MovieChat Forums > Extreme Cheapskates (2011) Discussion > What are your best cheapskate tips?

What are your best cheapskate tips?

posted 11 years ago by Giwu
30 replies | jump to latest

So, I just discovered this show last night and now I'm watching the pilot on Netflix.

I did actually think the dryer lint in a toilet paper tube was kind of clever to help start a fire, I will remember that...but I won't go to a laundromat to get dryer lint.

The are a couple of times I kind of laugh, as is mentioned in other posts, these people aren't really that frugal, it is mugging for the camera.

My tip:

I put almost ALL of my expenses on a cash back credit card each month. I pay it off in full, over the phone. There is no interest, no postage stamp, no envelope. I usually make the call during a commercial break of whatever tv show I'm watching.
So, I very rarely use change. I know whe every single coin is, I put my change in a plastic container in my car. There is no need to be checking my couches, there won't be any money there.

These people spend a lot of time thinking they save money, but in the end, some of it has to balance out.

How much money did that guy spend on wear and tear of his car and gas to get a few packets of ketchup for free?

I haven't had anyone in my life get married lately, but when did ministers start charging $300 for an hour's work. How much did that woman pay to become an ordained minister?

I found a lot of the, "can I have this/can I have this for free" kind of offensive. It isn't just asking for charity, somebody paid for that, but since it wasn't you, it's okay to just expect them to hand it over. I frequently ask for a discount or if that is the "best price" for an item, but to just expect someone to give it to me for free....no.

How much time and gasoline is spent driving the cake for show back and forth?

I guess my time is more valuable than theirs.

All typos are hereby blamed on my iPad.

[–] jeff-father 10 years ago

I steal neighbors wifi to download movies from torrent sites. Saves me a lot of money

[–] tidalwaves1 10 years ago

I steal neighbors wifi to download movies from torrent sites

I hope you're joking, if not, you're lazy and what you're doing is illegal. Why not rent movies from a Redbox kiosk (it's only a dollar I believe) or, I dunno... just pay for cable like a normal person?

You remind me of a white crayon... totally useless.

[–] paxtonaddleman 10 years ago

This is really not okay.

Even if they have unlimited bandwidth, you are illegally downloading to their router, which could get them in trouble.

[–] paxtonaddleman 10 years ago

In Girl Scouts, we made campfire starters out of egg cartons (the cardboard ones, not the Styrofoam) and lint. We filled each egg section with lint and then a few drops of melted candle wax. Two or three egg sections got a campfire going very quickly.

[–] paxtonaddleman 10 years ago

We housesit for vacations. It usually means being someplace off-season, and usually having a few responsibilities (feed pets, water plants, collect mail, etc.), but lodging is free and we can stay on vacation longer.

Last time we housesat for a month at a farm. It was winter, so there was no real farm work to do. We just had to make sure the dogs & horses got exercise every day. So we went riding every morning and took the dogs along, and took the dogs out for a run in the fields each evening, and the rest of each day was ours.

[–] tidalwaves1 10 years ago

Last time we housesat for a month at a farm. It was winter, so there was no real farm work to do. We just had to make sure the dogs & horses got exercise every day. So we went riding every morning and took the dogs along, and took the dogs out for a run in the fields each evening, and the rest of each day was ours.

Sounds fun :)

You remind me of a white crayon... totally useless.

[–] msnell10 9 years ago

Michael's craft store has a large supply of fake flowers that can be crafted together into gorgeous bouquets and boutineers for bridesmaids and groomsmen. For wedding or birthday party supplies go to party city and dollar stores. These people must be acting because if you work the phones, internet, and check weekly circulars you can find great deals. And it doesn't hurt to have a family full of great cooks. Husband and I funded our wedding years ago for under $4000. That includes reception hall, limos ,cruise. I found a beautiful dress from a bridal shop on sale.

I don't have low self esteem, I have low esteem for everyone else.-Daria

[–] desrozenko 9 years ago

My apartment is situated to where the sun pelts down *hard* in the spring and summer months. I monitored where the sun hit during the day. I open all my windows during the morning hours if it's cool outside. By early afternoon I close the windows, close the blinds where the sun is hitting, and I'll close doors to contain heat. I only need ceiling fans by doing this. I didn't turn on my A/C until very late July this year, and I turned it on low for a few hours at a time. Many of my neighbors were running their A/C units all the time, but when I did that my bill was $125!! This time I ended up using my A/C only half the time and my bill was less than half that much.

Let me breathe, Let me see if my therapist is on speed dial.

[–] TorontoBlueJay 8 years ago

I also put everything I can on my credit card, but my Canadian bank allows automatic withdrawal on the date it is due (this might be allowed by US banks) At fast food joints, I take the small packs of salt and pepper, napkins and plastic utensils, and when I stay at hotels, I take everything in the coffee basket for home use. Sometimes I will take a small container to a buffet to get small desert items like mini pieces of cake for future desserts.