Ever treated differently because you are frugal?

[hollypoast]

Its funny the assumptions people make. I'm fairly certain I was given a substantial discount today because when I rolled up in my 2003 Honda Civic the business owner assumed that I couldn't afford the service I was purchasing. I got that look...

I love my little Honda Civic. Does it have a little rust, sure, but its dependable and I can drive back and forth to work for around $10 per week. I would much rather drive an old car so I can afford other things that are more important to me like traveling and having new adventures.

Have you ever gotten "that look"? Does it bother you?

 

[potterfanatic]

I was once in a Swarovski store looking for an ornament after Christmas (Back when they used to discount them after Christmas). When I asked the sales associate if he had any of the half price ornaments left, the look on his face was incredibly snobbish and appeared as though he thought I couldn't afford it anyway. So I proceeded to tell him that I got hooked on the stuff when I was on vacation in Austria and made a visit to the Swarovski factory. I made it a point to give enough details so that he would know I was telling the truth. The change in his attitude was remarkable. He found me the ornament and I laughed all the way out of the store.

 

[crazelion]

All the time when I use to bring my lunch from home all the time. They would go out eat every day. Then complain about service and that did not have no money. LOL I could afford just fine. I like to use my break to take a nap. LOL

 

[damskipi13]

I love my little Honda Civic. Does it have a little rust, sure, but its dependable and I can drive back and forth to work for around $10 per week. I would much rather drive an old car so I can afford other things that are more important to me like traveling and having new adventures.

Have you ever gotten "that look"? Does it bother you?

Yay I love my old Honda Civic too! I get he*1 for it all the time too, lol. A few years ago a coworker who knew how much I made said it was a good thing for me to be frugal then, but if I was still driving it in a few years he'd be disappointed. Whelp, I'm still driving it. It's such a good car! Don't let these people bother you. I'll be the one laughing at them when I'm retired and travelling the world and they are still slaving away at a desk.

 

[scdak]

Gotten the look........YEP, treated differently..........YEP...............walked out of a store..........YEP! The one time that I remember the most was shopping at a nice Plus size woman's store, I had worked for several days straight and just wasn't in the mood to put on nice clothes to run errands, I entered the store in sloppy tshirt and sweat pants, picked out MANY items to try on, barely was acknowledged when I asked to try the clothes on, came to the checkout counter with about 20 items to purchase and was ignored by the clerk! I was the ONLY person in the store at the time. I waited politely while she continued working on putting out stock, finally after 3-4 minutes I asked her if she would check me out and she STILL didn't come over, I was about to walk out of the store by that point. Her tuned changed dramatically when she realized I have a CC from the store with a large credit line, that I travel frequently etc.........that came up as she was "bragging" about the one and only cruise she had been on and I had stated that I had been on cruises and enjoyed them a great deal. She proceeded to tell me how great Nassau was and "if you ever go there you should do ______" - seems as if she had been on a short 3 day cruise and Nassau was the only port. I simply smiled and said that although Nassau was not a port I enjoy but I would keep her ideas in mind.................what I didn't tell her was that I have been on many cruises ( I think it was 25 at that point), she was at least nicer to me when she realized I might have been dressed like a bag lady, I really wasn't one! I am sure her sales that day soared with my rather large purchase! I have never been treated so poorly at that store (multiple locations) and I just didn't feel like I should let it slide so I contacted the company and gave my opinion of my experience that day. I don't think I have ever done that before at a store, I have given my opinion about poor service at a restaurant before and that's only been a rare time or two as I usually have really good service most places!

 

[tvguy]

Its funny the assumptions people make. I'm fairly certain I was given a substantial discount today because when I rolled up in my 2003 Honda Civic the business owner assumed that I couldn't afford the service I was purchasing. I got that look...

I love my little Honda Civic. Does it have a little rust, sure, but its dependable and I can drive back and forth to work for around $10 per week. I would much rather drive an old car so I can afford other things that are more important to me like traveling and having new adventures.

Have you ever gotten "that look"? Does it bother you?

I'm well know for being cheap. My 2003 Ford is our NEW car. Our family car is a 1987 Chevy. And yes, both were purchased brand new. Get back to me when you've had that Civic another 16 years. But no rust here in California.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I work in an old, dusty warehouse. So, I wear my ratiest clothes to work. Naturally, I often run errands at lunch or after work. I often wonder what people might be thinking. But, I've never noticed any odd looks or unusual treatment.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I'm well know for being cheap. My 2003 Ford is our NEW car. Our family car is a 1987 Chevy. And yes, both were purchased brand new. Get back to me when you've had that Civic another 16 years. But no rust here in California.

At our house we have a 1986, a 2001 and a 2005. Only the 1986 was new, when we bought it.


I've never noticed anyone giving me a look because of it.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I don't have the newest style in clothes but have never been looked down upon that I know of.

 

[eliza61]

Its funny the assumptions people make. I'm fairly certain I was given a substantial discount today because when I rolled up in my 2003 Honda Civic the business owner assumed that I couldn't afford the service I was purchasing. I got that look...

