What is the most cheapskate thing you have done?

[Anonymous]

For 4 years after my divorce, I taught in a public school that was majority FARMS. A lot of kids would not drink the milk (lactose intolerant probably) and put it on a shelf by the trash after breakfast. The cafeteria was not allowed to reuse it so it was there for anyone to take until 8:15 am. After that, they were supposed to throw it away. At 8:16, I’d stop by and take whatever was left. Usually 4-6. Then, I ate cereal for breakfast and put the other bottles in the fridge for cereal for lunch or to take home to my own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom taught me to always put a little water in an "empty" spaghetti sauce jar and shake it to get all the sauce off, then add that to the already-poured-out sauce.

First time I did that with DH he was like WTF? Why are you watering down the sauce?

But I still obsessively do it.

I do this to make soup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I YouTubed the he’ll out of home improvement, gutted my kitchen and cut a hole in my exterior wall in January to put my window over my new sink so I didn’t have to pay a contractor $40k to renovate my 10x10 kitchen for me.

Sweat equity.

I do this with my car when replacing side -view mirrors, lights, fluids, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I use my 2-week contact lenses for 3 weeks.

I use mine for a month or two...I don’t wear them every day, though.

I think the most cheapskatey thing I do is reusing a tea bag, for a second cup of tea.

I wear my two week contacts until they start to hurt. Sometimes longer than a month. Been doing it for years. My eyes are always in great health. I won’t sleep in them though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to swipe Tylenol tablets from my parents when I was in grad school because I literally could not afford to buy a bottle.

Why didn’t you take the whole bottle and tell your mom you couldn’t afford one? Why wouldn’t she be happy to help?

[Anonymous]

I like a lot of these because they are either environmentally friendly or else they avoid useless waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely re-gift, but nice stuff I don’t want or need and I tag it with who gave it to me so I don’t give it back or to anyone in the same social circle.

My in-laws are the cheapest cheapskates and would only give plasticky dollar store crap to the grandkids for Christmas, so I started doing this with the cousins since they were all from that side of the family. Finally they (and indirectly me) were called out, so they stopped giving anything. They are loaded btw.

Hahaha, this is funny. My in-laws are cheap as f--k, too, and loaded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During college I went to a local theater that had free refills so one week I actually bought the popcorn and saved the bin. For the next 4 years i kept the same bin and refilled like 5 times each week during my weekly movie. Staff never realized that I never paid for popcorn. I still have the same bin folded up in a box for nostalgic purposes.

This may be the most fantastic thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I am cheap, but OP, you are my hero!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I YouTubed the he’ll out of home improvement, gutted my kitchen and cut a hole in my exterior wall in January to put my window over my new sink so I didn’t have to pay a contractor $40k to renovate my 10x10 kitchen for me.

Sweat equity.

I do this with my car when replacing side -view mirrors, lights, fluids, etc.

Neither of these things make either you a cheapskate. This is self-sufficient, prudent, and cost-effective. You're in a whole other category than the others on this thread, some of whom continually confuse being a cheapskate with theft. Bravo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-ask for a cup for water at Starbucks instead of buying a bottle
-mapping out the the guy comes to the parking meters so I don’t needlessly pay
-refusing to pay for garage parking on Sundays when street parking be is free. I’ll sit in my car at the end of the block and wait for someone to pull out.
-Taking home the food people bring to the office to share (bags of open chips leftover from the office party, opened 2L sodas etc).
-taking everyone’s cash contribution at dinner and putting the whole tab on my card so I get the points/miles
-not rounding up for the sitter (3 hours gets her $45, not $50)
-Made a challenge to myself to not buy kid clothes until elementary school. Every item is a hand me down except shoes.
-same with toys- all gifts or hand me downs or if I have store credit somewhere
-knowing the cheapest place to get gas (without having to drive far and waste gas)

Every item, including underwear?
Lady, you have a problem.

[Anonymous]

- camping for our honeymoon
- buying bras and bathing suits at the thrift store on half price day

[Anonymous]

My office provides free tampons and pads. I haven’t bought either in 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My office provides free tampons and pads. I haven’t bought either in 3 years.

This is the perk I'm going to miss most about the biglaw to government switch. Last time I purchased feminine hygiene products was 2014.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cut my own hair recently following a YouTube tutorial. It actually went well so i did my daughters too.

+1

I cut my toddler's hair with clippers. So easy and looks just as good. The last time we took him somewhere it cost $40!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to swipe Tylenol tablets from my parents when I was in grad school because I literally could not afford to buy a bottle.

Why didn’t you take the whole bottle and tell your mom you couldn’t afford one? Why wouldn’t she be happy to help?

Not PP, but I can assure you that not all moms are happy to help.