they divorced when I was 7 with mom raising me. There are 13 grands and she's known me the least, but still found a way to say I mattered.
UPDATE 04/24/21
Thank all y'all so much for your kind comments and upvotes. I'm printing them(enlarged)to mail to grandma tomorrow so she can enjoy them! There will be an excited woman in Ohio next week.😍
Grandma with my daughter
UPDATE 09/25/23
Thank y'all for your thoughtful responses
Grandma turned 100 years old September 12, 2023!! Picture attached😊
UPDATE: Celebrating her life, Grandma passed away peacefully 101 years old!!
Where do I start?
I’m a huge financial nerd, and have spent an embarrassing amount of time talking to people about their money habits.
Here are the biggest mistakes people are making and how to fix them:
Not having a separate high interest savings account
Having a separate account allows you to see the results of all your hard work and keep your money separate so you're less tempted to spend it.
Plus with rates above 5.00%, the interest you can earn compared to most banks really adds up.
Here is a list of the top savings accounts available today. Deposit $5 before moving on because this is one of th
Where do I start?
I’m a huge financial nerd, and have spent an embarrassing amount of time talking to people about their money habits.
Here are the biggest mistakes people are making and how to fix them:
Not having a separate high interest savings account
Having a separate account allows you to see the results of all your hard work and keep your money separate so you're less tempted to spend it.
Plus with rates above 5.00%, the interest you can earn compared to most banks really adds up.
Here is a list of the top savings accounts available today. Deposit $5 before moving on because this is one of the biggest mistakes and easiest ones to fix.
Overpaying on car insurance
You’ve heard it a million times before, but the average American family still overspends by $417/year on car insurance.
If you’ve been with the same insurer for years, chances are you are one of them.
Pull up Coverage.com, a free site that will compare prices for you, answer the questions on the page, and it will show you how much you could be saving.
That’s it. You’ll likely be saving a bunch of money. Here’s a link to give it a try.
Consistently being in debt
If you’ve got $10K+ in debt (credit cards…medical bills…anything really) you could use a debt relief program and potentially reduce by over 20%.
Here’s how to see if you qualify:
Head over to this Debt Relief comparison website here, then simply answer the questions to see if you qualify.
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Missing out on free money to invest
It’s no secret that millionaires love investing, but for the rest of us, it can seem out of reach.
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Having bad credit
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How to get started
Hope this helps! Here are the links to get started:
Have a separate savings account
Stop overpaying for car insurance
Finally get out of debt
Start investing with a free bonus
Fix your credit
When my sister and I were growing up, our entire family was cheap. Actually cheap isn’t the correct word, frugal is probably a better description.
I’ve heard and read all kinds of stories about the Great Depression in the United States, but that took place in a different dream from the one we lived in.
But from the little I know of the Great Depression, it seemed that people back then had to be incredibly austere and creative just to survive.
And…..
Even though we didn’t have it nearly as harsh, and we certainly weren’t starving, our family didn’t have a whole lot of money, and our parents, and es
When my sister and I were growing up, our entire family was cheap. Actually cheap isn’t the correct word, frugal is probably a better description.
I’ve heard and read all kinds of stories about the Great Depression in the United States, but that took place in a different dream from the one we lived in.
But from the little I know of the Great Depression, it seemed that people back then had to be incredibly austere and creative just to survive.
And…..
Even though we didn’t have it nearly as harsh, and we certainly weren’t starving, our family didn’t have a whole lot of money, and our parents, and especially our grandparents, learned to be very careful and creative with the things we did have.
Both our father and grandfather were very, very, good at making and repairing just about anything, and the back of our yard had all kinds of scruffy stuff lying around that would eventually be used to fix or make something else.
I can’t remember our parents ever calling repair people to come to our house to fix something. Our parents and grandparents just figured out how to repair or rebuilt it themselves.
I guess that might be considered cheap, but I think they really enjoyed fixing and doing things themselves, and would have still done it that way, even if we had heaps of money.
And…
My sister and I loved watching and helping them work, and would occasionally even learn something. Our grandpa built his first house, literally from scratch, so he had a unique set of skills that were extremely powerful.
And perhaps we inherited some of our families’ self-subsistence, because my sister and I love to fix and build things around our house, rather than have someone else do it.
And of course our grandma knew things too. Things that were useful in a far different way.
Our grandpa and dad made most of our toys, oddities and weapons, and we didn’t have many store bought items.. Our mother made most of our clothes, and then taught us how to make our own weird clothes.
And….
Our grandma taught us many things that were less tangible, but opened up entirely new worlds for us, and helped to keep ancient and vexatious ruminations away. Most of what our grandma taught us definitely could not be bought in a store.
Some very rare and valuable gifts indeed.
It wasn’t only the fact that we didn’t have the money to buy stuff, it was also the fact that we didn’t have many stores near us, and it was quite an adventure driving all the way to Reykjavik to purchase special items.
But….
My sister and I loved going on trips to Reykjavik, and we would get all excited, put on our snazzy clothes, and climb into our old car,
And off we went….
To the big city to go shopping, and look at all the strange things.
So….
I don’t think our family was really cheap, even though they would save every little bit of string, lump of metal, or piece of cloth. They were being practical and self sufficient.
And we loved every minute of it.
<3 <3
Wealthy member of the family convinced one of the single moms in the family to be comfortable investing into one of the multiple properties he owns. Stating in a sit down conversation, that when he wasn’t so busy with work, he would secure her investment legally when the season slowed down. The reasons he used made her feel so comfortable, she started building right away. We all believed he was acting in good faith, as he used the deterioration of another family members health as his reasoning. He stated that he wanted to ensure the single moms future was fruitful because she was such a hard w
Wealthy member of the family convinced one of the single moms in the family to be comfortable investing into one of the multiple properties he owns. Stating in a sit down conversation, that when he wasn’t so busy with work, he would secure her investment legally when the season slowed down. The reasons he used made her feel so comfortable, she started building right away. We all believed he was acting in good faith, as he used the deterioration of another family members health as his reasoning. He stated that he wanted to ensure the single moms future was fruitful because she was such a hard worker, and she was so important to the family member whose health was deteriorating. After she put thousands of dollars into building and infrastructure he listed the property for sale, and stole her assets.
His friend later divulged he had planned from the beginning to use her to increase the value of his property so he didn’t have to spend a dime. Why his friend didn’t speak up sooner, is mind boggling to me.
Now a single mom who spent all her savings, on what she thought was securing her future, has to go into debt to try and recoup her losses in court against a man who can afford a team of lawyers and never show his face in court.
Absolutely disgusting situation. Breaks my heart. If there was ever a time for Karma it would be now.
My late parents-in-law, both of whom grew up during the Depression, enjoyed giving little gifts to our daughters when they were growing up. The girls spent a day with them every week or two and would often come home with some little pressie. My mother-in-law, who had creative energy but no training (or taste, tbh), would “wrap” these dollar-store Barbies and such in plastic grocery bags and tie them closed with a string. Plain cotton string. Sometimes, she would add a paper tag, as well. I found the whole thing very endearing. The children loved getting presents, no matter what! And we all lov
My late parents-in-law, both of whom grew up during the Depression, enjoyed giving little gifts to our daughters when they were growing up. The girls spent a day with them every week or two and would often come home with some little pressie. My mother-in-law, who had creative energy but no training (or taste, tbh), would “wrap” these dollar-store Barbies and such in plastic grocery bags and tie them closed with a string. Plain cotton string. Sometimes, she would add a paper tag, as well. I found the whole thing very endearing. The children loved getting presents, no matter what! And we all loved each other, which was the most important part of it.
I once met a man who drove a modest Toyota Corolla, wore beat-up sneakers, and looked like he’d lived the same way for decades. But what really caught my attention was when he casually mentioned he was retired at 45 with more money than he could ever spend. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”
He smiled and said, “The secret to saving money is knowing where to look for the waste—and car insurance is one of the easiest places to start.”
He then walked me through a few strategies that I’d never thought of before. Here’s what I learned:
1. Make insurance companies fight for your business
Mos
I once met a man who drove a modest Toyota Corolla, wore beat-up sneakers, and looked like he’d lived the same way for decades. But what really caught my attention was when he casually mentioned he was retired at 45 with more money than he could ever spend. I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you do it?”
He smiled and said, “The secret to saving money is knowing where to look for the waste—and car insurance is one of the easiest places to start.”
