My coworker is cheap. Really cheap. There's a point when frugality just goes too far. Case in point: he has a 2001 CRV. Just this week his air conditioning compressor blew up. He's too cheap to buy a pressure gauge to make sure the AC had proper pressure. He just popped a can into the AC and waited until it was cold. A month later the compressor broke. The next day his alternator belt snapped. I told him repeatably that he needed to replace the belt because It squeals on start up. He doesn't want to replace things as preventative maintenance. He just wants to avoid spending money until things fall apart. He is so cheap, one of the bolts holding an engine mount snapped due that rust (this crv is a total rust bucket). He didn't want to spend $7 for a Honda replacement bolt; so he is using a used spark plug because it fits. This behavior shouldn't bother me, but it does. Why do people get so stuck up in spending money on some things? He won't buy proper tools (torque wrench etc.), tires till last second, and won't ever pay mechanics to do anything. His other car a matrix, he drives around with expended airbags because he doesn't want to pay someone to fix them. And believe me, he is not broke. He's an engineer making 80k+ a year. The guy's 49, but is probably the most stingiest guy I have ever met. Would this behavior bother you? Do you know people who are this cheap with car maintenance. Sometimes I actually wish Michigan had inspections.
Cheap people. Know em?
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As long as he's not in charge of the payroll
My dad is like that. He's an immigrant that came to Canada back in the 1960's with not two nickels to rub together. He worked multiple jobs and scrounged enough together to buy a service station, then a second one, then a third one and then a bunch of rental properties. He retired at 55 for the most part but still dabbles on the side with repairs for friends/family. He has a ton of cash. It wasn't until his 50th birthday that he finally got rid of the old Zenith for the 55" Flat-screen we bought him to move him up to something a little more modern. He drives beaters and never eats out. He wouldn't have cable if I didn't install a dish at his house and add his receivers to my account. He's funny that way but it's a way of life for him and I admire it.
Me on the other hand I like "Stuff" but I do my best to curb my "Wants" and only buy things "I need". I do allow myself to splurge here/there but not before everything else is paid and savings taken care of. I think this is the happy medium between your friend and my dad.
For the record I make more than your engineer friend. Sales is a good gig, I work really smart though. I did go to school for Computer Engineering.
Me on the other hand I like "Stuff" but I do my best to curb my "Wants" and only buy things "I need". I do allow myself to splurge here/there but not before everything else is paid and savings taken care of. I think this is the happy medium between your friend and my dad.
For the record I make more than your engineer friend. Sales is a good gig, I work really smart though. I did go to school for Computer Engineering.
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Originally Posted by Kurtatron
My coworker is cheap. ... This behavior shouldn't bother me, but it does. ....Would this behavior bother you?
NO.
You need to ask yourself these three questions:
Is he a grown man?
Did you pay for his vehicles?
Are you the boss of him?
GOOD ADVICE, Save yourself some grief and MYOB!
My coworker is cheap. ... This behavior shouldn't bother me, but it does. ....Would this behavior bother you?
NO.
You need to ask yourself these three questions:
Is he a grown man?
Did you pay for his vehicles?
Are you the boss of him?
GOOD ADVICE, Save yourself some grief and MYOB!
The first guy sounds "cheap". I know one of those who stashed so much out of his pay check, that he convinced the County that he was "working poor" and got food stamps. He owns five Calif houses (rentals) and drives beater cars. Buys socks at the thrift store (non-matching) and will not tip at a restaurant. But he's a heck of a good archeologist and well respected by most tribal leaders, so there is a balance ...
I consider myself thrifty. I only bought one new car in my life and learned the lesson. Now I buy only cars/trucks with about 100K, but well taken care of. We built our own home - no contractors. I do a lot of my own repairs, but when it entails a slew of special tools that I'll only use once, I pay someone else to do it.
I do pay for repairs and believe in preventative maintenance. But, it needs to be balanced. we all know that modern oils do not need to be changed at 3,000... Where the balance is (?), is different for many folks ...
I consider myself thrifty. I only bought one new car in my life and learned the lesson. Now I buy only cars/trucks with about 100K, but well taken care of. We built our own home - no contractors. I do a lot of my own repairs, but when it entails a slew of special tools that I'll only use once, I pay someone else to do it.
I do pay for repairs and believe in preventative maintenance. But, it needs to be balanced. we all know that modern oils do not need to be changed at 3,000... Where the balance is (?), is different for many folks ...
Ya I knew a guy that would take handfuls of napkins from fast food restaurants,ketchup packets etc.
He would drive 30 minutes out of his way because that station was $.03 cheaper,then only put $5 worth of gas in.
I tend to shop around but I dont go out of my way. I buy the best product I can for the least cost. If a part is cheaper across the street and is apples for apples I will go across the street. If a junk part is only a few dollars less than the good part I will buy the good part.
He would drive 30 minutes out of his way because that station was $.03 cheaper,then only put $5 worth of gas in.
