Are you torn between frugality and cheapness?
Some people go down the rabbit hole of frugal living so far down that they lose touch with reality. They become paranoid and restlessly want to find ways to save money. Even if it is at the cost of their health, hygiene, or social status.
Here are 8 signs you are turning into a cheapskate.
1. You regularly crash weddings
It’s fun to crash a wedding once in a while with your best friends by your side. But to regularly look for the wedding just to save some money on food is something only a cheapskate would do. It also spoils the party for other people as it distracts them from their event.
2. Taking the DIY culture too seriously
Some people find immense pride in fixing things by themselves. Like, an engineer would never call a repair guy to fix the TV or there is no point in going to a doctor to get treating for the common cold when you yourself are a doctor. But, doing absolutely everything on your own will turn you into a miserable person.
3. You don’t mind eating stale food
Eating stale food is not only cheap but also will end up in a hospital someday. Eating leftovers can give you food poisoning. Some symptoms include chills, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
4. Walking to work instead of taking a bus
Walking can be a great exercise and is recommended by almost every doctor. But it can turn out to be detrimental to your work if you are walking to work every day. Particularly, if your workplace is more than 4 miles away from your home. Take a bus instead.
5. You ask for extra sugar/ketchup packets
Filling up your pockets with sugar/ketchup packets that the fast worker gave you out of courtesy is the cheapest thing you can do. You are not frugal if can’t even afford to buy ketchup or sugar from a grocery store. Some fast-food chains can also see it as stealing.
6. Digging into dumpsters for free stuff
Dumpsters are filled with interesting stuff that others don’t need. But that does not mean you should dig into them every morning in a hope to find something valuable. What if your partner/friends catch you peeking in a dumpster or worse picking up an Orange and eating it?
7. Spending your weekends indoors
Do you spend your weekends working at home/office?
A report by Fobes says that successful people prefer to spend their weekends doing recreational things like fishing, hiking with friends, eating out, etc. It gives their mind the rest and nourishment which makes them more productive on other days.
8. Using waste paper as toilet paper
Lastly, you are crossing the line between frugality and cheapness if you are using waste paper like newspaper as a toilet paper. A toilet paper cost just a couple of bucks. Why spoil your hygiene just to save a just a few bucks?
Summary
“Cost-cutting” to “save for retirement” is the single most thing that leads a wasteful, lavish and spendthrift person to the path of frugality. One should always keep in mind that cost-cutting by making your present life miserable was never the intention when frugal living first became popular.
