How to be an obnoxious money saver
If you aspire not only to save money but to aggravate everyone else in the process, today's post is for you.
And if quietly living your frugal life is just not satisfying enough, never fear! With these helpful tips, you can quickly alienate yourself from every single person in the world who spends more pennies than you.
You may lose friends, but dear reader, you'll make up for it with self-satisfaction and the knowledge that you are more frugal than anyone you know.
Or anyone you read about on the internet.
Ready?
1. Overstate everything.
No price hike is too small to magnify.
Try phrases like, "Wow. I didn't realize I'd have to take out a mortgage to buy a cup of coffee. It's up $0.10 this month."
And you have to deliver it with all sincerity, as if $0.10 hikes do indeed require a mortgage. Dimes add up!!
The struggle is real, and you have to make sure all of the people know.
2. Criticize people who are less fanatical about devoted to frugal living.
There's no need to limit your criticism to easy targets, such as spendthrifts. Laser focus on people who are frugal, but not quite as frugal as you.
"I can't believe how spendy Sophie has gotten. I saw she has her heat turned up to 59 degrees. I'm totally drowning in sweat when I visit her house. Seriously don't understand why people can't just put on a sweater before they crank their heat so high."
(Notice the sneaky combination of tip #1 (ex.: totally drowning in sweat) with #2? Given enough practice, you'll be able to do that without thinking.)
3. One-up All Of The People
Related to #2 but slightly different: if someone mentions a money-saving tactic or technique, never let it go without first mentioning how you save slightly more.
Does someone make tomato sauce using canned whole tomatoes?
Casually mention that you can your own tomatoes.
In glass jars from the thrift store.
With tomatoes you grew in your garden.
From seed.
In organic homemade compost.
Really, don't stop until the other person feels completely inferior.
4. Die on all the hills with store clerks/waiters/anyone in public service.
Don't let the small stuff go.
If you bought two identical shirts on clearance and one's labeled $2.89 while the other is marked at $1.89, DO NOT LEAVE the customer service desk until the clerk has agreed to give you your dollar back.
Call in upper management, let a line form behind you...just do whatever it takes to get that dollar.
5. Ignore the details on offers/coupons, and complain if you get pushback.
It's not your fault the expiration date was in such tiny print! And aren't expiration dates really more suggestions than rules?
Pull in tip #4 by blame-shifting your erroneous interpretation onto the staff member, because obviously they are the ones who designed the ad and came up with the terms of the deal.
Persevere long enough and loud enough and you just may get what you want.
6. Ignore your family's preferences.
Does your spouse have a favorite individually packaged treat? Squelch that habit immediately by offering up a homemade alternative that he/she hates.
Does your family particularly hate being cold? Turn the heat down anyway and hand out sweaters.
Does your spouse wilt in the humidity? Who cares? No A/C until the house is 85 °F!
And forget about A/C if the temp is reasonable but the humidity is high.
Humid air is good for the skin! And hey, this is totally arid compared to the rain forest. Why are you even complaining?
7. Be an ungracious gift receiver.
If you enthusiastically (or even meekly) receive gifts more expensive than you'd buy for yourself, you'll just encourage the giver.
Instead, gently but firmly remind them that instead of a thoughtful gift, you'd prefer to receive six month's worth of toilet paper.
I mean, basically, a gift is like money someone owes you, so you can certainly tell the giver how you want the money to be spent.
You may meet with some resistance at first, but just remind yourself how much you'd just hate to see your gift money spent on something that's not practical.
With enough persistence, your family/friends should eventually get the picture.
8. When you splurge, complain about it. Out loud.
If you take someone to a nice restaurant for their birthday, be sure to comment on the outrageous prices. Refer back to #1 (Overstate Everything) and invoke phrases such as "highway robbery".
Bonus points if you make a habit of sharing how much money you could have saved by not splurging ("Wow. For the price of this restaurant meal, I could have fed us beans and rice for an entire month.").
As a rule, this will make the people you're splurging on feel so guilty and uncomfortable that they honestly will not want you to splurge on them in the future.
(Win for you!!)
__________________________
I'm sure I've missed a few pointers key to obnoxious money-saving, so help a girl out and share your tips in the comments.
__________________________
P.S. Don't want to be an obnoxious money-saver? Focus your efforts on kindness, humility, and unselfishness.
(Plus a good helping of minding your own business.)
P.P.S. This is not directed at any of you lovely readers but is rather inspired by obnoxious frugal behavior I've observed online and off-line over many years.
P.P.P.S. Embarassing: The shirt example in #4 did actually happen to me recently, and I had to remind myself that a dollar is really not that big of a deal, and getting two button-down denim girl's shirts for less than $5 was still a screaming deal.
