In the past, I have been called "cheap" I pay my bills on time. And buy what we need, am I a cheapscape?

Answer 1

Better to be called cheap then to be one of the people that posts on here trying to figure out how to pay off $15,000 worth of credit card debt.

Congratulations on your cheapness!!! You and I can form a club. I too am "cheap."

Answer 2

Lets see, you pay your bills on time and buy what you need. Sounds to me like you are being responsible not cheap.

On the other hand, if you are buying what you need based on your needs and not considering others like you wife and children, then you are cheap.

My wife and I are the same way if we need something we either pay cash for it or put it on a credit card and pay it off in no less than 90-days. We always discuss what we need and if we don't agree we don't buy it. This has given us excellent credit, a great home and a savings account with over $25,000.00 in it plus a 401-K. The only thing we owe a penny on is the house and we have over $45,000.00 equity in it. So call us cheap but I would rather live like we do than be $25,000.00 in debt to credit card companies and making the minimum payment every month like so many are.

Answer 3

As long as you are not denying yourself anything that is necessary (and that includes a certain amount of money spent on pleasure and recreation), you aren't cheap, just smart.

I'm in the same boat as you are. I pay all my bills on time and in full, save a good portion of my income, and I don't run around spending foolishly.

I certainly won't suffer just to save a dollar, but I don't run around tossing my hard earned cash into other people's hands either.

There is a healthy balance, and that balance is determined by your income and what is important to you. My stylist charges $100 for a haircut that looks fantastic, is easy to take care of and grows out well. I refuse to get a $15 haircut and look like crap just to save some bucks.

Since I bring my lunch to work rather than spend $10 a day to buy a deli sandwich and a Snapple, I can easily afford a luxury that my co-workers gasp at. They are horrified that I spend that much on a haircut. I am horrified by their constant trips to the ATM so they can spend $10 a day on lunch rather than make a trip to BJ's for a cheap case of Snapple and their aversion to making a nice healthy sandwich at home and bringing it to work with the Snapple or some iced tea mix. The end result is that they pay well over $2,000 a year for lunch, and I pay about $400.

If you immediate family is truly feeling deprived rather than feeling financially secure and safe, then you may need to have an honest look at your spending habits.

If your family is whining because they all have to share an x-box, they aren't deprived. If they don't have any nice things that are just for fun, then they are being deprived. Not wanting to spend $80 to $100 taking the whole family out to the movies once a week isn't depravation. Refusing to pay for a single cable channel and a take-out pizza on Friday night is depravation.

Answer 4

To quote Dave Ramsey "When broke people are making fun of your financial plan you know you are on the right track. Be weird!"

I think it is great, we do the same thing (pay our bills on time and have money left over at the end of the month.

Put it another way, if you said you only tip 10% for great service at a resturant, then you would be cheap. But if you tip the normal 15-20% you aren't cheap.

Answer 5

We live in a society where ones worth is measured by the amount they spent. People have a tendency to think, you are cheap, if you packed your lunch and brought yur own water to drink, rather than buying it from the vending machine. You are not cheap at all for wanting to save your money. Say if you fell sick or lost your job. You think anyone who called yu a cheapscape going to come and help you out to survive the situation. I am one who refuse to spend my money on name brands or dept. stores and waste my money on their good will. That does not mean I do not shop in the dept. store. I do if they have a good sale and if it is a bargain. Am I cheap? Hell no! And I only buy what I absolutely cannot avoid. So I try to stay away from office parties and fund raisings and social functions. Because none of them are going to give me a hand if I do not have the money to survive.

Answer 6

I would agree with all on here its better to be considered cheap than to be seriously in debt. Just because you watch your money doesn't mean your cheap, frugal yes. If you didn't buy the things you needed because they were too expensive then I would say your cheap, if you and your family have everything you need, that is all that is important!

Answer 7

I agree with most of the answers above. The straight forward answer is "Yes you are cheap, ain't it great" However let's go one more step.

Are you giving to others, by that I mean looking for how you can serve others in need? That may not be money or lots of money; it may be time, service, friendship, or kindness. If you are truly serving others, then say "thank you" for having the blessing that you have including the blessing of responibility.

Answer 8

Absolutely not, I admire you.
You are being financially responsible and you will be rewarded for your good credit in the future.
My husband is the same way. I wish I could get my shopping impulses under control and have a nice nest egg.
Remember, someday you will have no problem with retirement verses people that do not save money and expect to live off of social security.

Answer 9

In my opinion being cheap is living well below your means and always expecting to pay less that what the item or service is worth.

Answer 10

Usually when people call you cheap it means you ask them out on a date and take them to McDonalds. I don't think there is anything wrong with living within your means. I find that a lot sexier than someone who is in debt up to their eyeballs.