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What are you “cheap” for?

jaysonsmom said:
I’m cheap when it comes to beauty treatments. I color my own hair, get a $25 haircut 1-2x a year, drugstore makeup, self mani-pedi.

I also get clothes at discount clothing stores, never pay retail/Mall prices, but I think I always look put together and classy.
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Ditto! All of it! We are living the same life! :lol:
 
HVAC repair. Last time we had a repair done, the guy fixed in 15 minutes and $150 what I had spent a couple of years having others try to fix including completely all new furnace installed. That was one hint to not trust a lot of companies. Now at the new house, the heat pump started making bad noises. I had the best rated people that are local and everyone loves come out just to tell me there is nothing wrong with it and the noise is normal (it isn't). He said that the system is pretty good except the air handler which is too old to even bother repairing if anything happened as it would be $$$$ parts and weeks or longer waiting for them to be ordered. Well, that is exactly what went out. Rather than call for repair, we did some looking online. Parts were about $250 and there were YouTube videos on how to do it. Seriously. 15 minutes and $250 in parts that were available over the counter. (Same repair on similar sytem at previous house was $2,400 when done by a professional...) We did some more digging and found the noise was loose screws BUT you can also see the usual wearing patterns. $130 bought all the parts needed to make the heat pump run like new. Haven't put them in yet, but it looks like about 15 minutes.
 
Can't say I am that cheap for beauty treatments as I have a monthly haircut by one of the top stylists/cutters costing nearly 50 GBP per month.

I have booked my hair appointments up to February 2025 so that I could plan my holidays around them. :lol-2:

DK :))
 
I find that more of my grocery shopping is for sale items than what I need. If I find it on sale, I buy it because I will eventually need it. Better than paying full price! Then I build meals around what I have bought and plan that way.
Most of my clothes and shoes and purses are bought on sale. If I see something I like, I wait for a sale. Requires me checking back online over and over but it pays off.
I do pay for great haircuts but do my color, mani/pedis myself. I wait for sales on cosmetics but don’t skimp on what I want or what works for me in that department. I also don’t pay for shipping even if it means having to buy another item to avoid it. You can always find something that you can use to avoid the shipping.
Diamonds are another story! I love super ideal cut diamonds and can justify them to myself nine ways to Sunday! I am careful with much else so I feel ok splurging on the sparklies!
 
canuk-gal said:
OH NO! No tatters allowed!!! LOLOLOL
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You are a better woman than me. LOL My favorite house shirt is this over sized $5 Margaritaville shirt I found at Sam’s Club when we first got married. It’s full of holes and paint splatters, but you can pry it out from my cold dead hands. This is why I absolutely abhor people who show up at my house unannounced!!
Ibrakeforpossums said:
dk168, I'm wearing a 60 yr. old turtleneck as I type but will not be without Chanel #19.
I color my own hair and wash and reuse ziploc bags. Lipstick from the Dollar Store. Barefoot merlot - "It's Not That Bad."
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That’s another thing I refuse to spend money on. Expensive drinks. On the rare occasion I order drinks on vacation, it’s always got to be the cheapest one and make it last through the whole meal. Happy hour? Even better. I consider modelos my home splurge, and my go-to drink of choice at home is miller lite. :lol-2: As I always say, they all do the same thing anyway.
 
When my eye makeup smudges a bit under my eyes, I break a Q-tip in half to wipe it off. Just one half works!

And in restaurants, I bring home the extra napkins that the waiter or waitress brings to the table. I know that they will just be thrown away. It’s not so much about being cheap, but I hate to see the waste.
 
Cars. I don't buy second hand or super cheap cars, but, comparatively, we keep it safe, comfortable, and equivalent to what we know about cars and their maintenance (ie zero, so they have to always run), and then go as low as we can go while still getting those things.

ie Mazda. We've been driving them for years and probably always will. NOT top of the line. New and comfortable, but baaaaasic. Like - you know all those "touring models"? Yeah - never even sat in one. So long as we can get comfortably, safely, and reliably from A to B - what on earth is the benefit of a fancy car? We live in an area filled with very nice cars. It's like Audi and Volvo have some sort of sales monopoly on my immediate vicinity. But not us, baby! And if we could get it cheaper - we would!

And every day clothes. I have nice going-out clothes, but for every day - JJill interlock pants and t-shirts, 7 days a week.

And underpants for sure. In that I gave up wearing them years ago. Like - WHY?

Any money I save, I spend on my dogs; the canine money pits of life. I mean - seriously - you think this coat is gonna take care of ITSELF??

Photo of Cirrus at show in NY.png
 
A lot of my habits are a continuation of habits formed in my early poor days, though I did get more upscale for a few years in our highest earning period.

