Is there such a thing as being too cheap? Would you consider this to be obsessive?

[HodgePodge88]

My buddy (who is 36) is extreme when it comes to cheap. Hes not broke, far from it, just beyond cheap, huge difference. He goes out of his way for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING to buy the absolute cheapest one possible. Whether its a TV, vegetables, hot dogs that hes buying, it doesnt matter what the quality is, infact quality doesnt exist in his vocabulary. Even if that means he has to go to 5 or 6 stores first to find it. The other day he went to walmart, then superstore, then zellers, then value village, then the thrift store, then back to walmart cause he wanted to find the absolute lowest price on a $10 rubbermaid container.

He never eats out but if he does, he doesnt tip cause he claims its a scam, so he would rather starve or eat off the street than eat at a restaurant for the sole fact that he doesnt have to pay. When he buys groceries (veggies for exampple), he doesnt buy them unless theyre on clearance. He goes to the clearance bin where it has veggies that are close to its expiry date. "Ah this is too much, I can get this cheaper in the states." "what $30 for these jeans? what a rip off" "$20 for this shirt? it should be 50 cents" "the most i'll ever pay for jeans is $10, maybe $15." Guess what? This isnt the states!

He drives across the city or any town to eat at the cheapest places even if the food is gross. The other day I went shopping with him for the first time in many years (cause I was hoping he changed but he clearly hasnt) and lets just say its the last time ill be shopping with him again. There is a reason why i havent shopped with him in so many years. I was with him and his mom and theyre like "I hope youre hungry cause we're going to IKEA for lunch...50 cent hot dogs!!!" Im not a huge hot dog fan (at least not the cheap stuff) and didnt get one, they were offended. Sorry but I like to eat food that i like not just cause its cheap and tastes like saw dust.

His mom lives off the dollar store, infact I think its scary how obsessed she is about that place. WHen you talk to her, all she talks about is how great the dollar store is. Im about to buy a drink "oh dont buy that, go to the dollar store and buy it, $1!!!!" "People who buy starbucks are crazy...you can get a big tin of instant coffee for $1 at the dollar store!!!....infact starbucks probably does that, goes and buys from there and sells it at their counter." I was like uhhhhh, the most ridiculous thing ive ever heard in my life. She goes everyday and if you go to the mall with her "oough i have to find the dollar store, its absolutely wonderful, cheap $1 stuff, good stuff!" She will spend all day in there. She loads up on bags for candy and pop for her grandson and feed it to him like its cereal.

He has a 6 year old boy and they feed him whatever food is the cheapest that day. A bag of candy from the dollar store, ice cream from the states, wendys $1.89 value menu, cheap whoppers @ Burger king when they go $1.99, 35c pop, microwave popcorn, you name it. Fast food everyday for dinner, lunch is usually leftovers, breakfast is usually candy or ice cream. He wont buy what the boy wants to eat, he doesnt even fill the boy up, just makes him wait til the next meal or gives him candy. The other day the boy wanted a chicken skewer that i was eating, and he pouted and pouted but his dad wouldnt get him one cause $3 was too much. He says to his boy, "Its too much, you can make it cheaper at home, plus its not real chicken, its powder." The boy "what kind of powder." The father "like anthrax, it will kill you....then you wont be able to go to school anymore." What the hell?

He doesnt even let him go on rides in the mall. Theyre killing the poor kid, hes gonna have a mouthful of steel by the time hes in grade 1 eating a bag of candy and litres of pop everyday. And the boy has no manners whatsoever. Always running his mouth and telling people off. The other day his grandma asked if he wanted some licorice for breakfast, the boy goes "I dont want any, now shut up you f'in stupid!" I couldnt believe what i was hearing, what the hell kind of 6yr old talks like that to his grandma?

Anyone have family or friends like this? Theyre so cheap that when you shop with them all they focus on is the price, thats all that matters. Uhh how can anyone live life like this? I think theres a certain reasonable level in terms of how cheap someone can be, but beyond that and I think it becomes OCD.

[Bane]

Yes, its called being Scottish.

[Sliver]

Sounds like you hate your buddy.

[SportsJunky]

Why do you hate your friend?

[burn_this_city]

I'd say thats OCD. To drive around to multiple stores to save a buck or two is hilarious, obviously they don't realize it costs gas to drive around that much. Working at a gas station in high school I used to laugh at idiots who would drive halfway across town to save 3-5 cents on gas. They'd be so proud of it too, like the $1.20 they saved on 40 liters of fuel was worth the time and effort.

In conclusion I also hate cheap people, but your friend sounds like he has a mental disorder. My grandfather had the same thing, but he survived the depression and had to quit school after his dad died to help raise his 6 younger siblings. Somewhat justified.

[Red Ice Player]

Your "buddy" has mental health issues. What would happen if you asked him to do a beer run? What kind of swill would he come back with after visiting 20 liquor stores? A scary thought...

[bugsy]

I don't live in Canada anymore but I definately hit the thrift stores once in awhile for clothes, various household items, etc. Figure if you can get something perfectly useable for much less, why not. Some probably take it to the extreme, and for others its the most realistic or suitable option. On a similar tangent, we're most of here I would guess spoilt for choice as it is..to the extent that it borders on criminal. 20 brands of peanut butter staring at me? Insanity.

[HodgePodge88]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Why do you hate your friend?

