Being frugal can be advantageous as it helps us save money in many aspects of our lives. However, if this frugality is pushed to the extreme, it brings undesirable results. This is where being frugal starts becoming problematic.
One Reddit user posted on the platform that she was planning on dumping a friend who was too tight with money. According to her, the friend owes her $40, and she was willing to write it off as a loss until he told her he likes to get lunch specials at restaurants and does not leave a tip.
Other Reddit users commented on the post with advice, opinions, and experiences. Here are some of the best responses from this conversation.
His Values Are Different From Yours
A user put it plainly that the friend’s values were different from the OP’s, “It sounds like his values don’t align with yours.”
Loan Them What You Can Afford To Lose
Loan your friends money you can afford to lose comfortably; as one user says, “A wise man once told me: “Never loan a person more money than you would pay them to go away.”
He Is Cheap and Unethical
Another user thought the friend was not frugal but cheap, “That is not a frugal person– that’s “cheap” and unethical.”
Another added, “Frugal is when you’re willing to inconvenience yourself; cheap is when it starts to inconvenience others.”
One user spoke from a personal experience on the matter, “My brother is this way, and it drives me nuts. He’s so stingy and selfish with his money; it’s honestly insane. I have a hard time being frugal because I’m the opposite; I’m so giving and constantly treating everyone around me.”
If They Can’t Tip They Shouldn’t Eat Out
One person says that someone who does not want to tip should avoid going out, “I had to stop seeing a friend for the same reason. I’m just tired of it. And if they don’t have enough money to tip, they don’t have enough money to go out. Just gross. And it’s just cheap and mean.”
Way to Return the Favor, Dude!
Another user thinks that if you treat a person on one occasion, they should treat you back on the other, “Had an old college friend reach out to me a couple of months ago by text, and I met up with him for lunch one weekend. I offered to pay for our lunch and everything had a nice time too. Then, the next weekend, we hung out again for lunch, and when the check came, the dude said, ‘two checks, please.’ Way to return the favor, dude! Some people just don’t get it.”
They Think They Are Morally Superior for Being Selfish
Another user shared an experience of how one friend shamed them every time they spent money, “Ugh, I used to have a “friend” like this. He made more than pretty much anyone in our friend group (not a ton, but we were in our early 20s so most of us made very little) but he literally never spent money on anyone else and shamed us when we ever “splurged” — as in, say, going out to eat on a birthday or wanting to buy drinks at my literal bachelorette party. It’s basically just mental gymnastics to convince themselves that they’re morally superior for being selfish.”
Demand the Money Back
Someone offered the OP a great strategy on how she could dump him effortlessly, “Make him drop you — you won’t have to go through the ‘yucky’ feeling of dropping him. It will be worth the $40 to see the last of him. He’s no friend.”
Do Not Lend Money to Friends or Family
Another user urges the OP not to lend money to friends and family, “You never lend money to a friend or family, you only gift money. Also, sorry, but you are going to let your relationship sour over $40?”
A Tip Is Not an Obligation
via DepositPhotos.com.
One user cannot understand why tipping is such a dealbreaker, “Also, I’m not American and just can’t understand the tipping culture over there… A tip, by definition, shouldn’t be an obligation.”
Another user agrees with this, “Tips must be earned by those who go above and beyond their duties. Not for simply doing their job. I’ll never understand how greedy bosses convince ignorant employees that it’s the customer’s fault that the boss is not paying a liveable wage.”
Surround Yourself With Quality People
You are the average of the people you hang out with; as one user points out, “surround yourself with quality people, as they say, you are the average of the 5 people you hang out with.”
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12 Extreme Frugal Living Tips You Can Try
via DepositPhotos.com.
A Reddit user was curious to know the extremely frugal things people did that they didn’t tell people about. He gave an illustration that he used to collect promotional coffee sachets on top of car windows, and that saved a ton of money. He wanted to know whether other Reddit users did extremely frugal things that they did not want other people to know.
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Ready to kick your frugality up a notch? We’ve rounded up the top 11 super-duper frugal moves that even the savviest penny-pinchers happily own up to. Yep, you might already be a frugality champ, but trust me, these ideas are like gems of money-saving wisdom you won’t wanna miss!
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Implementing frugality is an excellent way to get your finances under control. These frugal living ideas can make that happen.
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This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
