Extreme Cheapskates

[cookingqueen123]

How about the guy that went out to dinner and took home other peoples left over food?
He says "you look like clean people" and his wife is mortified.

 

[hereyago]

I put coin jars in the same category as that fellow's physical fast. It doesn't actually save you any money. It just keeps all your coins in a different spot.

My point about the change jar and I apologize if it wasn't clear: the lady who doesn't buy toilet paper-she could get a change jar and use that money to buy toilet paper, at least have some TP for guests.

And it may keep your coins in a different spot, but after a while it does count up and I use it to help pay for my vacation play money, so that's why I don't knock the change jar, lol.

 

[Belle0101]

Jeff Yeager, the goat head guy, has actually been on the Today show before. He also has a series of books. You can read about him at the following link:

http://ultimatecheapskate.com/about.html

A couple snips from his website:

"Jeff Yeager spent 24 years working as a CEO and senior executive with national nonprofit organizations in Washington, DC before launching his career in 2004 as an author, public speaker, and media personality."

"In 2004, at the age of 46, Yeager realized something startling. Because of the experience he gained as the self-proclaimed "Titan of Tightwads" in the nonprofit sector and the positive impact those same management techniques had on his personal finances, Yeager realized that he had reduced his dependency on money to the point where he could retire. Or rather, as he likes to say, become "selfishly employed," free to pursue whatever interests he chooses, without inordinate worry over a paycheck."

He doesn't skeeve me out as much as the other 2 families on the show though. Sure, the goat head was gross but then I'm grossed out by liver, a food that is eaten in America. Just not by me. Blech!

I might see if our library carries his books - being frugal I wouldn't want to actually buy them! They might be a fun read if nothing else.

 

[neatokimmo]

I will give you that pee only rags are not as gross (I still would never use them, I can cut costs somewhere else to have clean fresh tp)...but those tread marks all over the rags that are "clean"--that is so nasty. I could not use a rag with tread marks on it, clean or not

I'm not teasing you but I get tickled by the poop gross out a few of you all are getting. I used cloth diapers. Poop - meh doesn't bother me a bit. Now snot.....ewwwwwww

 

[blessedby3]

I'm not teasing you but I get tickled by the poop gross out a few of you all are getting. I used cloth diapers. Poop - meh doesn't bother me a bit. Now snot.....ewwwwwww

Baby poop is not ADULT poop!! I chose NOT to cloth diaper (although I have changed MANY a diaper after having 4 kids over the past 21 years and working in the nursery at church for 15 years) and I definately dont want to deal with others...ummmm poopy rags. It is just filthy As for snot...I dont like that either...lol

 

[blessedby3]

Double Post

 

[momto2inKC]

I'm not teasing you but I get tickled by the poop gross out a few of you all are getting. I used cloth diapers. Poop - meh doesn't bother me a bit. Now snot.....ewwwwwww

BIG difference in baby poop and grown up poop It's bad enough that I have to clean the toilet, no way in heck am I washing rags the guys in this house wipe their butts with lol Did you see the little boy 'folding' the poop rags, they were covered in poop stains YUCK!

 

[candielips]

I was more grossed out by the guy taking home strangers food at restaurants.

As for the goat head guy, I also think he was playing it up. If he was really that frugal and that much of a cheapskate, he would know that $7.50 for just the meat for one meal for one person, is not frugal at all.

Not sure I will watch it again.

 

[kinntj]

Based on what you guys are describing, I don't think I'll be watching this show. I'm disturbed just by reading this thread.

 

[MrsPete]

My point about the change jar and I apologize if it wasn't clear: the lady who doesn't buy toilet paper-she could get a change jar and use that money to buy toilet paper, at least have some TP for guests.

And it may keep your coins in a different spot, but after a while it does count up and I use it to help pay for my vacation play money, so that's why I don't knock the change jar, lol.

Yes, I've heard the change jar concept defended before, but it simply doesn't pass the "is this real savings?" math test.

You have X amount of money right now. Some of it is in your checking account, some in savings, some in your sofa cushions. If you start putting your change aside in a jar, you do not have more money. You just have some of it in a jar. Your X amount of money doesn't "add up" to more money in any way -- it just makes you think of it as savings, and it prevents you from getting any interest that you'd earn if it were in the bank.

In contrast, let's say you decide to stop drinking sodas (or stop eating fast food, or start packing brown bag lunches, or whatever small thing would keep a few dollars in your wallet each week). By cutting something out of your budget, you actually DO have more money at your disposal, and that can be saved for your vacation fun money. See the difference between that and just keeping your money in a jar?

