How to Be a Savvy Cheapskate

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What a low quality waste-of-time article. This must have been written while
waiting for the bus....

Susan Johnson of FL 9:31AM January 07, 2013

My favorite idea was establishing a "permanent standard of living." Well said. I think once you set this standard, you can break the "make-more-spend-more" cycle. And once that is broken, you can find more contentment, and less stress about your budget. And you're not caught up wasting time being a wanter, know what I mean? Having been a "born frugal" my permanent standard of living is definitely on the frugal side...about as close as you can get to the cheapskate line without going over (I have rewashed ziplock bags in the past, though I don't anymore). I'm about to get married in two months and my fiance is more "average" in his approach (sometimes he even buys popcorn at the movie theatre! Gah!). However, we both understand this will take some compromising...it'll be interesting to see where we end up. By the way, if you're looking for article ideas, I think the dynamic that happens when two adults try to manage money together is an area that is under-written about. Especially with deep, thoughtful and yet practical articles. :)

Pamby of TX 12:40AM September 10, 2010

This is an amazing article.....especially....the golden epiphany of these hard times: We shouldn't be asking ourselves "How can we afford it?" We should instead be asking, "Do we really need it?"

Jude Thomson 8:06AM June 13, 2010

Since the U.S. is a nation of consumption it makes sense to cut back on everything. But use common sense. Unplugging appliances when not in use makes sense only if you use, say the toaster once a month. I unplug the coffee maker but not my t.v. or fridge, stove..you get the picture.

Kelly McGinnis of WA 5:44AM June 13, 2010

Good points by Mr. Yeager. Traveling less and combining errands to maximize time and money is smart at any time, recession or not. Making do with less can be frustrating . No doubt about that. I am struggling with downsizing everything I do and everywhere I go. But wants don't have to become needs. Since I've been cutting back, I've discovered that I really don't need that new pair of shoes. The ones I own are just fine. Do I still get pedicures and manicures? When I can afford to. I just fit it into my budget. Ah. The B word. I am actually budgeting now. I've never been really good at it but oh well! The time has come. It makes what I do buy that much sweeter.

Sylvie Stucker of LA 5:31AM June 13, 2010

Well Mr. Kelly! We don't want you to spend your money to go see an expensive shrink. So, you keep all your appliances plugged in to keep the LCD watch accurate while we hang an old fashioned clock on the wall.

uday k of MA 12:44AM June 13, 2010

Great idea about the power strip flip, but it would drive me to an expensive shrink if I had to reset all my lcd clocks every day...and, I'm assuming you leave the fridge, freezer, and laptop plugged in, right? These are actual questions and not smart-ass remarks, so pls. respond, Ms. Mary

max kelly of FL 9:55PM June 12, 2010

After reading this article, it just confirms a lot of what I ( and others who are 'sort of frugal) already know. But it is worth reading and repeating.Mr Yeager is pretty much ' spot on' with what he writes.
I only disagreed with a few things on the " 21 things we are learning to live without"- I ENJOY window shopping, and it does not mean I will buy anything. I use it to look/ compare/ and just see ' whats out there'.It is a past time that I like, and have taught my daughters that 'window shopping' does not have to mean " buying'.
I also drive an older car, which I enjoy; since my ego is not really attached to my car, I don't need a fancy automobile, with a payment attached. BRAVO on that one. I function just fine with my old car.
I just feel that everything these days is about ' more, more , more"..MORE STUFF. MORE THINGS. MORE GADGETS. IF you TRULY need it , then by all means, purchase it. Just like the $4,000 Televisions..SERIOUSLY ????!! But people are buying them everyday.No thank you. THAT is outrageous to me; But that was not addressed in the article. Personally, I would rather HAVE the 300 extra sq. feet of house than the expensive televisions/ all the gadgets/ and such. Life seems all about the ' technology'..and where is the human equation in this ? I am not against everything ' technological"..but there is SO MUCH of it!I dont have an I-phone, or an I-pad, or an I-pod..I don't think my life will crumble w/ out them. They are ' luxuries'..but are treated like ' necessities'.
There is a ' balance' that is missing, with all of this..but it is difficult to stop consumerism when it is everywhere....

shelby of CA 6:37PM June 12, 2010

I like to take a weekly walk through my local Dollar Tree and .99 stores. I've found that not all items at the discount stores are lower priced, but on avarage it's a better deal. For example, I eat a healthy salad every evening and during the winter months peppers of all variaties are well over a dollar each at regular grocery stores, but at the .99 stores one can purchase 2-5 of each for, a whole dollar! In the summer months they're a little less in the major stores. Using a produce preserver bag is highly recommended. You can purchase Debbie Meyer brand 20 ct for $10.00 at major stores or Brawny brand 18 ct for .99 at, you guessed it, the .99 store. AND to make it even better, the Brawny brand has a zip-closure, DM brand is a fold-over style. Milk on the other hand is more expensive at the .99 stores. I used to eat candy as a snack, I never purchased it at the regular supermarkets (unless it was on sale), the .99 stores have the same size for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. And NEVER NEVER go to the movie theatre and buy their candy! Why spend $4+ per box when the same candy is .99, plus your body would probably appreciate the slightly smaller amount.
Talking about going to the theatre, why spend $6-$13 per person when you can go to hulu.com and watch for free. True one must wait about a month after the release date, but it's worth every dollar saved and you can pause the show to talk or make a potty run and not miss a word!

Kathy of CA 4:44PM June 12, 2010

I buy the strips that you plug in all the stuff that goes to my computer. And the same in every room and before I go to bed I shut them off and unplug my air conditioner and I cut my bill from about 80.00 to 62.00 dollars. I just wanted everyone to know that if your stuff is still plugged in it is using electricity. I didn't believe it when my twin sister told me but I tried it and it works.All you have to do is flip the button on the strip and it shuts the power off to every thing on it. To bad the electricity company doesn't tell people that. And your right about the gas if you leave earlier then you used to then you can drive slower and not use as much gas.

Mary Watts of MO 12:36PM June 12, 2010