How much of a cheap bastard are you?

[Chad Fuck 17,679]

44 minutes ago, bluto said:

I subsidize my prime and slingtv by adding sub accounts or selling the extra logins. Why the f not?

We use my sister-in-law's Netflix account.  My brother-in-law named it "Mrs. F's soft core porn account."  Then I loaded it up with soft core porn and blamed it on him.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

I like this RD fella.

He and my old coathanger "radio antenna" woulda gotten along just fine.

We bought a $20 antenna and killed cable a couple months ago. Broadcast tv is actually more interesting. Also, we read library books and "imagine" what is happening.

[Walden Ponderer 12,639]

No joke, if something costs more than $10, in our family, we have a meeting before buying it.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

2 hours ago, Trey3216 said:

You should just take the quarters/dimes/nickels to your bank and cash them in, after you check for any pre-64 quarters.  Then you take the cash to your local coin shop and buy silver with it.  No receipt.  No nothing.  Cash for store of value.  I do it at the end of every month.  Usually get 8-12 oz of silver for my throwaway money.  

I used to do that at a coin store nearby, the dude was really cool with taking a pile of cupronickel coins in exchange for a few 90% silver coins. But he retired. There is a new coin shop, but they acted all foo-foo about taking coins, and nowadays it's always a pack of guys in there plotting to buy cryptos with credit cards, so I drifted away.

I don't have a local bank anymore, because I fired them. I reactivated my UFCU Austin account (I kept 5 dollars in it plus an IRA, and they haven't charged me a fee in 18 years), that's what I use for direct deposits. I am 3 states away from Texas, but instead of paying ATM fees, I occasionally get $20 cash back at my grocery store, no fee unless you count me buying a biscuit in order to get the cash. When I get a paper check, a local Credit Union deposits it to UFCU for me, no charge.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

2 hours ago, Jiggy-Z said:

Avoid the toll road heading east out 71 to Bastrop-so I sit in a couple of light meh.

 

Also do the same going to Lockhart.

Once I took that toll road east of Austin for free, by staying on the frontage road. Had a pleasant puttputt drive, probably saved a little gas too.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

Who likes to repair stuff? I don't like a piece of clothing until it has an extra stitch or two in it.  

[Wally Fairway 5,548]

1 hour ago, fattyflattie said:

Wally, have you been like that forever? iirc from the scat site, you had a bad go with your industry last few years?  Reason I ask, I am trying to channel my inner cheapness constantly, but have really tightened up since the O&G hiccup moved me to a less prosperous employment.  We do have the kids “make” cards for all the dozens of parties we have to attend. I agree, fuck 4-9$ for a birthday card. 

I haven't been this cheap forever, but yeah going through that rough stretch sure made me aware of some things that I didn't need to buy.
I used to not worry so much about the ups/downs of the stock market or cyclical businesses, because I was young enough to ride the tide and I always felt like it would be better long-term.
But you get old enough and you start to realize you can't work forever, and that long-term I'm going to be dead (closer to that than to being born)

[Walden Ponderer 12,639]

16 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

Who likes to repair stuff? I don't like a piece of clothing until it has an extra stitch or two in it.  

Oh, hells yeah. And it came from the thrift store in the first place. Like hell am I paying new clothes prices, when "new" doesn't matter a damn.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

We had a tree die out back, we paid the dudes to cut it down and slice it up, but then when they offered to haul it off for only $400, I was like, "No, I like it where it is." It was remarkably heavy. I dug garden terraces and used lots of the logs to line them. Some of the bigger pieces, I laid some skids on the ground and whomp whomp walked the big logs along them to the very back of the yard where they rot in the underbrush with rabbits and chipmunks dodging under them. 

The truly huge sections sit where the tree guys left them, until the end of the world or until I pay to have them moved. Probably until the end of the world.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

Once I was wishing I had a guitar that made a certain sound. My lead guitarist knew exactly the guitar I needed, could get it for a smoove $1,000 at ?Mars? whatever that Walmart of Music was. I thought it was a great idea. My Dad heard about it and actually gave me $1000 in cash.

Then I figured out that if I held my hand a slightly different way on the guitar I'd owned since I was 17, it made that $1000 sound. I did that instead.

[jimmyjazz 45,934]

Yeah, I'm not paying someone to haul away free firewood.  I had a pin oak come down in my front yard.  It took out a streetlight and fell halfway across the road.  I put an ad on craigslist and said first guy to cut it up and haul it off gets it for free . . . it was gone in 3 hours.  City of Austin took care of their streetlight.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

You gonna throw away those cans?

