Tell a funny frugality story

**cojo** · 03-23-2009, 03:06 PM

Frugality applies no matter how much money you make. My dad is a high-level executive at a large company, but he's still frugal about many things.

I remember he told me one time he was at a meeting with about 10 other high-level executives. Guys that read the New York Times Lifestyle section, don't flinch at paying $60,000 for a car, etc. They noticed immediately that one of the other executives was wearing a new watch, and also that my dad was wearing a new watch.

The other executive said his was a Rolex and he got it at some upscale store...my dad switched to another subject when they asked about his new "luxury" watch, so they assumed he just didn't want to reveal his source for his brand-new watch.

Well his source was the local discount store, and the watch was $10.

It makes me laugh that people who are so careful to maintain a luxurious appearance can't tell the difference between a Rolex and a discount-store watch.

**sabrelvssammy** · 03-23-2009, 03:19 PM

j. paul getty....remember him? one of the richest men of his time....(like bill gates now).....i was extremely interested in him years ago...(don't ask me why)....but anyway he was one of the most frugal people that ever lived.... he amassed his fortune coz his father told him he would never amount to anything and he needed to prove him wrong....but he was afraid to spend a dime of it....his secretary said that he brought his lunch to work every day in a brown paper bag and it was the same thing everyday for over 20 yrs...(a tuna salad sandwich)....

**Grayce** · 03-23-2009, 04:44 PM

One of the ladies I work with is always dropping the name brand of her clothes. More than once she has complimented my outfit and asked me where I got it and I had to tell he the thrift store.

**lvngwell** · 03-23-2009, 08:15 PM

About three years ago when Blackberrys were all the rage we were sitting in the board room wating for a meeting to start. One of them went off and everyone pulled theirs out to see if it was them.

Then the conversation started about what people did with them and everyone started to say how useful they were and then it slipped out how much each had paid for theirs.

The conversation went something like this:

Bill: I love to look up stock quotes and go online to read the paper - got mine for $500

Dan: Good deal! I got mine off eBay new for $450 but that was the lowest I have seen. I do everything with it - really keeps me organized.

Carla: My hubby got me mine for my birthday - the fake diamond studs were $100 extra but sooooo worth it. I love to listen to music and keep pictures of my kids with me and it helps me remember my hair and nail appointments!

They all turn to me as I was the only one hwo hadnt spoken up yet ...

Me: It was the only phone they were offering for free when I renewed my contract. I talk to people with it.

Those moments are the best life has to offer!!!!

**marjorie** · 03-23-2009, 09:26 PM

My funny frugality story is ... a bit weird. I lived in an apartment building with a total of 16 families. Long story short a fire broke out. Everyone got out safely, but the building was destroyed. I was out with the firemen who made me stay because my asthma was so bad, when they noted that one end of the building had billowing bubbles/foam coming out of it. I had to reassure them that it wasn't lethal, the fire hoses had just reached the closet with my 37 boxes of laundry detergent <blush>

**rosey7415** · 03-24-2009, 08:46 AM

marjorie!! you gave me my laugh for the day! thank you!! lol lol

**Sassyclass** · 03-24-2009, 09:10 AM

I recycle cans and have been doing this for over 26 years. My ex inlaws owned a tavern and I sorted the cans and cashed them in to pay the electric bill. Anyhooo, the guys I work with save their cans for me and I make my round for pick-up every day at 2:00. Well one day last year it was a very good day, it was 89 outside and about 100 inside so the guys were really amassing the cans. My boss asked me what I was going to do with all that money from them and me being the smarta$$ that I am said," I'm going to use the money for a boob job." You wouldn't believe the cans I got the rest of the week.

Cat

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-24-2009, 10:17 AM

OK this is sad and funny. I'm trusting you to "understand" the funny part.

There was a rare paint accident in the 4 y/o class. The worker presented each child to the parents with a heart felt apology. You could hear parents yelling "do you know how much I paid for that X brand outfit!?!?!" blah blah blah. It was our turn and with tears we got the same heart felt apology. I looked at her smiled and said "$2 thrift store". Even before they were covered in the same orange paint, you couldn't tell my kids $2 X brand outfit from the $$$ same brand full price outfit. My kid was the only one who didn't leave crying that day.

**Momto2Boyz** · 03-24-2009, 10:20 AM

OMG, I love the soap story, that is absolutely hilarious! (But sorry for your loss of your stockpile

)

I don't know if I have anything really funny. I save just about everything. No, I don't hoard things. But I have a craft business and recycle regular items into cool stuff and sell it to people. Things like tabs off pop cans (the get made into bracelets), old clothes get recycled into new accessories, etc.

It kills me too, becuase people are eating this stuff up. I think it has to do with the "green craze" going on too. They like the idea of buying recycled items! So basically, I guess I am making money off of trash!

**freeze** · 03-24-2009, 12:41 PM

I loved the soap story also. That put a big smile on my face.

**Thevail** · 03-24-2009, 12:59 PM

I'm a thrifty little freebophile so most of the things in my house were scavenged, bought at garage sales, thrift stores, or just plain given to me.

My friend Tammy was in the middle of moving from one apartment to another, when it suddenly occurs to her that months earlier she's set it up with her father to hold her mother's birthday party at her house. Mummy and Daddy are from a fairly ritzy neighborhood here in washington called Bellevue and holding a birthday party seated on a bunch of packed boxes was just not on the cards.

So I cleaned the house up and they all come over. In search of small talk her mother compliments me on my kitchen drapes....where did I get them, I just love the fabric.

So I try gamely to evade the questions with the vague generalities...ohh well, you know,..haha

But she keeps pressing, she just LOVES those drapes...
Finally another one of the guests breaks in and says, "Tell her where you got them for God's sake!"

So I looked her right in the eye and said..." They used to be YOURS, actually, from your dining room."

Dead silence...and then everyone laughed so hard the bathrooms were in use for quite a while.

**rainbowgc** · 03-24-2009, 01:05 PM

the fire hoses had just reached the closet with my 37 boxes of laundry detergent <blush>

That was a real coffee spitter for sure, thanks for the laugh. I also Liked the boob job story - you ladies are too funny sometimes

**peanut** · 03-24-2009, 01:30 PM

re: the laundry detergent! Oh my goodness!

I'm not sure I have a story as funny. But I do have this top I wear all the time that receives the most interesting reaction from people. I'm a needleworker and this is an microsuede top with gorgeous cross-stitch down the front on either side of the buttons. Without fail when I wear it some woman will come up and ooh and aaah all over it, asking me if I made it.

I feel kind of bad, but I have to say "no". I can't resist adding the twist "I bought it at the thrift store for $4". It's amazing how many people just don't know what to say, turn around and walk away. I guess I'm going to have to be more diplomatic and just change the subject...

**Kazoo** · 03-24-2009, 10:11 PM

I bought my first car (used of course) with cash. The poor salesman was really struggling because there was no lease to hide any tricks. He finally looked up smiling from the paperwork and said, well, how about your trade-in? I said no thanks, I was going to keep my bike! No, he did not find that amusing.