I tend to shop around but I dont go out of my way. I buy the best product I can for the least cost. If a part is cheaper across the street and is apples for apples I will go across the street. If a junk part is only a few dollars less than the good part I will buy the good part.
Originally Posted by Oildudeny
That's why he isn't broke. No I envy people that hold onto money like that.
He knows the value of money.. cars phones computers are your worst investment.
If it's like my wife's brothers, and their "frugality" ends up costing the people around them time, time, more time and money towing them, picking them up, dropping them off, then frugality is fine.
When they transfer their costs onto the people around them...even if it's so much as picking them up at the side of the road at 9PM, just once because a known defect failed...that's just being stupidly cheap and exploitative of others.
That's why he isn't broke. No I envy people that hold onto money like that.
He knows the value of money.. cars phones computers are your worst investment.
If it's like my wife's brothers, and their "frugality" ends up costing the people around them time, time, more time and money towing them, picking them up, dropping them off, then frugality is fine.
When they transfer their costs onto the people around them...even if it's so much as picking them up at the side of the road at 9PM, just once because a known defect failed...that's just being stupidly cheap and exploitative of others.
Why does it matter to you? What do you have invested in this person?
Does their being penny wise but pound foolish affect you?
Don't worry about it.
I don't.
I know I don't know half as much about my coworkers vehicles that what you have just said. I actually only know a little about one coworker because she was asking me about what to do with her car that died on her. Turns out her car ran low on oil and locked up. She had been having 3000 mile oil changes at the dealer since she got the vehicle 3 years ago, and was 2000 miles into this interval when it happened.
Dealer was initially trying to blame her (she admits to never checking her oil level) but with some advice I gave her, dealer is replacing the engine at no cost to her (and she is only out $100 for a letter from a lawyer).
Now there is a difference in being cheap and being stupid, and your coworker is reaching the point of stupid.
Putting off $100 is maintenance to only have to pay $500 later on is just dumb, but people don't see it that way.
Again, it is not affecting you personally or financially, so not your problem.
Does their being penny wise but pound foolish affect you?
Don't worry about it.
I don't.
I know I don't know half as much about my coworkers vehicles that what you have just said. I actually only know a little about one coworker because she was asking me about what to do with her car that died on her. Turns out her car ran low on oil and locked up. She had been having 3000 mile oil changes at the dealer since she got the vehicle 3 years ago, and was 2000 miles into this interval when it happened.
Dealer was initially trying to blame her (she admits to never checking her oil level) but with some advice I gave her, dealer is replacing the engine at no cost to her (and she is only out $100 for a letter from a lawyer).
Now there is a difference in being cheap and being stupid, and your coworker is reaching the point of stupid.
Putting off $100 is maintenance to only have to pay $500 later on is just dumb, but people don't see it that way.
Again, it is not affecting you personally or financially, so not your problem.
I'm reminded of a quote that we often use at work.
The cheapest people always buy the best tools. Because they can't afford to buy them twice.
The cheapest people always buy the best tools. Because they can't afford to buy them twice.
I refuse to let anyone bother me, Some consider me cold blooded as empathy toward adults is not high on my list of priorities.
Originally Posted by BHopkins
I'm reminded of a quote that we often use at work.
The cheapest people always buy the best tools. Because they can't afford to buy them twice.
Very much like an old saying about men and their shoes (from the blue collar working era). The "frugal" man buys a proper shoe that can be recobbled, the other man buys cheap and disposable shoes.
I'm reminded of a quote that we often use at work.
The cheapest people always buy the best tools. Because they can't afford to buy them twice.
Very much like an old saying about men and their shoes (from the blue collar working era). The "frugal" man buys a proper shoe that can be recobbled, the other man buys cheap and disposable shoes.
The only time I care about someone being cheap to the point of bordering on stupidity, is when it affects me or others. An example would be they plow into me/others because of bald tires, worn-out brakes, etc.
Originally Posted by Shannow
If it's like my wife's brothers, and their "frugality" ends up costing the people around them time, time, more time and money towing them, picking them up, dropping them off, then frugality is fine.
When they transfer their costs onto the people around them...even if it's so much as picking them up at the side of the road at 9PM, just once because a known defect failed...that's just being stupidly cheap and exploitative of others.
I have a brother like that. He and his wife had more in savings and investments than I'd ever know what to do with. They'd display all the signs of being cheap including hoarding fast food napkins and condiments, carpooling with others so they'd drive etc etc. They also worked like crazy and banked oodles of money.
My family got so sick of them and their cheap habits that they gave up on them (myself included). They have a huge house but nobody from his side of the family ever visits except my mom.
Last fall he got really sick from diabetes (type 2) with pancreas attacks so bad he spent massive amounts of time in the hospital. He hasn't been able to work for several months due to fatigue, lack of physical ability etc. They (doctors) claim to not know what it is, but we all know it's stress related.
Last time I texted him he was hoping to get onto long term disability....he's only 45.
Boy, if that's all I'd have to look forward to at that age, I'd rather take a bullet to the temple.
If it's like my wife's brothers, and their "frugality" ends up costing the people around them time, time, more time and money towing them, picking them up, dropping them off, then frugality is fine.
