I received an anonymous comment yesterday.
"You are obnoxiously cheap. And you are proud of it?"
My answer is, "Why thank you, and yes."
Actually, I don't believe I'm *obnoxiously* cheap. Obnoxiously cheap is when you divide the restaurant bill with your friends and announce, "but I didn't have a coffee like you guys did." Or declining a wedding invitation so you don't have to spring for a gift. I do not do that.
The truth is, I've spent a good many years realizing that chasing around the greenbacks is more soul sucking than spending the greenbacks you have wisely. Call me lazy if you will. Being cheap for me is more of a necessity than a luxury. I haven't topped 20k a year since I moved away from California. Just the New York hotel is costing me over two weeks salary.
Proud? Sure. Even though I've always been in a low tax bracket, we've been able to acquire and grow our real estate ventures which are targeted to become our retirement revenue source in the future. We have friends who make twice what we make and are only now considering a first time home purchase.
How's this for cheap? We are going to pick through nude dancer's things for some New York outfits. I can't wait.
36 comments:
"chasing around the greenbacks is more soul sucking than spending the greenbacks you have wisely"
SO true!
I like the fact that you are cheap, it is very becoming of you!~
"We are going to pick through nude dancer's things for some New York outfits."
Oh, please, wash those items before you wear them!!!
You're not cheap, you're smart! There's a huge difference.
And make sure you pick up a remedy for crabs before trying on ND's glittery chaps.
The fact that you are able to do what you do with what you have impresses me heaps! I would love to see some of the big income folks live on your salary. I think it would be a huge wake-up call and they would quickly learn respect for your frugality.
I work with one of those soul-less creatures. Every good thing has been sucked from him. Everything in life for him is measured in dollars. He is one of the saddest excuses for a human being that I have ever met.
All tastes and preferences are subjective. There is no "correct" or "incorrect" way to consume goods and services. There is no objective way to define or measure "cheapness."
A very ignorant commenter.
What kipesquire said...
I'm amazed at the cowardice of that commenter.
I am completely in agreement with you about the definition of cheap. You may make your own choices, but cheap is only when you save money at someone else's expense or like you noted, split things down to the last penny.
"...pick through nude dancer's things for some New York outfits" WOOHOO - International Male suits and thongs... you will be cutting a SHARP picture while in NYC... and as bardelf said, PLEASE wash or dryclean first... hot water!
i just got a hugo boss suit from a men's resale here for $99... it beat paying $1450 for what looked like the same thing at neiman's!!! you inspire me to be frugal!! keep it up!!!
How very rude of the Anonymous One! My dear departed Father (may he R.I.P) used to say "Spend a dollar, save a dollar". And I do believe that is what you do! The quality of your life does not seem to suffer. You are the "make lemonade with lemons" type. Frugality is an admirable attribute. A pox on Anonymous!
Please post pics of the outfits.
One thing I've learned in life is that you don't have to live the way others think you should. Cheap schmeap. I don't own a house, I don't drive a new car and I buy most of my clothes at Walmart. Big deal. I have a roof over my head and I can pay my bills. Fuck anybody who thinks it's beneath them to be frugal. You'll enjoy the trip and the things you do have because of what it took to get them. I'm impressed at the savings you got for the hotel room.
And for god sakes, HOT WATER on ND's clothes!
You know how I feel about those drive by commenters who don't have blogs. It's easy to say something snarky to someone who puts themself out there when you don't have to stand by your own words. Coward is a fair accusation, IMO.
Dickey's comment about the crab remedy made me laugh.
You're a wealthy man compared to me and my huzbandry. And yet the motivation for peace of mind is at the fore. I have friends here in the valley that are so strung out from the car payments, the house payments and the payments payments [that doesn't count interest of course] and they pretend they're happy. I know darn well that my life [and yours too] is lived on a skinny but much happier plain. I don't need anything in my life but travel, that's the one gift I give to myself every year. Not bad for a 'starving artist'.
Hugs,
kb
Anonymity breeds cowardice.
Coward shmaward.