He then walked me through a few strategies that I’d never thought of before. Here’s what I learned:
1. Make insurance companies fight for your business
Most people just stick with the same insurer year after year, but that’s what the companies are counting on. This guy used tools like Coverage.com to compare rates every time his policy came up for renewal. It only took him a few minutes, and he said he’d saved hundreds each year by letting insurers compete for his business.
Click here to try Coverage.com and see how much you could save today.
2. Take advantage of safe driver programs
He mentioned that some companies reward good drivers with significant discounts. By signing up for a program that tracked his driving habits for just a month, he qualified for a lower rate. “It’s like a test where you already know the answers,” he joked.
You can find a list of insurance companies offering safe driver discounts here and start saving on your next policy.
3. Bundle your policies
He bundled his auto insurance with his home insurance and saved big. “Most companies will give you a discount if you combine your policies with them. It’s easy money,” he explained. If you haven’t bundled yet, ask your insurer what discounts they offer—or look for new ones that do.
4. Drop coverage you don’t need
He also emphasized reassessing coverage every year. If your car isn’t worth much anymore, it might be time to drop collision or comprehensive coverage. “You shouldn’t be paying more to insure the car than it’s worth,” he said.
5. Look for hidden fees or overpriced add-ons
One of his final tips was to avoid extras like roadside assistance, which can often be purchased elsewhere for less. “It’s those little fees you don’t think about that add up,” he warned.
The Secret? Stop Overpaying
The real “secret” isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about being proactive. Car insurance companies are counting on you to stay complacent, but with tools like Coverage.com and a little effort, you can make sure you’re only paying for what you need—and saving hundreds in the process.
If you’re ready to start saving, take a moment to:
- Compare rates now on Coverage.com
- Check if you qualify for safe driver discounts
- Reevaluate your coverage today
Saving money on auto insurance doesn’t have to be complicated—you just have to know where to look. If you'd like to support my work, feel free to use the links in this post—they help me continue creating valuable content.
Every year, as I stuffed Christmas stocking I filled mine. I usually held off buying liitle things like lipstick and socks, stuff like that. They went in my stocking. My husband asked me why I did that. I said the kids would think Santa was mean if they ( and Dad) had filled stockings and Mom got nothing. He said it should be his job to fill my stocking. I was thrilled. That was not like him. Christmas AM there was one thing in my stocking. It was a bell. I had one just like it, a tourist souvenir of San Antonio. The kids watched as I took it out of the stocking. I said, oh how nice. it will m
Every year, as I stuffed Christmas stocking I filled mine. I usually held off buying liitle things like lipstick and socks, stuff like that. They went in my stocking. My husband asked me why I did that. I said the kids would think Santa was mean if they ( and Dad) had filled stockings and Mom got nothing. He said it should be his job to fill my stocking. I was thrilled. That was not like him. Christmas AM there was one thing in my stocking. It was a bell. I had one just like it, a tourist souvenir of San Antonio. The kids watched as I took it out of the stocking. I said, oh how nice. it will match my other bell and I walked over to set it down. The other bell was gone. He grabbed my arm and said “ That is your bell “.
No, we were not poor. He was a partner in a big 8 accounting firm. I was a lawyer.
My father always said when you say a mean thing about someone, also say something nice. For 12 years we did Christmas for 500 children out of our house. Volunteer elves invaded from November 1 to February 15 We personally spent about 10k pre 2000 dollars each year. He never complained. He never helped but my elves would tell me their husbands would never allow their house to be Christmas Central. After 12 years we turned it over to a Committee of 25. Once after my children were grown, he told them that I used to be amazing
I was married in the 90’s my brother in law worked for a company where he traveled a lot. Because of that, he had thousands of frequent flier miles. He treated them like currency. So, at our wedding where he was the best man, he gave his little speech and the whole thing was about how great it will be for us to have a little trip on him! He gave us one - one way ticket. No other “real” gift. He also gave my niece a one way ticket for babysitting for his children for a whole week - nights included. When my sister in law objected, he translated this into the cash that a ticket would be one way.
I was married in the 90’s my brother in law worked for a company where he traveled a lot. Because of that, he had thousands of frequent flier miles. He treated them like currency. So, at our wedding where he was the best man, he gave his little speech and the whole thing was about how great it will be for us to have a little trip on him! He gave us one - one way ticket. No other “real” gift. He also gave my niece a one way ticket for babysitting for his children for a whole week - nights included. When my sister in law objected, he translated this into the cash that a ticket would be one way. What 16 year old can take a one way flight anywhere or have the cash to pay for the other half of the ticket. Yes, we are still dealing with this with him. After he got divorced, (because who wouldn’t divorce somebody like this?) he moved in with my in laws for 20 years. Didn’t pay a dime for rent or even food, or do any physical work like mowing or shoveling. When my MIL passed away and he decided he wanted to buy the house, he came up with a whole list of what he felt he deserved taken off of his portion that he put into the house, a new water heater, a new garage door, etc. I can’t stop cringing.
Here’s the thing: I wish I had known these money secrets sooner. They’ve helped so many people save hundreds, secure their family’s future, and grow their bank accounts—myself included.
And honestly? Putting them to use was way easier than I expected. I bet you can knock out at least three or four of these right now—yes, even from your phone.
Don’t wait like I did. Go ahead and start using these money secrets today!
1. Cancel Your Car Insurance
You might not even realize it, but your car insurance company is probably overcharging you. In fact, they’re kind of counting on you not noticing. Luckily,
Here’s the thing: I wish I had known these money secrets sooner. They’ve helped so many people save hundreds, secure their family’s future, and grow their bank accounts—myself included.
And honestly? Putting them to use was way easier than I expected. I bet you can knock out at least three or four of these right now—yes, even from your phone.
Don’t wait like I did. Go ahead and start using these money secrets today!
1. Cancel Your Car Insurance
You might not even realize it, but your car insurance company is probably overcharging you. In fact, they’re kind of counting on you not noticing. Luckily, this problem is easy to fix.
Don’t waste your time browsing insurance sites for a better deal. A company called Insurify shows you all your options at once — people who do this save up to $996 per year.
If you tell them a bit about yourself and your vehicle, they’ll send you personalized quotes so you can compare them and find the best one for you.
Tired of overpaying for car insurance? It takes just five minutes to compare your options with Insurify and see how much you could save on car insurance.
2. Ask This Company to Get a Big Chunk of Your Debt Forgiven
A company called National Debt Relief could convince your lenders to simply get rid of a big chunk of what you owe. No bankruptcy, no loans — you don’t even need to have good credit.
If you owe at least $10,000 in unsecured debt (credit card debt, personal loans, medical bills, etc.), National Debt Relief’s experts will build you a monthly payment plan. As your payments add up, they negotiate with your creditors to reduce the amount you owe. You then pay off the rest in a lump sum.
On average, you could become debt-free within 24 to 48 months. It takes less than a minute to sign up and see how much debt you could get rid of.
3. You Can Become a Real Estate Investor for as Little as $10
Take a look at some of the world’s wealthiest people. What do they have in common? Many invest in large private real estate deals. And here’s the thing: There’s no reason you can’t, too — for as little as $10.
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4. Earn Up to $50 this Month By Answering Survey Questions About the News — It’s Anonymous
The news is a heated subject these days. It’s hard not to have an opinion on it.
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When you take a quick survey (some are less than three minutes), you’ll earn points you can exchange for up to $50 in cash or gift cards to places like Walmart and Amazon. Plus, Penny Hoarder readers will get an extra 500 points for registering and another 1,000 points after completing their first survey.
It takes just a few minutes to sign up and take your first survey, and you’ll receive your points immediately.
5. This Online Bank Account Pays 10x More Interest Than Your Traditional Bank
If you bank at a traditional brick-and-mortar bank, your money probably isn’t growing much (c’mon, 0.40% is basically nothing).1
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Read Disclaimer
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6. Earn Up to $225 This Month Playing Games on Your Phone
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Look up “cheap” in the dictionary… That picture will be my brother. Every restaurant he goes to he is looking for a way to get the meal free. He has been barred from several restaurants, including some fast food chains.
Years ago at a restaurant in a smaller town, our entire family (about 40 people) went for breakfast at a small family restaurant. He “found something in his food and should not have to pay for his meal”. He even tried to extend this into the entire group getting a free meal, but my brother and I stopped him.
