Funny "Cheap Person" Stories (price, money)

[WannaliveinGreenville]

Originally Posted by LivingDeadGirl

My ex-husband was the cheapest person in the world. I could tell stories for hours about him but perhaps the worst thing he did to me was this; we were going to Europe and he said to me, "since I have lots of frequent flyer miles, would you mind if I upgraded to first class?" I was expected to remain in the back in the cheap seats. Another time we did a trip to Italy and he rented a car. We never saw much because he insisted we drive about 8 hours a day since he was paying $70 a day for the car. At night, we'd stay in crappy hotels at Italian truckstops. Notice I said he was my EX-husband?

Your ex sounded very selfish AND cheap....

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by lifeexplorer

Neither one was being cheap. Miles = money. Driving a car costs money too, unnecessary money, especially with the highly inflated gas price in Europe.

I have to say that's called "being wasteful."

It sounds oddly obsessive-compulsive about saving money. To the point that it defeats the purpose.

[LivingDeadGirl]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

It sounds oddly obsessive-compulsive about saving money. To the point that it defeats the purpose.

You are correct. When ex-husband's father died, there was over $800,000 in the bank. But get this: both the father and mother had 2 sets of clothing, one they wore and the other hanging in the closet. There were no curtains on the windows, minimum amount of furniture, and almost no food in the kitchen cabinets. The carpet was so worn out that it was worn thru the carpet pad and you could see the floor underneath. When I asked why there were no photos of the EX past age 7, the mother replied "the camera broke". This goes along with her having no clothes dryer because it broke 30 yrs ago. It was a very disfunctional family totally obsessed with saving money. Ex husband told me once "every penny YOU spend is money I can't save". Weird stuff.

[lifeexplorer]

Originally Posted by LivingDeadGirl

You are correct. When ex-husband's father died, there was over $800,000 in the bank. But get this: both the father and mother had 2 sets of clothing, one they wore and the other hanging in the closet. There were no curtains on the windows, minimum amount of furniture, and almost no food in the kitchen cabinets. The carpet was so worn out that it was worn thru the carpet pad and you could see the floor underneath. When I asked why there were no photos of the EX past age 7, the mother replied "the camera broke". This goes along with her having no clothes dryer because it broke 30 yrs ago. It was a very disfunctional family totally obsessed with saving money. Ex husband told me once "every penny YOU spend is money I can't save". Weird stuff.

I can hardly see that anybody can criticize them. They are good at saving money. I am very positive that your EX is happy that his parents left him $800K rather than $800K debt or nothing. They as parents have done a great thing and deserve praise rather than mocking or criticizing.

Your EX on the other hand just wastes money on things that don't make sense at all.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by michgc

Here's a good one. To set the scene, my parents live in an active-adult community in Florida (think Seinfeld). They know a married couple who are very cheap. One day the cheap couple invited another couple out for dinner. "I have a 'buy one get one free' coupon" the husband said. So they go out to dinner and order 4 entrees - each one is $10. The bill comes ($30 total since one entree is free). The cheap guys takes the bill and tells the other couple, "You owe $20."

I would have got up and walked out at that moment and left the cheap guy with the entire check.

[lifeexplorer]

Originally Posted by michgc

Here's a good one. To set the scene, my parents live in an active-adult community in Florida (think Seinfeld). They know a married couple who are very cheap. One day the cheap couple invited another couple out for dinner. "I have a 'buy one get one free' coupon" the husband said. So they go out to dinner and order 4 entrees - each one is $10. The bill comes ($30 total since one entree is free). The cheap guys takes the bill and tells the other couple, "You owe $20."

How was that $30? Should be $20.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by lifeexplorer

How was that $30? Should be $20.

I believe its because its 1 coupon hence only 1 buy 1 entree get 1 free deal. It also is probably on a per customer, per visit limit.

[LivingDeadGirl]

Originally Posted by lifeexplorer

I can hardly see that anybody can criticize them. They are good at saving money. I am very positive that your EX is happy that his parents left him $800K rather than $800K debt or nothing. They as parents have done a great thing and deserve praise rather than mocking or criticizing.

Your EX on the other hand just wastes money on things that don't make sense at all.

My EX is dead - at age 55. A lot of good that money did him. I'm not mocking, I am just amazed that people go without a camera to take photos of their child, without a clothes dryer in NY state where it is freezing winter, etc. To live like - I don't know what - and yet, to have the means to live decently. I would hate to be so miserly. Life is a balance: save some in case you live, and spend some because you ARE alive.

[modhatter]

Originally Posted by LivingDeadGirl

My EX is dead - at age 55. A lot of good that money did him. I'm not mocking, I am just amazed that people go without a camera to take photos of their child, without a clothes dryer in NY state where it is freezing winter, etc. To live like - I don't know what - and yet, to have the means to live decently. I would hate to be so miserly. Life is a balance: save some in case you live, and spend some because you ARE alive.

Agreed. There is frugality and there is obsessiveness.

[lifeexplorer]

Originally Posted by LivingDeadGirl

My EX is dead - at age 55. A lot of good that money did him. I'm not mocking, I am just amazed that people go without a camera to take photos of their child, without a clothes dryer in NY state where it is freezing winter, etc. To live like - I don't know what - and yet, to have the means to live decently. I would hate to be so miserly. Life is a balance: save some in case you live, and spend some because you ARE alive.

Apparently, they didn't teach your EX right on how to handle the money.

I guess people have their own ways of living, which certainly is not my way. But hey, it's their life and not mine. :-)