That commenter is a dick.
Yeah, I said it.
Obnoxious is the person who only leaves exactly 15% tip or less.
Obnoxious is the person who sighes heavily when you ask them to lend you a single at the parking garage.
Obnoxious is the person who drinks at home before going out with friends, then drinks only water at the bar.
Obnoxious too, is the person planning her own bachlorette party at the most expensive spa in California, and expecting her bridesmaids to ante up for all of the weekend stay.
...wait, got off on my own issues there... sorry.
Torn, I wouldn't want you any other way.
I refer to it as being good with money, which I am ... but I'm not cheap. I hate that "you had the appetizer and I didn't thing" ... now that's cheap. You're going to have an awesome time in New York! Please podcast you and Spouse trying on "nude dancer outfits". Consider it a charitable act of public service.
Seems like the most appropriate outfit from nude dancer's wardrobe would be ... dare I say it ... the nude one? Sporting that would surely eliminate some of your hotel expenses in NYC as I'm sure the invites owuld come quickly. Too bad Priceline doesn't offer refunds.
i grew up in low to middle class family. penny watching has been ingrained into my dna.
Obnoxious is commenting anonymously with some little gob of bile.
I'd wash those outfits in super hot-water before wearing them. I am not sayin', I am just sayin'.
I'd love to see you in something a nude dancer wears.
Heh.
Hope you find something suitably flashy... :)
'Anonymous' is jealous. I delight in your stories about saving $. Who doesn't like to save $???
There is a world of difference between being cheap and being Thrifty. You guys are very thrifty. A trait we could all learn from.
First of all, anonymous insults are the height of gutless wonders. I finally got rid of it on my blog. I felt like DeNiro in Taxi Driver: YOU TALKING TO ME?
Cheap. First of all, it's no one's business what you do with your money other than your spouse and dependents. You hardly strike me as lazy, but someone who has thought life out as few do and made some tough decisions. I admire that.
I will let you know when my blog is back in business, but I still plan on visiting the folks I like in this unholy internet. Your blog rules and so do you.
There is nothing wrong with being sensible in my book. Would anonymous prefer you be 20k in credit card debt? I know alot of people who have 10k or more in credit card debt due to irresponsible spending.
Don't let the comments of some anonymous arsehole ruin your NY mojo.
Pay them no attention. Why pay full price when you can get a deal. I am very proud of my frugality because, Like you, I do not make the bucks. I get especially proud when I find something on a deal and get compliments on it. remember to laugh at the commentor while enjoying NYC!
You know what I recommend? collecting friends in every town you could ever want to visit. A friend in NY is worth their weight in gold. I took my friend to a Broadway show and bought her dinner and she let me stay on her couch for 5 nights in NY.
Maybe when you are in NY you can strike up conversations with New Yorkers, become bestest friends and then you can crash with them every time you want to go to the city. Cha Ching!
We are going to pick through nude dancer's things for some New York outfits.
Ooh, Ooh! I love nearly new shops and rag picking.
Wash them with Clorox, though.
I consider myself fiscally frugal.
And whoever makes fun of that title is dead-ass broke.
I grew up dirt poor on a farm in the sticks, so I learned early the value of a dollar. It's not being "cheap", it's being thrifty and there is no shame in that. In fact, being wasteful with money is what's really shameful.
I love anonymous. He certainly does get around and always leaves such interesting comments.
I wondered when you'd respond to that comment. I was tempted but I left it to you and you handled it in grand style.
It's great that you've made the most of what you've got. And it wouldn't matter if you were rich, it's very admirable of you to be unwasteful.
the thing that strikes me is that you are in control of your money when so many people have it back asswards. they allow their money to control them.
and it takes them twice as long to come to the realization that by golly, they really aren't any happier.
Maybe I'm leaping to conclusions, but I bet that anonymous commenter was an American. We're the only country where living within your means is now considered a vice.
There is a difference between being cheap and being wise with money. The anonymous commenter can mock but you'll have the last laugh when you guys have plenty for a happy retirement. :)
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