However after that, I do not go to any place to eat with him.
He would ha
Look up “cheap” in the dictionary… That picture will be my brother. Every restaurant he goes to he is looking for a way to get the meal free. He has been barred from several restaurants, including some fast food chains.
Years ago at a restaurant in a smaller town, our entire family (about 40 people) went for breakfast at a small family restaurant. He “found something in his food and should not have to pay for his meal”. He even tried to extend this into the entire group getting a free meal, but my brother and I stopped him.
However after that, I do not go to any place to eat with him.
He would have his family all line up in a Taco Bell and each order their own and he would have them only order to just below where tax would apply. Everyone goes back each time they want one more taco.
He went to a chain restaurant with a group of 20 and the waitress came over with her very friendly “What can I get you to start?” My brother was at the far end of the table and stood up and very loudly. “You can start with the free bread and just keep it coming until I tell you to stop”. He then told everyone how and what he would order for the entire group, so they would not have to pay. He complained about absolutely everything that came. Finally the waitress must have said something to the manger who came over and asked “Is everything ok?” My brother said the waitress was very slow and should be fired. The manager took over the table and finally told the entire group to leave. My brother created such a scene that the manger told them they did not have to pay, just leave.
My brother went back the next day with two letters, demanding the waitress get fired, and the cook get fired. The manager advised him that he was never to come back.
My brother bragged to the group that he had done this for years and would be getting more meals at restaurants like this if they want to go with him.
Most of them are busy when he wants to go to a restaurant.
Like many people who grew up during the Depression, my grandma never got over that feeling of scarcity.
She saves containers. Butter tubs, yogurt containers — anything plastic that could be washed out and reused.
She rinses out Ziploc bags to be reused.
She flattens aluminum foil to be reused.
She refills shampoo bottles with those little ones hotels give you.
She’ll drive for an hour all over town to different stores to save a few cents on groceries — butter from one store, milk from another. (I tried to explain she’s spending more in gas than she’s saving, but…
The thing that irritates me the most
Like many people who grew up during the Depression, my grandma never got over that feeling of scarcity.
She saves containers. Butter tubs, yogurt containers — anything plastic that could be washed out and reused.
She rinses out Ziploc bags to be reused.
She flattens aluminum foil to be reused.
She refills shampoo bottles with those little ones hotels give you.
She’ll drive for an hour all over town to different stores to save a few cents on groceries — butter from one store, milk from another. (I tried to explain she’s spending more in gas than she’s saving, but…
The thing that irritates me the most is that her idea of what entrees should cost froze in 1983. It genuinely bothers her to spend more than ten dollars for a plate of food at a restaurant, even if someone else is paying the bill. She’ll sometimes just order an appetizer or a side.
She’s not as bad as her best friend, Mary, though. Mary goes to restaurants and steals all of the condiments packets off the table, squirreling them away in her purse. She has drawers full of them at her house — more sugar substitute and jelly than she can possibly consume in two lifetimes, but she continues to take it. She’s extremely wealthy, by the way.
Absolutely. With online platforms such as BetterHelp, you are able to speak and work with a licensed therapist in the comfort of your own home.
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Absolutely. With online platforms such as BetterHelp, you are able to speak and work with a licensed therapist in the comfort of your own home.
BetterHelp has quickly become the largest online therapy service provider. With over 5 million users to date, and 30K+ licensed therapists, BetterHelp is here to provide professional, affordable, and personalized therapy in a convenient online format.
By simply taking a short quiz, BetterHelp will match you with an online therapist based on your needs and preferences, all while never leaving the comfort of your own home. You can choose between video, audio-only, or even live chat messaging sessions making your therapy experience completely customizable to you.
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What is the cheapest thing you’ve ever seen a family member do?
My Father is a very frugal man. Competitively frugal. If you purchased a big bag of cookies for $3, he bought 2 for $1.75 and saved the second one in a desk drawer to eat the next day, OR to bait a ground hog trap, catch and eat whatever wandered into it.
Am I kidding? You’ll never know for sure.
The man is cheap.
Another example of his extreme dedication to the concept of personal poverty was his fanatical devotion to stretching a gallon of gas. He was both a college professor and a family farmer. He could commute to work ( a 50+ mil
What is the cheapest thing you’ve ever seen a family member do?
My Father is a very frugal man. Competitively frugal. If you purchased a big bag of cookies for $3, he bought 2 for $1.75 and saved the second one in a desk drawer to eat the next day, OR to bait a ground hog trap, catch and eat whatever wandered into it.
Am I kidding? You’ll never know for sure.
The man is cheap.
Another example of his extreme dedication to the concept of personal poverty was his fanatical devotion to stretching a gallon of gas. He was both a college professor and a family farmer. He could commute to work ( a 50+ mile daily journey into congested, city traffic)five days a week plus whatever weekend driving he did doing farm chores/markets on one tank of gas in a 1980s Chevy Celebrity wagon. Sometimes it pushed 800 miles. How?!
He coasted frequently. We lived at the top of a massive hill which he would use to gain momentum. Stop signs be damned!
On one occasion his little game finally failed him when he ran out of gas in the middle of the Fort Pitt Tunnel. The incident snarled traffic for hours. He commented to my mother that he’s never seen more middle fingers in his life.
Quite a few years ago when my sons were small and so were my twin brother’s two kids, my brother phoned me and asked if I would take care of his kids in my home for five days while he and his wife went to Jamaica for a holiday. At the time I was doing home care for three babies besides my own and it would mean having two of my clients finding alternate care for their babies for the five days. Luck
Quite a few years ago when my sons were small and so were my twin brother’s two kids, my brother phoned me and asked if I would take care of his kids in my home for five days while he and his wife went to Jamaica for a holiday. At the time I was doing home care for three babies besides my own and it would mean having two of my clients finding alternate care for their babies for the five days. Luckily they agreed and I took in my neice and nephew. Well, that 5 days turned into ten which meant two weeks of lost revenue for me. When my brother finally came to pick up his kids, I told him that the least he could do was pay me $100 for the ten days and clothing, food and medicine I put out for his kids as he had dropped them off with nothing and I had lost $400 worth of revenue as well as put my clients off for an extra week. He argued, but his wife finally convinced him it was only fair. He gave me a hundred dollar bill which I folded and slipped in the back pocket of my jeans. It wasn’t until after he and his family had left and I went t...
For Christmas one year, my siblings and I went over to my grandma’s house (I was the oldest at about 15, my brothers were 13 and 8, and my sister was 6). My grandma was notorious for giving us unique gifts. My sister opened her gift, it was a box of crayons that we had been using earlier to color with. My youngest brother opened his gift, it was an old checkers set, and my other brother’s gift was a toy rubber chicken (the ones that dogs play with that make the super loud screech).
I honestly don’t remember what I got, but my brother’s reaction to the chicken was priceless. He lifted above his
For Christmas one year, my siblings and I went over to my grandma’s house (I was the oldest at about 15, my brothers were 13 and 8, and my sister was 6). My grandma was notorious for giving us unique gifts. My sister opened her gift, it was a box of crayons that we had been using earlier to color with. My youngest brother opened his gift, it was an old checkers set, and my other brother’s gift was a toy rubber chicken (the ones that dogs play with that make the super loud screech).
I honestly don’t remember what I got, but my brother’s reaction to the chicken was priceless. He lifted above his head screaming “chiiiicken!!”. Then we all lifted our gifts above our head screaming “checkersss, crayonsss!!”.
My mom was laughing so hard. It was a really great Christmas.
It was my first Thanksgiving at my in-laws. The turkey was presented on a plate already sliced. I’d never been to a Thanksgiving where the whole bird wasn’t presented to oohs and aahs and then sliced at the table.
They proceeded to brag about how they had gotten the turkey for 29 cents a pound (or whatever a cheap price was back then) and FIL had band sawed the turkey in half and frozen the other half. They said they would eat off it for weeks.
These were well-off people living in a paid-off house in an expensive suburb of a big city. MIL enjoyed her job and was still working. FIL had a generous
It was my first Thanksgiving at my in-laws. The turkey was presented on a plate already sliced. I’d never been to a Thanksgiving where the whole bird wasn’t presented to oohs and aahs and then sliced at the table.