I don't bother with coupons anymore but usually pick the cheaper brands at the grocery store, buy in bulk and get a lot of basic foods rather than processed or prepared. Cars are economy models and driven for a long time. Clothes are usually from the discount stores. I get cheapish haircuts and color my hair myself, do my nails myself, clean my own house and no longer eat out that much. I pretend to work out at home rather than paying for a gym membership haha.

But I spend more (sometimes way out of sync with the rest of my spending level) on things I do especially want. That can be anything but is usually jewelry, medical/spa beauty treatments, bargain to mid-level vacations and sometimes on my (grown) kids. So I guess like a lot of people, we try to keep the basic expenses down but splurge on what we really want.
 
monarch64 said:
Gonna piggyback off your comment.

Clothes are such a racket, and fast fashion is an actual problem I’m happy to stop contributing to.

(Warning: generalizing of generations forthcoming)

Elder millenials/younger Gen X remember going out to the clubs in work attire—we wore black pants, dressy tops, and we’d put a jacket or sweater over those tops to wear to the office. We couldn’t afford three sets of clothing—work appropriate, going out, and super casual—so we made everything transitional. Looking back at pics it’s like where were we going, work or the bars? You can only tell by the lighting.

I spent the better part of my twenties in retail management and then in buying into my thirties. I never ever ever have or will pay much for clothing. My BS is in fashion and I very much appreciate couture, etc., but I don’t run in circles that require that type of attire. I’m well-versed in garment construction and textiles, so I’m confident in choosing quality items I know will last for years. I buy the occasional trendy or splurgy piece but for the most part I’ve honed my wardrobe into natural fibers and neutrals. This summer I’ve lived in cotton gauze wide leg pants from GAP and double cloth cotton gauze button down tunics from Free People. The latter were pricey but the cost per wear far outweighs the initial investment. I started WFH in 2017 and have been able to drastically cut down on spending on clothes. Now I have a daughter who thankfully is in school uniforms for the next couple more years but I am not looking forward to high school wardrobe crises and drama. Lol

WRT undies, wow do I resent having to pay big bucks for nice bras. Spending so much on something I don’t get to see feels very wrong and I hate it. The bulk packages of undies are convenient, but I am a stickler for a perfect fitting panty and get mine à la carte from (of all places) Aerie. They frequently have 8 for $30 sales and I can get my exact size, cut, material online AND get some fun colors. A couple times a year I just get a bulk order of basics—black and a shade of “nude” that works with my skin tone.

Oh, feminine hygiene products. I bought generic tampons for YEARS. The pink tax is bullsh*t but at least now we have reusable options like menstrual cups.

Influencer culture has introduced a newer term for being cheap on things—“dupes” (short for duplicates) means a cheaper version of a more expensive branded product. The most common items I see are makeups, hair product, and clothing that has gone viral. I kind of prefer this term, it’s like the new version of “frugalista” from the 2000s.
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I love reading your posts @monarch64 , always erudite!!!!

I buy a lot of bulk undies--I shrink them way too often or just get tired of them and toss them. I wish I could get a perfect fit--if I find something I like I'll buy multiples but then I find the sizing or something has changed. :rolleyes:
 
Patty said:
When my eye makeup smudges a bit under my eyes, I break a Q-tip in half to wipe it off. Just one half works!

And in restaurants, I bring home the extra napkins that the waiter or waitress brings to the table. I know that they will just be thrown away. It’s not so much about being cheap, but I hate to see the waste.
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Straws, cutlery. I sometimes choose restaurants based on how many leftovers I can get by taking some home. Pretty much all restaurants these days serve triple portions.
 
canuk-gal said:
I love reading your posts @monarch64 , always erudite!!!!

I buy a lot of bulk undies--I shrink them way too often or just get tired of them and toss them. I wish I could get a perfect fit--if I find something I like I'll buy multiples but then I find the sizing or something has changed. :rolleyes:
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The undie store i mentioned isn’t perfect—every few years they discontinue my favorites. Fortunately they keep making enough of a selection that I can always find something that works. And I like them because they were one of the first to incorporate models of different sizes and abilities, used NO airbrushing, and offered adaptive undergarments. While Abercrombie was gleefully discriminating back in the early 2010s, AEO/Aerie quietly made changes and positioned itself as a brand associated with inclusivity. Very smart business move.

While I don’t wear their apparel, with the exception of a cardigan or basic tee since their target market is teens/twenties, their underwear options aren’t necessarily all cutesy and no one’s seeing them anyway. They have dupes of several popular Hanky Panky and Cosabella styles for a fraction of the price ($30 for a lace thong? Haha no thank you) so as long as they’re around I’m gonna keep buying.
 