My dad is #7.
Oh no! I am cringing right now because I recognize myself in some categories... ouch! For example I know that I can be an ungrateful gift receiver. I try not to be obvious about it and always be grateful and over enthusiastic when I get something, even when I don't like it, but I will somehow explain later on why it might be better to not repeat the gift in the future (my kids know that I don't want any knick-knacks or candles) and I kind of always get rid of the presents I didn't like by donating them to the thriftstore (a few years down the road). I just hate it when people waste their money on things that I truly will not enjoy. It's even harder when my husband wastes OUR money on a gift that he got at the last minute without putting any thought into it, to tell you the truth, even though I give him plenty of pointers throughout the year of things that I would truly enjoy.
Also, I mostly ignore my family's preferences when it comes to food items: right now they are revolting because my daughter (the milk lover) realized that I have been watering down the whole milk that I started buying 6 months ago. However, I will not stop because I had been buying skim milk for most of her life (15.5 years!) and no one ever complained. Not even once. And the watered-down whole milk is wayyyy creamier than the skim (like a 2%). And no one had noticed that I was watering it. And milk is over $4 a gallon here. However, I do buy her Special K instead of the generic version (but I wait until it's on BOGO and I have some coupons), and if I have a reasonable request that fits in my weekly budget, I will consider it. The thing is, none of them will volunteer to go shopping, cook, or do the housecleaning, so I'm thinking it doesn't really give them a say in the process 🙂 ymmv.
When it comes to criticizing other bloggers, sure, sometimes I'm thinking "wow, and this person calls herself/himself a frugal blogger?!?", but I always give them a pass because I'm also mostly thinking that one never knows what's going on in other people's lives, no matter how much they decide to share on the internet. Plenty of people do much better than me and will cringe at things that I do or don't do.
What irks me about the internet nowadays, especially forums, is the constant name-calling and shaming that goes on even when you try to post something that might help someone. Slickdeals, for example, is terrible for this. People are so mean to others who took the time to post a great deal or a freebie. Who cares if it's been posted once or even twice before? Sheesh.
That being said, I will endeavor to be better in the future 🙂
The gift thing is a bit of a sticky wicket. I mean, I do think it's fine to communicate your preferences in a kind way (especially to a close adult, like a spouse), but it's important to be mindful of other people's feelings.
And I think it's important to try to see the thought behind the gift, even if the gift wasn't exactly what you'd always wanted. For example, if your husband brought you flowers because he thought of you, but you don't especially like flowers, you can still appreciate the fact that he thought of you.
I do think it's quite fine to get rid of gifts you don't want. 😉
Gifts are the stickiest wicket! I have spent the last 9 months trying to think of a way to gently suggest to my in-laws that they don't need to buy me any more kitchen gadgets. I love to cook, which impresses them, but every Christmas for the last four years, I have received a large piece of kitchen equipment that I don't want and have no room to store. Last Christmas really took the cake--they gave me a NuWave oven (http://www.amazon.com/Nu-Wave-Black-Digital-Oven-Extender/dp/B003IBJY32#)...because I only had one other oven? We used it twice to be polite (let me assure you, they asked) and now it resides on a shelf in our basement. Another year, I received the equipment to roast our own coffee, plus a giant case of green coffee beans. And then there was the food dehydrator, which is a neat idea but just not something I have time for. That's in the basement now, too. In my 20s I scrimped and saved to buy myself the KitchenAid, Cuisinart, pots, pans, and other kitchen essentials, so I think they're just trying to think of something novel that aligns with my personal interests. I'm sure I sound hideously ungrateful! When we do our family gift drawing (every adult in my husband's family draws another adult's name), I'm wondering if I could just say, "Our family doesn't need any more kitchen items this year." Too rude?
My family has a Christmas draw, and we get to put items we might "like" on it. It helps the family member buy something, and they can still put their own touch on that.
I usually go for edible items, coffee giftcards, or their favorite laundry detergent/dryer sheet. Odd request, but they have fun getting it and I have fun trying something new (and I dont have to buy it!)
Oh dear. It's a good thing you have a basement!
I personally would not feel badly about giving away these items after a time. If they ask, it could give you an avenue to politely mention that you don't really use kitchen gadgets.
Oh, gifts! Last year my beloved daughter bought me an actifry that we have used 4times. Granted it makes awesome chicken wings but it is so big and our house is so tiny. This year she came cross country to visit and decided I needed new pots. No! So I emailed her a few weeks ago and suggested some tea that we can't get here on the edge of the world and she actually seemed excited about going to the tea shop and choosing some teas to go along with our favourite. My pots may not be beautiful anymore but I love them and now I will get a treat that I don't need to find a permanent home for!