They proceeded to brag about how they had gotten the turkey for 29 cents a pound (or whatever a cheap price was back then) and FIL had band sawed the turkey in half and frozen the other half. They said they would eat off it for weeks.
These were well-off people living in a paid-off house in an expensive suburb of a big city. MIL enjoyed her job and was still working. FIL had a generous pension from a prestigious engineering company. I was shocked.
They continued to be cheap the rest of their lives. They used 20-year old worn out towels; they had an ancient guest mattress that killed my back one visit and it took me an hour to crawl out of bed; they wouldn’t let my son take a bath in their sunken tub because it used too much water (which was free); they wouldn’t buy new clothes; MIL wore the same K-mart, worn out shoes for decades; we weren’t allowed to eat at the dining room table, only the kitchen (this is not cheap, but odd); the list goes on and on.
Cheap is my family's middle name. The cheapest I have seen was arguing over .50 cents for extra sour cream. It was my birthday dinner and I had invited my new girlfriend out to dinner with my family. We had fajitas. Dinner was good. Until the checks came. Yes. I said checks. It was me, my mother, sister, niece and nephews, my mothers husband and my Uncle. In a normal family dinner it is typically
Cheap is my family's middle name. The cheapest I have seen was arguing over .50 cents for extra sour cream. It was my birthday dinner and I had invited my new girlfriend out to dinner with my family. We had fajitas. Dinner was good. Until the checks came. Yes. I said checks. It was me, my mother, sister, niece and nephews, my mothers husband and my Uncle. In a normal family dinner it is typically paid for by the parents or in this case my mother. When the bill came she agreed to only pay for my meal except there was a charge for extra sour cream on the bill. My girlfriend had ordered extra sour cream but it was on my moms bill and not hers. She spoke to the manager about the extra 50 cent fee and demanded that it be put on my girlfriends bill and not hers. I felt so embarrassed. It should have been an evening of celebration instead it was one of extreme pettiness. I obviousl...
My mother and I were going together to get our hair cut—her treat. When she paid the hairdresser, she gave her a $1 tip, for two haircuts. This was in the late ‘80’s or early ‘90’s!
I dug in my wallet and found an extra two dollars—the only cash I had on hand—and when the hairdresser stepped away, my mother leaned over and whispered, “Oh, honey, I already tipped her. You didn’t have to, but it was very nice of you!” I cringed internally, but remembered that she grew up during the depression. I hope the stylist understood.
I once had a friend in grade school who would invite me to her house. Her parents ALWAYS took us out to Pizza Hut. MY mother told my father that we needed to reciprocate and invite the girl over, so we did. My father bought a frozen pizza and expected that we would eat it because he didn’t want to take us out. The girl refused to eat it and decided to go home, of which I could not blame her.
Another time, my father was driving me to the store and lecturing me that he would “buy anything” for me. I mentioned that I needed shampoo. He refused and offered me a 50 cent candybar.
My father was such a
I once had a friend in grade school who would invite me to her house. Her parents ALWAYS took us out to Pizza Hut. MY mother told my father that we needed to reciprocate and invite the girl over, so we did. My father bought a frozen pizza and expected that we would eat it because he didn’t want to take us out. The girl refused to eat it and decided to go home, of which I could not blame her.
Another time, my father was driving me to the store and lecturing me that he would “buy anything” for me. I mentioned that I needed shampoo. He refused and offered me a 50 cent candybar.
My father was such a cheapskate!
What is the cheapest thing you've ever seen a family member do?
I have a few, but the one that sticks out was at my father-in-laws retirement party.
It was at his golf club, and I did the catering. This was for about 50 people.
I did a Mexican themed buffet with taco’s, burrito's chilli, salad etc.
It was all cleared and everyone enjoyed the food.
F-I-L at one point said he would “speak to me later” and get me squared up for the food, but it never was mentioned again, and I never brought it up.
Same party, about mid-evening they had a game of Bingo. M-I-L bought books for everyone, with the stipulat
What is the cheapest thing you've ever seen a family member do?
I have a few, but the one that sticks out was at my father-in-laws retirement party.
It was at his golf club, and I did the catering. This was for about 50 people.
I did a Mexican themed buffet with taco’s, burrito's chilli, salad etc.
It was all cleared and everyone enjoyed the food.
F-I-L at one point said he would “speak to me later” and get me squared up for the food, but it never was mentioned again, and I never brought it up.
Same party, about mid-evening they had a game of Bingo. M-I-L bought books for everyone, with the stipulation that any money won would go into the kitty for drinks.
B-I-L wins the main prize, £30. MC comes over, gives him the money and he puts it in his wallet.
M-I-L tells him to put the money into the kitty box and he asks her how much the bingo books cost, and she replies £0.50.
He takes out some pocket change and gives her £0.50, and keeps £29.50!
Back in early 2012 I had been made redundant from Halliburton Oil Services in Montrose so was in between jobs for a while.
My son asked me if I would do some jobs at his house, and said he would pay me “mates rates”.
I built two sections of decking, a 12′ x 12′ workshop on concrete, a gravel path, a fence, painted the exterior of his house and it’s walls and countless other smaller jobs around the place.
He paid for the materials and gave me what he thought would cover my fuel going back and forth.
By the time I finished the job however, him and his nasty bitch wife had decided that they were entitled to have all of this done for free because I was his dad.
I never got paid, and they started using our grandchildren to punish my wife and I if I brought it up.
Meanwhile, I had started up my handyman business, and started giving work to my older son. He wasn’t doing the jobs properly and I had to go sort out 3 out of 4 of them.
This went on for a while and I warned him many times to do a good job or he wouldn’t be getting any more.
Things didn’t improve, in fact they got worse so I told him I wouldn’t be giving him any more.
This kind of interrupted his drug fund, so he started using the same tactic as his brother, taking away our grandparent privileges.
This caused a total breakdown of our marriage and the wife left because of it.
A few weeks after the ex left, she asked if she could come to the house to collect her belongings.
She came over while I was out with her two brothers and a rented van, and took what she wanted, including the laptop that she had given me for Christmas the previous year.
I’m well rid of that shower of greedy, thieving assholes..
If you knew my family, you’d know - We Ain’t Cheapskates.
But my best friend’s family, holy smokes, are shockingly cheap - especially his mother.
One time back around ‘98, she took us to see a movie at the mall. When the movie was done, my buddy’s mom got herself a smoothie from the food court. My friend and I were hanging out when his mom started to yell at the Asian lady working behind the counter.
“I gave you $5! The register says the change due was supposed to be $2.37, but I’m looking at the change you gave me, by the way, I can’t believe you gave me all these pennies that I don’t know what
If you knew my family, you’d know - We Ain’t Cheapskates.
But my best friend’s family, holy smokes, are shockingly cheap - especially his mother.
One time back around ‘98, she took us to see a movie at the mall. When the movie was done, my buddy’s mom got herself a smoothie from the food court. My friend and I were hanging out when his mom started to yell at the Asian lady working behind the counter.
“I gave you $5! The register says the change due was supposed to be $2.37, but I’m looking at the change you gave me, by the way, I can’t believe you gave me all these pennies that I don’t know what you expect me to do with all these stupid pennies, but you still owe me 2 cents!”
The lady behind the counter was extremely frazzled at first but regained her composure enough to pull out 2 pennies from the register and drop them in her irate customer’s hand. We left the mall and when we got into her car she goes,
“That’s how they make their money. And then when you call them out they act like they don’t speak English. I know their tricks. Nope. Not fooling me. Not today.”
Even as a kid, I was a little shaky on the economics that she was spewing, but I was certain about one thing - that she was cheap and a racist.
This was told to me by my mom.
When she and my dad were still together, they would go out every once and a while to eat with his not family member, but friend. (I’ll call him Rob).
Rob would bring his wife along.
My mom said every single time they would all go out to eat together, Rob and his wife would order one of the most expensive meals on the menu.
Once their food arrived, they would eat like nor
This was told to me by my mom.
When she and my dad were still together, they would go out every once and a while to eat with his not family member, but friend. (I’ll call him Rob).
Rob would bring his wife along.
My mom said every single time they would all go out to eat together, Rob and his wife would order one of the most expensive meals on the menu.
Once their food arrived, they would eat like normal. They would eat every single thing off the plate, then once it came time to pay, they would both complain that the food was not good and that they’re not paying.