I carry reusable straws with me. If they accidentally still put paper/plastic straws on the table, I tell them to take them back. I know that if they don’t take them back right away, they will just throw them away and that defeats the purpose of my reusable straws. My grandkids always ask me for one of my straws now.
 
mrs-b said:
Cars. I don't buy second hand or super cheap cars, but, comparatively, we keep it safe, comfortable, and equivalent to what we know about cars and their maintenance (ie zero, so they have to always run), and then go as low as we can go while still getting those things.

ie Mazda. We've been driving them for years and probably always will. NOT top of the line. New and comfortable, but baaaaasic. Like - you know all those "touring models"? Yeah - never even sat in one. So long as we can get comfortably, safely, and reliably from A to B - what on earth is the benefit of a fancy car? We live in an area filled with very nice cars. It's like Audi and Volvo have some sort of sales monopoly on my immediate vicinity. But not us, baby! And if we could get it cheaper - we would!

And every day clothes. I have nice going-out clothes, but for every day - JJill interlock pants and t-shirts, 7 days a week.

And underpants for sure. In that I gave up wearing them years ago. Like - WHY?

Any money I save, I spend on my dogs; the canine money pits of life. I mean - seriously - you think this coat is gonna take care of ITSELF??

Photo of Cirrus at show in NY.png
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We learned our lesson with brand new trucks that are top of the line model. My husband has always had shi*** cars growing up. When we got married, we were still broke and had a “danger ranger” so dangerous it wiggles if you go over 45 mph. The seats were also duck taped too, and we have no air too boot. But I miss that truck so much. All of our happiest newly wed trips where we scraped Pennies were made in that truck. We had to put in our burned CDs (mind you this was 2014), like who “burns” cds anymore to play our music. And boy would they keep jumping. We’d be laughing crying when the CD would get stuck and we’ll scream at the top of our lungs and sing along with the broken record. We got comfortable a year after and got a top of the line truck. It died 2 weeks after. We got screamed at saying it is impossible that a new truck’s transmission would die, so we accepted a repair, and after a 2 year battle and more problems and a lawsuit, yup. That truck was a lemon. We bought a used truck cash upfront that we put through hell and back and while it has its problems, it lasted us longer than that new top of the line truck. We are in the market for another truck. (Why trucks you ask? I’m an avid gardener and I need my mulch and soil and stones loaded into it.). I still miss our old danger ranger.

And cute dog! Luckily I work in vet med and it costs me close to nothing to get them taken care of. A compromise for not so good pay. :oops2::razz:
 
Patty said:
I carry reusable straws with me.
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I do too, not because it's cheap but to try to be environmentally aware and plastic straws add to the problem. I always say "no straw" when ordering something to drink.
 
Lookinagain said:
I do too, not because it's cheap but to try to be environmentally aware and plastic straws add to the problem. I always say "no straw" when ordering something to drink.
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No straws and no plastic cutlery I don’t consider cheap, it’s being environmentally conscious. I recoil because I know people who regularly eat with paper plates and plastic cutlery because they don’t want to wash dishes. I’m a transplant to the US and only have been here only almost a decade. (Asian people would literally wash “single use cutlery” and keep reusing.) I was starting to adapt to their ways until a friend of mine came for a visit and told me upfront. “Americans are so wasteful”. Now I have that voice everytime I leave the tap water on while brushing my teeth, etc. I thanked her about that and she never even remembered saying it. I said, you changed the whole trajectory of my life, so thank you.
 
nala said:
Anything that I can and enjoy doing myself. I do my own nails, dye and style my own hair, etc.
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I remember trying to go from jet black to blonde hair and I spent almost $300 per visit so I just let it go and grew out my natural hair. I also held off on haircuts until I finally went home for a visit (my hair was up to my waist at this point.) It cost me a whole $1 to get a nice haircut AND a blowout. Needless to say, I tipped VERY generously. My youngest sister and I made a whole bonding moment dyeing both of our hair. I believe it cost us about $4 to get professional hair dye and do it ourselves back home. I brought some back to the US with me but I think I’ll wait until I come back and do it with her again. It was a really enjoyable experience.
 
Patty said:
When my eye makeup smudges a bit under my eyes, I break a Q-tip in half to wipe it off. Just one half works!

And in restaurants, I bring home the extra napkins that the waiter or waitress brings to the table. I know that they will just be thrown away. It’s not so much about being cheap, but I hate to see the waste.
Click to expand...

i take the paper servettes too
stash them in the car glove box and in my bag for emergencies

also the sauces from chicken nuggets
i actually hate all the sauces, but i know that Gary will use them on something
...cant haave been going to MacDonalds much as none in the pantry for ages

as for straws i have always hated them and back in the day always tossed them out of my drink before i took a sip
im pretty sure single use straws are illagal here now
 
Not sure if I had mentioned this or not, however, when I go out and about, I can do cheap eats at noodle bars, street food stalls and fast food joints at one end of the scale.

