Saving money and finding ways to make your dollars stretch farther is not necessarily a bad thing by any means. After all, not everyone can live lavishly all the time or never worry about their finances. However, sometimes your money saving ways puts you in a category of being a cheap person.
This means you are becoming too obsessed with money, savings, and looking for ways to never spend. The problem is others start to notice and you may begin alienating yourself from friends and family.
1. You don’t tip well
Waiters and waitresses rely on tips to make a full time income and make a living wage in the US. It’s not the best system, but it means that tips are essential for servers to sustain themselves.
If you have enough money to eat out, then you have enough to tip your server. Someone who doesn’t tip well is generally looked at as cheapskate (or a more harsher word, I’ll let you decide a good name for someone who doesn’t tip).
2. You’re always looking out for free furniture
You’re cheap if you drive around neighborhoods looking for furniture that people leave on the curbside. It’s free and it could even be in good condition if that is something you enjoy doing in your free time then you’re leaning towards being a cheapskate.
3. You make toiletries last as long as possible
You try to get out every last inch out of the various toiletries you use. Whether that’s folding toilet paper sheets to get double the amount, diluting the soap so it lasts a few more weeks more or cutting the toothpaste tube in half, a cheapskate tries to get the last drop out of everything they use. Not only are you wasting your time, but the soap and other items become less effective.
4. You number crunch excessively
Are you that person that always “forgets” their wallet when you go out in a group? Or do you need to split every single bill to the last cent? Then it’s likely you are a cheapskate. It may work the first few times, but after a while your friends and family will notice. You may save a few dollars, but you could also lose your friends.
5. You buy just because of deals
You’re cheapskate if you see a good deal and you buy it just because it’s a good deal. Although you may feel like you’re winning, spending something is still more expensive than spending nothing at all.
Someone who buys something just because it’s cheap or on sale is not actually being frugal since they aren’t being intentional with their purchases.
6. You don’t like spending on essential items
There are some items which you really shouldn’t buy low quality. Those could be shoes, mattresses, important household items, etc. And there are a few items that if you purchase them, they could save you money in the long term. If you’re someone who doesn’t like spending even on the most important items, then you could be a cheapskate.
7. You never drive
Are you someone who never offers to drive or is constantly trying to get free rides? Then you could be a cheapskate. Gas can be expensive, but trying to freeload on other people’s cars means they need to pay too. Offer to split the bills or drive yourself.
8. You hoard stuff
Cheap people have a hard time getting rid of things. They hoard items and random stuff in their trash, cupboards and attic hoping that it will be of use one day. It most likely won’t be, and sometimes you just need to give it all to charity, friends, or throw it out if the items are in bad shape and of no use.
9. You take as many free items as possible
Toiletries in a hotel? Tupperware to a buffet? Taking a wine bottle back with you after a party? Whenever there’s something that’s free, it’s always worth taking if you are a cheapskate. If you get excited at the notion of something just because it’s free, then you are focusing more on the price than the actual item.