My dad and my mom would both insist to pay for the food instead of making a commotion, but Rob would try to persuade and encourage them to complain as well to get a free meal. Of course, my parents never did that.
The sucky part is that Rob and his wife always got away with it, too. The restaurants never calling them out on their bullshit (and neither my parents lol).
Just my opinion and I’m sure majority of people’s opinion… If you can’t afford to eat out, then just simply don’t.
The thing is, these people (according to my mom) were well off...
My mother-in -law once gave me a sweater for Christmas. I opened the box and really liked the color. I noticed the label was from a store that had been closed at least 10 years. “Well, I thought, she’s frugal.” Then when I picked it up to look at it, it just came apart in my hands. I put it back in the box, closed it and said “Thanks granny.” Not sure if critters had gotten to it, or she had worn it out before gifting it, or if it had just dry rotted, but it was a nice color.
Not my family, but my friend's husband.
Ok, so, my friend and her husband travel to her parent's house in a city two hours from where we lived. They arrived in the early evening and the parents take the whole family out to a nice steak dinner. At the end of the meal, my friend's husband, let's call him Rob, tells the inlaws thanks foe the meal and next time its our turn to take y'all out.
Sounds good, that's what normal people say and do, right?
A couple of weeks later, the parents travel to our town to visit. Rob tells us they're coming and that it's his turn to take them out to eat.
A day or so
Not my family, but my friend's husband.
Ok, so, my friend and her husband travel to her parent's house in a city two hours from where we lived. They arrived in the early evening and the parents take the whole family out to a nice steak dinner. At the end of the meal, my friend's husband, let's call him Rob, tells the inlaws thanks foe the meal and next time its our turn to take y'all out.
Sounds good, that's what normal people say and do, right?
A couple of weeks later, the parents travel to our town to visit. Rob tells us they're coming and that it's his turn to take them out to eat.
A day or so later, I see my friend and she is pissed! I mean steaming freaking mad. She won't even let him in the room with her. I'm wondering what could get such a sweet natured girl so irrate??
Turns out, while they had taken HIM to a nice steak restaurant, HE had taken THEM to the local Salvation Army soup kitchen!!
My ex was stingy and a narcissist. He never bought me an engagement or wedding ring. Unfortunately I was thinking he just graduated college and got his first job in that field.
He would buy me birthday gifts then after a week return it to the store for a refund.
Anytime I asked him for something like a new washing machine, dishwasher, car etc… it wasn't until it affected him would he consent.
After two kids and ten years I asked him for a wedding set for our 10th anniversary. The set I picked out wasn't terribly expensive,( $500 back in 1992, the equivalent would be about $1000 today).
We would st
My ex was stingy and a narcissist. He never bought me an engagement or wedding ring. Unfortunately I was thinking he just graduated college and got his first job in that field.
He would buy me birthday gifts then after a week return it to the store for a refund.
Anytime I asked him for something like a new washing machine, dishwasher, car etc… it wasn't until it affected him would he consent.
After two kids and ten years I asked him for a wedding set for our 10th anniversary. The set I picked out wasn't terribly expensive,( $500 back in 1992, the equivalent would be about $1000 today).
We would stop by the jewelry shop to see the ring every week after grocery shopping (both stores were in a mall) for a year. One day after shopping he had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to visit my ring. I exploded and told him I didn't ever want to see that f***ing ring ever again!
I kept thinking during that year that he would gift it to me for our anniversary, then my birthday, Christmas.
Now if it was something for himself or a gift from him for the kids, he spent money without asking me. If I wanted to buy something for the kids, I had to get permission.
Needless to say, I divorced this idiot after 13 years of marriage. I was taught divorce wasn't an option and my family was very upset but they had no idea about the verbal, mental and physical abuse I went through. His view was “I never hit you”. Picking me up by the shoulders and shaking me. Pushing me against walls is physical abuse. I didn't learn that until I went to counseling.
Reusing gift wrappers
I'm not talking about repurposing gift wrappers for decorations or knick knacks.
Try imagining this: you received a present from the person you gave a gift to, and the gift wrapper looks the same as the one you used. Why? Because it is the gift wrapper you used.
My late great aunt Helen (not her real name) used to do this all the time, especially on Christmas, and it was embarrassing. She would carefully unwrap gifts given to her to make sure she can use the gift wrapper again. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but what makes it wrong in my opinion is that she us
Reusing gift wrappers
I'm not talking about repurposing gift wrappers for decorations or knick knacks.
Try imagining this: you received a present from the person you gave a gift to, and the gift wrapper looks the same as the one you used. Why? Because it is the gift wrapper you used.
My late great aunt Helen (not her real name) used to do this all the time, especially on Christmas, and it was embarrassing. She would carefully unwrap gifts given to her to make sure she can use the gift wrapper again. I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but what makes it wrong in my opinion is that she uses the gift wrapper from the present given to her for the gift she was going to give that person.
I remember my grandmother telling her how rude it was of her to do this and she simply told my grandmother to "mind her own business."
I remember one Christmas, my uncle and his then girlfriend brought Aunt Helen a gift. The box was wrapped in sparkling red and gold paper with a cute bow on top. Later, she unwrapped the gift and it was a huge flower carving of a rose quartz crystal. Everyone gushed at how beautiful it was.
True to form, Aunt Helen later handed the same box, which was carefully re-wrapped with the bow on top to my uncle's girlfriend. It was awkward. We all cringed at what she did because my uncle was trying to make a good impression but his girlfriend thought Aunt Helen was returning the gift. None of us could explain that Aunt Helen was re-using boxes and gift wrappers for the gifts she gives everyone else.
Trying to make light of the situation, my uncle thanked Aunt Helen, took the gift from her, and opened it. Inside was a lovely silk scarf crammed inside the small box and to this day, I still don't know how Aunt Helen managed to put that scarf inside the box.
None of us figured out why she was that cheap when she was very wealthy and could afford even the cheapest gift wrappers.
Edit: I got comments pointing out to me how reusing gift wrappers is not cheap but resourceful, and that there's nothing wrong with that. My answer was simple enough that I don't know why it was even misinterpreted.
I have written that I don't find anything wrong reusing gift wrappers. I do it too, especially with the fancy ones. It's using the same gift wrap from a present given to you by someone for a gift you're going to give that person that I think is tacky. One comment finally made sense about reusing gift bags (which I also do) but he does not give the same gift bags to the same person.
If you're going to comment that nothing's wrong with reusing gift wrappers, please let me save you the time and read the above paragraph as that would be my reply. If you don't agree with me, well, then we simply don't agree.
Thank you for reading! :)
Crunchies and water.
Before I tell this story I have to say upfront Booboo is the best sister a guy could ever have. She’s generous and loving and has saved my ass more than once. She’s at both ends of the spectrum with her money habits. When I went through my break up she loaned me thousands of dollars to move away and start over and it was hard as hell to get her to accept the money when it was time to repay her. Several times since then she tried to give me money out of the blue, and that came from her heart. She has a huge heart and without her love and help I’d probably (100%) ended up hom
Crunchies and water.
Before I tell this story I have to say upfront Booboo is the best sister a guy could ever have. She’s generous and loving and has saved my ass more than once. She’s at both ends of the spectrum with her money habits. When I went through my break up she loaned me thousands of dollars to move away and start over and it was hard as hell to get her to accept the money when it was time to repay her. Several times since then she tried to give me money out of the blue, and that came from her heart. She has a huge heart and without her love and help I’d probably (100%) ended up homeless.
BUT….
I’ve also see her to the cheapest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do. Booboo is a vegetarian. I think it’s mostly because vegetables are cheaper than meat.
Oddly enough she loved Cap’n D’s seafood but she wouldn’t eat the seafood.
You know the crunchy pieces of batter the come loose in the fryer? If you have ever been to the low end seafood chains you’ve seen them. That was her favorite. Do she would go through the drive by lane and ask for a basket of crunchies and a glass of water. No fries or hush puppies or fish. Just the crunchies bits.
She never got charged a penny.
I had an aunt who showed up for our family potlucks with next to nothing, then she would crack open sets of tupperware and take all the leftovers! Even at Thanksgiving, she would bring two flat pies for 30 people, then take home the entire leftover turkey, plus all the sides.
My mother would tell her to leave my limited-income grandmother some food, and my aunt would just ignore her, and go on filling her tubs with a big smirk on her face, then run out and put them in her car so no one else could open them for seconds.