Perhaps you could suggest each adult put a wish list on the back of the paper that has their name? This way the giver would have a better idea of what you would truly appreciate. My family has been using wish lists for years, (although we don't do a drawing), and it ensures we receive what we will use and cherish. We even include experiential/handmade gifts like a trip to a museum or theater, or homemade bread, (my mom makes the best bread I have ever tasted and I make her a fruitcake each year.) As the giver I appreciate that my gift will be something the recipient really wants and makes them happy.
I find that I like useful gifts the most but even so, I get many useful gifts from my mother-n-law that I have no intention of using and don't have room for. That said, I LOVE getting these gifts because I immediately put them in the top of my closet giving me a great stash of really nice "free" gifts for all the Christmas gift exchanges.
@Kristen,
I give kitchen items and jewelry that I see is expensive but I don't want on our local Buy Nothing group. I wait about a year to see if I'll ever use it, then give it away. There's a way to block friends from seeing your Buy Nothing posts now. 🙂
Kristin, you crack me up! I too had to talk myself down when I realized a Target clerk had charged me for bulk Sweet onions instead of regular. Luckily, my kids were singing the chorus of Let It Go at the time, and there was a long line so I gave the extra thirty cents.
As someone who works the customer service desk at a major retailer I could not agree more with these tips.
Let me add another tip for your readers: If you are a regular customer at a store the store personnel will come to know you on sight. They will discuss you after you have left the store (if you are liked the discussions are kind in nature--they often revolve around how nice someone is). If you are kind to store personnel they will remember you and go out of their way to help you--but if you are rude, pushy, or unreasonable they will also remember and will be unlikely to bend the rules for you the next time you ask (and this applies to the managers, as well).
Now let me say that the majority of my customers are lovely and I bend over backwards for them. I will take their expired coupons and I will adjust prices for them if they grabbed the wrong shirts during the "buy one, get one 50% off" sales, etc. I'll do what I can to make them happy because we all enjoy having them come into our store.
There are only a few "problem" customers and they aren't given the benefit of the doubt.
I'm pretty susceptible to frugality envy, such as that caused by your No. 3. But there just aren't enough hours in the day ... which is why all my to-be-canned-eventually tomatoes (stems and blemishes and all) are in 2-gallon bags in the freezer.
Some say that truth cloaked in satire can be perfect genius. Surely is a good way to make us think since the humor softens the edges enough for us to look at ourselves honestly!
Ouch! Haha 🙂 This was a great reminder - it's not all about the money. It's doing your best with what you've got. Thanks!
Hysterical Kristen! I will take all of these tips to heart and be as obnoxious as I can about saving money!
Come on Kristen - surely you know only "real" frugal people don't use toilet paper. They make their own reusable tp from old t-shirts their non-frugal friends and neighbors thoughtlessly tossed out. 😉
Ohhh, good one!
This made me laughhhhh. Excellent!
This CRACKED me up. Thanks for sharing your delightful sense of humor on my dreary Monday morning!
I think my all-time favorite tactic is to become super-righteous about your choices vs. the choices of others.
When a dear family purchased a *second* American Girl doll for our daughter (and think of the mortgage that might have been paid off, if not for that doll! Wink!) another family member said, "Oh my word. What girl needs TWO dolls?" The irony was that he has three cars (for the two people living in the household), two boats (fishing and non-fishing, of course), and two (ahem) homes. You know, vacation home and "regular" home.
Recently, the same family member attacked me for lacking "contentment," because we have more children than the (apparently adequate) two-- boy and girl. I always feel far too stunned to even reply, but after the fact I always think up lovely responses like: "We just enjoy sex way too much to take a night off." Because, let's all just share our most intimate lives and attack one another in the downtime. It is all so helpful. (Wink)
Ooh, I feel your pain. Mostly people are really delightful about seeing me with four kids, but one day in the grocery, an older woman asked me if all four were mine, and when I answered in the affirmative, she sidled up to me and whispered, "Next time, you should keep your legs closed."
=O
Like you, I was way too stunned to come up with anything close to a good response. I think I mumbled something lame about the fact that we were indeed done after four kids.
I am older than both Kristen and AK, but I have to comment here. Kristen, of course you were stunned and couldn't come up with an adequate reply, which probably should have been accompanied by food spilled down her dress, but AK, you know this jerk of a family member feels absolutely free to share his opinion on stuff that is none of his business. Be ready for him the next time you see him. Practice some comebacks that will shut his face forever. ("We're getting her ready to own extra houses, cars and homes. Just like you.")
Obnoxious people are obnoxious because they have gotten away with it all of their lives because the rest of us are too polite/stunned to stop them.