[Agent 13 314]

3 hours ago, Hellraiser97 said:

I watered it, but I think I had some type of fungus.  I've now installed rainwater barrels (that I got for free of course from a friend) so I can water it more and not pay for it.

A little cheap-ass, off-brand cornmeal could take of that grass fungus. No joke.

[Chet Steadman 940]

I think some of you may be confusing being cheap with being poor?

[Chad Fuck 17,679]

1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

Once I was wishing I had a guitar that made a certain sound. My lead guitarist knew exactly the guitar I needed, could get it for a smoove $1,000 at ?Mars? whatever that Walmart of Music was. I thought it was a great idea. My Dad heard about it and actually gave me $1000 in cash.

Then I figured out that if I held my hand a slightly different way on the guitar I'd owned since I was 17, it made that $1000 sound. I did that instead.

Don't ever come to the guitarpron thread.

[PantsTent 2,002]

6 hours ago, RDCanecutter said:

For some normal cheap ass stuff:

I use cash to make myself save money by not swiping a card. When I "eat out" I tend to keep it around $2. Save the change, roll it up, and take it to the grocery store for 12 packs of cheap beer. Pennies go into the coin star. But to hell with losing 11% of my dimes and quarters, those I roll.

Broke my "real" phone, and replaced it with a $20 Go phone. Years ago.

Been driving the same jeepish little car for 18 years. I lavish money on the mechanics so I can save triple that in car payments. The fabric top is missing the sides. Would cost about $400 to replace. In winter, I wear extra clothes and imagine that I just earned 400 bucks. For about ten winters so far.

Fixed up an old bike I bought in the 90s. It works great. Thought I'd have to replace the 10-year-old inner tubes. So far, no.

You put "eat out" in quotes, but $2 full meals are hard to come by.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

1 hour ago, Chad Fuck said:

Don't ever come to the guitarpron thread.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

4 minutes ago, PantsTent said:

You put "eat out" in quotes, but $2 full meals are hard to come by.

I graze. Never pay for the sugar water. Usually skip the fries. Down in the hidden part of the menu, there's usually something semi-healthy for a dollar or two.

Eat out is in quotes, because obviously these ain't sit-down restaurants. Was a time we'd go dump 50 bucks on meals. No more.

[Mez2 4,023]

I'm so cheap, my Jewish friends blush

[Guest Lobo]

I'm so cheap...I buy moderately-priced beer.  Then I keep it chilled at home in one of my refrigerators.  Sometimes I take a few of them with me to myriad events for boating, fishing, festivals, tailgates, games, etc.  And I'll place those beers on ice in a cheap, inexpensive cooler of some sort for a few hours.  And that beer will stay cold and I'll drink all of it.  And/or give a few away.  And I'll conclude the day having enjoyed a few ice-cold beers.  Because I don't think spending $400 on a YETI makes any sense.  I wake up, I load a cheap cooler with cheap beer and ice, I do some shit in the outdoors, I drink the beer, I return home.  And I have just as much fun as the guy with the hat, the sticker, and the homeowner's insurance policy on his cooler.  

Cheap coolers signify to me that you came to drink, not image-drop.  

[MNLonghornFUKM 8,817]

I do an internal fist pump when my wife and mother in law want to get Taco Bell than chipotle/moes...the 3 of us can eat there for 12 compared to 30+ at the other burrito places.

Edited May 1, 2018 by MNLonghornFUKM

[BurntOrangeCrush 1,011]

When I am traveling for business, I will eat lunch at Jason's Deli and get the salad bar. I will ask for a to-go box when I am done and stuff a crap load of crackers, muffins, and mixed nuts so I can have snacks for my trip without having to stop at a c-store.

[ImissWallyPryor 9,046]

I took several bags of paperwork to Staples to be shredded. They charge by the pound. I asked them to subtract the weight of the 6 plastic bags since I was keeping those... yes, to reuse. 

[dingleberryswitzer 2,724]

I will often throw the extra chips and tortillas left over in a to go box.  I figure they just throw them away.

I also haven't paid for a haircut in forever.  My wife made me get it done by a pro before our wedding and they used electric clippers just like I would have done.

I tried to get my daughter to wear get older brothers clothes when she was a baby.

I pretty much won't buy othes unless they are on sale. Ive bought several pairs of shoes on ebay.