She threw a big party for her husband once and put out ONE chicken, one tiny
I had an aunt who showed up for our family potlucks with next to nothing, then she would crack open sets of tupperware and take all the leftovers! Even at Thanksgiving, she would bring two flat pies for 30 people, then take home the entire leftover turkey, plus all the sides.
My mother would tell her to leave my limited-income grandmother some food, and my aunt would just ignore her, and go on filling her tubs with a big smirk on her face, then run out and put them in her car so no one else could open them for seconds.
She threw a big party for her husband once and put out ONE chicken, one tiny pan of sliced potatoes, and one pan of string beans. For dozens of people. Her children brought food because they knew she wouldn’t have any, but she took it and put it in the refrigerator so no one could get it. We had to stop at a fast food place on the way home.
She wonders why her children never visit.
Well, you have to describe what you mean about the “cheapest.” Is this relating to money or an action of some sort?
I will base my answer on the action from family members and definitely call it the cheapest thing ever.
Recently our mother died. Before her death, one sister and one brother forced her into a Lodge and registered her there without filling in all the children our mother had. So, two children of eight were on the registration form. This meant that no other child had access to the wellbeing or state of our mother. Then my sister put her daughter in charge of our mother as a caregiver
Well, you have to describe what you mean about the “cheapest.” Is this relating to money or an action of some sort?
I will base my answer on the action from family members and definitely call it the cheapest thing ever.
Recently our mother died. Before her death, one sister and one brother forced her into a Lodge and registered her there without filling in all the children our mother had. So, two children of eight were on the registration form. This meant that no other child had access to the wellbeing or state of our mother. Then my sister put her daughter in charge of our mother as a caregiver, which she had no qualification to do this job. I am a licensed caregiver and was already helping my mother with her needs outside of household shopping. Groceries were the responsibility of our brother as our mother was living in his house. This, again, is another “cheap” action of our brother due to the abuse he gave her which included the lack of groceries.
Moving ahead a couple of years, our mother dies and this sister is surprised to learn that she was not named Executor to the Will. In going through the Estate with another sister, who our mother named as the Executor, we have learned, with the bank, that our sister set up our mother’s bank account in a manner that her daughter became the immediate owner of our mother’s account. And, yes, she did try to withdraw the money.
Of course, prayers work miracles, and the action of withdrawing was stopped. However, then starts the process of understanding how such an act can take place. In this case, there was a sickly mother who was taken to the bank by this daughter. Our mother was told to sign papers that she was not understanding. This is true as she called another sister after the fact and asked for an explantion and understanding to what was happening.
Ironically, my sister and her daughter have the same initials. My sister used her initials to sign the paperwork while our mother was in the bank. Then, on another day, when our mother was not in the bank, this granddaughter went in the bank to sign her name to all the paperwork making herself the joint owner of our mother’s account.
Before our mother died, she was made aware that her granddaughter was on her account. Our mother was very mad and wanted her granddaughter’s name removed. However, this did not happen. This same sister who is planning this evil coy, went to further extents to make this one brother, who has no backbone and can only see the credit for himself, Power of Attorney and Personal Directive. Along with her plans, she puts her daughter on both documents as a “back-up”.
How “cheap” can someone be as to set up such a situation that hinders a Will? Yes, if God was not on the side of righteousness, this account would have been cleared out and as far as the remaining children we would never have known how much money our mother had, or how she wanted it divided. Needless to say, where is the respect of carrying out the last Will of the deceased? How “cheap” can someone be?
Of course, these actions have caused a great family war that now extends into the grandchildren. And yes, the one who is talking the loudest is the sister and brother who organized this whole plan. The Estate has not been settled at this time, and it is by choice the remaining children are trying to keep any action out of the court because, in actual fact, bank documents were frauded.
Sometimes, knowing how and who you are dealing with is enough. It is not easy to think family members can help other family members understand their deceit. If they are deceitful enough to put such a scheme together, they don’t want to know what they did was wrong. Let them go and thank God for His help in carrying forth with the Will of our mother.
“I only have just a few pennies!”
One day, I went to meet a friend at his home. During that time, I came to know that his father was sick and resting in his room. While we were talking, his father suddenly called him. Immediately, my friend responded to his call and began to proceed towards his room. Seeing my friend proceeding toward his father’s room, I felt I should also go and meet his father and wish him to get well soon. Thus, I quietly followed my friend.
As soon as I followed him to his father’s room, I saw his father lying supine on his bed with his eyes closed. My friend approached him
“I only have just a few pennies!”
One day, I went to meet a friend at his home. During that time, I came to know that his father was sick and resting in his room. While we were talking, his father suddenly called him. Immediately, my friend responded to his call and began to proceed towards his room. Seeing my friend proceeding toward his father’s room, I felt I should also go and meet his father and wish him to get well soon. Thus, I quietly followed my friend.
As soon as I followed him to his father’s room, I saw his father lying supine on his bed with his eyes closed. My friend approached him, but I kept standing outside the room hoping that my friend would announce to him that I was there and then would only I approach him. Soon, they had a little chat and I distinctly heard my friend requesting his father that they should go and visit a doctor soon. As soon as my friend completed the sentence, his father yelled “I only have just a few pennies!”
Hearing his father yell like that my friend suddenly looked at me and I also looked at him quite surprised! After this, I felt it would be better if I not meet his father at this time and quietly withdrew myself from there.
Well I wouldn't say the cheapest ..I would say we were surviving back then …my older sister when we'd go out to restaurant or fast food back then they'd have the little condiment packets on tables and sugars and napkins she would empty the containers into her school bag so we could have some at home instead of spending rent money …and take rolls of toilet paper from bathrooms then she'd carry a little plastic bottle with her and in bathroom empty handsoap into bottle for us …also when out dining she would drop her cutlery on floor and take the metal teaspoons forks spoons one at time until we
Well I wouldn't say the cheapest ..I would say we were surviving back then …my older sister when we'd go out to restaurant or fast food back then they'd have the little condiment packets on tables and sugars and napkins she would empty the containers into her school bag so we could have some at home instead of spending rent money …and take rolls of toilet paper from bathrooms then she'd carry a little plastic bottle with her and in bathroom empty handsoap into bottle for us …also when out dining she would drop her cutlery on floor and take the metal teaspoons forks spoons one at time until we had small setsat home of six that didnt even match …oh my god …she even put small drinking glass and coffee cups in her large purse then ask for another one and act as if waitress had forgotten to bring one poor waitresses the looks on their faces when we'd sit there and they would glance under table and we would sit order our food and leave s little tip that we could afford…and how when we'd go to the mall back then they used to have tiny sample vials of perfume or makeup…and we would go to different ones and ask for them instead of buying the big expensive fullsize
I know that that is theft now …but back then as starving students we called it survival …and I feel so sorry for the poor waitresses …
Once I had my children I was always afraid they would go through the same as me so I'd always tell them they cannot touch anything until we had a paid receipt in our wallet that it was paid for and it was theirs …thank god they never went through what I went through …and even though we laugh about it sometimes I always insisted we never speak of those things around the children ….now sometimes we go out as a family and I look at my sister a lot of times I feel so ashamed and tell her to leave a bigger tip …even though we never told our husbands either
It was a number of years ago when my daughter was 14. My sister-in-law asked what to get her for her birthday (we had a family agreement $10-$15, no more than that, for a gift.) My daughter wanted a cassette by a popular spiritual pop group. My sister-in-law bought a used cassette, played it on one cassette player while recording it on another one (so you could hear her and her kids whispering— a lot of “Shhhh… I’m taping something,” “Don’t let the dog in…”. “What’s for dinner?” That sort of thing. Then (she proudly admitted) she took the used cassette back to the store for a full refund (the
It was a number of years ago when my daughter was 14. My sister-in-law asked what to get her for her birthday (we had a family agreement $10-$15, no more than that, for a gift.) My daughter wanted a cassette by a popular spiritual pop group. My sister-in-law bought a used cassette, played it on one cassette player while recording it on another one (so you could hear her and her kids whispering— a lot of “Shhhh… I’m taping something,” “Don’t let the dog in…”. “What’s for dinner?” That sort of thing. Then (she proudly admitted) she took the used cassette back to the store for a full refund (the source of her pride, a full refund.) The cassette she purchased was apparently pretty bad, plus all the talking, it was actually funny except my daughter was so disappointed. My daughter thanked her aunt, as she should have, but it was a lesson in, “Its the thought that counts.” I ended up tossing the “bootleg” cassette and buying a brand new cassette to replace it. I told my sister-in-law the one she made was lost. When my sister-in-law heard I’d purchased a new one, she asked if she could borrow it to make a copy (I guess as another gift for someone else?).