To take it a step further, you could put that "I don't drink sodas anymore" money and put it into a jar as a visible reminder of how much you're saving. BUT unless the "I'm cutting my budget" concept comes first, the jar is totally useless -- it's just a different receptical for money.

 

[Gator Bait]

Did you see the little boy 'folding' the poop rags, they were covered in poop stains YUCK!

I saw that.

 

[marmalade]

I saw that.

You hear the mom in the back saying "those are clean".

 

[Gator Bait]

You hear the mom in the back saying "those are clean".

I know! I was thinking, "BLEACH. Bleach is a good thing."

 

[marmalade]

I know! I was thinking, "BLEACH. Bleach is a good thing."

So is using toilet paper.

 

[MrsPete]

I was more grossed out by the guy taking home strangers food at restaurants.

What really bothered me was his total lack of respect for his wife's feelings. It was their anniversary, and he took her to a place that he described as "a little expensive" -- sure didn't look it: plastic chairs, no tablecloths. I'm not opposed to eating at cheap dives, but his "meter" seemed to be a little skewed. She specifically asked him NOT to beg for strangers' leftovers, and I think he agreed (not sure I'm right on that -- anyone remember for sure?). Then, when the meal was over -- and remember, it was their 25th anniversary -- he blatantly ignored that request. She walked out ahead of him, unwilling to stay in the restaurant any longer. I bet he was sorry later that evening.

Similarly, the goat head guy cared more for saving a few cents (although most of us think that was questionable too) than for his wife's feelings. She was clearly disgusted by the goat.

Of course, goat-guy didn't seem to grasp that sometimes new ideas can save money. He said that some years ago they'd agreed NOT to "up their lifestyle". That is, they agreed that they were at a comfortable position in life, and they didn't need to do any better -- the idea being that their salaries would continue to increase, but they would not upsize their house, would not upsize their cars, would not buy ipods and cell phones . . . in short, they'd not buy new things just because they were available. While that's not necessarily a bad idea, it's also not smart to make that a blanket decision. A couple things come to mind right away: I pay LESS now for my cell phone than I did for a landline years ago. Now that we can get RedBox movies, we pay LESS than we did back when we rented at Blockbuster. The internet allows me to find bargains to which I had no access years ago. Thanks to online banking, I no longer have to spend a stamp to mail in my bills. Yet he's decided to remain placidly "stuck" in a two-decades ago lifestyle because he's sure that everything new costs more.

My husband and I are both thrifty by nature, and we have no problem with cutting corners on all sorts of things: 2nd hand clothes, beans and cornbread for dinner, etc. When we find a new way to save, we consider it a little "win" for the two of us. But he'd never, ever treat me like those wives were treated -- not intentionally, and not to save a few dollars.

 

[Gator Bait]

So is using toilet paper.

 

[DawnM]

Ick. Toilet paper is a must! As is not eating other people's food at a restaurant. I would not go before doing that.

I am too cheap for satellite anymore! So, if it is online I will watch it, otherwise I will rely on you all to fill me in.

 

[DOOM1001]

$7.50 for two goat heads, which the guy cooked for one meal?!?! I don't understand how that is cheap. I can do a lot better for $7.50 by taking advantage of meat sales at the grocery store.

I did like his idea of the fiscal fast though - good way to clear out the cabinets!

You don't even have to go to the grocery store to get a better deal on meat,I can go right now to CG Burger and get a full rack of baby back ribs for $7.95,no fries or drink included but come one let's ask 100 people what do you want to eat 2 goat heads for $7.50 that you have to cook and waste electricity on or go to a restaurant and eat some real good stuff for virtually the same price.

 

[mommaU4]

I know! I was thinking, "BLEACH. Bleach is a good thing."

I was just thinking between the bleach, laundry soap and hot water you'd need to use to get those rags really clean (assuming she actually uses those things to wash the rags!), wouldn't it be just as cost effective to buy and stock up on toilet paper when it's on sale and there are coupons available?

I just didn't get where the huge savings are in using those rags. Plus the amount of time spent washing, cutting up new rags, and emptying all those buckets. And wouldn't it smell in the bathroom with those sitting out all day?? The whole idea is just absurd to me.

 

[jaleaton]

How about the guy that went out to dinner and took home other peoples left over food?
He says "you look like clean people" and his wife is mortified.

I too was grossed out by this, BUT never in the show did it say he was taking it home for himself. They did say they have an animal shelter, so I wonder if he was using the leftovers to feed the animals instead of the food just going to waste.