When they transfer their costs onto the people around them...even if it's so much as picking them up at the side of the road at 9PM, just once because a known defect failed...that's just being stupidly cheap and exploitative of others.
I have a brother like that. He and his wife had more in savings and investments than I'd ever know what to do with. They'd display all the signs of being cheap including hoarding fast food napkins and condiments, carpooling with others so they'd drive etc etc. They also worked like crazy and banked oodles of money.
My family got so sick of them and their cheap habits that they gave up on them (myself included). They have a huge house but nobody from his side of the family ever visits except my mom.
Last fall he got really sick from diabetes (type 2) with pancreas attacks so bad he spent massive amounts of time in the hospital. He hasn't been able to work for several months due to fatigue, lack of physical ability etc. They (doctors) claim to not know what it is, but we all know it's stress related.
Last time I texted him he was hoping to get onto long term disability....he's only 45.
Boy, if that's all I'd have to look forward to at that age, I'd rather take a bullet to the temple.
I'm cheap - it's an art, some just don't appreciate the effort we put in.
There is a word we have for people like that: millionaires.
Sorry, I can't hang with cheap people. It's depressing. Frugal is one thing, "cheap" is another. Frugal is prioritizing your spending so you can have more of the things you really care about. Cheap, is sacrificing time, quality and value, and annoying your friends and family. I'm not going anywhere with anyone that always "forgets their wallet", or wants gas money because they drove to a concert...... I'm not going to be clipping coupons and trying to use them on items I didn't even buy.... That type of behavior I can't tolerate. Stealing ketchup packets and napkins?
I have a co-worker that makes well over 200k per year, maybe 250ish. He drives a lot. He'll buy a 50-60k car, and once it gets near 40,000 miles, he gets rid of it. I don't think he's ever bought a new set of tires, when they get to be bald, or if it gets in a minor accident, he'd rather get a new car. If he goes to eat at say, IHOP, he'll ask for a senior citizen discount, and be dead serious about it (he's 45). Tip a waitress? Psssh. If the bill is $29, she gets $30. Hair cut? Goes to a Barber School, won't pay more than $7. Kids need something however, they get the best of the best.
I have a co-worker that makes well over 200k per year, maybe 250ish. He drives a lot. He'll buy a 50-60k car, and once it gets near 40,000 miles, he gets rid of it. I don't think he's ever bought a new set of tires, when they get to be bald, or if it gets in a minor accident, he'd rather get a new car. If he goes to eat at say, IHOP, he'll ask for a senior citizen discount, and be dead serious about it (he's 45). Tip a waitress? Psssh. If the bill is $29, she gets $30. Hair cut? Goes to a Barber School, won't pay more than $7. Kids need something however, they get the best of the best.
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He sounds frugal. This is a car forum full of anal retentive members so of course many here will call car abuse being cheap...
To me, cheap is when someone doesn't want to pay for their own meal or help in any way that involves spending money. I'd also call a non tipper or low baller cheap as well.
On the other side of the spectrum, there's wasteful spending, which IMO is just as bad as cheap. If one has a disposable income and can buy a new 50k car every few years, let them. For some, there comes a time when car maintenance is over rated and buying new gets rid of that. Now if someone drives a newer non paid for vehicle and has the latest and greatest smart phone, and still somehow complains about not having money, they may want to rethink their spending habits.
One that BITOG can appreciate is someone giving up on a nice car with 130k just because the shocks and brakes were bad... This sort of thing happens all the time.
To me, cheap is when someone doesn't want to pay for their own meal or help in any way that involves spending money. I'd also call a non tipper or low baller cheap as well.
On the other side of the spectrum, there's wasteful spending, which IMO is just as bad as cheap. If one has a disposable income and can buy a new 50k car every few years, let them. For some, there comes a time when car maintenance is over rated and buying new gets rid of that. Now if someone drives a newer non paid for vehicle and has the latest and greatest smart phone, and still somehow complains about not having money, they may want to rethink their spending habits.
One that BITOG can appreciate is someone giving up on a nice car with 130k just because the shocks and brakes were bad... This sort of thing happens all the time.
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Originally Posted by montero1
Hair cut? Goes to a Barber School, won't pay more than $7.
I haven't paid for a haircut since I was 14.
Hair cut? Goes to a Barber School, won't pay more than $7.
I haven't paid for a haircut since I was 14.
What irks me is his complaining. He isn't willing to go with us to eat out at burger place, because it is $14 instead of the $7 place he goes to. We only go to that burger place like once a month. We had a thanksgiving party, and we wanted to go there. We had a group vote where to go, But he complains why we would go there but not go somewhere else cheaper. It annoys me the unwillingness to spend money everyone once and a while for enjoying company with people who are ok spending. He doesnt have to go of course, but it's not the end of the world spending $14. I mean we had to pick him up Friday night because he got drunk and crashed his matrix, because he is too cheap to get a ride. That's why his airbags are out. Super cheap mentality can go too far, im sorry.
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