Are you cheap?

[boont]

I have a friend who, I have to say, is cheap. Otherwise he is a good guy. But I don't like people who are cheap.

I remember taking the whole department to lunch one time. This was on the company. Lunch, drinks, wine, desert, anything you wanted to order.

We all wanted to ride together and he had the biggest car. He drove us but was burned because he had to pay $3.00 to park. He got a free $35.00 lunch but he had to pay $3.00.

The guy carries a coin purse.

Frugal I respect but I can't stand burning a whole table full of people for two dollars.

Yet, it happens more and more as people get older and more fearful. I just hope it doesn't happen to me.

boont

 

[73ss454]

I'm not cheap at all, that's why I'm still working at 57.  I spent much more money than I should have and paying for it now.

I don't think it's cheap but for the last 10 years I saved a lot of money.  That's when I woke up and started saving.

 

[Scrooge]

We all wanted to ride together and he had the biggest car. He drove us but was burned because he had to pay $3.00 to park. He got a free $35.00 lunch but he had to pay $3.00.

It depends. If a "free $35.00 lunch" was worth as much (to him) as a regular $1.00 brown bag lunch, then he was effectively $2.00 in the red

Frugal I respect but I can't stand burning a whole table full of people for two dollars.

Well, if you have committed yourself to a social event, then you should expect to pay at socially acceptable rates. Otherwise it defeats the purpose of the said social event.

 

[boont]

"as a regular $1.00 brown bag lunch, then he was effectively $2.00 in the red"

Just a minute, there is no such thing as a $1.00 lunch. Brown bag or not.

boont

 

[Scrooge]

Just a minute, there is no such thing as a $1.00 lunch. Brown bag or not.

I am not sure what this may be in reference to  I was referring to something like that $0.99 frozen lunch "thingie" (to use a technical term) at Target or a home made sandwich with a few slices of subprime smoked meat ($2.99/lb). Why would either option fail to qualify as lunch?

 

[Texas Proud]

Nope... not cheap.. but definately FRUGAL....

As an example.. I got some fantastic speakers that cost $5,000... paid $2,000 for them... not cheap at all.. but I would never come close to paying full boat for them.. and since I like my stereo it was a luxury that I was willing to pay..

BUT, I refuse to pay the $60, $80 or even $100 a month for CABLE!!! This seems like such a waste to me... and it is not like I would even notice the money going out the door.. it just does not have the 'value' at that price..

 

[Mwsinron]

I guess Im not cheap. Everyone places their own value on things. I prefer to spend the least I can on vehicles while others need to spend as much as they can. To each his own. Value is the key here or in other words get the most bang for your buck.

 

[sgeeeee]

I think the only difference between frugal and cheap is this. If the decision not to spend aligns with your own personal values -- it's frugal. If the decision does not align with your own personal values -- it's cheap.

I'm frugal. My DW is cheap.

 

[donheff]

I think the only difference between frugal and cheap is this. If the decision not to spend aligns with your own personal values -- it's frugal. If the decision does not align with your own personal values -- it's cheap.

I'm frugal. My DW is cheap.

Well said.

 

[burch64]

We all wanted to ride together and he had the biggest car. He drove us but was burned because he had to pay $3.00 to park. He got a free $35.00 lunch but he had to pay $3.00.

boont

If he used a gallon of gas in his big car that could have been another $3, his free lunch was starting to be less than totally free.

He may be frugal and not like to spend more than $3 for lunch.

 

[unclemick]

Knighthood comes when they annoint you with the 'B' word after cheap.

I miss the part where she says: arise SIR cheap bastard! Actually she never used exactly those words - but close enough - me being charitable, left handed and all.

Frugal is good -  just didn't  get to hear it much.

heh heh heh - good definitions sgeeeee

 

[Texas Proud]

If he used a gallon of gas in his big car that could have been another $3, his free lunch was starting to be less than totally free.

He may be frugal and not like to spend more than $3 for lunch.

Well, I will have to respond to this....

It is just to cost of being an employee... you spend money on clothes and other things so you can work.. some of what you should pay is for 'group activities'.. I am sure that other employees have done similar things for him, but I be he never offered to pay 'his share'..

If he does not want to participate in these group activities, then he should tell them and be done with it... not whine he had to shell out maybe $10 for his fellow employees to have a great time..

Again, he had a choice.. he chose to go with them... so shut up about cost..

 

[Cut-Throat]

Your friend is cheap! - There is a difference between being cheap and Saving for retirement.

 

[MJ]

"as a regular $1.00 brown bag lunch, then he was effectively $2.00 in the red"

Just a minute, there is no such thing as a $1.00 lunch. Brown bag or not.

boont

NYC Chinatown, your choice, 5 nice size steamed/fried pork dumplings or 4 steamed pork buns or a pint of delicious hot and sour soup, $1 each. Had a combo of the above at the inflation price of $3.