I love my little Honda Civic. Does it have a little rust, sure, but its dependable and I can drive back and forth to work for around $10 per week. I would much rather drive an old car so I can afford other things that are more important to me like traveling and having new adventures.

Have you ever gotten "that look"? Does it bother you?

You do realize that you are doing the very same thing?? dontcha. from you're last sentence You are assuming that folks who drive new or luxury cars can't afford the things tthat are important to them.

If you looked in my garage you'd see a 2013 Infiniti, doesn't mean I'm not frugal. it means I finally traded in my 12 year old Nissan Maxima and treated myself to a luxury car.

lol, a discount is a discount. I love my Infiniti, I work 50 miles each way from my home. I'm up and down 95 so I have no problem admitting having Sirius satelite radio is nice. Is it the most important thing in my life? No but when you spend an hour each way in city traffic having some great fleetwood Mac tunes makes the day nicer.

I've never gotten any looks but then I live in major cities all my life (NYC, Philly and DC). I think in NY where there is great wealth, people are use to going into Saks 5th ave looking "ratty" and then dropping 7K on a pocket book so there is a little less judgement.
I worked in Macy's on 34th street during Christmas holidays and that was the first thing that they made you aware of, you never know when customers with substantial wealth will roll in, treat everyone like they have a million dollar net worth.

I really think that's an old concept. thankfully I see individualism celebrated. Most women I see out and about are in nice jeans, although it's made the price of jeans ridiculous. You really can't tell who is frugal and who is not from how folks dress.
(What's up with the jeans with holes in them?

We have a mall near me called hte King of Prussa mall, one wing of it has very high end stores. Louie Vuitton, channel, that kind of stuff. you see all shapes and sizes of folks. I go in LV all the time, knowing full well I'm not buying. sales folks are as sweet as can be to everyone. offer bottled water to anyone walking in the door.

 

[morgan98]

You do realize that you are doing the very same thing?? dontcha. from you're last sentence You are assuming that folks who drive new or luxury cars can't afford the things tthat are important to them.

If you looked in my garage you'd see a 2013 Infiniti, doesn't mean I'm not frugal. it means I finally traded in my 12 year old Nissan Maxima and treated myself to a luxury car.

lol, a discount is a discount. I love my Infiniti, I work 50 miles each way from my home. I'm up and down 95 so I have no problem admitting having Sirius satelite radio is nice. Is it the most important thing in my life? No but when you spend an hour each way in city traffic having some great fleetwood Mac tunes makes the day nicer.

I've never gotten any looks but then I live in major cities all my life (NYC, Philly and DC). I think in NY where there is great wealth, people are use to going into Saks 5th ave looking "ratty" and then dropping 7K on a pocket book so there is a little less judgement.
I worked in Macy's on 34th street during Christmas holidays and that was the first thing that they made you aware of, you never know when customers with substantial wealth will roll in, treat everyone like they have a million dollar net worth.

I really think that's an old concept. thankfully I see individualism celebrated. Most women I see out and about are in nice jeans, although it's made the price of jeans ridiculous. You really can't tell who is frugal and who is not from how folks dress.
(What's up with the jeans with holes in them?

We have a mall near me called hte King of Prussa mall, one wing of it has very high end stores. Louie Vuitton, channel, that kind of stuff. you see all shapes and sizes of folks. I go in LV all the time, knowing full well I'm not buying. sales folks are as sweet as can be to everyone. offer bottled water to anyone walking in the door.

Thumbs up to this post....and what is frugal to one person is not frugal to all. To a household with a high annual net income, having a newer car and nicer clothes does not mean that are not living way below their means anyway. For example, buying a Coach purse is being frugal when you can really afford a Louis Vuitton.

I am not sure what you drive or what you wear has any indication of your net worth.

Even if you drive a nice car, you can be a good negotiator. I am just not convinced that the OP got a discount because someone thought they were poor.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You do realize that you are doing the very same thing?? dontcha. from you're last sentence You are assuming that folks who drive new or luxury cars can't afford the things tthat are important to them.

If you looked in my garage you'd see a 2013 Infiniti, doesn't mean I'm not frugal. it means I finally traded in my 12 year old Nissan Maxima and treated myself to a luxury car.

lol, a discount is a discount. I love my Infiniti, I work 50 miles each way from my home. I'm up and down 95 so I have no problem admitting having Sirius satelite radio is nice. Is it the most important thing in my life? No but when you spend an hour each way in city traffic having some great fleetwood Mac tunes makes the day nicer.

I've never gotten any looks but then I live in major cities all my life (NYC, Philly and DC). I think in NY where there is great wealth, people are use to going into Saks 5th ave looking "ratty" and then dropping 7K on a pocket book so there is a little less judgement.
I worked in Macy's on 34th street during Christmas holidays and that was the first thing that they made you aware of, you never know when customers with substantial wealth will roll in, treat everyone like they have a million dollar net worth.

I really think that's an old concept. thankfully I see individualism celebrated. Most women I see out and about are in nice jeans, although it's made the price of jeans ridiculous. You really can't tell who is frugal and who is not from how folks dress.
(What's up with the jeans with holes in them?