Anne,
I wish I were a fast thinker, but I'm just not. People routinely just surprise the heck out of me. On the internet, I literally have daily "gasps" about what folks think is appropriate to say to others.
With this family member, I just think: "Love covers a multitude of sins. Love covers a multitude of sins." Perhaps my "stunned face" and quiet are enough of a gentle answer to turn away wrath. Hoot!
I have to delight in much wittier (and often, meaner!) retorts in my own imagination. The witty and perfectly timed replies that I think up *after the fact* are just for my own personal joy. 🙂
And Kristen, I might have been stunned to silence for a solid twenty-four hours after that one. Once, in a restaurant, we assumed the couple next to us was growing weary of our bouncy little brood of four. As we stood to go, they said: "We had four. (Smile) Those were good and busy years. It was fun to watch you all and go back in time." (Bless em.) I asked, "Do you have any words of wisdom for us?" and the older man snorted. "Well," he said, "None of my kids are in jail. But we've experienced nearly every other sin under the sun. So, here is my advice. Love 'em. The love 'em some more." (HOOT!)
Oh what lovely advice. There attitude has just bought a tear to my eye
I hope that you never encounter that brand of rudeness again, but if you should...the following are yours to use.
Nod in agreement then say:
"Oh...yes ma'am I do.....but it's wearing out my knees."
"When I try to lock my husband out of heaven, he just pulls around back."
"I'll keep my legs closed if you do the same with your mouth."
"Jesus is watching you."
And sometimes, it is better for all involved (as there is no line item in my budget for a bail bondsman) to just silently stare directly into their eyes until they slink away.
People.get.on.my.nerves.
LOLOL!!! Twice I gasped, once about what the person said to Kristen, then again about pulling round the back. SNICKER
Haha- so true, Kristen!
I liken my frugality to doing kind deeds.
Have a smile on your face, don't report kind actions, put inter people's feelings first.
I meant "other"; whoops'
I am not great about receiving gifts, that is something I need to work more on. I have gotten better at appreciating the gesture (and the thoughts behind it) and not worrying about the cost involved (and passing along items I don't want) but I have a ways to go.
Thank you for the Monday morning thought-provoking chuckle and for being such a faithful blogger.
Ahhh... this was a MOST excellent post. The same satire can be used in the health field... You mean you don't eat 100% organic? Gluten-free? Make your own XYZ? Go to the gym before, during AND after work? You aren't non-GMO? You still eat out? YOU DID NOT JUST EAT THAT FRENCH FRY FROM MCDONALD'S! It lasts forever in a car and is bad for your body!
...and just keep going.
I had to remind myself today after being gone from the gym for two months... that starting again was better than not. And just because I ONLY did an hour of Zumba, and got up at 4:25 a.m. to make a ridiculously early class ... was better than not finding time for it later.
I feel guilty an awful lot about things I'm NOT doing...when I need to wrap my arms around the contentment that I'm doing the best I can for me... and a little really can go a long way.
Thanks for this! <3 It works with so many topics!
I can do this with my children. "do you know how much that will cost me, absolutely not! we have a budget, maaaaybeee for Christmas. how can you be so selfish to want something like that!" I also will make things homemade like granola bars so I don't have to buy the boxed, they actually like them, but in the store somedays they'll ask and I will say " oh honey I can make mine at home" ouch, but I do have to say, I have been learning to lighten up a bit, and give my children some little wants. They love the dollar section and pick out there own toy or treat. x3 I can afford that every once and awhile on a whim to show them my love in giving them a want. Our heavenly Father wants to bless us and not keep us confined all of the time, there are seasons of no and not right now we have to wait, that teaches patience, contentment, and its not all about me, if we are teaching and training in love, and understanding of there little wants. Because mama, we have alot of wants, but restriction at every turn, will make a person feel locked down and in a cage, we are human beings and we must give some grace. 🙂 thank you for your post!!
One thing that helps us a bit in that area is that when we go on vacation, we buy all sorts of things we don't normally buy. Want pop-tarts? Sure thing. Ice cream sandwiches? Ok. 5 boxes of sugared cereal? Sure!
This allows us to say yes to those things a few times a year but not all the time.
Ha, ha! This is hilarious! What a great way to start a new week. 🙂 Blessings to you!
Haha this is great.
I actually do all that you mentioned with the tomatoes. Well, my husband does the starting from seeds part. LOL I'll try not to mention it too much, but I don't buy anything tomato-related at the grocery store, it's all in my basement already made. ^_^
I think that exact phrase of feeding his family for a month on rice and beans has come out of my dad's mouth! Too funny! God blessed us richly growing up, I never realized how much my parents had to stretch their pennies till I grew up!
I think it's awesome that you make all your own tomato products. Seriously!
