Are you always trying to get the best deal, even if it means sacrificing quality or convenience? If so, you might be a cheapskate. While being frugal is admirable, there’s a fine line between being frugal and being a cheapskate. Here are 12 signs that you might be crossing that line.
1. You Always Order the Cheapest Item on the Menu
Are you the type of person who browses a menu trying to find not the most delicious dish but the most budget-friendly?
Do you let out an audible exhale when you stumble upon something on the cheaper end of things?
Well, we hate to break it to you, but if that’s your main criteria for ordering at a restaurant, then it looks like you’re officially a cheapskate!
That’s right – no shame in frugality (it pays off!), but if saving money every time is always your goal over savoring flavor or having an enjoyable experience – well, then maybe there are other parts of your budget life that need some rethinking.
2. You Never Spend Money on Anything That Isn’t a Necessity.
Do you think twice before splurging on anything that’s not a “necessity”? Well, if your response is always an emphatic yes, then congratulations!
You just might be a cheapskate. But don’t think being thrifty and frugal with your finances is bad–it can work in your favor if you do it right!
3. You Always Try to Get Discounts or Freebies
If you’re always looking for ways to get something for free and loves a good bargain? If so, chances are you’ve been called a cheapskate more than once.
Sure, frugality is an admirable trait – it’s wise after all to look out for your finances! But if it takes so much effort, then chances are that “stinginess” has gotten the best of you.
4. You Never, Ever Buy Brand-Name Items
You’re a cheapskate if you never, ever buy brand-name items. That’s right, if you’re the type of person who only buys the generic brands at the store, then you’re a tightwad.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being frugal, and I admire people who can save money by being mindful of their spending.
However, when it comes to certain things in life, it’s sometimes worth splurging on the good stuff, including buying brand-name items.
5. You Spend as Much Time Looking For Ways to Save Money as You Do Earning It
Are you the kind of person who loves spending hours and even your lunchtime at work looking for that impossible-to-find coupon code to save a buck?
If this sounds familiar, congratulations: You qualify as a master cheapskate!
6. Spending Money on Yourself Makes You Feel Guilty
Do you find it hard or even impossible to justify spending any money on yourself, no matter what it is?
Do you feel guilty or a little foolish when it comes to blowing cash on something just for you? If so, we hate to break it you – but sorry friend, in this case – you’re officially a cheapskate.
7. You Return an Item Bought in a Sale and Buy It Again if You See It’s Gone Down in Price Further
If returning a sale item, you’ve bought and repurchasing it when the price drops is your thing, sorry to break it to you but it looks like you just got crowned with the “cheapskate” crown!
8. You Don’t Tip Well or at All
Do you always find you’re “that” friend at the table scraping together change to leave a tip, or perhaps you’ve been known to sneak out without leaving money?
If so, then you’re in good company with cheapskates everywhere.
But while it certainly takes thriftiness and smart budgeting not to overspend, tipping too little (or nothing at all) would earn you demerits as a savvy spender.
9. You Don’t Mind Spending $10 in Gas to Drive to a Shop to Return a $15 Item
If you’ve been told you’re a ‘cheapskate,’ chances are it was because you don’t believe in shelling out your hard-earned cash for something unless it is absolutely necessary.
Well, if driving around and spending $10 in gas to get back a $15 refund sounds like something you would do, then I guess the haters were right!
On the one hand, there is no denying some of us frugal folks have our eccentric ways, but when all of the facts are weighed, could spending money on the gas ever really make sense?
10. You Always Borrow Things From Friends and Family Instead of Buying Them Yourself
Do you have a friend that always has exactly what you need just when you need it? Do they often offer to lend whatever item your heart desires, “just this once” (of course).
Well, if so, then congratulations – that friendship just earned you the coveted title of cheapskate of the year!
Don’t feel bad, though; we’ve all been there at some point or another.
Just make sure you don’t hop on the frugal train too often or else your car-less-friend might not be so eager with their generosity in the future!
11. You Always Choose the Cheapest Option, Even if It’s Not the Best.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the cheapest option is only sometimes the best? If so, you’re not alone.
However, being frugal doesn’t just mean scouring for the lowest price – it’s also about making smart decisions with your money and understanding when spending more might be worth it.
But if you’d rather have root canal treatment than spend a little more on quality, I’m afraid, my friend, you’re a cheapskate.
12. A Blissful Sunday Afternoon for You Means Spending Hours Crawling the Internet to Find a $2 Discount Coupon for a $10 Item
Are you the type who spends a lot of time meticulously combing the internet to find discounts on even the tiniest purchases?
Do you frantically search for bulk deals and scour sites like Groupon or Living Social, knowing that every small discount will eventually add up?
Guess what – congratulations! You are officially a cheapskate. But before you grab your pitchfork and hunt us down in outrage, we’re guilty ourselves for doing just this!
The post When Saving Turns Sour: 12 Ways to Tell You’re a Cheapskate first appeared on Thrift My Life.
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The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional financial advice.