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[larryc]

This week we decided we had had enough rate hikes from our cable/internet/phone provider (Cox). My wife called customer service to see if they could get out rate down. Now way, she was told, we were already getting a great deal, the best they could offer.  We talked about it, and I called again, this time connecting to the number of cancellations. The woman instantly offered to cut our bill in half if we would stay.

Fvckers. Still we took the deal. Call up your cable company to cancel right now!

[penthesilia]

I switched from travelling 2 hours to work everyday and eating out every dinner to no travel and simple dinners at home by working online. Those long stretches of travelling time to and from work everyday really made me mad by all the time wasted and the amount of exhaust fumes I was inhaling half of the time. Time and health can not be bought back by any end-of-the-year bonus or award, so I chose to follow my passion of writing in my own way. I'm not only saving money, time, and my lungs, I'm enjoying my work much more as well. (especially with the cat sleeping on my lap as I work - no contest at all!) =)

[arts_and_sciences]

I moved back in with my parents, and survive on their leftovers, I rarely drive, my car is old and reliable and I own it free and clear, and it has just the basic insurance, also I telecommute via distance learning classes at a low-tuition public university...and if buy something it's usually used.

[spork]

I recently had a free home energy audit arranged by my electrical utility. I can get $2000 worth of work to make my home more energy efficient, and the utility will pay for $1500 of that. I'll save the remaining $500 in reduced energy bills over the next four years, and after that, it's money in the bank.

So if I get tenure, I'll go for it.

[clean]

If the value of your house goes up by at least $500, why wait for tenure?

What kinds of upgrades to the suggest?

[spork]

If the value of your house goes up by at least $500, why wait for tenure?

What kinds of upgrades to the suggest?

- more blown insulation in the attic
- insulation under the floor of the enclosed porch
- sealing/insulating at the sill plate in the basement
- some other, more minor stuff

I don't get the rebate on anything that's not done by a contractor from the utility's list, and I'd probably do it incorrectly the first time anyway.

[allhailtheramen]

I moved back in with my parents, and survive on their leftovers, I rarely drive, my car is old and reliable and I own it free and clear, and it has just the basic insurance, also I telecommute via distance learning classes at a low-tuition public university...and if buy something it's usually used.

I hope you don't buy used Kleenexes. Or bread.

[itried]

This probably makes me sound like a tightwad, but the economy's bad, okay?

I canceled dinner plans this week with a couple who invited me to an Indian restaurant. The man of the couple is a big guy and regularly eats more than twice what I do for dinner. I didn't want to be in the position of dividing the check three ways, when he was going to eat way more than I would, and I could never, ever say, "You ate twice what I ate, so you should pay more." So I canceled instead. I wouldn't have done this if we'd had plans to eat somewhere where we could order discrete entrees, but Indian food isn't like that.

[palla]

itired, I don't blame you at all!  I am craving some Indian food, though.

[hipgeek]

itired, I don't blame you at all!  I am craving some Indian food, though.

I kind of do.  I have been to several Indian restaurants and there has always been options for ordering as individuals.  There's nothing wrong with cancelling plans and trying to save money but the way you put it here kind of makes you sound petty.  It's one thing to be frugal; it's another to be cheap.

[itried]

Yeah, hipgeek, I know. I am cheap sometimes, you're right. I've reflected on this a lot, and I think it's because I got into financial trouble last year with a parasitic boyfriend; I left that relationship with my savings totally emptied out. The past year I've been more miserly, as over-compensation for that stupid outpouring on my part. In the past year, I've built my savings back up -- and then some -- by scrimping and saving. I think I'll swing back toward the middle of the continuum in the future, but for now, I accept that you're probably glad you don't have dinner plans with me.

[hipgeek]

Yeah, hipgeek, I know. I am cheap sometimes, you're right. I've reflected on this a lot, and I think it's because I got into financial trouble last year with a parasitic boyfriend; I left that relationship with my savings totally emptied out. The past year I've been more miserly, as over-compensation for that stupid outpouring on my part. In the past year, I've built my savings back up -- and then some -- by scrimping and saving. I think I'll swing back toward the middle of the continuum in the future, but for now, I accept that you're probably glad you don't have dinner plans with me.

Actually I have been dying for good Indian food ever since I moved to the sticks a couple of years ago.  But I do hate going out to eat with someone overly frugal--I mean, if we really want to save money, we could just have dinner at home--chili is great for entertaining on the cheap. 

If we did go out to eat, ITried, I think we'd have a LOT to talk about--parasitic men.  ever hear "Romance without Finance"?  I hate fighting about money so I think I'm often generous to a fault in my relationships.  But I'm also very frugal in my personal choices.

[barcrossliar]

This probably makes me sound like a tightwad, but the economy's bad, okay?

I canceled dinner plans this week with a couple who invited me to an Indian restaurant. The man of the couple is a big guy and regularly eats more than twice what I do for dinner. I didn't want to be in the position of dividing the check three ways, when he was going to eat way more than I would, and I could never, ever say, "You ate twice what I ate, so you should pay more." So I canceled instead. I wouldn't have done this if we'd had plans to eat somewhere where we could order discrete entrees, but Indian food isn't like that.

I get this.  Back when I was really poor, there were many times I'd order somethings really cheap, then some actual cheapo would order a bunch of extras, want to split the check, and "forget" about the espresso, wine, tax, and tip.  Now I always try to be over-generous about kicking in.  I'm happy to treat people voluntarily, but I still resent people who decide to treat themselves on my dime.

[octoprof]

This probably makes me sound like a tightwad, but the economy's bad, okay?

I canceled dinner plans this week with a couple who invited me to an Indian restaurant. The man of the couple is a big guy and regularly eats more than twice what I do for dinner. I didn't want to be in the position of dividing the check three ways, when he was going to eat way more than I would, and I could never, ever say, "You ate twice what I ate, so you should pay more." So I canceled instead. I wouldn't have done this if we'd had plans to eat somewhere where we could order discrete entrees, but Indian food isn't like that.

I get this.  Back when I was really poor, there were many times I'd order somethings really cheap, then some actual cheapo would order a bunch of extras, want to split the check, and "forget" about the espresso, wine, tax, and tip.  Now I always try to be over-generous about kicking in.  I'm happy to treat people voluntarily, but I still resent people who decide to treat themselves on my dime.

Chime!

I don't mind paying for the whole check at times, but I don't want to be told we are splitting evenly when I had a small meal and no alcohol and everyone else drank themselves into a stupor.

[itried]

Yes, these scenarios have all happened to me also. This past year that I've been trying to build up my savings again, I've made (or kept) very few dinner plans out, but I have invited friends over for dinner at my apartment several times. I like to cook whatever I happen to have around, i.e., I don't purchase anything special and make a big fuss about it. There are certain foods I buy but tend not to eat much, e.g., eggs, pasta, and potatoes. So I usually toss together a frittata or big bowl of pasta with a salad. If I were to gauge my generosity by the number of times I've made dinner for friends in the past year, then I'm not looking too miserly, particularly because on only one occasion has a friend invited me over for dinner in return.

I'm not being defensive here, only reflecting on ways I've tried to be generous and share, despite my compulsion to make up for draining my bank account for a boyfriend by skimping in other ways.

(For what it's worth: those of you who may have read on another thread my frustrated post in defense of a forumite who expressed discomfort merging 100% of her finances with her husband... well, now you know some of the backstory behind my strong response.)