My issue is with people who share that info in a way that belittles other people's efforts. I know a lot of times people don't mean it to come off that way, but when you are particularly skilled at something, you have to be careful about sharing that with others. Know your audience, basically.
Yeah, some frugal bloggers are the worst! 😉
Totally. To wit, as I typed up the story about the mismarked clearance shirts, I noticed I felt annoyance creeping up inside of me again. Ahem.
Preaching to myself here. It was just a dollar, Kristen. Just a dollar!
(I do still think I was in the right. Heh.)
Some produce I bought once was rung up wrong.... and I was with my husband at the time...and I went to turn around and he was very obviously not interested in me going back to claim $1. So I sucked it up...but I can still feel that itchy, discontent in the back of my mind when I think about it.
Sometimes you just have to let it go 😉
Or maybe the higher priced one was actually the "correct" price.
Just trying to turn it around. I am so the one who would ask for them both to be rung up at the lower price. Fourteen years of retail kind of trains you that way.
Funny, I thought of you when I was buying taco shells the other day. One box wasn't perfect. I was going to buy it anyway 'til I remembered that a crushed corner might mean broken shells inside. At least you've made me thing about something that never really occurred to me before. (I'm referencing a previous post.) Thanks for regularly challenging me to be mindful. I've got a long way to go , but with your help (and Katy's), I just might make it.
I laughed so hard reading this! List my job 6 months ago, unemployment runs out in 2 weeks, been i terviewing amd searching, but no idea from where the money is going to come without a job. It was good to have a laugh . Thanks!
I'm so glad it cheered you up!
Hysterically funny....and true. Best "frugal" post I've read in awhile. 😀
I loved this post, too funny! I could see myself in some of these though.... blush.
Hahaha....I had to reread a few to get the sarcasm....to close to home I guess.
This isn't really frugal but...............being invited to someone's home for a great dinner only to have the host go on and on about how busy they were and how bad they have been feeling. It kind of makes you feel guilty for being there.
Has this happened to anyone?
For me, the gifts thing is a big problem... many people in my family are in debt, and at holidays they buy me expensive things (or lots and lots of inexpensive things), that I would not possibly want. It kills me to know they are doing things like taking out loans for holidays (!!!!!), to buy me junk.
For the past 10 or so years, I have graciously been opening presents, saying - thank you for thinking of me - then handing them back. Which, to some degree is so mean, I know, but I don't know what else to do.
I have been decluttering my house this week, and found THREE unopened chia pets people have given me as gifts. In my family, there are certain members who just buy random things in bulk - everyone gets a scarf, everyone gets a screaming monkey toy, etc - none of which I need.
Even worse are the 'presents as weapons' which we get in our family... clothes obviously too small (for when you lose that weight), posionous plants for those of us with pets, a leather jacket to the vegetarian, a book called 'everyday things that you didn't know can kill you' to someone with anxiety.
I am always amazed at your Christmas photos, Kristin - of a happy family with nice presents tailored to them. I know it happens, but I haven't seen it in person in my life!
Whoa, went a bit off topic, sorry. -_- But you can see why I may go with the tactic of giving stuff back!!
Weapon gifts are totally messed up. As I first read your post I thought "but what if her family members show love through gift-giving? Then giving a gift back would really wound them". But people who show love through gift giving seem to only do it with sincerity (so probably no loud children's toys given to parents with migraines, for example). I'd recommend doing a gift exchange (so one gift per person total with a price limit) or encouraging to only give gifts to the children in the family to reduce the amount of money your family feels the need to spend, then try to drop hints about gifts you really like or have enjoyed. Maybe they'll get the hint, but if not at least you can hope that your family isn't spending endless money on things you don't want. I personally hold on to gifts for ages whether I like them or not. I need to work on that because it really clutters things up.
I do have someone who shows love through gifts, but it isn't thoughtful gifts. It is the person who buys everyone the same stuff -- to show the person loves us all the same (??), but everything we get is stuff no one wants. For example, I am allergic to acrylic, and don't wear wool -- but if the yearly scarves are acrylic or wool, I get the same as everyone else. So back it goes.
I thought every family had presents as weapons. I remember how shocked I felt as an adult when I found out that it was not a typical family setup! I actually stopped giving anyone gifts years ago - it was so draining growning up that I decided as an adult I just wasn't going to give gifts. So I just don't - even my husband and I don't exchange gifts. After so many bad years, it is just easier!!
I didn't even make it past number 1. Lettuce went up .30 at Aldi's last week. I promptly started panicking and told my husband that if I bought 2 packages a week, it would be $31.20 more every year for just that one item! I grabbed an application as we left the store (I'm a SAHM). It really just threw me for a loop and upset me for the rest of the day...
