Being ‘tight’ with money - how tight are you with yours?

Sea_Shell

We've always been savers rather than spenders, and so i'd describe us as being "careful" with money. It's now paying off as we are on the cusp of FIRE. (some would argue we're already there!!!)

If someone was in genuine need, or I want to contribute to a cause then I do give.

But what gets my goat is being expected to give (or being obligated to give). e.g. the office collection for a colleague that you hardly know and who's been their for 2 minutes and is now having a baby!!!

If that makes me "tight" then so be it....i'm not bothered what others think to be fair.

staffie1

They’re wealthy because they control their expenditure. You can either spend or accumulate money. Once it’s spent, it’s gone. Sounds obvious, but many people don’t see it, and after they’ve blown their income each month, start moaning about how skint they are!

MisterMotivated

staffie1 wrote: »

after they’ve blown their income each month, start moaning about how skint they are!

In some places I've worked in the past, it seems to be like a badge of honour to have no money. It wouldn't be the first time I've had people complain about how they've no money and it's only the middle of the month, or ask me "how are you not skint? It's a week before payday!"

Vet

MisterMotivated wrote: »

In some places I've worked in the past, it seems to be like a badge of honour to have no money. It wouldn't be the first time I've had people complain about how they've no money and it's only the middle of the month, or ask me "how are you not skint? It's a week before payday!"

I completely agree - some of my colleagues will go out for the 1st and 2nd weekends of the month on all out binges and then when we get to the end of the month they will have literally £4 to their name to last them a week or more!

MisterMotivated

In some places, it was so common, I often felt like I had to pretend I was skint at the end of the month just to seem "normal".

slinkydonkey

I'm starting to think this, one of my "friends" who got given a house to live in by his parents is always calling me tight. Just because I don't always pay what he thinks is fair now his friends call me tight just because he does. What I hate the most is when you for a meal at a resturant and I don't drink yet you end up having to pay for everyone ele's wine/booze then if you object you get called tight. It's bullying really.

Owain_Moneysaver

Lrimas wrote: »

My ex was 'tight' with money. I remember he once bought me flowers and when I thanked him he replied with: "I got them on special".

That's not tight.

Careful would be getting clubcard points and credit card cashback on the flowers too.

Tight is asking for the free giftwrap and then unwrapping it carefully for re-use.

Mean would be saying "I've left the receipt in, you can pay me back later"

Creepy would be smirking and saying "You can thank me later" :eek:

debtfreeforlife

'Tight' to me means being selfish with money - thrifty is just using what you have efficiently and sensibly. I'd interpret things like not tipping a waiter who has provided acceptable service as tight, trying to avoid paying your fair share of a bill, etc. Companies which are registered in tax havens are tight.



I also believe those who have extremely large amounts of spare cash but do not consider donating even a tiny amount to those less fortunate are tight but realise this may be controversial.

debtfreeforlife

And just to clarify, when I say 'fair share of a bill' I mean what a person themselves has consumed. In my view those who go overboard ordering and then ask to split the bill equally are the tight ones!

System

Interesting reading. After some definitions of "tight" I think perhaps I don't fall into that category after all. I always thought I was tight with money. I just like to look after it and nurture it rather than set it free!!

I used to get very frustrated years and years ago when I was in my late teens and I wanted to go out with friends on a Saturday evening. Towards the end of each month none of them wanted to go because they had no money. Obviously I wasn't going to go out on my own, and I wasn't going to sub anyone for a drink because they hadn't budgeted properly (maybe that's tight, but I did have more than one friend!!!!). To be fair, I am lucky that I kept my friends as I would make half a pint of coke last all evening until it was flattish! Weirdly, I still do. I take forever to drink a drink if we are out, even though I am not aware that I am doing it. Before anyone asks, I have never bought a round …………. and neither have any of my friends when we've been out. We have always paid for our own drinks, even now that we are all getting on a bit in years.

Parsimonious is the same as tight, isn't it. Shame, as I really like the word!!!!!!!!!

I'm now having a think about how others might perceive me and my attitude to spending (or not, as the case may be). Yikes!!