 

[next2naus 439]

23 hours ago, Chad Fuck said:

I knew a fellow who was so cheap that when we went hunting and ran across a rattlesnake, he leaned his shotgun against a tree, then found a stick to beat the poor thing to death with.  All to save one shell. 

and to not scare off game

[Eddyline 116]

22 hours ago, Wally Fairway said:

I am, personally, trying to ruin the greeting card industry.

For birthdays, valentines, mothers day, etc. instead of buying cards I just to a couple of stores, find a few cards that I like, whip out my phone and take pictures of the cards.
Then when said day arrives, I text the photos to my family; I also send my adult kids pictures of birthday cakes, and tWife gets pictures  of roses, candies and other things that cost too much and either spoil or we don't really need.

FWIW - I am waiting to be kicked out of a store for my shenanigans, but fuck $4-$6-$9 for some stupid card.

I am inspired.  Mothers Day is right around the corner.

[Chad Fuck 17,679]

19 minutes ago, next2naus said:

and to not scare off game

If you were out there, this may've been the case.  

But you're giving him way, way too much credit.  

 

[Bat Guano 359]

I grow my own weed.

[Slacks 6,820]

22 hours ago, deadshank said:

I've got a 14" long pecker.  I only give the ladies about 6" of it because I'm a cheap bastard.

look at this guy... bragging about how much he gives his boyfriend.  NTTAWWT.

[High Plains Drifter 11,049]

I cut my own hair, which is easy as I run a no guard electric razor over my skull once a week. I only shave twice a week (saves on razor blades).

I snack on whatever my youngest brings home in his lunch box.

I shamelessly pick up old golf balls from the driving range, and play with those. Even the yellow ones.

I do as much of my own car maintenance, lawn care, and home repair as I can.

Water the lawn with water from rain barrels when possible.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

Yeah, I have been using the same $10 clippers to shave my head for about a decade.

When they break, will probably let it grow out a la Crusty the Clown.

[Apep 645]

On 4/30/2018 at 12:35 PM, RollLeft said:

Is Aldi legit on quality or are we talking a family dollar level of shopping experience, nttawwt?  

Aldi is great if you know how to shop there and if you have a decent store in your area. (Some locations are disgusting.) If you're shopping for your elementary kid's lunch and are buying juice boxes, bread, PBJ, chips, lunch meat. fruit snacks, cheese sticks, etc., they are great. They have a good selection of inexpensive nuts and trail mixes. Eggs, butter, and milk have hard-to-beat prices. Frozen products are good, but it is clear they make their money on things like fries and tots, (small portions and relatively higher prices). Frozen veggies are cost competitive, but the portions are small. Rice, beans, tortillas, and cheese, you might as well shop at Walmart in terms of prices. Cereal is the same way, but Walmart wins on price and larger sizes. Aldi pizzas are great. Not much selection, but the prices cannot be beat and they are about the same as cheap deli pizzas anywhere else. Their chocolate cannot be beat in terms of quality and price.

The best recommendation I can give is that when I shop at Aldi for just a handful of things that I need for dinner, I will always spend much less than at Walmart. The only problem is that I still end up shopping at Walmart or on Amazon for some items, mostly cleaning supplies and toiletries.

[Shoxthemonkey 1,977]

I have never spent more than $100 for any outdoor power equipment. Everything I have I picked up at garage sales or craigslist. I find what I want with an engine problem and it's even better. Small engines are remarkably easy to repair and ebay is full of cheap repair parts. I have a pair of John Deere STX38 mowers and spent $75 each. First one had a broken hood and the guys wife was ashamed to be seen on it. I've been using it for about 10 years without a hood. The second had a deck with rust holes and dents. A couple hours with a  welder and large hammer and it works just like it should. I can't imagine that a $$$ mower would cut my grass any better.

[Angry Gorilla 1,766]

I ride in a G5 instead of a G6.

[RDCanecutter 26,435]

I left the house this morning with two paper dollars, a banana, and a travel mug of coffee. Figured it would last me until lunch when I'd be back home to eat some of the grilled chicken and corn on the cob filling the refrigerator.

Instead, I got invited to eat with some folks I know from Veracruz. I'm sitting in their kitchen with avocado & onion gorditas cooking almost at my elbow. Had six. And flan, Got sent away with a whole dish of more flan, another with multiple gorditas, and a half-dozen eggs from their chickens.

On the way home I rescued a box turtle that had wandered onto a busy road with nowhere to go. Has nothing to do with being cheap-- I like turtles.

Still got two paper dollars.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21,907]

You're not that cheap or you would be telling us about the turtle soup you made

[Reagan1k 3,024]

56 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

You're not that cheap or you would be telling us about the turtle soup you made

....and ate it from his new turtle shell soup bowl.