The good thing is that prices do fluctuate...the prices of romaine hearts are all over the place at my Aldi. So maybe it will go back down!
Uh oh! I totally went up to the customer service desk at Target to see if I could get the lower online price. But I could, and $4 is $4, and for the record, I was extremely polite about it :-).
Gifts, I've come to realize, convey no moral obligation. If I can use it, I'll use it for all it's worth. If I can't, I'll give it away. (I'll never forget the Christmas my aunt gave my husband some slippers that were much too small for him... but just perfect for my father and a perfect match for his new bathrobe. He wore them for the entire rest of my visit.)
Target offers price matching for a reason--to stay competitive. As long as you're within their guidelines there's no problem.
I totally think it's fine to ask for price adjustments. My point is just that when you're met with resistance over a really small amount of money, it's kind not to throw a fit about it and cause a line to form behind you.
If the store has made a mistake, then the line is their fault. I see no reason why I should allow them to profit at my expense, in that circumstance. However I am fine with moving the discussion to Customer Service (as long as I don't have to wait in that line, too).
This is true. And generally speaking, I am all in favor of asking for a price adjustment. But if it's turning into quite a big headache and the amount in question is something like $1, sometimes I think the wise thing is to let it go.
And of course, I don't think it's ever ok to be a jerk about it (plus, being a jerk usually doesn't get you what you want any faster.)
Sometimes letting it go ~is~ the wise choice. But I make that determination based on my situation and preferences, not what is convenient for the store.
I always start out nice, but sometimes you don't get proper attention unless you act like a jerk. But being forceful always comes after being nice.
Our pastor says something that I love - "if it's not a need, then it's seed". And so she receives the gift graciously and passes it onto other people 🙂
Kristen,this post is funny! One thing I'm working on is not to worry about the queue I made because I want to save money (you know when the cashier is having hard time to figure out my saving savvy tactic like using many coupons and I could see how impatient some customers are)
I would not normally get upset when people ahead of me use coupons, because I often use them too. However, the other day I was behind a person who had to go through PAGES of coupons she had printed out and tear off the right ones for the items she had purchased. Why could she have not done that before she got in line? I tried not to act miffed, but I was. The cashier apologized to everyone else in the line but the customer seemed oblivious.
Are you kidding? Well, speaking of being obnoxious, I would have made a comment out loud how next time she ought to have her coupons ready in advance so she doesn't hold up the line. Seriously... Some people feel entitled to act "oblivious" because they're never called on their bad behaviors (and they weren't raised properly in the first place, IMO) and while I get that I'm not the police of the world, I also don't see why I should waste my own precious time waiting behind people like this, especially when I spend the time to organize my own coupons in the order that is easiest for the cashier (store and competitor coupons in 1 pile and manufacturer coupons in another) and reduces the wait time for the people behind me! I will also occasionally warn shoppers behind me that I will be using a lot of coupons in case they want to pick another line before it's too late. Most people seem to appreciate the heads-up.
How about people who are NOT frugal but feel compelled to comment on my purchases because they know I am? After paying off a ton of debt, and finally having control over my money, I get a little irked when some coworkers comment on what I spend money on. For instance, that I bought lunch (instead of bringing it) or have on a new outfit.
That drives me bananas. I want to tell them to mind their own business. (and their own pennies!)
Regarding gifts, and sooo many other situations - don't spend anyone's money for them. Their money, their choice.
Kristen, I'm surprised you didn't mention that no one needs dark-wash skinnies when their 1986 acid-washed jeans still have a lot of wear in them!
Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't either! There's a whole bunch of potential material relating to children's clothes that I missed.
Hahah! "6 months worth of toilet paper" was my favorite.
I'm guilty of almost all of these things, at some point. There's nothing like the adamance of the recently converted. Fortunately, I've matured a bit, and try to keep my big mouth shut about the money, now... especially other people's money.
But this post was a wonderful reminder of just how annoying our good intentions can be, sometimes, and I needed to read it. Thank you.
Oh, that is so true, isn't it? Whenever I get converted to a new thing, I feel that obnoxious zeal wanting to pour out. Ha.
It's progress when we can recognize it for what it is, though!
Thank you for this post. I do what I can to save money, conserve energy and leave this earth a little nicer each day. But I can't do everything and really I don't want to. I have started small and try to add to it as I can.
This is awesome, thank you!!
2. Criticize people who are less fanatical about devoted to frugal living. - this is so me! LOL! but seriously, it's alarming particularly those who have spending addictions because they often suffer from self-esteem and insecurity issues.
LOL! Now that's a great post! Well done, Kristen!
