'Is being a cheapskate an insult or a compliment?' blog discussion

2.4K Posts
This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.
Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.
Read Martin's "Is being a cheapskate an insult or a compliment?" Blog.
Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Latest MSE News and Guides
Replies
Now, do I call him a cheapskate? In some aspects yes, but In most cases its a compliment and in many cases he certainly isnt, it depends on the person. I have a mate who would always want to buy the round in the cheapest bar and one time came back with a 4 pint pitcher between five of us! 'Ofcourse its cheaper mate, theres less beer'!!!!! Priceless!
As the poster put above, maybe we should come under 'savvy'
Mortgage: £27,535 (49% paid) Aim £25,000 by December 2015
New House Mortgage £197,836 (4% Paid) Aim £194,000 by December 2015
#153 Save 12k in 2015 Challenge: £15,697£12,000
I have to admit, I think of a cheapskate more as someone who may not care about the quality just to save a few pennies, rather than someone who is money savvy, iyswim.
Our Precious Baby Tianna has now joined our Family, she is much loved and very welcome, xxx
I think this is what most of us define a cheapskate but...
When I turn up at the check-out with my range of basic products I bet you they would have a look of confusion on their faces if they seen what car I get into! I bet they would label me as a cheapskate in a negative way!!
I know one particular couple I would label as cheapskates (in a negative way) because of how they make out that they shop at M&S but spend their time at Aldi. Not that there is anything wrong with Aldi as I shop there alone with Lidil when I'm not buying Sainsburys basic products.
As it is a few of the wiser ones no I am saving for a house and actually encourage my behaviour.
The other point touched on above is once I have my house even if I can afford the top brands it will be asda smart price for me, as I pointed to somebody I work with if they dropped the brands at home and stopped buying there dinner everyday in town they could afford a foreign holiday every year (or in most cases clear some of there credit cards).
The best bit is at some point each one has asked me where to get something cheap or how to save money, I have been referred to as one of Martin Lewis's prophets!
Quit day job to run 3 businesses 08/02/2017
Started third business 25/06/2016
Son born 13/09/2015
Started a second business 03/08/2013
Officially the owner of my own business since 13/01/2012
Anyway, thanks to networking, this guy managed to stay on, and once the redundancy waves were over, he started... harassing me sexually! He obviously thought that I didn't have a good memory, and that I would be bowled over at the prospect of getting laid with a 50-year old, overweight (with a beer belly), married Manager. I ignored him or turned around and walked away when he crossed my path, and after 1 year, he eventually stopped harassing me, although he has now been busy poisoning people's minds against me, for over a year, making sexual jokes about me, remarks about my bum etc. Business trips are back in, and he now regularly travels to Paris to get drunk and see prostitutes... I am looking for another job!
Unlike my colleagues, I never buy any food (or drinks) at work; I always bring home made sandwiches, and my own teabags. Besides saving money, I don't have to worry (too much) about my weight!
Unlike my colleagues again, I don't shop at Asda or Primark every weekend: I buy new suits/blouses/cashmere jumpers/hand sewn shoes when I can afford them, and these last me for years. For example, I have 3 smart blouses which I've been wearing for nearly 25 years (not every day, a couple of days each year!), suits which I've been wearing for up to 10 years (I currently have over a dozen of them, which I rotate), cashmere jumpers and shoes which I've been wearing for up to 5 years (the shoes are resoled every 2 years or so, and since I have several pairs, I never wear the same pair two days in a row, my shoesmith advised me that shoes last longer if you let the leather 'rest', and use a shoe-tree). I haven't bought any new office clothes since 2007 (because money is very tight), but if I do get a better paid job, once I've put 3 months' salary aside, I'll fork out on a couple of new suits/blouses/shoes (without getting into debt). Then, when money will be tight again, at least I will have smart clothes to wear at work/for job interviews!