[Mr.Hovis 70]

I also cut my own hair, no need to pay someone else to do a  buzz cut. Got to keep it short or it grows into the "Reverse Mohawk". Try to do as much as I can in the way of repairs for home, autos, power equipment and such. Don't eat out near as much as we used to and always looking to save dollars when grocery shopping. Mrs. Hovis is a coupon freak. Have also eaten lunch at Costco on a few occasions,  their pizza slice or foot long and drink has to be one of the cheapest meals around. Hate cheaply made clothes though, so I would rather spend more for something that won't fall apart or shrink 2 sizes after the 1st wash. I have clothes that I know are older than some posters on here. Used to always stay in budget motels when vacationing/ business travel. That's getting dicey though , for a lot of reasons. After my dad passed away we tried to give his car away to any of the grandkids. No takers, none of 'em wanted to be seen in it. So I got a sweet 90's Geo Prism. Excellent gas mileage.

[El Diablo 4,232]

I pocket the per diem and keep a cooler full of lunch meat. 

[Sam Lin 3,557]

On 4/30/2018 at 9:03 AM, Sbbruin said:

I will say probably more than half of any new clothes I buy are from Costco.  And I got no shame wearing Kirkland dress shirts.  

Do you leave the tags on?

[ImissWallyPryor 9,046]

I keep a list on my phone of almost 100 items that we commonly buy at the grocery store. I have the unit price for each at Sam’s, WalMart, and Target. Sam’s is consistently 20-40% cheaper than the other two with a few odd exceptions, those being whole wheat pasta, canned white meat chicken, kcups, glucosamine + condroitin, and flax oil. 

[ulukinatme 1,763]

I cut my own hair, buy used tires, and when I finally upgraded to a smartphone a few years ago I went with a Samsung Galaxy S2 from 2011.

[BearMace 2,206]

1 hour ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

I keep a list on my phone of almost 100 items that we commonly buy at the grocery store. I have the unit price for each at Sam’s, WalMart, and Target. Sam’s is consistently 20-40% cheaper than the other two with a few odd exceptions, those being whole wheat pasta, canned white meat chicken, kcups, glucosamine + condroitin, and flax oil. 

Does this sheet update in real time?

[Sam Lin 3,557]

You really need to use one of the phone barcode scan apps that crawls and compares prices for each item before you buy.

[Stoogey 219]

2 hours ago, ulukinatme said:

buy used tires

Good thinking. Maybe you could go dumpster diving through the appliance store's recycling and pick yourself out a nice casket.

[52-80 19,156]

2 hours ago, Stoogey said:

Good thinking. Maybe you could go dumpster diving through the appliance store's recycling and pick yourself out a nice casket.

early death = less money spent on healthcare.

 

win-win.

[Sbbruin 21,852]

23 hours ago, High Plains Drifter said:

I cut my own hair

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

6 hours ago, 52-80 said:

early death = less money spent on healthcare.

 

win-win.

RD's diet is going to do the same.

Wife worked on the Ford Explorer/Firestone case.  Once you've seen the all the tire related fatality stats you wouldn't even plug a new tire.

How'd this thread get this far without discussing RD drives either a Suzuki Samurai or a Geo Tracker?

[Brisketexan 105,133]

How's this for a cheap bastard move (I haven't done it in years, but back when I was young and we'd go to NOLA to raise hell, this was a go-to move).

At some point in the evening, somebody wants to go to Pat O'Briens.  So, we go.  Signature drink -- Hurricane, served in the fancy souvenir glass for $12.  What most tourists don't know is that you can get it in a wax cup for $7 (or something like that), and you can SELL BACK your glasses to the bar for the difference.  So, they keep ordering them and getting extra glasses.  I'd spot a table of folks with a bunch of glasses in the middle -- clearly they've been drinking a lot, and clearly they have more glasses than they want for souvenirs.  I'd walk up to the table, and give 'em a sob story about how my little sister and her friend really want a souvenir -- could I have a couple of their extras?  It worked 90% of the time.  

I'd take two glasses, turn them in at the bar, pocket $10, and move on to another table.  I'd do that 4-5 times (it's a big place), pocket $40+, and finance my drinking adventures for the evening.

[Beau Vine 54,225]

On ‎5‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 6:54 AM, dingleberryswitzer said:

I will often throw the extra chips and tortillas left over in a to go box. 

Extra chips and tortillas left over?  

What does this even mean?