What frugal person would dare buy coffee,when they can make it for mere pennies at home.lol
I've got a friend who ticks all of these boxes! A group of us
went out to a meal in a pub the other night - not only
did he not eat (obviously too expensive for someone
who owns a dozen or so investment properties) but
he smuggled in his own drinks from the car!
This article reminded me of one Thanksgiving where several women in our family, including myself, stood around and peeled 10 lbs of potatoes. Afterwards I painstakenly gathered all the potatoe peels in a big pile, excited that I was going to show off by putting them on cookie sheets in the oven with my favorite spices and serve them up as a late night movie snack to the relatives spending the night. Much to my dismay, they thought I had gathered them in a big pile so they could more easily be thrown away. I walked into the kitchen, looked for my potatoe peels, opened up the garbage can and yelled, "who is responsible for throwing away perfectly good food? I was going to make potatoe skin chips with those." Quickly after blurting it out I reminded myself that not everyone in my family has learned to be as frugal as I am and perhaps I shouldn't blurt things like that out so condescendingly. I was however later approached asking how to make potatoe skin chips and asking for a lesson on what else I turn into edibles that normally get thrown away.
How do you make potato skin chips? (btw I would of thrown them away too thinking I was being helpful)
One more you might have forgotten: Where possible, act a bit unethically in your quest to save money. For example, only need that belt sander once? Buy it, use it, put it back in its packaging, and return it to the store for a refund. Buy clothes that you'll use to make patterns for similar clothes, and then return them. Bonus points if you brag a lot about your dealings, which both gives off the tone that others are suckers, and generally gives a bad name to everyone trying to be honestly frugal.
Great post, Kristin! Like a lot of readers, I was both amused and a little more self-aware after reading it. 🙂
Yes, Cindy! Similarly, a woman in my book club, who I know is on a limited budget due to health issues, will only leave the store with organic produce. I say "leave the store" rather than "buy" because she's admitted that she goes always through the self-check with her organics, and rings them in as non-organic. Her excuse? Her health requires eating organics, but her budget won't allow it, and the store is big and rich and she isn't and can afford her "fudging" the prices. Um....hello? It's shoplifting!
I'm actually a huge fan of practical gifts (like toilet paper or grocery store gift cards). That means less money I have to spend on stuff I need and more money available to spend on things I want- like travel. Of course, being gracious for any and all generosity is definitely the best policy.
lol, I thought it was somebody else talking here! You are to sweet to sound like this! haha
You definitely don't need ANOTHER comment telling you this is HYSTERICAL and my favorite post of yours HANDS DOWN! Granted, I've been reading your blog without commenting for years and you taught me how to make pudding from scratch (which happens regularly!). Thanks for this!
Aww, I love it when people de-lurk! Don't be a stranger. 🙂
Ooh, I definitely exhibit some #6 tendencies. Last night I was giving my husband a hard time about his use of the disposable plastic gloves for handling raw chicken when they were purchased solely for cutting hot peppers. I still think I'm right (I mean, you can wash the raw chicken juices off your hands and be done, unlike hot peppers which will continue to burn for hours), but I really should be a little kinder about his preferences.
I have a touch of #7, but I limit myself to complaining to my husband about being given gifts I won't ever use (no, those earrings are not my style and we don't need a second set of measuring cups) and then returning them for store credit.
Yikes. I sound like a terrible person.
Oh, I loved this. A great laugh for the afternoon!
I love this!
4 and 5 are interesting to me since I am a cashier at a major retailer. I would say be Sure you read the sign / coupon / etc. Before you make huge fuss. Maybe there's a reason the shirts are priced differently, size, color, brand. In my store the plus sizes are more. And not everything goes on sale at once. We cashiers and service desk employees know who the shoppers are who regularly try to "fudge" about prices. That said, there's nothing wrong with asking politely if you think the price is wrong.
This is hilarious, mostly because it's kinda true. I'd love to receive toilet paper for Christmas and my birthday! I'm kidding (sort of!)
Thanks for making me chuckle.
Oh gosh, #2 was hilarious! But... I'm definitely a #7, and will have to work on being a more gracious gift-receiver. 🙂 Though, thankfully, the majority of my family is quite frugal, and even when they buy me something I don't "need", they didn't spend much money on it, so I don't feel as guilty. We also often work off of lists, so I like to ask for things like toothpaste and floss - I get to enjoy the luxury of my favorite brands without paying the higher price myself! 🙂
I must be honest...I love talking to telemarketers trying to sell me on their mortgage company. And sometimes I listen and try not to say anything to groups of friends complaining about their mortgage payment or interest rate.