We have a mall near me called hte King of Prussa mall, one wing of it has very high end stores. Louie Vuitton, channel, that kind of stuff. you see all shapes and sizes of folks. I go in LV all the time, knowing full well I'm not buying. sales folks are as sweet as can be to everyone. offer bottled water to anyone walking in the door.

Living in a rural area, people have kind of learned that farmer in the ratty bibs might be walkin around with a wad of $100 bills big enough to choke a horse. Be careful who you judge LOL

 

[loves to dive]

Does it count if you get it from your DH? I'm a bookkeeper for a living so penny pinching is just what I do, I've worked for this company for 26 years and have the same stamp pad that I got the first week I got here. I just have a roller ink refill that I refill it with. It won't even close all the way. I bring my lunch to work most days and if I put something in a zip lock bag, like a sandwich or crackers, etc., I'll re-use that bag over and over and over again. I also buy the store brand of the bags. Makes my DH so mad when he goes to grab a bag and comes up with one of my used ones I've put back in the drawer. He is one of those that grew up middle class, while not rich they had enough to afford what they wanted and since they lived out in the country they didn't really buy a lot. I grew up poorer than a church mouse, we had to re-use those sandwich bags. DH thinks because we can afford to buy pretty much what we want (within reason) I should let go of the purse strings. Not happening baby. I buy most of my clothes from Old Navy, not because of cost (although trust me I'll wait until those sun dresses go on half price then get an on line discount on top of that) but because they fit me better than anything else. I also only carry Dooney and Bourke or Anuska handbags, neither brand is cheap.

 

[okeydokey]

Does it count if you get it from your DH? I'm a bookkeeper for a living so penny pinching is just what I do, I've worked for this company for 26 years and have the same stamp pad that I got the first week I got here. I just have a roller ink refill that I refill it with. It won't even close all the way. I bring my lunch to work most days and if I put something in a zip lock bag, like a sandwich or crackers, etc., I'll re-use that bag over and over and over again. I also buy the store brand of the bags. Makes my DH so mad when he goes to grab a bag and comes up with one of my used ones I've put back in the drawer. He is one of those that grew up middle class, while not rich they had enough to afford what they wanted and since they lived out in the country they didn't really buy a lot. I grew up poorer than a church mouse, we had to re-use those sandwich bags. DH thinks because we can afford to buy pretty much what we want (within reason) I should let go of the purse strings. Not happening baby. I buy most of my clothes from Old Navy, not because of cost (although trust me I'll wait until those sun dresses go on half price then get an on line discount on top of that) but because they fit me better than anything else. I also only carry Dooney and Bourke or Anuska handbags, neither brand is cheap.

If it meant that much to my husband, I would buy him brand name zip bags. I don't control the budget in our house, we are partners in household management and if spending an extra $4 a month made my partner happy I would gladly do it.

 

[a742246]

I live in rural Vermont that 2003 Honda would be considered a new car! Now if that was a 1968 rusted Ford pickup you "may" get looks!

 

[loves to dive]

If it meant that much to my husband, I would buy him brand name zip bags. I don't control the budget in our house, we are partners in household management and if spending an extra $4 a month made my partner happy I would gladly do it.

He usually does buy some for himself and I just don't use them. He does most of the grocery shopping since he works from home and I work outside the home and he has more "free" time than I do so he buys what he wants. We learned a long time ago not to make a big deal out of anything so he is used to my penny pinching ways and I'm used to his spending ways.

 

[uccats97]

I was glared at and followed by security at Tiffany's on Rodeo Dr. I'm assuming it was due to location and status. I didn't fit their mold so they didn't want me in their store. I own at least a dozen pieces of Tiffany jewelry so I found it humorous.

 

[hollypoast]

You do realize that you are doing the very same thing?? dontcha. from you're last sentence You are assuming that folks who drive new or luxury cars can't afford the things tthat are important to them.

Sorry to have offended you and your nice car. That wasn't my intention. My point is that everyone has different prioritizes and I think it is interesting the assumptions people make about appearances. I'm not a judger and hold no ill will against any one with a nice/expensive anything.

And, you are right, a discount is a discount. I will happily take that extra $400 and put it in my Disney vacation fund.

 

[georgina]

No, I can't think of any time I've been treated differently because I am frugal. I don't wear makeup, color my hair, get manicures, buy clothes much. I have friends who think I'm weird, especially with graying hair, but I don't think I have been treated differently because of it.

My kids used to take their lunches to school in reusable containers - no brown bags or ziploc bags to throw out. They didn't think much of it at the time but now that they are grown they appreciate the lessons and throw them back at me when I use Kcups instead of my own coffee grounds.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

To each their own. But if you choose to look slovenly, then you may be judged. But if it's your choice, why do you care what others think of you? Go about your day and let it roll off.

I worked with a guy who made particularly good money and was very frugal (lawyer in a rather rural area). He would purposefully put older clothes on when he needed to purchase something substantial (major appliances, cars, etc.). He said that this helped him get a better deal on the price. I would totally do that if I thought I could pull it off and I would not give a crap about what anyone thinks of me.