Penny Pinchers or Tightwads? 10 Extreme Frugal Behaviors That Will Leave You Speechless

Gabrielle Reeder

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Is there a difference between frugal and cheap? We all have that person in our lives who knows the best deals and sets a budget for themselves, and we also know the person who opts to save pennies because it saves money over the long run. It may save $5 every three years, but who's counting? An internet user recently asked what is “The most frugal/cheap behavior you've seen?” Here are ten surprising answers.

1. Reusing Toilet Paper

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One person says their grandma used to reuse used toilet paper and fold it into neat squares. “Seeing, in my mind, the yellow toilet paper neatly folded on the rack still makes me cringe,” they write. Us too!

2. Using Rubber Bands for Socks

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Another user's grandfather refused to pay money for another pair of socks, so the elastic that held up the stockings wore away. To combat the issue, he used rubber bands from broccoli to hold up his socks.

3. Using Others' Tips to Pay for the Meal

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One user shares their dining experience with a group, “Everyone would figure out how much they owed for food and tip and put their cash in. Then one person would collect the cash and pay with his credit card.

I noticed, though, that he didn't leave a tip. The first time I thought I must have been mistaken. The second time I was sure I wasn't. He was using everyone's tip to pay for his meal.”

4. Splitting Tissue Plys

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Do you know the cheap toilet paper stocked in many gas stations? According to an internet user, this person had a friend who ripped apart toilet paper plys and split them in half to save money.

5. Picking the Stems Off Cherries

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One person shares their brother picks the stems off the cherries in the grocery store to reduce their weight and decrease the price.

“As a former fruit stand employee, I know that stemless cherries start rotting from the inside almost immediately. So your brother is almost certainly losing money or at least significant quality of the product by removing stems,” an individual responds.

6. Chicken Wing Soup

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At a rather uncomfortable family gathering, a chicken wing dinner ensued. After consuming the meat, the aunt and uncle asked the guests to put their chicken wing bones in a bucket. Most attendees thought they were joking, but the grandparents informed them they were making soup the next day. According to the family member, the soup remained untouched.

7. Rubbing off Expiration Dates and Returning

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Sometimes people who have excess money try to save as much as possible. A commenter says their ex-partner's mother is a multi-millionaire. Still, if she came across old or near expired food, she would remove the expiry label and return them to Costco.

8. Buying Expired Meat

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I know someone who waits until the last possible second to buy meat on the brink of expiry or that has already expired. According to this person, if meat is a few days past its labeled date, you can freeze it and enjoy it like it's fresh.

9. Super Gluing Cavities

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Who needs a dentist when you have super glue and tissue paper? A respondent says they know a retiree who saved a lot of money while working but refuses to see a proper dentist because this method works just as well.

10. Olive Oil as a Snack

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“I read about one of those types who'd figured out the cheapest source of calories to give his kids for a snack if they said they were hungry. It was olive oil. This cheap would make his kids eat a tablespoon of olive oil.”

What do you think? Are these frugal hacks you would employ, or can you spot a cheapskate when you see one?

12 Money-Draining Habits You Need to Break Today to Finally Save Some Cash

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It's well-known that saving money is an integral part of achieving financial stability. However, in today's consumer-driven society, it's easy to fall into the trap of wasteful spending habits that can keep you broke. Whether it's overspending on material possessions, paying unnecessary fees, or simply not budgeting correctly, plenty of habits can quickly drain your bank account.

12 Money-Draining Habits You Need to Break Today to Finally Save Some Cash

11 Frugal Ways to Save Money That Most People Don’t Realize

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Frugality starts with learning how to be creative with your spending. It is not about being cheap but finding deals and quality to help your money last longer. Many people need to realize that little actions can help save a ton of money. Here are 11 frugal ways to save money that most people don’t realize. 

11 Frugal Ways to Save Money That Most People Don’t Realize

11 Surprising Ways to Save Money You Never Knew About!

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As costs of gone up, many of us are looking for ways to save money. It can be challenging to find things that save money. Eating at home, cutting the cable, and driving less are things we may already be doing, but here is a list of some surprising ways to save money. Some of these you may have never heard about. 

11 Surprising Ways to Save Money You Never Knew About!

12 Cheap Items That Everyone Should Have in Their Home

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Have you ever considered the simple, inexpensive items that can make a huge difference in your daily life? A few items can be much more helpful than expensive gadgets or appliances. Most of us are unaware of these cheap yet practical items that can make our lives easier. In this blog, we will discuss 12 items everyone should have at home. These products are affordable, readily available, and can be used on a daily basis.

12 Cheap Items That Everyone Should Have in Their Home

The 10 Surprising Money Saving Habits Stumbled Upon By Accident

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Money-saving habits can be learned, taught, or even discovered by accident. If you want to save money, sometimes the best way is to learn the hard way. Here are ten money-saving habits that were discovered by accident. 

The 10 Surprising Money Saving Habits Stumbled Upon By Accident

Money Etiquette 101: 10 Rude Money Habits You Never Realized You Were Guilty Of!

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Money is an essential part of our lives. Whether we like it or not, it's a subject that we have to deal with regularly. But how much do we know about money etiquette? Did you know that certain money habits could be considered rude? You may not even realize that you have been guilty of them!

Money Etiquette 101: 10 Rude Money Habits You Never Realized You Were Guilty Of!

10 Frugal Living Tips From Warren Buffet That Can You Save You Big

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Are you looking for ways to save money without sacrificing your quality of life? You're in luck because we've gathered 10 frugal living tips from none other than Warren Buffet himself. Despite being one of the wealthiest people in the world, Buffet has always lived a frugal lifestyle, contributing to his immense wealth.

10 Frugal Living Tips From Warren Buffet That Can You Save You Big

This thread inspired this post.

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