I dont hate him but its tough seeing someone want to live their life this way. And I limit my contact with him because of this. Its just flat out embarassing to be out with him in public, or actually more so annoying than embarassing cause he will criticize you on everything. "Dont buy jugo juice, its a rip off...you just wasted $5 on a 25 cent drink"...."how much did you pay for your lunch, $2.99?" "What $9? you got ripped off! you should go back and ask for a refund"

seriously dude, $2.99 for a chicken platter at Opa? Seriously? We live in canada not east malaysia.

[Knut]

I would suggest having a sit down with him and suggest he needs councilling for his kids sake. If he gets mad, leave it at that and just take yourself out of the situation. It obviously makes you angry.

[BigBrodieFan]

It's been my experience that many people adapt the spending habits of their parents. Sounds like your friend is doing what he's been taught.

I had a friend (next door neighbour) growing up who was just like this. Her parents were so cheap but they came from Europe with absolutely nothing in their pockets. I guess they were afraid to spend money. Ironically, I went to Europe with her and visited her relatives there, and they lived totally opposite. Her parents were stuck in old world Belgium (their house was decorated that way) and her relatives that lived in Europe lived in a beautiful, modern home and they were very cosmopolitan.

Anyway I ended up never speaking to her again after that trip. She had a free place to stay in Paris and she asked me for my half of the rent, which I payed her. I didn't know it was free until her mother commented on how fortunate it was for us to be able to stay free in Paris. She wouldn't spend a dime the whole time we were there so we ended up walking around and I lost about 20 pounds that summer because I was starving. It sucked.

Then again, you have people who spend way more then they can afford and end up in huge debt.

There is a difference between being cheap and being resourceful, and it sounds like your friend is just plain old cheap. I wouldn't hang out with someone like that.

[bugsy]

You know what's tough? Seeing someone with nothing at all.

I mean i get what youre getting at, even the mental health implications, but these sorts of people will probably be the leaders of a new scavenger movement of some kind once we've sucked the world dry of resources.

[sclitheroe]

What I love about this story is how the original poster just keeps piling on. First the guy is cheap. Then he has no taste. Then his mother is nuts. Then they are talking about anthrax. And the kid is living off of candy and drippings from the ceiling and swearing at grandma like a wild animal.

And this guy goes shopping with them. More than once apparently.

I can't wait for the movie (or the CNN breaking story)

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by BigBrodieFan

It's been my experience that many people adapt the spending habits of their parents. Sounds like your friend is doing what he's been taught.

I had a friend (next door neighbour) growing up who was just like this. Her parents were so cheap but they came from Europe with absolutely nothing in their pockets. I guess they were afraid to spend money. Ironically, I went to Europe with her and visited her relatives there, and they lived totally opposite. Her parents were stuck in old world Belgium (their house was decorated that way) and her relatives that lived in Europe lived in a beautiful, modern home and they were very cosmopolitan.

Anyway I ended up never speaking to her again after that trip. She had a free place to stay in Paris and she asked me for my half of the rent, which I payed her. I didn't know it was free until her mother commented on how fortunate it was for us to be able to stay free in Paris. She wouldn't spend a dime the whole time we were there so we ended up walking around and I lost about 20 pounds that summer because I was starving. It sucked.

Then again, you have people who spend way more then they can afford and end up in huge debt.

There is a difference between being cheap and being resourceful, and it sounds like your friend is just plain old cheap. I wouldn't hang out with someone like that.

Did your "friend" pocket your rent money??

[bugsy]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

What I love about this story is how the original poster just keeps piling on. First the guy is cheap. Then he has no taste. Then his mother is nuts. Then they are talking about anthrax. And the kid is living off of candy and drippings from the ceiling and swearing at grandma like a wild animal.

And this guy goes shopping with them. More than once apparently.

I can't wait for the movie (or the CNN breaking story)

It's like Dickens without the apparent hardship.

[icarus]

Sounds like your buddy is well on his way to freeganism.

[malcolmk14]

Original question posted by HodgePodge88:

"Would you consider this to be obsessive?"

Yes, you are obsessed. Take a step back and stop talking to this "friend".

[TylerSVT]

Asian or Indian?



Edit:

Im only asking because i saw a Russel Peters thing the other day and it made me laugh about how cheap Asians and Indians are.

[Weiser Wonder]

This guys seems way over the line. He's wasting more gas money by visiting different stores than he would save by buying something for $2 more. It sounds like OCD actually.

As far as cheapness in general goes, in my experience, people get their kicks in different ways. Spend thifts get their kicks by spending their money on things they don't need or maybe even actually want. Regular people will spend money as best fits their life, they don't enjoy saving or spending one way or the other. Cheap people get a kick out of spending the least amount of money possible.

It seems irrational to a regular person when someone who's a millionaire never goes out to eat, but they actually enjoy not spending the money more than going out to eat. The feeling they get from saving a dollar on purchase is more enjoyable than the purchase itself.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

What I love about this story is how the original poster just keeps piling on. First the guy is cheap. Then he has no taste. Then his mother is nuts. Then they are talking about anthrax. And the kid is living off of candy and drippings from the ceiling and swearing at grandma like a wild animal.

And this guy goes shopping with them. More than once apparently.

I can't wait for the movie (or the CNN breaking story)

Sounds like a composite character with just about every negative trait possible. The wife must be a real piece of work too. I lose track sometimes of good people I know that are great and fun to be around. I couldn't imagine still hanging out with someone with apparently no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Long term friendships cannot be a one way street.

[stampsx2]

Being cheap and having money is better than buying everything in sight even though you have no money.

Can't imagine what would happen to our economy if everyone was cheap like your friend.