This wasn’t a family member, but someone I was dating:
After being invited over to my parents’ home on many occasions for dinner, (and being fed very well on those occasions) he was coming over for Christmas Eve . He told me he was going to make and bring over a chocolate pecan pie. I was happy about this, because he had never brought anything over before, and my parents had told me that they thought he was a cheapskate and a moocher. I was relieved that I was about to prove them wrong.
We were all enjoying several desserts on Christmas Eve , when one of our guests complimented the pie and asked
This wasn’t a family member, but someone I was dating:
After being invited over to my parents’ home on many occasions for dinner, (and being fed very well on those occasions) he was coming over for Christmas Eve . He told me he was going to make and bring over a chocolate pecan pie. I was happy about this, because he had never brought anything over before, and my parents had told me that they thought he was a cheapskate and a moocher. I was relieved that I was about to prove them wrong.
We were all enjoying several desserts on Christmas Eve , when one of our guests complimented the pie and asked for another piece. My boyfriend piped up “you already had a slice.”
I took him into another room and asked him what his problem was. Yes folks, he was planning on taking the rest of the pie home with him. I was so mortified.
Stealing gifts cards!!
On my little boys 1st birthday, my mother in law wanted it to be grand, inviting nearly 150 guests.
Few days after the party, we were viewing the video recording of the event, surprise!!!! The closest relative of my husband’s side stealing gift envelopes, not just one, many of them.
The entire incident got recorded on camera, what a shame!!!!!
This relative belongs to well to do family and enjoys boosting their wealth in the close circle.
great boast, small roast !!!
Stealing gifts cards!!
On my little boys 1st birthday, my mother in law wanted it to be grand, inviting nearly 150 guests.
Few days after the party, we were viewing the video recording of the event, surprise!!!! The closest relative of my husband’s side stealing gift envelopes, not just one, many of them.
The entire incident got recorded on camera, what a shame!!!!!
This relative belongs to well to do family and enjoys boosting their wealth in the close circle.
great boast, small roast !!!
How about: Refusing to visit your dying father so he can see you one last time before he passes unless he pays your travel expenses.
My successful, professional well off mother-in-law lives on one coast, her widowed father and brother lived on the other. Her brother and his family, really down-to-earth and generous people, do 100% of Gramps’ caregiving for many years without payment of any kind. My mother-in-law who can afford two long trips a year abroad never visits Gramps—though by all accounts she is the favorite child—not even a short layover on her way to or from a trip abroad.
Gramps has
How about: Refusing to visit your dying father so he can see you one last time before he passes unless he pays your travel expenses.
My successful, professional well off mother-in-law lives on one coast, her widowed father and brother lived on the other. Her brother and his family, really down-to-earth and generous people, do 100% of Gramps’ caregiving for many years without payment of any kind. My mother-in-law who can afford two long trips a year abroad never visits Gramps—though by all accounts she is the favorite child—not even a short layover on her way to or from a trip abroad.
Gramps has Parkinsons and ends up in a wheelchair. He eventually he has to go in assisted living. Finally, Gramps is deteriorating fast and he knows it. He asks his daughter/my mother-in-law to come for a visit for what might be the last time. She finally goes to visit for a few days. We visit the following month.
Eight months later at Gramp’s funeral, her brother and his family are barely speaking to my mother-in-law but they are very cordial to us. It is then that we learn that my mother-in-law refused to come visit her father unless paid her travel expenses which he wouldn’t do until almost near the end. But, because of the Parkinson’s, Gramps could no longer write legibly. So her brother is the one who has to write that travel expense check and understandably, he was not happy.
We paid our travel expenses to both the last visit and Gramps’ funeral. It would never have crossed our minds to ask an ill or dying relative to pay us to come to visit. We cringed.
But when this came up in conversation with her several months later, my mother-in-law was not embarrassed in the least, saying that she knew Gramps could afford to pay.
But wait, there is more. When Gramps’ estate was closed, mother-in-law has the nerve to be angry that Gramps only left her $300K, half of his remaining assets not including the value of his house. Her brother got the other half of Gramps’ assets plus 100% of the house proceeds (more than twice the value of his remaining assets). Karma, people. :)
My 2nd husband and I took his mother and brother out to a very nice Chinese restaurant for dinner one evening. The food was great, the service was excellent, all in all the evening was wonderful. Whenever I go out to eat I always pay the tip and I tip well. There was a time in my life when my mom was trying to support us on a waitresses salary plus tips. I remember many times sitting and counting her tips with her to see what we could afford, milk, bread, gas, etc. So back to the dinner, the bill for dinner came, my husband took it to pay up front and I put a twenty dollar bill under my glass.
My 2nd husband and I took his mother and brother out to a very nice Chinese restaurant for dinner one evening. The food was great, the service was excellent, all in all the evening was wonderful. Whenever I go out to eat I always pay the tip and I tip well. There was a time in my life when my mom was trying to support us on a waitresses salary plus tips. I remember many times sitting and counting her tips with her to see what we could afford, milk, bread, gas, etc. So back to the dinner, the bill for dinner came, my husband took it to pay up front and I put a twenty dollar bill under my glass. I started to leave and turned around just in time to see my mother in law take the twenty and replace it with a five. I was furious! I snatched the twenty away from her and added it to her five. I lowered my voice and told her in no uncertain terms that she was never going to STEAL a tip that I left again and I was SO HAPPY she had added to tip. I took her arm and out we walked. She was very well off and didn't need the money, so I was so glad I caught her. I have always believed that the extra five or more I add to a tip isn't going to hurt me but it just might buy that waitresses family a gallon of milk.
I am sure I must have written about this somewhere, because it makes me laugh every time I think about it.
I had a horrible SIL. Selfish, self-centered, babyish and CHEAP. (Although this comes across as a SIL rant, it’s really not. It all plays into her incredible, infamous cheapness.)
She did day care. She’d take the kids out for uber-nutritious meals at … McDonald’s. She’d make the day care kids give the toy to her, for her own kids.
She complained about how much toilet paper her husband used. First, how did she know? and Second, really?
She solved that problem by taking a roll of toilet paper
I am sure I must have written about this somewhere, because it makes me laugh every time I think about it.
I had a horrible SIL. Selfish, self-centered, babyish and CHEAP. (Although this comes across as a SIL rant, it’s really not. It all plays into her incredible, infamous cheapness.)
She did day care. She’d take the kids out for uber-nutritious meals at … McDonald’s. She’d make the day care kids give the toy to her, for her own kids.
She complained about how much toilet paper her husband used. First, how did she know? and Second, really?
She solved that problem by taking a roll of toilet paper and 2 empty rolls. She’d split the plys and roll them onto the 2 empty rolls, creating 2 from one. Just sit in front of the TV (eating junk) and rolling TP. Yup. That’s a nice evening with the family.
Day care kids again. Sure they were very small and didn’t eat a lot, but she’d take a hotdog and cut it in quarters lengthwise. Those were the day care kids’ hotdogs.
Family events, of which there were way too many. I swear she had them catered by 7–11 or WaWa. More candy, snacks, chips, and canned/jarred dips that I’ve ever seen.
She was so awful. Sulked if any news wasn’t told to her first. Sulked if someone got something new. Sulked if someone spent their money on something, because they shudda asked her first, they cudda saved $xx.xx cuz she wudda been happy to help.
Their whole family revolved around not making SIL mad.
My husband's 2 siblings would always disappear whenever the check came. The entire family usually met together several times a year. This would included his parents, his one sibling's spouse and child, and his other single sibling who loved to order extra food and the most expensive things on the menu. When the check came, and with only my husband and I sitting there with his parents, his father would pick up the check to pay. Of course, we didn't want him to pay the entire meal, so we would split the check. This happened for about a few years, but it finally dawned on us how this pattern repe
My husband's 2 siblings would always disappear whenever the check came. The entire family usually met together several times a year. This would included his parents, his one sibling's spouse and child, and his other single sibling who loved to order extra food and the most expensive things on the menu. When the check came, and with only my husband and I sitting there with his parents, his father would pick up the check to pay. Of course, we didn't want him to pay the entire meal, so we would split the check. This happened for about a few years, but it finally dawned on us how this pattern repeated every time we went out with the family.