 

[Nords]

Your friend is cheap! - There is a difference between being cheap and Saving for retirement.

Yup-- and retirement will be real cheap without friends...

 

[laurence]

The problem is when you effectively have others subsidize you, and are always calculating to make sure you only paid for 49%. I had a friend who insisted we all (DW, a couple other friends and I) go to his favorite italian place. No problem. It's pay at the counter and then the food is brought to you. He insisted we all order and pay separately. No problem. The rest of the group gets a pizza and a pitcher of beer, he gets a hot sub and a bottle of beer. We sit down and get our food, he eats some of our pizza, drinks some of our beer, all the while clutching his sandwich and heineken! Convienently, he also doesn't believe in tipping. I told him off for that one.

 

[aaronc879]

I spend no more than two dollars on lunch for work. His "free lunch" cost $6 or more with parking and gas. He didn't have to agree to drive. He paid $6 or more and everyone else paid nothing... that's cheap.

 

[Scrooge]

It is just to cost of being an employee... you spend money on clothes and other things so you can work.. some of what you should pay is for 'group activities'..

Oh yes, pretending to like your coworkers is a big part of being an employee. If you actually do like them, consider it a bonus 

 

[Kitty]

Oh yes, pretending to like your coworkers is a big part of being an employee. If you actually do like them, consider it a bonus

ROFL ,,,, I can relate to that, some of my past fellow employees were intolerable at work and sober, I knew I wouldn't ,couldn't stand them after they had a drink or two so I used to opt out, every time I gave in and joined in I regreted it to some degree.
Not that every one of them was jerk when drinking just enough to make an evening unpleasant. I had to put a good face on things not to hurt the ones I got along with.

 

[Cut-Throat]

I spend no more than two dollars on lunch for work. His "free lunch" cost $6 or more with parking and gas. He didn't have to agree to drive. He paid $6 or more and everyone else paid nothing... that's cheap.

Well, yeah if you only look at that 'single' event. There were probably other times, when he rode with someone else, and they paid for parking.

Anyway you cut it, paying $6 for a $30 lunch is cheaper than dirt! - Complaining about it is being miserly and should no way be admired and or confused with LBYM! Figuring out that no one else paid nothing is 'extra cheap'!

 

[azanon]

http://early-retirement.org/forums/index.php?topic=4783.0

 

[Toejam]

Once or twice a year, I have dinner at a fancy restaurant with 3 of my gal friends. All 3 friends order wine/alcohol and an appetizer, which adds greatly to the total dinner bill and also the total tip. I don't drink and I don't care for appetizers. (The last time, they ordered oysters for appetizers, and I don't even like oysters.) Well, the dinner bill is always split equally between us 4. I am beginning to think, why am I paying for alcohol and appetizers when I don't even drink/eat the appetizers? This has been going on for years.

Maybe I am "cheap", but next time I am going to ask for a separate check. My 3 friends can split the bill between themselves!

 

[MonarchDon]

Once or twice a year, I have dinner at a fancy restaurant with 3 of my gal friends.  All 3 friends order wine/alcohol and an appetizer, which adds greatly to the total dinner bill and also the total tip.  I don't drink and I don't care for appetizers.  (The last time, they ordered oysters for appetizers, and I don't even like oysters.)  Well, the dinner bill is always split equally between us 4.   I am beginning to think, why am I paying for alcohol and appetizers when I don't even drink/eat the appetizers?  This has been going on for years. 

Maybe I am "cheap", but next time I am going to ask for a separate check.  My 3 friends can split the bill between themselves!

Once or Twice a year you can't suck up a few bucks for a good time with friends? If you and your friends all agree to go "dutch" fine, otherwise your ears may be burning as they call you cheap behind your back. Pay the money and have a good time. Life is short, enjoy. As to the OP, your coworker is Cheap. I don't consider myself cheap but I am a tight wad

 

[Cut-Throat]

Once or Twice a year you can't suck up a few bucks for a good time with friends? If you and your friends all agree to go "dutch" fine, otherwise your ears may be burning as they call you cheap behind your back. Pay the money and have a good time. Life is short, enjoy. As to the OP, your coworker is Cheap. I don't consider myself cheap but I am a tight wad

Agree 100% - You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[jclarksnakes]

...I had an old army buddy who was REALLY cheap. When we were in Korea he bragged that he NEVER bought the Stars and Stripes but always waited for someone to leave one at the breakfast table at the club. I never saw him leave a tip for a meal. When we would go out for a meal he would wait for the rest of us to leave the table and then move all our tips around to his place at the table. We all left bigger tips to make up for his lack of tipping. It was worth it to be able to tell funny stories about how cheap he was. He was too cheap to get married, said women were all out for money. He was saving for his retirement with a vengeance and doing well at it. He finally fell for the wrong lady and she took half of everything he had saved a few years later. Living with the cheap bastard for those few years probably fairly entitled her to what she got.
jc