Have you ever seen that show “extreme cheapstakes” on the Learning Channel? The premise of the show is featuring people who do extreme things to save money. Obviously, as the title implies, the producers chose the most “extreme” frugalistas they can find to follow around.
I remember watching one episode where a woman in NYC “dumpster dives” (pulls food out of the trash) and serves the “meal” to a friend and his unexpecting girlfriend. In another episode a man goes to the local laundromat to look for quarters that got stuck or were accidentally left in the machines. The most bizarre behavior that I saw (well one of the most bizarre)? A woman who showers with her worn clothing in the bottom of her tub to save on the money on laundry soap and electricity.
Just to be clear I’m not judging these people, to each his/her own. Each person needs to decide what he or she is willing to give up to save money. *Side note-I’m just not sure that some of the things shown on the show actually save money, so use your best judgement either way*.
My list of things I WOULDN’T do to save money:
- Eat food out of a dumpster. If I was starving I’d obviously eat whatever was available to me. But I’m not, and digging food out of the dumpster isn’t something I’d do to solely to save money. I realize there is an immense amount of waste in this country, but for me, the risk of getting sick eating bad food (and ending up in the ER-$$$), well outweighs “savings” of eating free food.
- Give away my pets. Pets are expensive and they’re a luxury that some people can’t afford, or wouldn’t want to spend money on. On average I spend about a thousand dollars per year on my pets. Grooming, food and vet expenses aren’t cheap, but our animals are a part of our family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Stop buying toilet paper. I’ve grown pretty accustomed to my Charmin so gathering paper napkins or using cloth instead of disposable toilet paper just isn’t worth it for me. Do I like flushing my money down the drain (bad pun intended)? No. But I like it better than washing human waste off cloth “toilet paper.”
- Steal condiment packets (or take more than one serving’s worth). If I need ketchup or mayo I’ll buy a bottle. If I can’t afford a bottle, I’ll borrow from a friend or go without.
- Not use my appliances. I use my dishwasher, air conditioner and washer and dryer. I dry clothes on a rack when I can, but in the winter or if I need something quickly, I use the dryer. I try to turn the lights off when I leave a room (mom drilled that one into my head when I was a kid), and I don’t leave appliances plugged in when I’m not using them. But not using my air conditioning during a NYC heat wave is not something I’m willing to do just to save money. I refuse to be sweaty and uncomfortable in my own home, just to keep my bills low. If I didn’t have the money to pay my bills I’d obviously do what I needed to do to keep the bill low, but I realize I’m fortune not to have to make that decision.
What wouldn’t you do to save money? Are there any frugal tips or tricks you wouldn’t try?