Can anyone beat this completely stupid level of frugality???

[rmcelwee]

Some of you know we have been building a $1.5M house (with cash). We have officially moved in and I went around to all the built in soap dispensers and filled them up a couple of days ago. I had a few drops left in the bottles and did my best to consolidate them. When I did, I spilled some soap down the side and it dripped onto the marble counters. I caught myself leaving these soap drippings on the counter and washing my hands by getting them wet and wiping them on the counter. I also added water to the bottles so I could get the last few drops out.

What the hell is wrong with me?

 

[NW-Bound]

Frugal, yes.

Stupid, NO!

 

[rk911]

OCD

 

[engineernerd]

Hey, you were multitasking! Cleaning your hands and the countertop in one go! Nothing wrong with that!

 

[Gumby]

Who would not? As you do with the small things, so will you do with the big things. None of us got here by being stupid and wasteful.

 

[Major Tom]

I do similiar things too, and I'm not hurting for money either. However, I don't go overboard with that sort of behavior, as I know that I don't need to practice that degree of extreme frugality. For instance, I don't need to add a bit of water to the bottom of the shampoo bottle in order to get a few more uses from it. It makes sense to do so though. The shampoo is in there, so I might as well use it.

 

[HI Bill]

Heck, I use the spilled soap from the soap dispenser, too. I even dilute the hand soap 50%, which makes it last longer, gives you the right amount of soap to wash your hands, and makes the dispenser work better. Win, win, win!

 

[Sunset]

I'm soooo frugal I only use soap if needed, else it's just rinse the hands.

I was thinking of my frugality the other day, buying the grape tomatoes as they were cheaper than all other tomatoes in the store per pound, while contemplating signing up for a $30K trip.

I wondered why I compare prices on food at the store when I willingly spend vastly more on a non-necessity.

 

[justlikebike]

I only buy bar soap because I find the pumps for the liquid soap too wasteful! And then use the slivers for my shaving soap. Also spending 5 weeks in Europe this fall and that I don't find wasteful!

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

Let's just say I don't buy soap, thats my level of frugality.

And yes there's plenty of it within the house.

 

[Original Wally]

DW Molly had an aunt who SOMEHOW would slice balogna into two even THINNER slices.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

Let's just say I don't buy soap, thats my level of frugality.

And yes there's plenty of it within the house.

Are you like my mother, taking soap from hotels to use at home?

 

[bonvoyage]

I'm soooo frugal I only use soap if needed, else it's just rinse the hands.

I was thinking of my frugality the other day, buying the grape tomatoes as they were cheaper than all other tomatoes in the store per pound, while contemplating signing up for a $30K trip.

I wondered why I compare prices on food at the store when I willingly spend vastly more on a non-necessity.

I also have this same kind of selective frugality. I have no problem paying $10K for business class seats on flights but I look for deals on groceries

 

[Ronstar]

I see nothing wrong with you. I would do that.

 

[mrfeh]

I've stopped viewing this kind of behavior in financial terms...I just don't like waste. Any kind of waste. Doesn't matter how much money we have.

So, I find it completely acceptable.

 

[street]

I also see nothing wrong with your actions. More people need to be more conservative and they would not have to have two jobs to make ends meet.

 

[finnski1]

Seems perfectly logical to me.

 

[sengsational]

There was a thread in the last year or so about what you do with bar soap slivers. Thankfully, mine just disappear, replaced by a new bar, but I'm sure I'd struggle for weeks on the sliver, out of the principal that it still was somewhat effective if that didn't happen.

Similar to utilizing spilled soap, I find myself spending too much time fixing things that just need to be thrown out and replaced.

Irrespective of the ability to be wasteful due to abundance, there still exists the principle of having the least possible impact on the world as you can. Thats why I like to see things that I no longer need find a home other than the landfill. It should not matter to me because it's out of my life forever without compensation, but it somehow does matter to me. What the...

 

[finnski1]

There was a thread in the last year or so about what you do with bar soap slivers. Thankfully, mine just disappear, replaced by a new bar, but I'm sure I'd struggle for weeks on the sliver, out of the principal that it still was somewhat effective if that didn't happen.

Similar to utilizing spilled soap, I find myself spending too much time fixing things that just need to be thrown out and replaced.

Irrespective of the ability to be wasteful due to abundance, there still exists the principle of having the least possible impact on the world as you can. Thats why I like to see things that I no longer need find a home other than the landfill. It should not matter to me because it's out of my life forever without compensation, but it somehow does matter to me. What the...

My wife volunteers at the local recycling station. They have what is affectionately called the "dumptique" where folks can come and drop off items and also take some home. They ask for a small donation if you take something and raise a little money for the town doing it. Evry little bit helps.

 

[sengsational]

I probably couldn't be trusted to visit the dumptique... I'd likely find something to rescue.

 

[audreyh1]

Let's just say I don't buy soap, thats my level of frugality.

And yes there's plenty of it within the house.

Right, you have your vast collection of hotel soaps collected over the years.

 

[finnski1]

I probably couldn't be trusted to visit the dumptique... I'd likely find something to rescue.

Try working there.

 

[folivier]

DW makes foaming soap by reusing the containers and adding a bit of liquid soap+water. It takes a surprising little bit of soap to fill.

 

[Surewhitey]

Same struggle...

 

[Fermion]

I had a non-stick aluminum frying pan that just started shedding the coating. Instead of throwing it away I have kept it on the off chance I can sell it to a recycler LOL.