Living a frugal lifestyle has countless benefits, including having more money in your wallet and being a more responsible consumer. However, some people take the concept of frugality too far, resulting in countless people judging them for their actions! Recently, frugal men and women met in an online discussion to reveal when you know you've taken “saving money” way too far.
1. You Eat Fast Food Too Often
Many people draw the line regarding their frugality, and for some, that line is firmly drawn at constantly going through the drive-thru just to save a few dollars. Ordering from the dollar menu at places like McDonald's and Wendy's is fine occasionally, but some people eat fast food so often that it goes beyond saving money. A fast-food habit like that can quickly lead to health issues. Let's get it together, people; it's not like shopping for fresh food is that expensive!
2. Cheapening Out on a Quality Filter For your HVAC System
Routine home maintenance often gets overlooked when people are trying to save money. Unfortunately, sometimes that bites you in the rear! “When I bought my house, we found out the furnace hadn't been maintained for four years,” reveals one man. “No tuneup, no new filter, nothing. Our HVAC tech looked at the filter and said, ‘You have a whole cat in there!' Then the heat exchanger died in the middle of December. It was rusted from the AC line freezing and backing up. It was a fun two weeks waiting for replacement parts.”
3. When Your Frugality Ruins Other People's Experiences
With any lifestyle, there's always the possibility that your friends and loved ones don't share your same beliefs. If you constantly push your frugality onto others against their will, congratulations! You've officially taken “saving money” too far.
4. Reusing Paper Towels
One embarrassed wife reveals that she knew her husband had become “too frugal” when she caught him pulling used paper towels out of the garbage can and reusing them! I must be honest; I share her embarrassment, and I apologize on behalf of all men for his bizarre actions.
5. You Dumpster Dive
For countless people, it doesn't matter if they live an extremely frugal lifestyle; they're still not going to go dumpster diving! “I won't jump into a dumper,” confesses one frugal man. “I won't take things from the sidewalk unless I know that they're for free. If I do take something for free, it has to be something that I would have bought anyway. If it isn't something I plan to use, it's not something I want.”
6. Buying Cheap Footwear
As the old saying goes, you should never skimp on purchases for your feet. There are some long-term severe risks in buying cheap footwear, whether it's nice shoes or athletic sneakers. If you develop foot and leg problems later in life, you have only yourself to blame if you never bothered to buy quality footwear.
7. Ignoring Personal Hygiene
There are many tips and tricks to save money regarding personal hygiene, from homemade soaps and deodorants to simple laundry detergent recipes. However, some people take things too far. “When it comes to personal hygiene, I'm all for cutting costs however you can,” reports one woman. “But please, wash yourself and your clothes. I do not wish to constantly smell body odor and unwashed clothes in public settings.”
8. Trying To Find the Cheapest Gas
I get it; nobody likes to pay anything less than the lowest price available for gas. But the moment you drive further away to reach a slightly cheaper gas station is the moment when your frugality has distorted your mind. The gas (and time!) you spent driving to save a few pennies per gallon is not worth it.
9. Your Frugality Is Prioritized Over Your Common Sense
While short-term costs associated with vehicle ownership are risky to overlook, they will often backfire in the long run. Make sure your car's preventative maintenance schedule is on track! “I knew someone who got a brand new car, never changed the oil because she wanted to save the $35 twice a year, and one day the engine just seized up and died,” reveals one woman.
10. Refusing to Tip
Here's a simple reminder: If you can't afford to tip when dining out, you can't afford to dine out. While the topic of tipping culture is polarizing, most people agree that you should take your frugal lifestyle out of the equation when tipping service workers – especially when you receive exemplary service.
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Source: Reddit.
