People have varied opinions about money. While some people want to live each day as if it were their last, spending money on pleasures and nice things, others live frugally and believe they should save money for rainy days. Of course, not spending a lot isn’t a terrible thing, but being a cheapskate diminishes the quality of life, not just for the person who refuses to spend anything, but also for their family.
Cheapskates typically find delight in receiving items for free, no matter how small or inconsequential the item may be.
If you are lucky not to know what it feels like to be sharing a roof with a cheapskate, read the following stories shared by people on Reddit to see their crazy experiences.
1. How This Dad Scored a Free Bar of Soap with a Clever Trick
When my father moved into his new home, he invited a man to come over and give a free demonstration of a water filter that fits under the sink. The guy used a bar of soap to demonstrate and then left it.
My father called at least four additional firms for a free demonstration merely to keep the free bar of soap and had no intention of installing a water filter. He does things like this, and it gets worse as he ages. But I let him do his thing.
2. Dad’s Attachment with Paper Towels
My father hoards paper towels. He still expects me to obtain permission to use them (even though I am 21), since he does not want me to waste them. I remember thinking it was $100 each roll since dad was worried about me squandering them.
He is a cheapskate who spends twice as much money on everything since he only buys the cheapest item, which often fails or does not perform well. While my girlfriend and I were at his place, I spilled a gallon of milk everywhere. She grabbed paper towels and used the entire roll to clean up the spill.
I felt so sinful helping her, but the look on my dad’s face when he found out we used a whole roll, was priceless. I knew he wouldn’t yell at us because he was too polite to yell in front of my girlfriend. But, he was visibly holding back his pain, anger, and heartbreak over the “wasted” roll.
3. What a Unique Approach to Saving Every Coin
Oh my God, fathers are horrible. Mine dislikes paying for electricity, so he hangs his clothes outside, which would be OK if he didn’t do it all year, even when the temperature is below freezing.
When my sisters and I cleaned our rooms, he would dig through the trash, seeking for “valuables” (money or recyclables). He is fascinated with petrol prices, and I once stayed in his car for half an hour while he drove around town looking for the cheapest gas.
When he wants to drive down a hill, he literally puts his car in neutral, opens the door, and pushes himself down the hill with his foot. One time, we went to a Burger King, and I was only allowed chicken fries because a burger was “too expensive.”
4. Meet the Return Policy Maestro
My father took insane advantage of the Costco return policy. He returned an outdoor furniture set we’d had for about eight years. It was weather-worn, and a couple of pieces were broken. They took it, and he used the money to pay for most of a new patio set from Costco. Unbelievable.
