Contrary to popular belief, there is a major difference between being frugal and being a tightwad. The former involves healthy discipline and maybe a little creativity.
The latter? Well, it knows no bounds. Anything goes if it means saving even one penny. So, how do you know if you’ve crossed the line from thrifty to stingy?
If you’re simply and smartly finding clever ways to crush debt and save more, you are thrifty. But here's when you might just be cheap.
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1. You would rather risk heat exhaustion than spend cold cash
If you’d rather melt than turn on the AC, we need to have a heart-to-heart. We’re all for using your HVAC system responsibly, but we cannot, in good conscience, support you on your path to heat exhaustion.
Invest in a good fan, at the very least.
Own a car? Here's 7 warning signs you're paying too much for car insurance. 2. You take more than your fair share at office parties
Perhaps you only contribute napkins to company potlucks. (Napkins you pilfered, no doubt.)
While your co-workers are bringing actual food and making sure everyone gets enough, you’re doing the bare minimum but taking the most. That’s freeloading, not frugality.
3. You wear clothes until they’re threadbare
First, pat yourself on the back for not hopping on every fashion trend or falling for the temptation of a weekend sale.
Now, go replace the jeans you’ve been mending and patching up for the last eight years. It’s time. It was time seven years ago.
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4. You don’t believe in single-use anything
If you find yourself washing disposable cutlery or rinsing out soiled paper towels so you can use them again later, please just buy actual silverware and dishcloths.
We love a good “reduce, reuse, recycle” moment, but this kind of frugality borders on unsanitary.
5. You return clothing you’ve worn
Maybe you don’t hold onto clothes until they’re mere tatters, but instead your pendulum swings in the other direction. In other words, you buy new outfits every week because you don’t plan to keep them anyway.
Clothing rental services do exist for thrifty shoppers, but your local boutique isn’t one of them.
6. You do the smell test in lieu of washing clothes
You know what we’re talking about. If your laundry doesn’t smell dirty, it must be clean enough to wear again, right?
There are far better ways to save on detergent and cut back on water usage that don’t require you to take a whiff of your twice-worn unmentionables.
Get Out of Debt for Good: Try these 6 clever ways to crush your debt 7. You leave every restaurant with a pocketful of Splenda
Perhaps paying for a meal without taking handfuls of sweetener — or creamer or ketchup packets — makes you feel cheated. This habit is especially bad if you feel compelled to take the Splenda even though you never use it.
It really is OK to exercise a little restraint and only take one or two of the condiments you’ll actually use.
8. You eat yourself sick at buffets
Buffets can be expensive, but if you get your money’s worth by gorging to the point of nausea, you’re probably overdoing it.
Skip the tummy ache, and go to a regular restaurant instead. (But leave the Splenda!)
9. You DIY literally everything
There’s something to be said for home remedies and DIY solutions , but there’s also something to be said for buying the thing you need.
After all, if you’re spending $15 on the ingredients for a homemade cleaning concoction that costs $2 ready-made, what exactly did you save?
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10. You steal dishes — actual dishes
Believe it or not, some people swipe cutlery, ramekins, and even glassware when they go out to eat.
If you’re tucking tableware into your to-go box — or risking it all and putting dirty dishes right into your purse — you have likely crossed the line.
11. You’re a notorious regifter
Repurposing presents isn’t always a bad practice, but it is a dangerous game. It’ll be painfully awkward if you get found out, and there’s a good chance you’ll hurt someone’s feelings.
If you don’t see the value in spending money on new gifts, stick to heartfelt cards instead.
12. You refuse medical care
We get it: Health care is anything but cheap. But slapping on a bandage when you really need stitches really isn’t a good or safe way to save money.
If that $50 urgent care copay feels too expensive, just wait until you find out how much it costs to treat sepsis.
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13. You can’t remember the last time you had fun
Cutting back on nights out is one thing, but never seeing your friends or treating yourself to dinner and a movie? That’s a bit extreme.
How does that old saying go? All saving and no spending makes Jack a dull boy.
14. You make a fuss to get free stuff
There’s a widespread myth that causing a scene or demanding a supervisor is a harmless way to snag discounts or freebies.
However, saving a few dollars is never worth throwing tantrums or jeopardizing someone else’s job. Besides, you’d be amazed how far customer service reps will go to reward kindness and patience.
15. You don’t tip
Right up there with the tantrum throwers are the bad tippers. Opinions about tipping culture aside, refusing to cough up 15%-20% of your bill to ensure your server gets paid is a little — OK, a lot — on the cheap side.
If you’d rather save a few bucks than leave a tip, it’s best to dine at home.
16. You piggyback on other people’s subscriptions
There’s Netflix and chill, and then there’s Netflix and steal. Mooching off of your friends’ streaming logins might save you money, but it’s not exactly fair to them.
Why not split the subscription costs so everyone benefits? It’s like carpooling, but for couch potatoes.
17. Costco has you on a free sample watch list
Do you feast on food samples at big-box stores during your lunch break, or are you normal?
Nabbing a few freebies during your regular grocery run isn’t an issue. But when you turn the exercise into a way to replace entire meals, your cheapskate alarm bells should ring.
There are plenty of great ways to save at Costco that don’t require you to lose your dignity in the process.
18. You eat expired food
Eating food that’s a day or two past the sell-by date is one thing. But if you’re slicing off moldy bits and chowing down as if they were never there, we need to talk.
Instead of risking illness in the name of saving, just go to the store instead.
19. Your hand soap is mostly water
Using water to stretch your hand soap is the oldest trick in the book. When that “soap” no longer lathers, however, it’s time to buy more.
A palmful of suds is your best friend when it comes to proper handwashing. Scrimping is your worst enemy.
20. Your toilet paper pulls double duty
Separating two-ply toilet paper into two rolls of one-ply toilet paper is about as cheap as it gets.
When you find yourself willingly compromising the structural integrity of your TP, your frugality has gone too far.
Bottom line
If you’ve turned to scheming and stealing in the name of saving, you are officially a card-carrying member of the cheapskate club.
Aside from clear ethical violations, it can be hard to know where to draw the line with your frugality. When your quality of life or your relationships suffer, re-evaluate your methods.
Some people don’t have a choice but to use these strategies to eliminate money stress . But if you can afford to be more flexible with your money habits, relish that fact, and remember that balanced spending is a goal worth pursuing.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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