We were living in Northern Virginia just south of Washington, DC. Post 9/11 we decided to go south and get out of the rat race. Well, houses here are much cheaper/more frugal than those in Virginia. So we decided we would put whatever we made on the sale into the new house. We did and we actually were able to pay out right for our house. Our realtor was stunned. She thought that we would get a small mortgage or loan so we could decorate. Nope. We decided the furniture was fine. The house was less than 2 years old so we did nothing but move in.
So, where do the telemarketers come in? I let them talk all they want to. Then when they finally get to their lowest offer, they ask what my interest rate is. When I say 0% they just hang up. And people complaining? They usually end up asking what our payment is or the interest rate amount. Again, the looks on their face is awesome...I try not to laugh out loud.
But the the thing is, God knew our future. He knew what was going to happen as far as jobs were concerned. When we first moved my husband had a great job and he was happy. Then it became a chore to go everyday and he was sometimes a little grouchy. Circustances beyond his control happened and he was fired. He had never experienced anything like that in his life. I was yelling at God, begging Him to help me understand. But when my husband came home he had a look of almost relief on his face. He quickly found another job and was happy. I had to learn contentment. God waited for me though. I have learned to be content with what God has given us. Recently my hubby got a promotion. His salary now is just under what he previously made. God KNEW that we would have a period of time that we would not have been able to make a mortgage payment. Boy, am I glad that He holds our future in His hands!
Joy, this may be me being a nit-pick, but I find it really rude of you to waste the time of a salesperson... it sounds like you're a Christian, and I just wonder where all of those verses about treating others the way you want to be treated come into play here? If it was YOUR job to sell mortgages, would you want people to waste YOUR time? I get that not all mortgages are smart, but the Bible never states that loans are evil in and of themselves, and the people selling them aren't ALL trying to scam you.
So a word of advice: Let a salesperson know up front that you don't have a mortgage, and politely tell them thanks anyway and to have a good day. Then, you can do something productive with your time (Biblical principle!), and they can have a more productive day at work, as well.
Perhaps so Rachel but isn't it rude to interrupt? Not to mention I feel if someone. Calls my home, interrupting my time then they obviously want to speak with me. And finally, my brother who worked as a telemarketer for awhile has stated he appreciated it when people actually let him finish speaking and politely saying no thank you. His stories have made me realize I couldn't be a telemarketer. Not that impound think it was ok to interrupt peoples days. My time is valuable as well!
I never stated that a person should interrupt a telemarketer - I feel it's a given to let them finish their sentences. Finishing a sentence doesn't need to mean talking for 10 minutes. I've worked in call centers, in-bound and out-bound, and there are ways to end conversations without actually interrupting.
Your time IS valuable, as you state, which is why it doesn't make sense to waste it talking to someone who is offering a service you don't need. And if you can avoid wasting someone else's time, as well, I think that's a win-win.
Christians in particular need to be aware of how our actions affect others - the Bible clearly states that we're to think of others more highly than we do ourselves. A little awareness goes a long way.
Just so you know after reading the comments section - I immediately put my food dehydrator in the the donate pile that goes to Goodwill tomorrow. Good riddance, and thank you! LOL
I have one! #9 When you hear that someone used their savings or has different financial priorities than you do, criticize them loudly to their face along with statements such as, "I wish I was rich enough to do that."
I have someone in my family who tries to make me feel bad and acts like we are poor when we do things like use the program on our programmable thermostat during the winter and not keep our furnace at 80 degrees in the dead of winter snow. Then we use our saving to do something fun to treat ourselves like travel, we get it again because the person is jealous we went somewhere fun.
How about when someone shows you something new they got, like a piece of jewellery or a car, look really startled and mutter something (like "good Lord!") Look disbelieving and appalled, but don't say anything else. Find an excuse to hurry away.
I try to be a humble gift receiver....
Robin- I understand that some gifts are not quite what you had hoped for, regardless of how many times you told the giver that you had enough kitchen items.... Sometimes, you just bite your tongue and re-gift the thing...... My case was a bit different and similar in the sense that I got spandex for Christmas for 3 straight years. DH wanted to see me wear it at the gym and everywhere I went. I do not like public attention and refused. I promptly returned ALL OF IT. And it kept coming........I don't know that I could've re-gifted it but I made it clear that I DON'T wear spandex. It eventually stopped. Well, the spandex did. This year, I thought I received a long sleeve shirt. Upon closer look, it's actually a romper. Shorts sewn to the top. ::sigh:: At those moments, I remember the Serenity Prayer that starts out, "Lord, help me to accept the things i cannot change...."
I know this is an old post, but I needed this. I had grabbed Oreos today because the sign said 1.99 each when you buy three. When I checked my receipt, it was way off. When I ran back in, the signs had been taken down. I nicely went to customer service, and they checked it out. I was correct, however, I had grabbed the family size (which was on the display incorrectly). I decided to smile and politely let it go.