Cheap is stealing the catsup packets and napkins from restaurants so you don't have to buy your own, or bringing your own food to a restaurant so you don't have to order.
Yup all of the above.
I have a cheap friend that leaves a $2 tip on a $50 bill. She says don't worry I left the tip! Ya you think you did. I have to sneak money under my plate. We have never discussed it but I feel she should know better. My BIL would never leave a tip and his wife waitressed.(he was special)Another person would agree to split an appetizer and decided because she only ate two she wouldn't pitch in. She pitched ended up pitching in after three of us raised a stink.
I love my frugal friends who are always willing to help. Make something for you when your sick and just love the little things in life!
I agree with all of the above...........and some good points made........frugal is making 'things' stretch.........cheap is making other peoples things stretch!!
I have a friend that doesn't leave a tip!!!...................we don't go out to eat...........unless it is fast food! Can still remember when I first discovered this.....
I always loved being an observer. I've seen some very reckless spenders & extremely miserly, borderly uncomfortable money misers. My definition of cheap: Someone who intentionally finds ways to save money at an inconvience to someone else like stiffing friends on restaurant tabs & leaving crappy tips.
Thrifty: It's a learning process. Unfortunately, one must experiment with a lot of things to find good value sometimes ... This is made worse by inconsistently quality in many brands as the manufacturers keep changing things (construction, ingredients, employees) to keep costs down...
Some of the embarassing stuff (loading up purse with free rolls, stealing condiments) you just have to ignore or lessen such as suggesting restaurants where you don't know the owners...or cooking at home.
I have friends in different social groups from different places & not just one big social group so it's not as difficult. I won't discuss where I purchased anything unless I know the person is of like mindset - just accept an 'I like that blouse' comment with 'thank you'.
Frugal = making conscious decisions about money to cover your needs so you can have your wants.
Cheap = not tipping your waitress because you're "trying to save money"
Having said all that about condiments, on the occasion when I've gone through a drive-through and the drive-through person has been overly generous with ketchup and napkins, those get saved and used. If I'm eating in, any leftover condiment packets that are hermetically sealed get returned.
I use up the extras if they're given to me by an employee, too. That's not the same as grabbing up extras purposely to use at home.
Our grocery store sells condiment packets, so we buy them there if we need some. I usually put a small plastic box of them in our picnic bag when we travel, so we have stuff for our sandwiches while we avoid eating at restaurants.
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