Are You Frugal or Are You Just Plain Cheap?
In an era where everything is rising in price, it's no surprise that most of us have skimped on some purchases. You might have bought fewer clothes than you usually did, or hosted fewer dinner parties because you didn't want to overspend on food and supplies. Everyone appreciates saving a little money, after all. That said, if you're the type to always talk your way out of paying, you might be more cheap than merely frugal. Don't believe us? How many of these 20 habits do you have?
1. You Never Tip at Restaurants
Leaving a tip is pretty much essential in the US, given that many servers depend on gratuities as part of their income. And while it's one thing to skip the tip if you received extremely bad service, it's another thing to regularly refuse to do it when there's no reason to, other than because you don't want to spend extra money.
2. You Always Forget Your Wallet
Somehow, whenever it's time to split a restaurant bill, you always have oh-so-conveniently left your wallet at home. Sure, this might be true occasionally (though with digital payments, it's kinda unlikely), but if you're making the same excuse all the time, people are going to catch on.
3. You Refuse to Replace Things That Are Falling Apart
Scuffed-up shoes? Holes in your shirt? It's okay, you say, they're still wearable. There's nothing wrong with using your stuff for as long as possible, but insisting on tolerating ratty clothing and unnecessary discomfort is a pretty big sign your reluctance to spend money might have gone too far.
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4. You Take Excessive Amounts of Free Condiments
Free ketchup? You're taking two handfuls. Yeah, yeah—you might say it's just because you looove ketchup, but don't be surprised if others give you the side eye for emptying the entire condiment station. Heck, you might even be one of those people who visit restaurants specifically to nab napkins and other complimentary supplies.
5. You Always Choose the Cheapest Gift Possible
It might be your friend's 50th birthday or you and your partner's 20th anniversary, but you still won't spend more than you have to. Of course, we're not saying that gifts always have to be expensive purchases, but if you're always obsessed with finding the absolute cheapest thing available, you're probably missing the point of the occasion.
6. You Refuse to Turn On the Heat or Air Conditioning
Freezing or sweltering hot at home? It's okay, you can deal with it. And even if others at home don't agree and would very much like the thermostat adjusted, please, you're not so easily convinced. Your priority, after all, is reducing the cost of the utility bill.
7. You Constantly Ask for Discounts
No matter if you're at a restaurant or a grocery store, you're somehow always expecting the lowest price possible. Negotiating prices might be appropriate at flea markets, but at the cashier at Trader Joe's? There's a line of people behind you who probably don't appreciate your frugal hijinks.
8. You Never Offer to Pay for Gas
When you give your friends rides, they're expected to chip in for gas. When they offer you a ride? Well, you're more than happy to accept—but you're not going to contribute toward gas or parking. If they ask, you might even make them feel bad for asking.
9. You Reuse Disposable Items Until They're Unsanitary
Certain disposable products can occasionally be reused safely, sure, but that week-old takeout container you have? It's attracting flies. If you're adamant about reusing single-use items time and time again, to the point where you create hygiene concerns, you're probably cheaping out too much.
10. You Keep Track of Every Penny Someone Owes You
It's not just gas and parking fees you'll chase your friends down for after you've given them a ride—you're the type to track every single penny they owe you. Someone borrowed 50 cents or took one of your bottled waters? Well, they better pay up.
11. You Refuse to Pay for Parking Under Any Circumstances
Yep, we're back to the parking stuff. Only, you don't just refuse to chip in for parking when your friend's driving, but you also never pay for parking yourself. Heck, you'd rather spend an hour searching for a free spot than pay a few dollars to park conveniently near the entrance.
12. You Always Wear the Same Outfits
You're not just wearing shirts that clearly have holes in them. In fact, you're always in the same outfit—you might as well be a cartoon character! And while there's nothing wrong with wearing your favorite clothes repeatedly, if it's been a long, long while since you bought anything new, people are going to notice.
13. You Never Contribute to Group Celebrations
Whether your coworkers are organizing a retirement party or your friends are purchasing a wedding gift together, you're never on the contributions list. What you will do, though, is enjoy the food and festivities, even if you didn't spare a penny.
14. You Buy the Cheapest Version of Everything
There might be a hundred one-star reviews for something, but hey, if it's the cheapest of the bunch, you're taking the bet. Quality, reliability, or long-term value simply don't matter much to you because you're more about saving as much as you can.
15. You Regularly Return Things After Using Them
Ever bought clothes for a special occasion, wore them once, then returned them afterward? That's classic cheap behavior. Sure, even if you're technically following the policy and you're giving back the items in pristine condition, you're still taking advantage of the system just because you don't want to spend any money.
16. You Refuse to Participate in Activities That Cost Money
Forget the special events—you're not even the type to go to birthday dinners or movie outings, all because they involve opening your wallet. You don't care, either, that your social life suffers because of it. You might even expect everyone else to accommodate your frugal habits!
17. You Stretch Personal Hygiene Products Beyond Reason
Repeating the same outfit is one thing, but that's not all. You're also always making sure you use the last bit of toothpaste or soap or shampoo, going so far as to dilute products until they're essentially ineffective. You even compromise your personal hygiene just to avoid restocking them!
18. You Expect Others to Share Their Subscriptions
Don't have Netflix? That's okay—you'll just bum off a friend. And if they don't agree to share their account with you, then they're a bad friend. Either way, you're not paying for the services, and you'll pester others until they cover your entertainment indefinitely.
19. You Refuse to Spend Money on Necessary Maintenance
Your car has had several warning lights on for ages, and you're pretty sure it's been making weird noises recently, but still. As much as refusing routine maintenance might lead to more expensive consequences down the road, you're willing to wait it out as long as possible.
20. You Order the Cheapest Thing and Eat Others' Food
When you go out to eat with friends, do you spend most of the time sampling everyone else's plates? Sharing food is perfectly normal, sure, but it's not really a fair trade when you're ordering a small thing of fries (that no one else can touch) yet expect others to give you huge portions of their meals. Don't be surprised when your friends stop inviting you out.