The next time we went out, somehow his parents didn't come out, we asked the waiter to split the check. It was funny to see the shock on their faces. I think they got so used to us picking up the check that they just expected it. We told his parents about this afterward, and they started asking for separate check, too. The gravy train has departed.
I love his siblings, just didn't want to be taken advantage of, esp his parents were frugal and were near retirement age. It's been several years now, and his married sibling would now treat us out once in a while. I think they had finally grown up.
My family, thanks to years of hard work, is pretty well off. My mom and I have LV purses and we drive fancy cars. To be clear, I'm not trying to brag. Just giving an insight to finances.
When my grandmother finally moved into the US and started living with my parents, my mom decided we should take her out to enjoy a true “Maryland” dinner at this fairly fancy restaurant. While talking, we got into the topic of tipping and how everyone in the states is SOOO generous. My mom keeps lauding that even the wealthy give good tips and all that stuff.
When the check comes, my dad and I start calculating
My family, thanks to years of hard work, is pretty well off. My mom and I have LV purses and we drive fancy cars. To be clear, I'm not trying to brag. Just giving an insight to finances.
When my grandmother finally moved into the US and started living with my parents, my mom decided we should take her out to enjoy a true “Maryland” dinner at this fairly fancy restaurant. While talking, we got into the topic of tipping and how everyone in the states is SOOO generous. My mom keeps lauding that even the wealthy give good tips and all that stuff.
When the check comes, my dad and I start calculating the tip. We figure out how much 20% would be and end up rounding up to the nearest 10 to make it easy in terms of paying in cash. My mom starts complaining it's too much. Keeps insisting we lower it to a number that would end up being lower than 20%. Mind you, our waitress was an absolute angel who was helpful and friendly and attentive.
We got into a fight because my dad and I's logic was “you'll spend THOUSANDS on a purse but cant be bothered to leave an extra 7 bucks for someone who lives off tips????? Tf is wrong with you".
Sometimes I'm shocked I came out of that woman tbh
I have seen a lot! I think the funniest, was when after our wedding, we took my new husband’s Grandma, from Ohio, out to breakfast, the day after our wedding to a nice restaurant in Carmel. She asked for tea. They brought a fancy box of a variety of teas for her to select. Her eyes lit up. She asked if she could have any of the teas? The server said, “yes, have any you want!.” She picked one and dumped the rest in here purse! Breakfast came and a variety of jams came. She asked the same question about the jams and the answer was the same. Guess what happened?
We left a big tip!
Not my family but my friend's dad. He used to scrimp every penny but the dumbest thing was his obsession over his car's gas mileage. He hated having to use his brakes because it would use more gas to then speed up again so his solution was to just not use them. He would let the car naturally slow down when approaching a stop sign and then roll right through it. He also would just flat out run red lights because he didn't want to come to a complete stop. Of course that meant he got quite a number of tickets which were crazy expensive. Yet he couldn't get it through his head that the minuscule a
Not my family but my friend's dad. He used to scrimp every penny but the dumbest thing was his obsession over his car's gas mileage. He hated having to use his brakes because it would use more gas to then speed up again so his solution was to just not use them. He would let the car naturally slow down when approaching a stop sign and then roll right through it. He also would just flat out run red lights because he didn't want to come to a complete stop. Of course that meant he got quite a number of tickets which were crazy expensive. Yet he couldn't get it through his head that the minuscule amount of gas used after braking was cheaper than having to pay for a ticket every few months. He almost lost his license from too many moving violations, all just to save a couple pennies here and there.
I’ve never really seen my in laws give gifts but they like to receive them and if it’s not according to their taste they (mainly MIL) will have a hissy fit to the point where everyone else will cringe for the giver.
yet, one thing I discovered the sly old witch does is that she gets her old sarees steamed and then gives those as wedding gifts and then she demands money from her son or husband to buy another one. She repeats this cycle all the time. We’ve all caught on and have had a face off with her and she denies it…….. until I “accidentally” leaked the photos of her wearing them on a family
I’ve never really seen my in laws give gifts but they like to receive them and if it’s not according to their taste they (mainly MIL) will have a hissy fit to the point where everyone else will cringe for the giver.
yet, one thing I discovered the sly old witch does is that she gets her old sarees steamed and then gives those as wedding gifts and then she demands money from her son or husband to buy another one. She repeats this cycle all the time. We’ve all caught on and have had a face off with her and she denies it…….. until I “accidentally” leaked the photos of her wearing them on a family Facebook group… oopsie daisy 🙈🙈🙈
no one gives her gifts and they certainly know better to accept anything from her again 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
I grew up in a middle class nice” normal” family. We have always had an in ground pool. Iwas an adult visiting on the 4th of July , at some point I turned to see my Dad bathing ( Dial soap) my nephew in our pool!!! I screeched “ what are you doing” , he told me he paid the water bill and could do whatever he felt like. SMH
My late grandfather would let himself be dragged out of his house to go out for dinner with family. When at the restaurant, we’d all order meals and he wouldn’t. He’d eat our bread rolls and drink the water at the table and then wait until we’d finished eating whatever was on the plates and pick off anything we’d left.
His greatest principle to live by: waste not, want not. I didn’t think that included hoovering up other people’s leftovers!
My mother in law is in assisted living. Though she is financially very well off, she is very cheap.
After several months of COVID lockdown, Mom said she needed to have her toenails cut. But all the nail salons were closed at the time. I take foot care for the elderly really seriously really seriously because my grandaunt had a botched toenail cutting in a nursing home, ended up with gangrene and having to have a leg removed. My wife, thinking there was no alternative and following the facilities outdoor visitation protocol, goes over and cut Mom’s toenails.
We later find out that there is a podi
My mother in law is in assisted living. Though she is financially very well off, she is very cheap.
After several months of COVID lockdown, Mom said she needed to have her toenails cut. But all the nail salons were closed at the time. I take foot care for the elderly really seriously really seriously because my grandaunt had a botched toenail cutting in a nursing home, ended up with gangrene and having to have a leg removed. My wife, thinking there was no alternative and following the facilities outdoor visitation protocol, goes over and cut Mom’s toenails.
We later find out that there is a podiatrist who regularly visits the facility to take care of residents foot care needs. When asked why she didn’t have the podiatrist take care of her toenails, Mom says “oh, but the podiatrist charges DOCTOR prices”. (BTW, a podiatrist is a doctor of podiatric medicine or DPM.)
Yup. Mom is so cheap she would rather risk exposing her only daughter to COVID than to pay money to a medical professional to get her toenails cut.
And don’t get me started on the last time Mom took us out to dinner for my wife’s birthday. In my family, you take your kids out for dinner on their birthday, you treat. When we take a parent out on a parent’s birthday, we treat. But not my mother in law. When the bill came at my wife’s birthday dinner, Mom handed my wife a box of still-warm leftovers to avoid paying even part of the bill. Some birthday present. But lesson learned. We no longer dine out with Mom.
My father built a thriving business. He could borrow today’s equivalent of $1mm on his signature, without collateral.
One of the reasons he was able to build was because he was very frugal. He hated to waste a penny. Negotiated EVERYTHING! Loved to make a deal.
One day I accompanied him to a shopping mall. He had seen an ad for a sale on ties, normally $10–15 each at the time.
We get to the store and they are selling 7 ties for $7. That was a come-on to get customers into the store where they could be upsold to the much nicer ties and accessories at higher prices.
My dad spent 10 minutes arguing w
My father built a thriving business. He could borrow today’s equivalent of $1mm on his signature, without collateral.
One of the reasons he was able to build was because he was very frugal. He hated to waste a penny. Negotiated EVERYTHING! Loved to make a deal.
One day I accompanied him to a shopping mall. He had seen an ad for a sale on ties, normally $10–15 each at the time.
We get to the store and they are selling 7 ties for $7. That was a come-on to get customers into the store where they could be upsold to the much nicer ties and accessories at higher prices.
My dad spent 10 minutes arguing with the manager. He finally walked out with 14 ugly ties for $12.
He wound up wearing only 2 of the lot. But he got a deal! He was very proud of himself.
;-)