DK :))
 
jaysonsmom said:
I’m cheap when it comes to beauty treatments. I color my own hair, get a $25 haircut 1-2x a year, drugstore makeup, self mani-pedi.

I also get clothes at discount clothing stores, never pay retail/Mall prices, but I think I always look put together and classy.
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This. I color my own hair and paint my own toes. I hate paying for things I can do myself. I like nice clothes, bags and shoes but I buy exclusively from sale sections or the discount versions of the high end department stores. I don’t enjoy clothes shopping so I prefer to buy something that lasts and since I have classic ( plain ) taste, fast fashion has never appealed to me.
 
Daisys and Diamonds said:
i take the paper servettes too
stash them in the car glove box and in my bag for emergencies

also the sauces from chicken nuggets
i actually hate all the sauces, but i know that Gary will use them on something
...cant haave been going to MacDonalds much as none in the pantry for ages

as for straws i have always hated them and back in the day always tossed them out of my drink before i took a sip
im pretty sure single use straws are illagal here now
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Daisy, I wish that restaurants here would stop providing straws. They are so bad for the environment. I went to a restaurant with friends yesterday and they brought our water cups to the table with straws already in them. Crazy.
 
dk168 said:
Not sure if I had mentioned this or not, however, when I go out and about, I can do cheap eats at noodle bars, street food stalls and fast food joints at one end of the scale.

DK :))
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I wish we have good street food here! They always have the best comforting food!
 
Patty said:
Daisy, I wish that restaurants here would stop providing straws. They are so bad for the environment. I went to a restaurant with friends yesterday and they brought our water cups to the table with straws already in them. Crazy.
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it took what seemed like a long while for the ban to go through here
the odd person still asks for a straw when they buy a drink at work

anyway once they started talking about a ban i began to notice all the straws disgarded on the streets of Wellington, all to end up in the gutter and down the stormwater drains into the harbor ..
.dont start me on ciggerette butts
 
Food and I do not know how I got this way. I shop at a club store and repackage into smaller bags or containers. Sometimes we splurge on meat and pay a bit more at a store that raises their own cows, pigs and chickens. I cook almost everything from scratch and make homemade dog food to supplement the dry food and make dog treats. I cut all the fat off of beef and pork, freeze it and when I have enough I turn it into lard for the suet feeder cakes that I make.
 
Lisa Loves Shiny said:
Food and I do not know how I got this way. I shop at a club store and repackage into smaller bags or containers. Sometimes we splurge on meat and pay a bit more at a store that raises their own cows, pigs and chickens. I cook almost everything from scratch and make homemade dog food to supplement the dry food and make dog treats. I cut all the fat off of beef and pork, freeze it and when I have enough I turn it into lard for the suet feeder cakes that I make.
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you know, a lot of peoples comments show that they are frugal, but that doesn't always mean "cheap" and I do think there is difference. If I knew how to make my own suet for the birds, I would, but I'm afraid I'd kill them and I definitely don't want to do that. I didn't know you could use pork. I thought it was only beef. Lesson learned. thanks.
 
Lookinagain said:
you know, a lot of peoples comments show that they are frugal, but that doesn't always mean "cheap" and I do think there is difference. If I knew how to make my own suet for the birds, I would, but I'm afraid I'd kill them and I definitely don't want to do that. I didn't know you could use pork. I thought it was only beef. Lesson learned. thanks.
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You're welcome! I melt the lard and mix in chopped nuts and freeze dried mealworms. I add some almond, walnut or pecan flour to thicken it up but a lot of people use corn meal for that. Almond flour at the club store is priced very well as well as mealworms on Amazon so I don't pay more to make the suet cakes than buying high quality ones. I put the mixture in a baking tray, cut the suet cakes into squares when the mixture is firm enough, and freeze them. :)
 
Lisa Loves Shiny said:
You're welcome! I melt the lard and mix in chopped nuts and freeze dried mealworms. I add some almond, walnut or pecan flour to thicken it up but a lot of people use corn meal for that. Almond flour at the club store is priced very well as well as mealworms on Amazon so I don't pay more to make the suet cakes than buying high quality ones. I put the mixture in a baking tray, cut the suet cakes into squares when the mixture is firm enough, and freeze them. :)
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Petco usually has a really good deal on mealworms depending on what section you look in. My hamsters love meal worms!
 
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