"I went hiking a couple of years ago with a group of folks. Afterward, we went out to lunch at a local restaurant and then back to my place to play games. One of the hikers seemed annoyed that we were going out to eat. Despite his wealth, he was living in a car and I'd seen him retrieving worn out clothes from the trash. So I suspected he was annoyed at spending money at a restaurant."
"He ordered the cheapest thing on the menu; a cup (not even a bowl!) of soup, and water. An hour later at my place, he let me know that he was 'really hungry' and asked for food. I told him we had some leftovers and he helped himself to a heaping plate. After he was done, he said he was still hungry and asked for another plate."
"Keeping the thermostat set to 55 in the winter. I also know someone else who keeps it at 85 in the Phoenix summer. Regarding the latter, how the hell do you sleep in that heat?!?? Taking heaps of napkins and condiments from fast-food restaurants to use at home. Eating moldy food. The wealthiest person I know (9 figure net worth) asks for discounts on anything and everything. Buying the cheapest example of everything with no consideration for quality."
Frugality focuses on getting good value and spending thoughtfully, while cheapness prioritizes low cost regardless of consequences. Cheap behaviors can harm others, create awkward social situations, and reduce long-term value through poor quality purchases. Examples include extreme thermostat settings, hoarding restaurant napkins and condiments, eating moldy food, and pressuring for discounts despite great wealth. Cheap choices can also backfire personally, such as taking unsafe accommodations or inconvenient flight times to save small amounts. A practical boundary is whether saving money imposes costs on others, diminishes quality of life, or risks health and relationships.
Read at 1500 Days to Freedom
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