| Photo Credit: Diane Manjula Benjamin |
Let’s define the word “cheap,” shall we? I mean, can’t a person just be financially responsible and not be considered cheap? Can’t a person just make good use of all his/her resources, be happy to live with a little less than the “best name brand” and just live a simpler life without being labeled cheap? Why is it that if you like to find a good deal, and when you’ve found a great deal, people automatically label you as “cheap.” I think they’re just jealous they didn’t get their hands on that great deal first.
For those of you who like to save, you’ll be able to relate to this. For those of you who like to spend, you’ll have some standards to go by before you call someone “cheap.”
Top TEN ways you know you’re a “Cheapie” like me!
#10. When you walk into any store, you head straight to the sales racks and your heart starts pounding when you see signs like “Clearance—an Extra 50% off.”
#9. When you wait to buy groceries (even if your fridge is pretty much down to an apple and some salad dressing) until the weekly coupon dates kick in.
#8. When you’re all about the BOGO sign: Buy One Get One free and try to convince the sales person that he should sell you one for half off. It’s virtually the same thing. Seriously.
#7. When you make your kid’s birthday cake, brown bag the goody bags, and blow up the balloons to save on the cost of that outrageously expensive helium tank.
#6. When you can’t drive by a Store Closing sign, but wait until the sign reads, “Last 5 days. Everything must go! 90% off!” before you make your move!
#5. When you sign up for every Department Store credit card just to get your first time Extra 15% off, and the Outlets are like a black hole once you enter.
#4. When you can’t pass up a chance to take anything labeled free: free samples at an expo show, free food on a toothpick in the mall, free stuff at a garage sale, and my personal favorite…all that cool free stuff on Craig’s list these days. It’s an even shorter trip when you find free stuff on your neighbor’s curb!
#3. When you only dine on days that the buffet price applies, only order water at restaurants and get giddy happy when the waitress doesn’t charge you for the entree you didn’t love. But you still ate it…for FREE!
#2. When you sneak snacks into the movie theater, only go to see a show on bargain Tuesday, and tell the ticket guy, your daughter just turned four for an entire year to save on one ticket. At least you didn’t lie about her age…
#1. When you refuse to pay anyone to do anything for you, because you want to save the money and do it yourself, even if it means, you don’t have light, your car is stuck in the driveway, and your yard is looking like a backdrop from Narnia. It’ll have to wait until you find time, because you ain’t giving up one red cent to have anyone do it for ya!
** So what about you? Do you arrive at a happy place when you find a supa-bargain? Or is ‘time is money’ your mantra like my hubby who just wants to get in, cross off the list, and get out, regardless of the cha-ching factor? Share a coolio dealio you found this last year? Is there an amazing online coupon that you want to give us the heads up on? Cheaper minds want to know… 😉
Hi Anonymous! Thanks for writing in and sharing your supa-sava stories!! I might borrow that: “Free.99!!” I just keep laughing as I picture this lady chompin on raw rice…now that definitely tops any cheap thing I’ve done! 🙂
-Raj
I love getting good deals and am very proud to announce, “I only paid $2.50 for this t-shirt!” (which I actually did, just yesterday at a 70% of sale.) I’m not a big BOGO fan because I just can’t get past the fact that I am forced to buy two items to get the sale price. And like my brother says, there’s nothing like something that’s Free99!!! But it can go too far. The other day there was a free rice demonstration outside our local supermarket here in India where you could learn about all the different types of rice available. A lady, who must have just seen the word “free” and the bowl of UNCOOKED rice, just grabbed a fistful and stuffed it in her mouth as she walked by. She is definitely a “Cheapie”!